KUALA LUMPUR – The national sepak takraw head coach, Ahmad Jais Baharun, has warned his players not be complacent when they take on Laos in the semi-final of the men’s team regu event tomorrow.
Malaysia marched into the last four after defeating world number four South Korea 3-0 in the last Group B match at the Jinhua Sports Centre Gymnasium today.
“We shouldn’t become overconfident or proud of our victory today.
“I know we defeated a strong team, but we need to keep moving forward and perform even better in our next match if we want to progress further in the tournament.
“When facing Laos, we cannot underestimate them because in their match against Japan, they showed significant improvement in both their attacking and defending.
“Their performance shows that they will be a formidable opponent in the semi-finals.
“We are not content with achieving just the minimum, we are ready to push ourselves to secure the gold,” Ahmad said.
Ahmad was glad that his decision on the line-up had brought a fruitful outcome, noting their consistent effort in earning points for the team’s victory.
“I observed a wide range of service variations and excellent ball control throughout the game.
“Players like Haziq Hairul Nizam and Muhammad Hairul Hazizi have had a significant impact on our team, and I expect them to lead the team with their strong performances, leadership, and winning mentality for the rest of the tournament,” Ahmad added.
In the first regu, Farhan Adam, Noraizat Nordin, and Haziq secured the first point for Malaysia with a 1-0 victory, while the trio of Azlan Alias, Amirul Zazwan Amir, and Syahir Mohd Rosdi made it 2-0.
The decisive point came from Afifuddin Razali, Aidil Aiman Azwawi, and Hairul Hazizi Haidzir, who sealed a 3-0 win, ensuring Malaysia’s progression to the knockout stage as group champions.
Malaysia are set to face Laos, the runner-up from Group A, in the semi-finals at the same venue tomorrow, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal in the event.
In the 2018 edition in Indonesia’s Jakarta and Palembang, Malaysia won the silver medal in the team regu. – September 26, 2023