Malaysia deserved more than 1 gold, laments pencak silat coach

Malaysia deserved more than 1 gold, laments pencak silat coach

Nazri Nasir not happy with some of the judges’ decisions.

Taqiyuddin Hamid (left) and Sazzlan Yuga delivered Malaysia’s only gold. (Twitter pic/#TeamMAS)
SUBIC:
Scoring system in subjective sports at the SEA Games continues to be a bone of contention among national coaches, with pencak silat results today ruffling feathers in the Malaysian camp.

Malaysian exponents ended the opening day of competition at Subic Bay Exhibit and Convention Centre with one gold and bronze.

Taqiyuddin Hamid-Sazzlan Yuga delivered victory in ganda putra (doubles) while bronze came via the regu putra trio of Syafiq Ibrahim, Juned Abdullah and Nashrul Edzam.

National coach Nazri Nasir, however, was disappointed with the wasits’ (judges) decision to award gold to Philippines exponent Edmar Tacuel in tunggal putra (singles) category.

Tacuel scored 470 points ahead of Singaporean Iqbal Rahman (461) and Indonesian Dino Sulistianto (460). Fourth-placed Malaysian Luqman Laji missed out on a podium finish by four points.

“We should have got a medal from tunggal putra while the regu putra trio deserved silver rather than bronze. Luck wasn’t on our side,” lamented Nazri.

Nazri, however, was optimistic Nur Syafiqah Hamzah can nab an upset gold tomorrow.

“This is her first SEA Games and I’m hoping for the best,” he added.

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