Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian women’s tennis players are bracing for a tough challenge at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, which is scheduled from Dec 9-20. National tennis head coach Mulyadi Jamal said this is due to the expected presence of world-class players like Filipina Alexandra Eala and Indonesian Janice Tjen.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Eala plays in the Grand Slam tournaments and is currently ranked 54th in the world. Janice, meanwhile, is ranked 99th in the world, and there is also a Thai player with the potential to vie for the gold medal. Mulyadi expressed concerns over the hot weather being another obstacle for his players, especially since the venue – the National Tennis Development Centre in Nonthaburi – has no roof.

Asked about the team’s target, Mulyadi simply hopes that his charges can improve on their previous achievement of returning home with two bronze medals in men’s doubles and men’s team categories at the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. “We are targeting our men’s team to reach the final and the women’s team to return home with the bronze medal,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kenny Goh, the deputy chef de mission, reminded the players not to treat SEA Games participation as a ‘holiday’, but to play with determination and courage to achieve the targets set for them. Kenny, also the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary-general, advised the players to safeguard their health and to stay free from injuries since some of them will be playing in several tournaments ahead of the Thailand SEA Games.

Following are the players in the national men’s and women’s tennis squads for the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand from Dec 9-20:

MEN: Mitsuki Leong, Koay Hao Sheng, Darrshan Suresh Kumar, Daniel Imran Abd Hazli, Naufal Siddiq Kamaruzzaman

WOMEN: Shihomi Leong, Sharifah Elsa Wan Abdul Rahman, Hannah Yip, Lim Zan Ning, Daania Daniela Abd Hazli.