KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s indoor rowing team returned from the 2025 Asian Rowing Indoor Championships in Thailand with a modest medal haul—but a legacy of resilience and historic para achievement that will be remembered far beyond the podium.
Competing without sponsorship and with limited preparation, the Malaysian contingent delivered four gold and three silver medals across six days of racing in Pattaya, against regional rivals including Iran, Singapore, India and the UAE.
Among the standout performers was Adam Mu’ammar Amizal, whose gold in the para PR3 ID men’s 500m (1:46.2) marked a breakthrough for Malaysia’s adaptive rowing scene.
The PR3 ID classification is designated for athletes with intellectual impairments who retain full use of their legs, trunk and arms—allowing them to row with standard technique.
Adam’s silver in the longer 2000m event (9:16.7) further cemented his place among the region’s elite, and signalled growing promise in Malaysia’s para rowing programme.
This year’s edition, held at Baan Sukhawadee in Pattaya, offered more than a competitive stage—it was, for many Malaysian athletes, a personal and collective test of commitment.
Without external support, athletes leaned on personal funds, community aid and family contributions to make the trip.
Veteran rowers Reen Rawaida Zuhdi and Roszailina Othman delivered strong performances in the masters women 40–49 category.
Reen swept both lightweight events with gold in the 2000m (8:41.0) and 500m (1:53.8), while Roszailina clinched gold in the 2000m (8:52.0) and added a silver in the 500m (1:55.8).
Lim Min Ye earned silver in the masters men 40–49 lightweight 500m (1:36.4), while Putra Wayan placed fourth in the 2000m (7:34.1) and fifth in the 500m (1:34.7) for the masters men 30–39 lightweight.
Fellow para-athlete Fahry Al-Hazim, competing in the PR3 PD Men’s category, finished fourth in both the 2000m (9:21.5) and 500m (2:03.1), improving his personal best by nearly 30 seconds.
But the emotional centre of Malaysia’s campaign came from its quiet moments.
Dr. S. Munirah Alatas, Malaysia’s most senior representative, was forced to withdraw due to a cardiac condition. Though unable to compete, her message to the team—“I’ll be back stronger. My goal is 7:59 by the next WRICH”—served as a rallying point for her teammates.
The team’s spirit was encapsulated in a message shared internally during the championship:
“The sport of rowing is just like life. Victory doesn’t arrive by chance. It is built, stroke by stroke.”
This ethos was mirrored in the wider mission of Malaysia’s rowing community — to elevate participation, improve recognition of para-athletes, and advocate for rowing’s inclusion at the 2027 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.
“Efforts are also underway to ensure sufficient regional representation in para rowing for it to be formally contested at future Southeast Asian competitions,” the team said in a statement to Scoop.
With the indoor campaign concluded, Malaysia’s rowing focus now shifts to the Southeast Asia Rowing Championship, currently underway in Rayong till June 4.
The event will act as a staging ground for the national classic rowing team ahead of December’s SEA Games in Thailand.
Malaysia’s best performance at the Asian Rowing Indoor Championships remains the 2024 edition in Penang, where the team secured 15 gold, 16 silver, and 11 bronze medals, finishing second overall with a total of 42 medals.
In contrast, the 2025 outing produced a more modest seven medals—four gold and three silver—but in terms of spirit, struggle, and unity, the team said it may go down as one of their most meaningful performances. — June 2, 2025