THE Malaysian contingent picked up a gold and four bronze medals yesterday on the seventh day of the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Rachel Arnold, S. Sivasangari and siblings Aira and Aifa Azman won a gold medal in the women’s team event after defeating defending champions Hong Kong 2-1 in the finals.

The achievement made up for the failure of the men’s team to defend the gold medal when they finished third.

The Hangzhou Olympic Stadium saw the revival of Malaysian athletics through US-based athletes Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi and Shereen Samson Vallabouy, who made their debut at the Asian Games.

Azeem finished the men’s 100m final in third place with a time of 10.11 seconds, ending the country’s wait of over four decades for a podium finish in the blue ribbon event since Datuk Rabuan Pit won gold in New Delhi, India, in 1982.

Earlier, Shereen ended Malaysia’s 17-year wait to bring home a medal in an athletics event at the Asian Games, also clinching a bronze after finishing the women’s 400m event in third place with a time of 52.58s.

At the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Aquatic Sports Arena, the diving camp won two bronze medals through Pandelela Rinong-Nur Dhabitah Sabri in the women’s synchronised 10m platform event and Muhammad Syafiq Puteh-Ooi Tze Liang in the men’s synchronised 3m springboard event.

Malaysia booked a place in the semi-finals of the Dota2 event after defeating Saudi Arabia 2-0 in the second quarter-final at the Hangzhou E-Sports Centre. They will play China tomorrow for a spot in the final. 

There was a setback in the hockey camp when the men’s squad lost 3-4 to South Korea in their fourth Group B game at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Stadium. The Speedy Tigers will need to win their final match against China tomorrow to qualify for the semi-finals.

Today’s focus is on divers Nur Dhabitah-Ng Yan Yee who will compete in the women’s 3m synchronised springboard event and the pair of Bertrand Rhodict Lises-Enrique Maccartney Harold in the men’s 10m synchronised platform event.

At yesterday’s end, Malaysia was in 12th position in the medal table after securing three gold, three silver and 12 bronze medals. China reigned supreme with a collection of 114-68-34, followed by Japan in second place (28-38-39) and South Korea in third (27-29-54). – Bernama, October 1, 2023.