Sepak takraw: Malaysia find Thailand too hot to handle

HANOI: The national men's sepak takraw squad had no answer to the might of traditional rivals Thailand and were duly dispatched 3-0 in their opening team regu event at the 31st SEA Games today.

With over 80 per cent of the players being youngsters, the national squad under coach Abdul Talib Ahmad were no match for Thailand when all three regus lost in straight sets in the competition, which is being played under a one-round league format, at the Hoang Mai Sports Centre here.

The first regu of Muhammad Zarif Merican Ibrahim Merican, Muhammad Afifuddin Razali and Aidil Aiman Azwawi got off to a shaky start against Phutawan Sopa, Pattarapong Rupadee and Sittipong Khamcam in the first set and were thrashed 4-21 before putting up a better fight in the second set despite losing 19-21.

Malaysia's hopes of pulling off a shock against the Thai regu of Pornchai Kaokaew, Yotsawat Uthaijaronsri and Pornthep Tinbangson also came to naught when Muhammad Faisal Fuad, Muhammad Noraizat Nordin and Norfaizzul Abd Razak lost 16-21, 11-21.

In the third regu, Malaysia's Zuhri Muhammad Zain, Muhammad Redwan Hakim Muhammad and Muhamad Zulhusni Basri found Thailand's trio of Kritsanapong Nontakote (Wichan Temkort), Jirasak Pakbuangoen and Rachan Viphan simply a class above as they too capitulated 9-21, 7-21.

Abdul Talib remained upbeat despite the defeat, saying the first and second regus showed a good fighting spirit against the Thais.

"As for our third regu, there is a big chasm compared to the Thai regu," he said, adding that hoped his charges would be able to beat Cambodia in their second outing tomorrow before facing hosts Vietnam on Sunday (May 15).

"Our focus now is to get the silver medal. I hope the players will put up their best performance against Cambodia and Vietnam so that we can bag the silver medal," he said.

Meanwhile, the national women's team edged Laos 2-1 in their opening team regu event this evening.

-- BERNAMA