{
  "id": 6881216,
  "title": "World's best tekong Syahir facing fitness issues ahead of Asian Games",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/worlds-best-tekong-syahir-facing-fitness-issues-ahead-of-asian-games",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T07:26:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2026/09/1531192/worlds-best-tekong-syahir-facing-fitness-issues-ahead-asian-games"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia's sepak takraw squad, led by world-ranked tekong Syahir Rosdi, are bracing for potential fitness concerns as they prepare for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which run from September 19 to October 4. The 24-year-old experienced a muscle tear in his right leg in May, but now claims he has recovered 90 percent of his fitness and is on track to peak form for the Games. While Syahir admits his performance is still around 90 percent, he is confident it will suffice for the Asiad. His serves have shown improvement in recent weeks, regaining rhythm in his ball toss and strikes.\n\nNational coach Ahmad Jais Baharun reports that Syahir is making solid progress following rehabilitation and treatment at the National Sports Institute (NSI). The coach's assessment is that Syahir's recovery is improving and his fitness level is steadily increasing. The national team will compete in both men's regulation and team regulation events at the Games. However, Jais has also outlined contingency plans should Syahir be unable to compete, with the coaching staff, Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (STAM), National Sports Council (NSC), and NSI all working together on these strategies. STAM has set a target of securing at least two gold medals for the squad.\n\nThe Sepak Takraw competition will be held at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Gymnasium from September 20 to October 3. At the 2022 Hangzhou Games, Malaysia claimed silver in both the regulation and team regulation events.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Asian Games-bound sepak takraw squad face an anxious wait over the fitness of key tekong Syahir Rosdi ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya Games from Sept 19-Oct 4.",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysia's tekong Syahir faces fitness concerns ahead of Asian Games",
    "24-year-old Syahir recovered 90% from muscle tear in May",
    "National coach reports steady improvement in Syahir's fitness"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Syahir's lingering fitness concerns pose a risk to Malaysia's medal ambitions, but his reported progress and contingency plans in place may help mitigate the impact on the team's gold medal target.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "BAM eyes special incentive to end Malaysia’s 20-year wait for Asian Games badminton gold",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/bam-eyes-special-incentive-to-end-malaysias-20-year-wait-for-asian",
        "published": "2026-09-12T07:16:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "Sport : BAM Considers Special Incentive For Asian Games Gold - Tengku Zafrul",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/sport-bam-considers-special-incentive-for-asian-games-gold-tengku",
        "published": "2026-09-12T07:56:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}