In a stunning turn of events at the Titiwangsa Stadium, Malaysia’s elite inter-regu sepak takraw squad suffered a shock straight-sets defeat to Myanmar in the semi-finals of the Istaf World Cup today.

The national trio of Farhan Adam (feeder), Azlan Alias (striker), and Syahir Rosdi (tekong)—widely regarded as the country’s “golden trio”—appeared completely out of sorts despite the vocal backing of thousands of home fans. Myanmar’s Thant Zin Tun, Aung Aung, and Ye Hte dominated from the opening serve, securing a commanding 15-9, 15-10 victory.

The devastating loss shatters Malaysia’s dream of defending the inter-regu world title they famously captured during the 2024 edition in Kuala Lumpur, as well as their hopes for a clean sweep of finals appearances at this year’s tournament. The same trio had previously claimed gold at the 2025 Thailand SEA Games just last December.

National team head coach Ahmad Jais Baharun accepted the defeat with an open heart, admitting his charges struggled heavily to find their usual rhythm.

“Our players were simply not at their best today,” Jais stated. “It gave Myanmar a distinct advantage, and they capitalized by showcasing incredibly sharp attacks and an ironclad defense. We gave away too many crucial points through unforced service errors, while Myanmar’s service game was lethal.”

With the upset, Myanmar advances to face traditional heavyweights Thailand in the final tonight. The Thais secured their spot by rebounding from a set down to edge out South Korea 11-15, 15-11, 15-7 in the other semi-final clash.

Despite the inter-regu heartbreak, there was a silver lining for the host nation earlier in the day. Malaysia’s quadrant squad—comprising Afifuddin Razali, Shahalril Aiman Halim, Amirul Zazwan Amir, and Aidil Aiman Azwawi—successfully booked their ticket to the final. They fought through a grueling three-set thriller to overcome Vietnam 15-10, 12-15, 17-14.

The Malaysian quadrant team will face India in the grand finale tonight, after the South Asian side eliminated Myanmar 15-9, 15-17, 15-9. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated team event is scheduled to get underway tomorrow.