Kuala Lumpur:The Malaysian national padel team has set their sights on clinching gold at the 2027 Southeast Asian Games after making a remarkable debut at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, where they secured a silver medal.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the national men's doubles team, comprising Christian Didier Chin and Aidan Khairuddin Yunus, showed commendable resilience in the final against Qatar's top-seeded pair. Despite their efforts, they were defeated by the Qatari siblings, Mashari Naif and Rashed Naif, with a score of 0-2 (3-6, 1-6).

The duo highlighted their challenging journey to the final, particularly their hard-fought victory in the semi-final against Iran. They expressed that their determination and support for each other played a crucial role in their success. Christian Didier noted that their ambition to upset the favorites in the final was hindered by their relative inexperience compared to the seasoned Qatari players.

Aidan Khairuddin emphasized their future goal, stating that after settling for silver, the pair is now focused on winning gold at the next SEA Games. The team plans to concentrate on rigorous physical and tactical preparations to achieve this aim.

The Malaysian Padel Association (MPA) president, Tengku Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Ahmad Tan Sri Tengku Abdullah, praised the team's performance, calling it a proud moment for the nation. He acknowledged the challenging path they faced, defeating strong teams like Kazakhstan, the Philippines, and Iran to reach the final. He also noted that the duo had been playing together for only a few months, highlighting their impressive chemistry and potential.

In the wake of their achievement, the association plans to meet with the National Sports Council (NSC) to discuss future strategies and plans. The NSC has already reached out to organize a meeting with the players and association to chart a path forward following this significant result.