The nickname follows Harimau Malaya and Speedy Tigers, giving sepak takraw its own identity after Malaysia’s team regu gold in Nagoya.
THE success in ending a 36-year wait for the men’s team regu gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has not only restored the glory of Malaysian sepak takraw but also forged a new identity for the national squad.
Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) president Datuk Mohd Sumali Redzuan announced that the national squad is now officially known as ‘The Golden Tigers’, a nickname chosen following their 2-0 victory over Thailand in the final at the Nagoya City Mizuho Arena today.
He said the title was inspired by the identities of other national teams, including Harimau Malaya in football and the Speedy Tigers in hockey.
The success in Aichi-Nagoya provided the perfect moment for sepak takraw to have its own distinct identity associated with the national team, he said.
“Many people have asked me before, including former Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, about the nickname for the national sepak takraw squad,” said Mohd Sumali, who is also the Chef de Mission of the Malaysian contingent for the Games.
The victory also ended Malaysia’s wait since the 1990 Beijing edition to win the Asian Games team regu gold, reviving the country’s status as a dominant powerhouse in the sport in the region.
In a related development, Mohd Sumali said PSM has increased the reward for each player from RM7,000 to RM10,000, in appreciation of their achievement.
“There were already rewards based on the rounds, but after their win just now, I felt we should increase the amount, and all exco members agreed,” he said.
