19/09/2024

SPORTS THURSDAY | SEP 19, 2024

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Kian Meng-Pei Jing move into China Open 2nd round AS EXPECTED, professional mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing advanced to the second round of the 2024 China Open badminton tournament after defeating India’s Reddy B. Sumeeth-Reddy Sikki yesterday. The world No. 17 had no problems winning 21 10, 21-16 in 31 minutes. 21, 21-16, 21-15 in the first round in Changzhou yesterday. The Malaysians needed 44 minutes to subdue the sixth-seeded Taiwanese pair and set up a second round date with either Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen, also of Taiwan, or Indonesians Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Muhammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani. Professional mixed doubles pair Lai Pei Jing (left) and Tan Kian Meng. – BERNAMA FILEPIX

RESULTS

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Juventus 3 (Yildiz 21, McKennie 27, Gonzalez 52) PSV Eindhoven 1 (Saibari 90+3) , Young Boys 0 Aston Villa 3 (Tielemans 27, Ramsey 38, Onana 86) , Bayern Munich 9 (Kane 19 pen, 57, 73-pen, 78-pen, Guerreiro 33, Olise 38, 61, Sane 85, Goretzka 90+2) Dinamo Zagreb 2 (Petkovic 48, Ogiwara 50) , AC Milan 1 (Pulisic 3) Liverpool 3 (Konate 23, Van Dijk 41, Szoboszlai 67) , Real Madrid 3 (Mbappe 46, Ruediger 83, Endrick 90+5) Stuttgart 1 (Undav 68) , Sporting Lisbon 2 (Gyokeres 38, Debast 65) Lille 0. ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP (3rd round) : Stoke 1 Fleetwood 1 (Stoke win 2-1 on pen) , Blackpool 0 Sheffield Wednes day 1, Brentford 3 Leyton Orient 1, Everton 1 Southampton 1 (Southamp ton win 6-5 on pen) , Preston 1 Fulham 1 (Preston win 16-15 on pen) , QPR 1 Crystal Palace 2, Manchester United 7 Barns ley 0. LA LIGA: Mallorca 1 (Prats 36-pen) Real Sociedad 0. Several sports to be reinstated at SEA Games 2025 SEVERAL sports previously excluded from the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, but have the potential to earn medals for Malaysia, are set to be reinstated. Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary-general Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Mohd Najib said that among these sports are tenpin bowling, weightlifting, wushu, karate, jujitsu and kabaddi. “We held a meeting with the organisers and the SEA Games Federation (SEAGF) on Sept 5 to submit an appeal for several sports that were not included in the initial list for the SEA Games in Thailand. “Ninety per cent of the appeals made by OCM received positive response from the hosts as they intend to feature 50 sports encompassing 550 events,” he said when contacted by Bernama yesterday. In June, OCM announced that they would appeal to SEAGF to include several potential medal-winning sports for Malaysia in this prestigious regional event after Thailand suggested holding 40 sports to be contested in Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla. At that time, karate, wushu, jujitsu, lawn bowls and weightlifting – all considered “gold mines” for Malaysia – were removed from the list for the 33rd SEA Games from Dec 9-20, 2025. Meanwhile, Mohd Nazifuddin announced that they are working on submitting an appeal for lawn bowls to be included in the 33rd edition of the Games, with a decision set to be made at a meeting on Oct 5. Lawn bowls was last contested at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, where the national team bagged four golds and two bronzes. – Bernama

Today, they will meet Denmark’s Jesper Toft Amalie Magelund, who beat Taiwan’s Wu Hsuan Yi-Yang Chu Yun 14-21, 22-20, 21-16 in the opening round. Also through to the second round is national mixed pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Yu Sin, who disposed of Taiwan’s Yang Po Hsuan-Hu Ling Fang 21-17, 21-16. Pang Ron-Yu Sin will next play teammates Yap Roy King-Valeree Siow, who received a bye in the first round. National men’s doubles pair Choong Hon Jian Muhammad Haikal Nazri’s hope of playing in the second round was dashed when they lost to world champions Kang Min Hyuk-Seo Sung Jae of South Korea 21-10, 21-18. Min Hyuk-Sung Jae will meet another Malaysian pair, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who beat China’s Xie Hao Nan-Zeng Wei Han 21-17, 21-19 in the first round on Tuesday. Meanwhile, men’s doubles professional pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi had to work their socks off to beat Taiwan’s Lee Jhe Huei- Yang Po Hsuan 13

In the mixed doubles event, Malaysia’s Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei cruised into the second round after taking just 26 minutes to dispose of India’s Sathish Kumar Karunakaran-Aadya Variyath 21-14, 21-11. The Malaysians will next take on Dejan Ferdinansyah-Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja after the Indonesians advanced to the second round when their opponents, Lee Chun Hei Reginald-Ng Tsz Yau of Hong Kong retired in the second game after losing the first. – Bernama

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18/09/2024

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Independent Harimau Malaya? No issues if national football team plans to ‘operate independently’, says AFC

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RM18,304,754.00

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T HE Asian Football Confederation (AFC) does not foresee any issues arising if Harimau Malaya “operates independently” in the future. AFC secretary-general Datuk Seri Windsor John said they are not against the idea as long as the national men’s football team remains under the jurisdiction of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). “First of all, we need to see the report on how this project will be implemented. I use the term “project” because everything that will be done must be under the control or responsibility of FAM. “That’s why we need to look at the details first – who the management is, who makes the decisions, and how funds are allocated. “Any project must be under the responsibility of FAM because they will be dealing with AFC, the International Football Federation (Fifa), or any other external bodies, and not other companies or management. “The FAM secretary-general’s signature is what counts, not anyone else, as this is standard practice in terms of administration, structure and governance,” he said. He told reporters this after the launch of the 2025 AFC Medical Conference, which

was also attended by the Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general Dr K. Nagulendran yesterday. Windsor noted that a similar approach was implemented when Malaysia hosted the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, with the national youth squad managed by another body under the supervision of the late Tan Sri Elyas Omar, former Kuala Lumpur Mayor and president of the Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA). Although it fell under FAM, he said the body was given the authority to select the coaches for the national youth team at that time. “In fact, the Thailand football team was previously managed by another party led by a businesswoman, and not by the association or stakeholders,” he said. He said the term “privatisation” used in previous media reports was not accurate as it should be better defined as a project. Recently, in a social media post, Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail floated the idea of allowing the national team to operate separately, spelling out the proposed independent body’s organisational chart, system and role. – Bernama

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RM124,456.89

Korda, Ko lead stellar cast for Maybank Championship 2024 WORLD NO. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States and Paris 2024 Olympics gold medallist Lydia Ko of New Zealand are among the many marquee names that will feature in the Maybank Championship 2024 in Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) here, from Oct 24 to 27. Apart from continuing to be a showcase of world-class talent, Maybank president and group chief executive officer Datuk Khairussaleh Ramli, emphasised the (LPGA) commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said the championship served as an important part of the LPGA Tour’s global calendar as well as a crucial part of their Asian swing.

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championship’s role in promoting inclusivity and fostering talent across the Asean region. “More than just a competition, the platform serves as a driver of economic development and bears testament to our ongoing commitment to empowering the region,” he said in the same statement. While voicing her appreciation of Maybank for sharing the tour’s commitment to growing the game, Ladies Professional Golf Association

The Maybank Championship 2024 which is set to feature 78-player field, will be offering US$3 million (RM12.7m) prize money, which is the largest purse of any LPGA event in Asia. Ticketing price options include the RM38 weekday pass (entry for Thursday and Friday), RM68 weekend pass (entry for Saturday and Sunday), and RM88 season pass (entry for all four days). – Bernama

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According to a statement by the organiser, this year’s star-studded line-up also features among others defending champion Celine Boutier of France, last year’s runner-up Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul and world number two from the United States, Lilia Vu and former world number one Ruoning Yin of China.

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All jackpot amounts stated above are for this Draw. Subject to T&Cs of the Scheme. Please visit to www.magnum4d.my for more info. THE BIGGER PLAY IS TO PLAY RESPONSIBLY