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MONDAY | JAN 27, 2025

Malaysian Paper

Clinical Sinner

Pleasant surprise from Wei Chong-Kai Wun in Jakarta

NATIONAL MEN’S doubles shuttlers Man Wei Chong Tee Kai Wun became the first Malaysian mens pair to win the Indonesia Masters title since its inception in 2010. And they did it in style, silencing the thunderous roar at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta, defeating home pair Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto 21-11, 21-19. The Malaysian world No. 13 pair took 37 minutes to overcome the 4th ranked Indonesian pair for the historic win. It is Malaysia’s second title at the Super 500 event, following women’s pair Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei’s success in 2011. The victory also gave them their first-ever win over Fajar-Rian in five career meetings. Wei Chong-Kai Wun took home US$37,525 (RM169,000) for their win, while Fajar and Rian settled for US$18,050 (RM85,000). In the women’s doubles, top national shuttlers Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah lost narrowly to a South Korean pair in the women’s doubles final. After losing the first game tamely at 12-21 to Kim Hye Jeong and Kong Hee Yong, the Malaysians came back strongly to win the second at 21-17 and force a rubber game. The two pairs gave the crowd at the Istora Senayan Sports Complex plenty to cheer as they fought point for-point in the deciding game, which the Koreans won 21-18 to take the match in 74 minutes. The Koreans earned US$37,525 for the victory while Pearly-Thinaah walked away with US$18,050. Speaking to reporters after the match, Pearly expressed disappointment over the defeat but admitted they lost to a better pair. “They were physically stronger. We still have plenty of room for improvement. In the final game, they were more composed and stable than us. “But we are satisfied with our communication and fought hard for points without giving up,” she said. Thinaah thanked the local fans for their support and said her focus would now shift to tournaments in Europe in March. – Bernama

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Malaysia’s Man Wei Chong (above) and Tee Kai Wun celebrate victory in their men’s doubles final match at the Indonesia Masters. – AFPPIC

‘Almost perfect’ Reds Salah scores 100th Premier League goal as Slot’s army marches on

L IVERPOOL head coach Arne Slot was impressed with an “almost perfect” performance in the 4-1 over Ipswich which maintained their six point lead at the top. Cody Gakpo scored twice after Dominik Szoboszlai and Salah, with his 100th Premier League goal for the club at Anfield, scored in front of a new record league attendance of 60,420. They were 3-0 up at half-time and coasting and had they not eased off they would have scored more, with the only blip being Jacob Greaves’ late consolation. “It’s been a few times we have played a home game and conceded a goal at the start. Today is the way you want to start a game,” he said. “We were aggressive, dominant for 85 minutes, they had hardly been

to Wes Burns is not as serious as it looked when he was carried off in the first half. “We have our fingers crossed but the knee looks swollen. We hope it is not as bad but it looks serious,” he added. The Tractor Boys star, 30, had been left in pain and required lengthy treatment following a challenge with Gakpo. Medical staff were quick to the scene and they appeared to assess Burns’ knee. Treatment went on for around five minutes, as a stretcher was produced and Burns taken off the field. “Burns is down on the pitch and it looks like a stretcher will be needed,“ Ipswich’s X account posted before he was replaced by Ben Johnson. – The Independent/Express Newspapers/ Agencies

football. “I think this trio is really important, not just for the Premier League but for Champions League as well.” Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was pleased with the way his team responded to being 3-0 down at the interval. “A difficult game. A difficult position to be in at half-time and also a frustrating position,” he said. “We started the game well but then from little we found ourselves a goal down and then a few goals down. “We take a lot of positives from the second half. We managed the game pretty well and finished the game strong. We made some mistakes but if we take the lessons in the right way we can be stronger.” McKenna is hoping a knee injury

stood out,” added the Reds boss. “But if you look at almost all the times we have lost the ball, I saw a reaction off many players. “It’s so difficult to control a counter-attack and the only way to do so is what Mo did in this moment and other players in different moments. That’s why I was pleased with the performance today.” Ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Match of the Day : “I have eulogised about Liverpool’s forward players but I think the bedrock is Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate with Ryan Gravenberch in front. They were just superb. “It is not just what they do without the ball, but what they do with it. If you want to be a Premier League title winner you need your central defenders to play good

in our half. “It is a counter-attacking threat with the wingers they have but we managed to control that so because of the amount of work we put in. “At the end, we are all all disappointed conceding from a corner, the first one this season, but for 85 minutes it was almost a perfect performance against a team that plays a low block. “That’s not always easy but the way we did it was really good.” Salah reached yet another of his many landmarks with his 19th league goal of the season but it was off the ball which pleased Slot, with the Egypt international racing back over the halfway line in the second half to snuff out an attack. “Mostly about Mo it’s his contract or his goals and now it’s his defensive work rate. I think that

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