PHNOM PENH – Malaysia ended its 30-year wait for a medal in traditional boat racing after winning the silver medal and a bronze at the 2023 SEA Games today.
The national traditional boat team came in second with a time of two minutes and 9.545 seconds behind winners Thailand (2:03.764s), with hosts Cambodia third (2:10.120s) in the finals of the 250m 12-crews men’s open event at Prek Campot, about 150km from here.
The last time Malaysia won a medal in this event was in 1993 in Singapore.
The team that won the silver are Ahmad Amir Khan Zainalabadin Khan, Ahmad Ariff Rasydan, Ahmad Nuqman Hadi Ayob, Khairul Naim Zainal, Mirza Adli Shaharaziz, Mohammad Fahmi Izwan Shahril, Montoya Raw Michael, Muhammad Fakhrullah, Muhammad Aiman Zamberi, Muhammad Bahij Rabbani, Muhammad Ridzuan Abdul Aziz, Muhammad Shahrin Haziq and Nik Afiq Nik Mazli.
The bronze medal meanwhile came from the 250m three-crews (U24) women’s event, when the Malaysian team of Farah Zulaikha Tokiman, Nur Amirah Anisah Abd Kadir, Nur Atasha Nabila Saring, Nur Syahirah Fuad, Nurul Najieha Zulkifli, and Siti Nurul Masyitah Md Elias came in third with a time of 4:26.028s, well behind winners Vietnam (2:49.560s) and second-placed Cambodia (2:49.636s).
Malaysia could only finish fourth in the 250m five-crews (U24) men’s event, behind winners Myanmar, Cambodia (silver), and Thailand (bronze).
The traditional boat racing events will continue tomorrow and end on Tuesday.
As of 5pm local time (6pm Malaysian time), the national contingent has won 28 gold medals, still behind the 40-gold target set for this year’s Games. – Bernama, May 13, 2023
