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SEA Games: Netball journey comes full circle for Malaysian netballer after gold medal win

KUALA LUMPUR – Sixteen years ago at the Juara Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Puah Pei Ling was part of the Malaysian team that beat Singapore in the first ever SEA Games netball final.

Puah Pei San, 31, taking part in her first Games, came off the bench in the second half of the match to play her part as Malaysia reclaimed the title against defending champions Singapore. Photo: Teo Teng Kiat.

Puah Pei San, 31, taking part in her first Games, came off the bench in the second half of the match to play her part as Malaysia reclaimed the title against defending champions Singapore. Photo: Teo Teng Kiat.

KUALA LUMPUR – Sixteen years ago at the Juara Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Puah Pei Ling was part of the Malaysian team that beat Singapore in the first ever SEA Games netball final.

Then 15, younger sister Pei San was awed and followed in her sibling’s footsteps by taking up the sport the same year.

On Sunday afternoon (Aug 20), the Puah family legacy came full circle at the very same venue when Pei San won her own netball gold medal as the hosts swept to a 65-41 victory over the same opponents.

The 31-year-old, taking part in her first Games, came off the bench in the second half of the match to play her part as Malaysia reclaimed the title against the defending champions.

It was a poignant moment for Pei San as she had always dreamed of emulating Pei Ling’s feat by winning a gold medal.

But while she was a star at youth level, winning three straight Asian youth championship titles from 2004 to 2008, the wing attack missed out on selection for the 2015 team when netball returned to the Games.

As fate would have it, Malaysia lost 43-46 to Singapore then. Yesterday, revenge was successfully exacted as the home side, which comprised nine members from that silver-winning team, blew their Causeway rivals away in front of a partisan home crowd.

“I’ve got no words to describe how special this is because my sister won this gold medal at this stadium,” she told TODAY.

Pei San, who took a break from the sport after 2013, added: “I was fighting for (selection in) 2015, but I wasn’t chosen, so I came back stronger for this 2017 Games.”

The triumph also meant Pei San, a Bukit Jalil Sports School graduate who is currently assistant coach to their junior netball team, ends her international career on a high.

“This is the last tournament for me, as I will announce my retirement,” she added. “So this victory is (really) very special, of course, because we have repeated the history amongst us siblings.” 

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