Syahir uses secret weapon to steer Malaysia into Asian Games regu final
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian tekong Syahir Rosdi’s smile proved to be an unlikely weapon against pressure as the Golden Tigers fought back to beat the Philippines 2-1 in the sepak takraw regu semi-final and keep their double-gold bid intact at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games today.
Malaysian sepak takraw player Syahir Rosdi used his cheerful demeanor, dubbed the "Smiling Assassin," to help steer his team to victory in the Asian Games regu semi-final against the Philippines. Despite dropping the opening match 15-10, Syahir's positive attitude proved instrumental in Malaysia's remarkable comeback, securing a 10-15, 15-11, 15-10 win and advancing to the final.
Facing Thailand in tomorrow's gold-medal clash, Syahir vowed to give his all in the crucial match. He acknowledged the immense pressure from the Philippines’ strong performance in the first game, but his signature smile helped maintain composure and calm for himself and teammates. Coach Ahmad Jais implemented strategic changes, including substituting Zulkifli Razak with Syahir and Azlan Alias for Afifuddin Razali, which proved vital in the second and third sets.
Malaysia had previously clinched the regu gold in 2018, with Syahir and his teammates continuing their pursuit of success.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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