SEA Games Aug 28 Roundup

Silat squad garner another gold, qualify for five finals
KUALA LUMPUR: The national silat squad today clinched another gold at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games at Juara Stadium, Bukit Kiara.
The gold medal was delivered by Muhammad Afifi Nordin in the putra (men's) individual seni silat event after securing 470 points, ahead of Indonesia's Sugianto and Ilyas Sadara of Thailand who claimed the silver and bronze with 462 and 457 points respectively.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi presented the medals to the winners.
With the gold medal today, Malaysia have bagged three silat gold after winning the putra ganda (men's doubles) and putri ganda (women's doubles) silat seni categories.
Gold medallist Muhammad Afifi Nordin, 28, said his success was attributed to the support of his parents, family and his teammates as well as others in the silat seni fraternity.
"My family especially my wife Nik Norili Farhana Nik Mohd Din have to celebrate this Aidilfitri without me as I was away training in Vietnam and the sacrifice appears to have paid off," he told reporters after the event.
Meanwhile world champion Siti Rahmah Mohamed Nasir headed five silat exponents into the finals tomorrow after defeating their respective opponents in the semi-finals today.
Siti Rahmah who is the 2016 Sportswoman of the Year crushed Paloy Barckkam of Laos 5-0 in the Putri E class (65-70kg) while Khaizul Yaacob outpointed Ma Van Dat of Vietnam in the Putra J class (90-95kg).
Also qualifying for the finals are Mohd Fauzi Khalid who beat Thai exponent, Seksan Srimarn in the Putra F class (70-75kg) as well as Muhammad Robial Sabri in the Putra H class (80-85kg) after stopping Anton Yuspermana of Indonesia.
Meanwhile Siti Shazwana Ajak had to muster her best to defeat Indonesia's Sarah Tria Monita 3-2 in the Putri D class (60-65kg).
Two more silat exponents however have to settle for the bronze medal after losing in the semi-finals.
Ahmad Badrirullah Rahmat lost 1-4 to world champion, Muhammad Shakir Juanda of Singapore in the Putra I class (85-90kg) while Khusairy Azhar went down 2-3 to Vietnam's Nguyen Duy Tuyen in the Putra G class (75-80kg).
Eiman, Nur Aiman deliver gold, silver in men's individual pursuit
NILAI: It was the gold and silver for Malaysia in the cycling men's individual pursuit event of the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games at the National Velodrome here tonight.
Eiman Firdaus Mohd Zamri recorded 4 minutes and 33.863 to clinch the gold while Mohamad Nur Aiman Mohd Zarrif did 4:41.222s and had to settle for the silver.
Sarawut Sirironnachai of Thailand recorded 4:55 249s to take the bronze.
In the heats, Eiman Firdaus had recorded the fastest time of 4:25.352s which is also a new national record while Mohamad Nur Aiman was second fastest (4:27.957s).
This Malaysia's fourth gold in track cycling which started yesterday.
Eight competitors, from Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and hosts Malaysia competed for the honours.
Meanwhile, Sofian Nabil Omar Mohd Bakri collected 136 points to win the silver medal in the men's omnium.
Singapore's Calvin Sim clinched the gold with 140 points while Nandra Eko Wahyudi of Indonesia took the bronze (135 points).
The omnium involves a 10km scratch race, 10km tempo race, an elimination round and a 25km point race.
Ahmad Amsyar wins 1m springboard gold to celebrate birthday with perfect gift
KUALA LUMPUR: Olympian Ahmad Amsyar Ahmad presented himself with the most memorable and perfect birthday gift ever by splashing his way to the men's 1m Springboard gold on his birthday today.
Ahmad Amsyar who turned 25 today collected 384.00 points for the gold, denying compatriot Ooi Tze Liang's triple gold medal attempt at the National Aquatic Centre here.
It was the first individual gold in the SEA Games for the Perlis-born who had won the 3m Synchronised Springboard gold medal at the 2013 Myanmar and 2015 Singapore editions plus a bronze in the 10m Platform at the 2011 Palembang Games.
Tze Liang who had claimed the gold in the men's 3m Springboard on Saturday and 10m Platform yesterday, settled for the silver with 368.60 points while Singapore's Mark Lee Han Ming claimed the bronze with 350.55 points.
But despite the win, Ahmad Amsyar would have to put his birthday celebrations and victory celebrations on hold tonight to get a good rest and be in shape for the men's 3m Springboard Synchronised event with Chew Yiwei, tomorrow.
"I plan to celebrate after diving events end on Wednesday," he said.
The gold feat was also a proud moment for his father Azman Hassan and mother Rosita Ibrahim, both lecturers at the Tawau Teachers Training Institute, who flew all the way from Sabah to watch their son in action.
"I am very happy that he won his first individual medal on his birthday at home, especially after being criticised by some quarters for his Rio Olympics performance. I feel our sacrifice of staying away from him due to his overseas training and competitions for so long paid off today," Azman said.
Ahmad Amsyar was criticised by foreign media after he hit the surface flat on his stomach in the 3m Springboard preliminary round and failed to qualify for the semifinal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, last Aug.
Since the SEA Games diving competitions started three days ago, Malaysia has clean swept all eight gold medals on offer with Jasmine Lau Pui Yee/Muhammad Syafiq Puteh winning the mixed 3m Springboard Synchronised gold with 284.94 points when the competition ended today.
Another three gold medals will be contested tomorrow, namely women's and men's 3m Springboard Synchronised and mixed 10m Platform Synchronised, while the last day on Wednesday, would see the action in men's and women's 10m Platform Synchronised.
Fatehah sprints to 110th gold for Malaysia
NILAI: Cycling sprint queen Fatehah Mustapa contributed the 110th gold medal to the Malaysian contingent by winning the women's Sprint gold at the National Velodrome, here tonight.
Fatehah's gold was just one short of the 111-gold target set for the games to emerge as the overall champion but gave the 2,500 odd fans who had filled the arena to the brim every reason to cheer after coming home with a time of 11.677s to beat team mate Farina Shawati Mohd Adnan while Uyun Muzizah from Indonesia took the bronze.
The gold won by Fatehah was the fifth contributed by the cycling team on the second day of track cycling events in the SEA Games.
Six riders from Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia took part in the event.
Malaysia retain women's field hockey gold
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's women's field hockey squad have captured the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games gold medal without conceding any goals.
In the final tonight, Malaysia defeated Thailand 2-0 at the National Hockey Stadium and defended the gold medal they won in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games.
Malaysia scored through Hanis Onn in the 46th minute and Nuraini Rashid one minute later.
Chief coach Muhammad Dharma Raj Abdullah said despite dominating the championships unbeaten and netting 32 goals, the national squad should further improve their scoring skills.
"This is worrying me, we still lack the deadly finishing," he said.
He said the squad would be having a two-week break after this before returning for training in preparation for the Asian Games in Indonesia next year.
Earlier Singapore beat Indonesia 2-0 for the bronze medal.
Pocketrocketman completes country's sprint to 111th gold medal
NILAI: World keirin champion Mohd Azizulhasni Awang accomplished the country's mission to achieve 111 gold medals in the SEA Games and emerge as the overall champion after winning the men's Sprint gold at the National Velodrome, here tonight.
Azizulhasni or better known as the Pocketrocketman for his explosive speed during competitions, sent the 2,500 odds fans into a frenzy by clocking 10.186s to beat team mate Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sharom despite falling on the track while building up to the final push.
The race had to be restarted.
Muhammad Shah Firdaus who had partnered Mohd Azizulhasni settled for the silver while Jaturong Niwati from Thailand took the bronze after beating Indonesia's Puguh Admadi.
The gold from Azizulhasni was the sixth from cycling in the competition that entered the second day of competition.
The race had initially started with eight riders from Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia.
Clinching 111th gold medal, a meaning milestone for Azizulhasni
NILAI: Capturing the men's individual sprint gold medal at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games today is one of the sweetest victories for the reigning keirin world champion, Mohd Azizulhasni Awang.
The gold medal was also the magical number 111th for the national contingent but it was also Azizulhasni's first individual gold medal at the SEA Games after his last success in the Korat edition in 2007.
He said racing before local fans especially his wife and two children as well as family members gave him an indescribable feeling as well as a sense of pride in hearing his supporters' cheers at the National Velodrome tonight.
"After 10 years, I finally rode in the SEA Games before my fans ... many of them have never seen me live in action.
"I was further touched when I was told my gold medal was the number 111th, a sweet moment and a meaningful farewell for my last SEA Games appearance," he said.
In this regard, Azizulhasni also dedicated the gold medal to his wife, Athiah Ilyana Abdul Samat.
"I had dedicated my gold medal in Korat to my wife and now after ten year of marriage with two children, I once again present the gold medal to her," he said.
In the final today, Azizulhasni defeated compatriot Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom 2-0 in the gold medal determination race.
The bronze medal went to Thailand's Jaturong Niwanti who beat Puguh Admadi of Indonesia in the bronze deciding round. — Bernama