NAGOYA, Sept 24 — Malaysia climbed into the top 10 of the medal standings at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games after winning two gold medals on Day Five, staying on track for their six-gold target.

Malaysia now holds eighth place with three gold, one silver, and five bronze medals, totalling nine.

Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira delivered gold in the Gran Turismo 7 (GT7) esports event, while national karateka C. Shahmalarani added another in the women’s under-50kg kumite.

Taj Izrin Aiman kept his composure in the deciding race at Aichi Sky Expo to secure the title.

At Toyohashi Gymnasium, Shahmalarani edged out Hong Kong’s Tsang Yee Ting by judges’ decision to claim Malaysia’s second gold of the Games.

Malaysia picked up their first silver after the eFootball duo Muhammad Hariz Hazmi Hakimin and Farish Luzman Muhammad Farid Sellekumar lost 2-4 on aggregate to Iran in the final at Aichi Sky Expo.

The men’s kata squad secured bronze by beating Vietnam, while Clement Ting Su Wei added another in the combined wushu, daoshu and gunshu, raising Malaysia’s bronze count to five.

Elsewhere, Malaysian swimmers Khiew Hoe Yean and Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal finished seventh and eighth in the 200m freestyle final, while Bryan Leong Xin Ren missed out on the 100m backstroke final.

In wushu, Pang Pui Yee placed fourth in the women’s jianshu and qiangshu combined. Shooters Nurul Syasya Nadiah Mohd Ariffin and Joseph Lee Joon Kit did not reach the finals in the 10m air pistol and individual skeet.

Tomorrow, focus turns to the men’s regu sepak takraw semi-final against Indonesia and the men’s hockey group match with Thailand as Malaysia look to maintain momentum.

In squash, Aira Azman and S. Sivasangari continue their runs in the women’s singles.

Day Six brings more chances in athletics, with Muhammad Haiqal Hanafi and Muhammad Azeem Fahmi set for the men’s 100m and Muhammad Irfan Shamsuddin in the discus final. — Bernama