Andre, 26, leaped 7.71m to claim gold, ending Malaysia’s 22-year drought in the event last won by Shahrul Amri Suhaimi at the 2003 edition in Vietnam.

Defending champion Janry Ubas of the Philippines finished second with a leap of 7.64m, and Andrew George Medina of Singapore took bronze with a jump of 7.53m.

Andre said he was surprised to emerge the winner, having only taken silver in the men’s triple jump previously.

“After losing in the triple jump, I knew I had to redeem myself. I still can’t quite believe it. I was so happy. I even took off my shirt and ran around,” Bernama reported him as saying.

He dedicated his gold medal to his wife, national squash player Aifa Azman, and his family in Sabah who had motivated him, adding he would now focus on preparing for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Meanwhile, the trio of Thor Chuan Leong, Moh Keen Hoo and Lim Kok Leong took the gold medal in the men’s 6-Red team snooker event in the final held at the Thunder Dome.

They dominated the contest with a four-frame victory over the Philippines’ Michael Angelo, Alvin Barbero and Basil Alshajjar, who managed to take just one frame.

Kok Leong lost the opening frame before Chuan Leong drew level for Malaysia to make it 1-1.

Keen Hoo and Chuan Leong then put Malaysia ahead by winning the third frame, before Chuan Leong and Kok Leong respectively sealed the win in the fourth and fifth frames.