Late blow for Malaysia as Noraizat ruled out before opener

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 20, 2026

Malaysia’s sepak takraw team lost key player Noraizat Nordin to injury one day before their first Asian Games match, prompting the late addition of Shahalril Aiman Halim to the men’s regu squad. This sudden change challenges Malaysia’s preparations as they aim to advance from Group B and contend for the gold medal.

Malaysia’s sepak takraw team faced a significant setback ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after tekong Noraizat Nordin was ruled out due to injury just one day before their opening match. The 27-year-old sustained the injury during a training session and was declared unfit to compete following medical assessments.

Noraizat’s replacement, Shahalril Aiman Halim, has been called up to fill the critical role in Malaysia’s men’s regu squad. The team is scheduled to face host nation Japan in their opening Group B match at the Paloma Mizuho Arena.

The Malaysian Sepak Takraw Federation (PSM) expressed hope that the transition would go smoothly and wished Noraizat a full recovery. Noraizat was considered a key player for Malaysia’s campaign, and his absence requires the team to make last-minute adjustments as they aim for a gold medal.

Following their opening encounter against Japan, Malaysia will play the Philippines tomorrow and conclude the group stage with a match against India on Tuesday. The tournament format advances the top teams from each group to the semi-finals on Thursday, with the final scheduled for Friday.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.