Malaysia's national team regu clinched the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup team regu event at Stadium Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur on May 23, 2026, after Thailand withdrew in protest during the final match [1, 2, 3]. More than 3,000 spectators witnessed the intense showdown between the two rivals [2].
Malaysia ended Thailand's three-edition winning streak to claim the title. The Malaysian squad fielded three regus: first regu of Muhammad Zulkifli Abd Razak, Muhammad Afifuddin Mohd Razali, and Aidil Aiman Azwawi; second regu of Muhammad Haziq Hairul Nizam, Mohamad Azlan Alias, and Farhan Adam; and third regu of Muhammad Zarif Marican Ibrahim Marican, Hafizul Hayazi Adnan, and Amirul Zazwan Amir [2].
The first regu match saw Malaysia take a 2-1 set win with scores of 15-9, 13-15, and 15-11. In the second regu match, Thailand bounced back winning 6-15 and 10-15, evening the final score at 1-1 [2].
Tension peaked in the deciding third regu where Malaysia won the first set 15-13. The second set reached a 14-14 tie after a referee review prompted by a disputed call. The referee awarded the crucial point to Malaysia, citing a Thai player's foot stepping beyond the court boundary after video review. Thailand protested and walked out, halting play for about 30 minutes before Malaysia was confirmed winner due to Thailand's refusal to continue [2].
National sepak takraw team manager Datuk Abu Jimi Samat supported the referee's ruling, stating, "The referee’s decision was correct because the Thai player’s foot clearly crossed the line. They had also watched the video earlier" [2].
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim congratulated the national team via Facebook on May 24, praising their win as "a meaningful gift for all Malaysians and proof that our people possess extraordinary ability, resilience, and spirit when carrying the nation's challenge." He added, "Congratulations to our national heroes—continue striving for excellence for our beloved Malaysia!" [1, 3].
Malaysia will formally celebrate the win in coming ceremonies as the country marks the end of Thailand's reign in the sport at the world stage.
