Hosts suffer loss as player fights for life
While friends and relatives of Muhammad Azreen anxiously awaited news of the Singapore sepak takraw player’s progress following a motorcycle crash on Sunday, his teammates struggled in their first contest since learning of the terrible accident.
The 25-year-old remains in a critical condition as a result of the crash that occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning with police confirming that his 21-year-old brother, who was riding pillion, died from injuries sustained in the accident.
“He had a second surgery today and is now resting in the surgical intensive care unit,” a statement from Singapore’s chefs de mission Tan Eng Liang and Nicholas Fang said yesterday.
“He is being monitored closely by his specialists for his progress and recovery.”
After receiving counseling and guidance from the Singapore Sepak Takraw Federation (Perses), Azreen’s teammates took to the court yesterday to take on Indonesia in a men’s team pool contest in the 11-nation regional multisports gathering.
Appearing to still be suffering from the effects of the traumatic news, Singapore slipped to a 3-0 defeat to their rivals, falling in straight sets in two of the contests, unable to raise their energy levels in a listless performance.
The squad were then given a rousing pep talk from Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Sam Tan in the corner of the arena, the politician praising their courage to even go out and play given the circumstances.
Later yesterday, Singapore also lost 3-0 to Thailand.