Malaysia End 20-Year Wait With Historic Bronze At Asian Canoe Polo Championships    

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia created history at the 19th Asian Canoe Polo Championships by winning their first-ever men’s bronze medal to end a two-decade wait since the country’s debut in the competition at the Putrajaya Water Sports Complex on Sunday.

The national team defeated Singapore 2-0 in the bronze medal playoff after narrowly losing 2-4 to Japan in the semi-finals earlier.

Combined with the Under-21 (U-21) squads’ contribution, Malaysia ended the tournament with one gold and two bronze medals, marking their best-ever achievement in the championship’s history.

The national women’s U-21 team delivered Malaysia’s first gold since their debut in 2005, while the men’s U-21 side settled for bronze.

Malaysian Canoe Association (MASCA) vice-president Raja Shahrul Azremel said the success reflected the country’s growing strength in the sport and called for canoe polo to be included in the 2027 SEA Games in Malaysia.

“The results show that Malaysia now has the capacity to win gold. With this U-21 squad maturing in two years, the senior team will be strong enough to deliver one or two golds for the nation,” he said in a statement.

In the men’s final, Taiwan edged Japan in extra time to secure the gold medal and added the women’s title after defeating Singapore 6-1.
-- BERNAMA