Kuala lumpur: National boxer Muhammad Abdul Qaiyum Ariffin hopes to compete with greater composure in his third appearance at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand next month. The 21-year-old boxer from Ipoh said he is currently focusing on strengthening his mental preparation in training, which he believes will help him avoid pressure during the biennial multi-sport event.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Muhammad Abdul Qaiyum expressed that usually, during sparring, he can perform well, effectively attacking and defending. However, he noted that on competition day, his performance sometimes differs. To address this, he is practicing visualising the competition environment during training sessions, a method he finds beneficial.

The 2023 SEA Games bronze medallist in the men’s 51-kilogramme category in the last edition in Phnom Penh also hopes to improve on that result with a more impressive achievement in Thailand. Muhammad Abdul Qaiyum said he will be cautious of strong challenges from the host nation and the P
hilippines, who are expected to be podium contenders at this year’s SEA Games.

The SEA Games will take place from Dec 9 to 20, across three regions: Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla.