KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 — From virtually lacking their flights to Hangzhou attributable to money scarcity, the Malaysian kabaddi team defied all odds to make their mark on the 2023 Asian Games.
In Hangzhou, the underdogs got here towards 2018 Asian Games kabaddi champions, Iran as effectively, as with the 2018 silver and bronze medallists, South Korea and Pakistan.
Despite the robust grouping, the Malaysian team fought on undeterred to defeat South Korea (40-38) and completed fifth in the Games.
Malaysian kabaddi team’s assistant coach Arul Prakash Balakrishnan mentioned the national team has additionally certified for subsequent 12 months’s Kabaddi World Cup.
“The kabbadi team will not be a part of the Podium Programme. So, we solely had sufficient funds to coach for three months earlier than the event.
“On our personal, we additionally collected over RM250,000 by goodwill donations to cowl our training and different bills, in addition to the RM80,000 supplied by the National Sports Council.
The Malaysian kabaddi team completed fifth in the 2023 Asian Games. — Picture courtesy of Arul Prakash Balakrishnan
“But, that got here with some challenges. Some of our potential sponsors didn’t reply in time whereas some backed out on the final minute,” he instructed eNews Malaysia.
Arul mentioned the national team’s finest efficiency and best problem in the Games began in their face-off with South Korea.
“We have been lagging behind South Korea by 9 factors in the primary half however finally, we bought forward and completed 40-38.
“Two of our foremost gamers suffered from Anterior Cruciate Ligament accidents and one broke his nostril in the match.
“This affected our efficiency in the next video games with Iran and Pakistan,” Arul mentioned.
Kabaddi, a team contact sport that originated from India, turned a medal sport in the 1990 Asian Games.
The Malaysian kabaddi team has represented the nation in the Asian Games since 2010.
Arul mentioned the team is rooting for medals in subsequent 12 months’s Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Thailand and in the Kabaddi World Cup in Pakistan.
“With ample funds and a stable training programme, we can also carry house medals,” he mentioned.
