PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s table tennis contingent ended their SEA Games 2025 journey with two bronze medals after both the men’s and women’s teams were eliminated in the semi-final stage of the competition in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
The men’s team was the first to take to the table, facing a formidable Vietnamese lineup in the semi-finals. Despite determined efforts, Malaysia was unable to match Vietnam’s consistency and tactical discipline, going down 0-3 in the tie.
Vietnam advanced to the final but were narrowly beaten by Singapore, who claimed the gold medal with a dramatic 3-2 victory.
In the women’s category, Malaysia delivered a competitive showing against Thailand, pushing the hosts to the limit in a tense semi-final encounter. However, Thailand’s experience and home advantage proved decisive as they secured a 3-2 win in the deciding match.
Thailand later confirmed their supremacy by overcoming Singapore 3-2 in the final to secure the women’s team gold.
The bronze-medal finish represented a step back from Malaysia’s silver-medal achievements at the previous SEA Games, highlighting the increasingly competitive nature of table tennis in the region.
Observers pointed out that sustained investment in grassroots development, enhanced coaching structures and greater exposure to high-level international competition will be essential if Malaysia is to regain ground on their regional rivals.
Although the results fell short of expectations, the Malaysian camp believes the SEA Games experience will serve as an important foundation for rebuilding and long-term improvement.