Leo Chong Wei Fu was crushed when he had to settle for the silver medal in the men's judo competition in the 2017 Sea Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Speaking to Malaysiakini recently, the 28-year-old athlete is still bitter for failing to clinch the gold.

“I blame myself for losing. Even now, when I look back, I feel sad,” Chong said.

Over the years, the judo national team would lose its funding for training, forcing Chong and his teammates to...