Kuala lumpur: Defending champions Malaysia will send the country’s second-largest contingent to the Southeast Asian (SEA) Deaf Games 2025 in Jakarta, from August 20 to 26, with the mission of winning 16 gold medals and retaining the title clinched at the inaugural edition in Kuala Lumpur in 2022.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysian Deaf Sports Association (MSDeaf) president Ong Shin Ruenn outlined the target, which includes six gold medals in athletics, five in tenpin bowling, two in badminton, two in chess, and one in the men’s futsal event. Ong expressed a desire for the government to consider awarding cash incentives to players similar to those given to able-bodied athletes, especially if they bring home medals for Malaysia during National Day. He noted that while athletes have previously received rewards at events like the Deaflympics, these were regarded as tokens rather than incentives.
Ong also emphasized the need for a dedicated building equipped with centralized training facilities for the
deaf community in Malaysia. He believes such a center would enhance athlete performance and symbolize ongoing support for sports development within the community.
The Malaysian contingent for the SEA Deaf Games will consist of 80 athletes, just 20 fewer than the host Indonesia’s largest contingent of 100 athletes. Overall, Malaysia’s team includes 27 officials and 53 athletes competing in six sports: futsal, athletics, badminton, tenpin bowling, chess, and table tennis.
MSDeaf vice-president Sarkunan Balakrisnan, who has been appointed as Chef de Mission, expressed his honor in being entrusted with the responsibility. He is confident that the target can be achieved, driven by the team’s high spirit and motivation, which he hopes will inspire more Malaysians to appreciate the capabilities of the deaf community. Balakrisnan identified the host, Indonesia, as the closest challenger but expressed confidence in Malaysia’s preparations.
Perlis-born athlete Zaiman Megat Abu has been chosen as the flag bearer for
the Games. Zaiman is a long jump and triple jump champion who previously won gold at the 2022 SEA Deaf Games in Kuala Lumpur.