SEA Games: Bunga Raya 7s Men's Squad Target Final
SEMENYIH, June 18 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Rugby Union (MRU) has adopted a cautious approach by setting a target of reaching the final for the national men’s rugby sevens (7s) team at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, scheduled from Dec 9 to 20.
MRU deputy president Mohd Azmir Zainul Abdin said this target is based on the recent performances of the Bunga Raya 7s squad, with Thailand seen as having the advantage as the host nation.
He said head coach Nik Safuan Ismade Nik Man's charges will play several international test matches ahead of the biennial Games to assess their level of preparedness.
“I'm not saying it's impossible to win gold, but it's fair to set a target without putting too much pressure on the team. The target is the final for the men’s team, and perhaps a top-three finish for the women’s squad,” he said at the signing ceremony of an agreement between MRU and Agym Nutrition here today.
After settling for silver at the 2015 edition in Singapore, Malaysia won gold on home soil in 2017 before finishing with silver again in the Philippines in 2019.
The event was not contested in the 2021 edition in Vietnam and the 2023 Games in Cambodia.
In the women’s event, Malaysia won bronze medals in both 2017 and 2019.
Nik Safuan said the men's target is realistic and agreed that Thailand are Malaysia's main obstacle to winning the gold.
“Our main challenge is Thailand, as they have been training for the past two years. Looking at the performance at the 2025 Southeast Asia Rugby Sevens (SEA 7s) Championship in Singapore last April, we were behind Thailand, although we didn’t lose by much.
“I believe we can improve and rectify the mistakes we made in Singapore. I feel we can spring a surprise,” he said.
He added that as part of their preparations, the national team will compete in a quadrangular tournament featuring Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore in Bangkok this August, before taking part in the Asia Rugby Sevens Series in Hangzhou, China, in September.
At today’s ceremony, Agym Nutrition signed an agreement to supply a range of sports nutrition products, including whey protein and creatine, to all national rugby squads, in a deal worth nearly RM1 million over three years.
-- BERNAMA
