On the final day of the Southeast Asian Games, Singapore's silat campaign concluded with a shining moment as Dhani Andika Razali clinched a gold medal on December 17. This victory, however, came amidst the backdrop of disappointment, as Singapore was unable to replicate its previous success of securing two golds at the last SEA Games held in Cambodia.
In an impressive showdown at Impact Arena in Bangkok, the 20-year-old Dhani triumphed over Indonesia's Mustakim Khoirudin with a score of 41-21 in the men's tanding competition for the under-45 kg category. But the day wasn't entirely celebratory for Singapore; 29-year-old Sheik Ferdous Sheik Alauddin, who had previously won a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games, faced a tough defeat in the final match against Vietnam's Nguyen Tuyen Duy, ending with a score of 26-5. Ferdous's pursuit of his first SEA Games gold continues to be elusive.
Both athletes had shown remarkable skill and determination, advancing to the finals after successfully outscoring their opponents from the Philippines and Indonesia in the semi-finals held the day before. Overall, Singapore’s silat team wrapped up their efforts with a total of four medals: alongside Dhani's gold, they earned a silver in the men’s artistic regu event and two bronze medals—one from Nurin Insyirah in the women's seni tunggal event and another from Abdul Raaziq in the men’s tanding for the 75 to 80 kg category. This was a contrast to their performance in the previous Games, where they returned home with an impressive tally of ten medals.
In a separate incident during the quarter-finals of the 50 to 55 kg event, controversy erupted when members of the Malaysian silat team clashed with referees and event organizers after receiving an unfavorable decision. Reports from various media outlets, including Thai Enquirer and VnExpress International, indicated that Thailand’s Jongtima Ruenthong secured a victory over Malaysia's Nor Farah Mazlan based on a tie-breaking rule, as their match concluded with both athletes having equal points.
This result led to significant protests from Nor Farah, Malaysian head coach Siti Rahmah Mohamed Nasir, and other members of the Malaysian contingent, escalating into a physical altercation. Security and police personnel were called in to manage the situation, ultimately resulting in the Malaysians leaving the venue. Despite the uproar, the original decision was reaffirmed.
