Jakarta: Despite relying on a sign language interpreter, the spirit of Malaysia’s deaf athlete siblings, Mohammad Faza Firdaus Ghazali, 29, and his sister Nur Ain Shafira Ghazali, 24, shines brightly as they set out to prove that stereotypes will not hold them back at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Deaf Games 2025. The Kelantan-born pair want every touch of the ball on the futsal court to serve as proof that hearing loss has never weakened their determination to bring glory to Malaysia on the podium of success.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the siblings are fueled by a strong bond and a shared goal. Mohammad Faza Firdaus expressed a deep desire to win gold in futsal and uplift the image of Malaysia and the government. He emphasized that despite their hearing impairment, they aim to compete on equal footing with others. This is Mohammad Faza’s debut appearance, and he draws inspiration from his sister’s previous success, where she secured third place three years ago.

For Mohammad Faza, success in sports is driven by more than just talent. The support, encouragement, and motivation from each other are vital elements that inspire him to strive for excellence on the international stage. He often accompanies his sister during training, sharing in her excitement and triumphs, especially when she scores goals.

Nur Ain Shafira views futsal as a platform to demonstrate her talent, discipline, and determination. Outside the futsal arena, she works and plays with a social football club in Penang, proving that her hearing loss does not hinder her ability to socialize and compete in diverse environments. She began her serious involvement in futsal tournaments at the age of 21, inspired by her father, a social football player.

Malaysia has set ambitious goals for the SEA Deaf Games 2025, targeting 16 gold medals across various sports, including six in athletics, five in tenpin bowling, two in badminton, two in chess, and one in futsal. The Games officially commence tonight with the opening ceremony and will continue until August 26 in Jakarta.