Jakarta: The national anthem “Negaraku” was played twice at the Jaya Ancol Bowling Centre in Jakarta today after the national bowling squad secured double gold – Men’s and Women’s Doubles – at the 2025 Deaf SEA Games.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the formidable pairing of Ho Choon Seong and Mohd Firdaus Mohamad ensured the Malaysian flag was raised proudly after they recorded 2,566 pinfalls, defeating the Filipino pair George C Maniozo and Kristofferton Ivan Burgus, who scored 2,307. Their fellow countrymen, Muhammad Haziq and Muhammad Firdaus Ahmad, took the bronze with 2,267 pinfalls.

The women’s squad also achieved success when Siong Mui Hong and Siw Sing He secured the country’s second gold with a total of 2,218 pinfalls, overcoming the challenge from the Filipino pair Maria Lovella Catalan and Ma Cecelia Villacin, who scored 2,200. The Malaysian duo of Zuriana Roslan and Huwainaa Danduan Abdullah won the bronze after accumulating 2,150 pinfalls.

For Mohd Firdaus, today’s victory was not only the result of solid strategy and teamwork but also the blessings and prayers of his family, who have always been the backbone of his struggles. “Today, we won because we have family who believe in us and constantly pray for us. This victory is for them,” he said through a sign language interpreter.

His partner, Ho Choon Seong, added that the success is the best motivation ahead of tomorrow’s trio event. Meanwhile, for the women’s pair, Mui Hong explained that close teamwork was the key to their success and also acknowledged that the encouragement and spirit from the team, along with continuous support from their coach, made them more confident. “The coach is a real motivator. Even before we go for the trio event tomorrow, the coach said, ‘You must win!’ That made us more confident that Malaysia can do it,” she said.