SEA GAMES | Malaysia made SEA Games rugby history when the men’s team won the gold medal and the women’s the bronze in the ruqby 7s competition of the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Games (KL2017) today.

The men buried Singapore 22-7 in the final at the Petaling Jaya Municipal Stadium, erasing their disappointment of only achieving the bronze at the Singapore edition two years. Philippines won the gold then and Singapore the silver.

The girls played their hearts out to secure a 7-5 win over the Phlippines for the bronze, their first ever medal in the SEA Games.

Prime Minister Najib Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin were present to give moral support.

Malaysia went on the offensive from the starting whistle and collected the first points from a try by

Muhammad Azwan Zuwairi Mat Zizi but Singapore narrowed the deficit to 7-5, from a try by Yau Yu Hong followed by a conversion by Marah Moehammad Ishraf

However, the homesters coached by Mohd Saizul Hafifi regrouped afterwards resulting in Muhammad Zulhisham Rasli outrunning the opponents for a try followed by a conversion by Muhammad Azwan, leaving the score to stand at 12-7 at the break.

With the jam-packed 25,000-capacity stadium egging the boys on and giving them the energy as the ”eighth” player , it was not to be Singapore’s day,

Team captain Zulkiflee Azmi described the result as mission accomplished.

“It is a great feeling making sporting history for the country,” he said, alluding to the fact that Malaysia’s best ever finish before today was the bronze medal.

As for the girls, they made their own history by securing a podium finish.

Praise is due to the coach Nik Safuan Ismade Nik Man whose game plan denied the Filipinos chances after the hosts led 7-5 from a try by Siti Farhanita Maddin followed by a conversion by Rozlliana Mohd Ridwan.

Takraw marred by walkout

Meanwhile the Indonesian women’s sepak takraw team who were allegedly unhappy with the decision of the referee staged a walk out half way through the second game against Malaysia at the Titiwangsa Stadium, yesterday.

The walk out was the first major incident to mar the 29th SEA Games, which officially opened last night in glittering fashion although a glitch in the souvenir programme of the SEA Games was spotted featuring the Indonesian flag upside-down.

Match referee Mohd Radhi Che Mei later awarded the match to Malaysia with a 2-0 score.

Malaysia had won the first set 22-20 after a mammoth battle but when Mohd Radhi penalised Indonesian ‘tekong’ Lena’s serve when the score was 16-10 in favour of Indonesia, coach Asry Syam rushed into the court to protest the decision and later urged his players to leave the court in protest despite pleas from team officials.

Asry together with his players Dini Mita Sari, Leni, Florensia Cristy, Lena and Evana

With Indonesia out of the competition, Malaysia will meet Thailand tomorrow in the match to decide the winner of the gold medal since both teams had registered two wins each.

Meanwhile, Malaysian coach Md Fikri Md Noor said his charges would take a positive approach when facing Thailand tomorrow, knowing that the Thais are a powerhouse in the sport.

Malaysia had won the bronze medal at the Singapore SEA Games in 2015.

- Bernama