KUALA LUMPUR, 12 December: Malaysia added another medal to their tally at the 33rd Thailand SEA Games today after the mixed doubles pairing of Ayzek Hakimi Safingan–Sharifah Afiqah Farzana Syed Ali secured a bronze medal at Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University.
Ayzek–Sharifah battled bravely in the semi-finals but were edged 8-13 by the Philippines’ Ronnel Fuentes–Clyde Joy Baria, who went on to finish runners-up to Thailand.
Despite the result, the Malaysian pair’s podium finish marks a positive step forward for the national petanque programme.
The bronze is Malaysia’s second medal in the sport at these Games, following Nuzul Azwan Ahmad Temizi’s bronze medal performance in the men’s shooting event earlier this week.
Sharifah reflected on the mixed emotions following the semi-final, expressing gratitude while acknowledging her own high standards.
“Alhamdulillah, I am grateful for the bronze medal as it means I did not return home empty-handed for Malaysia,” she said.
“At the same time, I am slightly disappointed that I was unable to improve the medal colour in the mixed doubles. I previously competed in the mixed doubles event with my elder brother Syed Afiq Fakhri at the Vietnam SEA Games, and I was hoping to do better this time.
