History was written at the Titiwangsa Stadium as the national sepak takraw quadrant squad captured their first-ever World Cup title after defeating India 2-0 in a thrilling final last night.

The spectacular victory beautifully healed the heartbreak of the regu squad’s semi-final exit earlier in the afternoon and perfectly mirrored their outstanding gold-medal achievement at the Asian Cup last year.

The national quartet—powered by strikers Muhammad Afifuddin Mohd Razali and Muhammad Shahalril Aiman Halim, alongside feeders Amirul Zazwan Amir and team captain Aidil Aiman Azwawi—put on a masterclass of composure and tactical grit.

The opening set was a relentless, point-for-point dogfight. India looked incredibly formidable early on, utilizing the sheer variety and explosive power of their dual strikers, Akash Yumnam and Bobby Kumar.

With the score deadlocked at a tense 14-14, the match was balanced on a knife-edge. Driven by a roaring, passionate crowd of nearly 3,000 local fans, the Malaysian side cut out all unforced errors. High-flying blocks and flawless positioning eventually allowed Afifuddin to hammer down the decisive spike, sealing the grueling first set 17-15.

Emboldened by the opening win, Malaysia looked far more relaxed and in control throughout the second set, quickly establishing a comfortable 10-7 lead through structured defense and aggressive transition play.

Even as physical fatigue and pain began to visibly creep in, Afifuddin displayed immense fighting spirit, staying on the court to smash home a crucial winner to put Malaysia up 12-9.

India refused to back down without a fight, with Yumnam Akash repeatedly weaponizing sharp, downward spikes to apply intense pressure on the hosts. However, Malaysia’s stone-wall defense held firm; a desperate Indian attack was brilliantly blocked at the net, bouncing squarely back into the opponents’ court to put Malaysia on match point at 14-10.

Fittingly, it was Afifuddin who turned hero one last time, unleashing a fierce, clinical strike to secure the 15-10 victory—locking in a historic straight-sets win and cementing Malaysia’s status as the new kings of the world quadrant stage.

The remaining members of the silver-medalist Indian squad included Sorokhaibam Malemnganba Singh and Ram Kumar Sharma.

In the men’s regu final, powerhouse Thailand had to dig deep into their reserves, surviving a massive scare after being dragged into a grueling three-set thriller by a relentless Myanmar trio.

The Thai lineup of Pornthep Tinbangbon, Chatuphon Siriat, and Marukin Phanmakon ultimately showcased their championship pedigree in the final moments, clawing out a 2-1 victory over Myanmar’s fighting trio of Thant Zin Tun, Aung Aung, and Ye Htet.