KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- A mix of experienced and new players will be the national deaf futsal squads’ main weapon in their bid for a double gold at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Deaf Games 2025 in Jakarta from Aug 20 to 26.
Head coach Lo Fook Fah is optimistic that the target can be achieved by both the men’s and women’s squads, based on the progress and chemistry built during training sessions ahead of the second edition of the Games.
“For the men’s squad, there are about six senior players and four new ones, while the women’s team has three seasoned players and seven newcomers.
“I see very good cooperation among them, and their interactions are very close. The men’s squad is targeting gold, and the same target is set for the women’s team,” he told reporters after receiving a visit from chef de mission Sarkunan Balakrisnan during a training session here today.
The men’s team are the defending champions, while the women’s squad finished with bronze at the inaugural SEA Deaf Games 2022 here.
Fook Fah expects Thailand and Indonesia to be the main challengers in both futsal categories in Jakarta.
He said only the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the draw to be held upon the team's arrival in Jakarta.
Sarkunan said the national squads' preparations for games are going smoothly.
Malaysia, which will send the second-largest contingent to the SEA Deaf Games, has set a mission of winning 16 gold medals, aiming to defend the overall title claimed at the inaugural edition three years ago.
-- BERNAMA
