Malaysia's Sepak Takraw Coach Calls for Accelerated Youth Transition After King's Cup Final Loss

The Malaysian national sepak takraw team fell short in the 2026 King's Cup, losing 0-2 to Thailand in the team regu final. This defeat means Malaysia continues its 38-year wait to reclaim the prestigious team regu title.

Head coach Ahmad Jais Baharun admitted that while reaching the final of the team regu event met one of the team's targets, the overall performance requires improvement. The squad was also eliminated in the semifinals of the regu event and failed to advance past the group stage in the quadrant event.

Jais defended the performance of Kamarul Ezzad Kamarul Imran, the team's left striker (apit kiri) in the first regu, who was making his international debut. The coach emphasized that the King's Cup served as a crucial learning experience for the young player, who needs time to mature in his game and gain high-level international exposure. "This needs to be a lesson for him to mature more in terms of play, performance, and experience. I believe he can bounce back in the next international competition," Jais stated.

However, Jais also noted that the performance of experienced left striker Zuleffendi Sumari appears to be stagnating. He stressed the importance of initiating the transition to younger players sooner rather than later, identifying the King's Cup as an ideal platform to test emerging talents like Kamarul Ezzad and scout for future replacements for the national team's left striker position.

"We need to be prepared from the start for the transition process because we are aware that left strikers like Farhan Adam and Pak Long are getting older," Jais explained. "This is the best platform for young players to hone their skills, gain experience, and see how capable they are on the international stage."