KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia has set its sights on 16 gold medals at the upcoming Southeast Asia (SEA) Deaf Games, as Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh today handed over the national flag to the contingent bound for Jakarta.
At a ceremony in Putrajaya, Hannah presented the Jalur Gemilang to Chef de Mission Sarkunan Balakrisnan and long and triple jump athlete Zaiman Megat Abu, who will serve as flag bearer.
Malaysia is sending an 80-strong delegation – 53 athletes and 27 officials – making it the second-largest team after hosts Indonesia. The athletes will compete in all six sports: futsal, athletics, badminton, tenpin bowling, chess and table tennis.
The main medal hopes rest on athletics and tenpin bowling, where the team is aiming for six and five golds respectively.
Among those expected to shine is Zaiman, who won gold at the inaugural Games in 2022, alongside badminton stars Boon Wei Ying and Foo Zu Tung, both past gold medallists at the Deaflympics and the SEA Deaf Games.
Hannah urged the athletes to compete with determination and uphold the nation’s pride.
“Limitations are never a barrier to success,” she said. “You are not only competing for medals, but also showing what is possible while bringing glory to Malaysia.”
The minister also highlighted the government’s RM3 million allocation to the Malaysian Deaf Sports Association (MSDeaf) for preparations for the SEA Deaf Games and the Deaflympics in Tokyo later this year.
MSDeaf president Ong Shin Ruenn expressed gratitude for the support, calling it “a historic allocation” that would boost preparations and athlete development.
The Malaysian contingent, which has been in centralised training across six states since last year, will depart for Jakarta on Tuesday. The Games begin on Wednesday. — August 18, 2025