Kuala lumpur: Malaysian Sepaktakraw Federation (PSM) president Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan admits there is pressure to realise his ambition of seeing the national sepak takraw squad bring home two gold medals from the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, next month. Mohd Sumali said should the national sepak takraw squad succeed in securing the feat, particularly in the men's regu and men's team regu events, it would certainly be a memorable moment as he has also been entrusted with the responsibility of being the country's Chef de Mission (CDM) at the quadrennial Games.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Sumali expressed that the role of CDM brings its own set of pressures, especially in terms of winning two gold medals. Achieving this would be a significant accomplishment for him, but he acknowledged the challenges involved and the possibility that results may not align with expectations. He made these remarks while speaking to reporters after evaluating the preparations of the national sepak takraw team for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games.

Malaysia last secured a gold medal in the men's regu event at the 2018 edition held in Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia. The national squad's last triumph in the men's team regu dates back to the 1990 edition in Beijing, China. Mohd Sumali also cautioned the national team about the strong competition from countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, and host nation Japan, which could significantly impact Malaysia's quest for gold in this edition.

The team plans to field seasoned players who have extensive experience in international competitions. While Mohd Sumali is confident in the players' ability to handle pressure, he expressed concerns over their performance, emphasizing the potential for simple yet costly mistakes. The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games are scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 4.