Malaysia is setting a goal on making history in the upcoming SEA Games as Kabaddi is set to make it’s long awaited appearance at the prestigious regional event. With six gold medals up for grabs in the Thailand edition of the SEA Games, the Kabaddi Association of Malaysia (KAM) is determined to at least win one gold.
KAM president Padmanathan Engaittraman expressed his gratitude and excitement over the inclusion of Kabaddi in the Biennial Games, a move that has been anticipated for long by sports enthusiasts.
“There will be six gold medals on offer and we are hoping to win at least one”, said Padmanathan, who serves as the president of the Federal Territories (FT) Kabaddi Association.
To ensure the best preparation, centralizing training for Malaysia’s men and women teams will begin on 3rd April in Penang, with a focus on tactics, strategy, and teamwork. The association is preparing themselves to not give up and not turning back to bring home a medal.
While preparing for the SEA Games, Malaysia’s women Kabaddi team has another major international challenge ahead. The team has qualified for the Kabaddi World Cup in Bihar, India which will take place from 1st June to 13th June.
Their selection for this huge tournament comes on the back of a remarkable victory at the Bali International Championships last May, where they clinched gold against six Southeast Asian teams. Their success in Bali has positioned them as strong players on the international stage, adding to the growing recognition of Malaysia’s talent in Kabaddi.
Malaysia’s Kabaddi teams have been showing promises at the national level as well. The Federal Territories (FT) teams displayed their talent at the Under-23 National Championships that was held at Ayer Keroh Sports Complex in Melaka on 16th March.
FT faced victory in both men and women categories, showcasing their dominance in the sports. In the men’s final, FT secured a score of 51-23 over Penang, while the women’s team won a score of 37-15 over Sarawak.
This is not the first time FR has done well in Malaysia Kabaddi. Last year the teams also won both men and women’s titles, establishing themselves as a strong team at the Sarawak Malaysia Games.
With the SEA Games approaching, the preparations combined with international exposure, are expected to give the team the competitive edge they need to achieve their goal of winning a SEA Games Gold. As the countdown begins, Malaysia’s Kabaddi community and sports enthusiasts will cheer behind the players.
Sources: NST
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