Bangkok: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh wants the country's athletes to continue focusing on meeting the target of bringing home 200 medals at the ongoing Thailand 2025 SEA Games. After six days of the biennial Games, Hannah said the country's contingent has so far won 103 medals, more than half of the target set before the Thailand 2025 SEA Games officially closes this Saturday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Hannah is also happy that there are a number of athletes who were not targeted to bring home gold medals, creating a surprise, ending the competition at the top of the podium in Thailand. "Our athletes all have their own KPIs (key performance indicators). As has been proven in these five days, many athletes, even though they were not targeted to win gold, achieved gold medals."

She emphasized that the public perception that athletes cannot achieve gold without a set target is not accurate. "What this means is that in the minds of our athletes, everyone has a KPI, what is being criticised outside is not true that if there is no target (gold), our athletes cannot achieve gold medals. Our athletes are all mature and everyone who trains wants gold. Therefore, as I said, even though it is not announced publicly, all the athletes know," she told reporters here.

Malaysia is currently in fifth place with 20 gold, 23 silver, and 70 bronze medals, trailing behind leaders and hosts Thailand who have accumulated 132 gold, 78 silver, and 47 bronze medals. The 2025 Thailand SEA Games will be held from Dec 9 to 20 involving two regions, namely Bangkok and Chonburi.