Golden Tigers Rewarded RM160,000 Windfall Following Historic Asian Games Victory

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 – Malaysia’s national men’s sepak takraw squad, the Golden Tigers, received a RM160,000 monetary reward alongside gold bars and shopping vouchers following their standout performance at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.

The Malaysian Sepak Takraw Association (PSM) presented the rewards to 12 squad members and two coaches during an official appreciation ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur on Monday evening.

Strategic partner Telekom Malaysia (TM Group) supplemented the cash incentive by presenting players and coaches with gold bars and corporate shopping vouchers.

Historic Victory, PSM Initiative, and SHAKAM Scheme

The team was recognized for ending a multi-decade gold medal drought against traditional regional rivals:

• Historic Gold & Silver Double: The Golden Tigers ended a 36-year wait for the men’s team regu gold medal by defeating Thailand 2–0 in the final, alongside securing a silver medal in the men’s regu event following a 0–2 loss to Thailand.
• Proactive Association Reward: PSM President Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan noted that the governing body raised internal funds rather than relying solely on official government schemes, marking one of the largest single rewards distributed in the sport’s domestic history.
• Player Appreciation: National chief server Mohammad Syahir Mohd Rosdi welcomed the unexpected windfall, estimating that squad members would receive approximately RM10,000 each prior to official government payouts under the National Sports Victory Reward Scheme (SHAKAM).
• High-Profile Attendance: The appreciation event was attended by Olympic Council of Malaysia Deputy President Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad, National Sports Council (MSN) Director-General Jefri Ngadirin, and National Sports Institute (ISN) Chief Executive Officer Dr. P. Vellapandian.

Mohd Sumali added that PSM intends to expand future reward structures in tandem with the association’s growing financial capacity.

–NMT