Takraw heroes come from behind to stun Indonesia, one win away from ending 36-year Asian Games wait
Malaysia lost the opening regu but won the next two to beat Indonesia 2-1 and set up a team regu final against defending champions Thailand.
Malaysia's national sepak takraw team are one match away from a piece of history after fighting back to beat Indonesia 2-1 in the men's team regu semi-final at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Thursday, 24 September.
The win at the Paloma Mizuho Arena in Nagoya sends Malaysia into a final against Thailand, with the chance to win the country's first Asian Games team regu gold since Beijing 1990, a wait of 36 years.
A shaky start
The semi-final did not begin the way Malaysian fans had hoped. In the first regu, the trio of Zulkifli Abd Razak (tekong), Muhammad Afifuddin Mohd Razali and Aidil Aiman Azwawi took the opening set 15-10 but could not close out the match. Indonesia's Saiful Rijal, Yudha Aswinatama and Muhammad Hardiansyah Muliang came back to win the next two sets 15-13 and 15-13, putting Malaysia 1-0 down in the tie.
Second regu levels it
With the tie on the line, the second regu of Mohammad Syahir Mohd Rosdi, Mohamad Azlan Alias and Farhan Adam produced the most commanding display of the day. They won in straight sets, 15-10 and 15-6, to bring Malaysia level at 1-1 and push the semi-final to a deciding third regu.
Nerves hold in the decider
The third regu of Muhammad Zarif Marican Ibrahim Marican, Amirul Zazwan Amir and Muhammad Hafizul Hayazi Adnan, with Muhammad Haziq Hairul Nizam on the substitutes' list, lost the first set 11-15. They then won the second set 15-11 and took the third set to complete the comeback and send the Malaysian bench into celebration.
National head coach Ahmad Jais Baharun later told Bernama that the third regu had been behind in the second set before turning it around, crediting the players' determination for the win.
Thailand stand in the way
Waiting in the final are Thailand, the defending champions and the traditional powerhouse of the sport. The Thais reached the final by beating hosts Japan 2-0 in the other semi-final.
The two rivals know each other well. According to Bernama, Thailand beat Malaysia in the King's Cup final in Bangkok, while Malaysia got the better of Thailand in the World Cup final at Stadium Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur in May 2026.
Why this medal matters
Sepak takraw is one of the sports Malaysia has counted on to help reach the National Sports Council's target of six gold medals in Aichi-Nagoya. A gold in the team regu, a sport with deep roots in Malaysian kampung culture, would carry extra meaning for fans back home, and would be the country's first in this event in more than three decades.
The team have come a long way to get here. They opened their campaign with a 3-0 win, reached the semi-finals earlier in the week, and have now beaten one of their strongest regional rivals when it mattered most.
Key takeaways
- Malaysia beat Indonesia 2-1 in the men's team regu semi-final on 24 September in Nagoya.
- The first regu lost 15-10, 13-15, 13-15; the second regu won 15-10, 15-6; the third regu came from a set down to win.
- Malaysia face defending champions Thailand in the final, who beat Japan 2-0 in their semi-final.
- A win would give Malaysia their first Asian Games team regu gold since Beijing 1990.
FAQ
Who did Malaysia beat to reach the sepak takraw final? Malaysia beat Indonesia 2-1 in the men's team regu semi-final on 24 September, winning the second and third regu after losing the first.
When did Malaysia last win Asian Games gold in team regu? At the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, 36 years ago.
Who will Malaysia face in the final? Defending champions Thailand, who beat hosts Japan 2-0 in the other semi-final.
Sources: Bernama, Malay Mail