13/02/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | FEB 13, 2025

31

Shah Firdaus set to compete in keirin, sprint events despite injury

RESULTS & STANDINGS

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (Knockout phase playoffs, 1st leg) : Brest 0 Paris Saint-Germain 3 (Vitinha 21-pen, Dembele 45, 66) , Juventus 2 (McKennie 34, Mbangula 82) PSV Eindhoven 1 (Perisic 56) , Manchester City 2 (Haaland 19, 80-pen) Real Madrid 3 (Mbappe 60, Diaz 86, Bellingham 90+2) , Sporting 0 Borussia Dortmund 3 (Guirassy 60, Gross 68, Adeyemi 82) . ENGLISH FA CUP (4th round) : Exeter 2 (Magennis 5, 50) Nottingham Forest 2 (Sosa 15, Awoniyi 37) – Forest win 4-2 on pen . CHAMPIONSHIP: Coventry 1 QPR 0, Derby 0 Oxford 0, Portsmouth 2 Cardiff 1, Watford 0 Leeds 4, Norwich 0 Preston 1. TOP 6 P W D L F A Pts Leeds 32 20 9 3 66 19 69 Sheff Utd 31 20 6 5 43 22 64 Burnley 31 16 13 2 37 9 61 Sunderland 31 16 11 4 47 28 59 West Brom 31 11 14 6 41 28 47 Blackburn 31 13 6 12 35 31 45

NATIONAL track cycling ace Shah Firdaus Sahrom (below) is set to compete in the keirin and sprint events at the Asian Cycling Championships (ACC) 2025 at the National Velodrome in Nilai from Feb 21-27 despite injuring his knee in an accident during training recently. National track cycling head coach Harnizam

Basri said that based on the injuries sustained, the 29-year-old Shah Firdaus should be able to compete in both events. However, Shah Firdaus’ fitness level will be reassessed by the coaches after the keirin event, which is scheduled to be held on Feb 22, before deciding whether or not he will compete in the

sprint event. “Shah suffered injuries to the patella and below his knee. So far, we have listed him for the two events,” he told Bernama when contacted. The local media had previously reported that the national Olympian is still undecided about competing in the championships. Harnizam also said that several new faces who shone in the President’s Cup earlier will also be competing in the ACC 2025. “For this edition, we have listed Mohd Akmal Nazimi Jusena for the team sprint, replacing Umar Hasbullah, who has been placed as a reserve. “Meanwhile, in the women’s category, we are fielding Nurul Alyssa Farid in three events - sprint individual and team as well as keirin,” he said. In the 2024 edition, which was held in New Delhi, India, Malaysia bagged two golds, two silvers and a bronze to finish third overall behind Japan and China. – Bernama

163/25

12/02/2025

Malaysia lose opening tie National mixed team fall to Hong Kong in BAMTC 2025

6911 2273 5401

6701 8202 9263 2398 5282

0236 4194 7143 7723 0892

9049 5920 7331 8507 6084

1171 7576 2627 6692 6057

M ALAYSIA got off to a losing start in the 2025 Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship (BAMTC) after going down 3-2 to Hong Kong in a Group B match at the Qingdao Conson Sports Centre in Qingdao, China yesterday. Mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin failed to get the ball rolling for Malaysia when they went down 21-17, 17-21, 11-21 to Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man-Ng Tsz Yau in 49 minutes. Women’s singles shuttler K. Letshanaa levelled the tie at 1-1 when she fought to a 21-18, 21-18 win over Saloni Samirbhai Mehta. Hopes of men’s singles player Justin Hoh putting Malaysia ahead were dashed when he lost 19-21, 16-21 to Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu. All eyes were on women’s doubles pair Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing to stop the rot but to no avail, as they lost 17-21, 14-21 to Yeung Nga Ting-Yeung Pui Lam. With Hong Kong having already sewn up the tie at 3-1, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun defeated Hung Kuei Chun-Lui Chun Wai 21-13, 21-11 to

National Games gold medallist – set the tone for India with a commanding 21-10, 21-9 victory over Leong Iok Chong and Weng Chi Ng, giving India a 1-0 lead in the Group D tie. World No. 10 Lakshya Sen then took to the court in the men’s singles match and comfortably defeated Pang Fong Pui 21-16, 21 12, extending India’s lead to 2-0. In the crucial third match, Malvika Bansod secured the tie for India with a straight-game (21-15, 21-9) win over Hao Wai Chan in 33 minutes. As all five matches must be played at the group stage, MR Arjun and Chirag Shetty formed a scratch men’s doubles pair and comfortably defeated Vong Kok Weng and Pui Chi Chon 21 15, 21-9. In the fifth and final match, India’s premier women’s doubles duo of Treesa

make the scoreline more respectable. With the defeat, Malaysia find themselves rooted at the bottom of Group B with no points as Indonesia (one point) top the group while Hong Kong (one point) are second. Indonesia defeated Hong Kong 5-0 on Tuesday. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. Malaysia will wrap up their Group B fixtures with a must win game against Indonesia today. In yesterday’s other

RM10,965,668.53

6911 + 2273 2273 + 6911 5401 + 6911

6911 + 5401 2273 + 5401 5401 + 2273

RM184,830.97

match, India launched its BAMTC campaign in style, thrashing Macau 5-0 yesterday and sealed its place in the quarterfinals. The mixed doubles pairing of Sathish Kumar Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath – the recently crowned

Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand delivered a dominant 21-10, 21-5 victory over Weng Chi Ng and Pui Chi Wa, sealing a comprehensive 5-0 win. – Bernama/Agencies

3 5 6 7 10152136

JDT close in on ACLE knockouts

12 33

JOHOR DARUL TA’ZIM’S (JDT) new defensive signing Alvaro Gonzalez scored two goals to give them a 2-1 victory over Australian side Central Coast Mariners and put the Southern Tigers one step closer to the knockout stage of the 2024/25 Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE). In the match held at Industree Group Stadium in Gosford, Australia, Hector Bidoglio’s men displayed an energetic performance from the start, creating more chances than the home team. Relentless attacking pressure forced Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Dylan Peraic Cullen into a crucial mistake at the end of the first half when he fouled Malaysia’s prolific forward, Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi, who was through on goal. Following a VAR (Video Assistant Referee) review, the referee decided to send Dylan Peraic off for denying Arif Aiman a clear goalscoring opportunity, leaving the hosts a

Adam Pavlesic. JDT’s breakthrough finally came in the 64th minute, when Alvaro calmly slotted home Arif Aiman’s cross, marking his first goal for the club. However, their lead was short lived as Central Coast Mariners substitute Alou Kuol equalised just six minutes later. JDT’s winner came in the 79th minute, with Alvaro once again scoring, this time connecting a powerful header from Heberty’s cross to give the Malaysian champions a 2-1 win. The win earned JDT three points to climb to fifth place in the East Zone group, which has 12 teams. The Southern Tigers will next host South Korean club Pohang Steelers at Stadium Sultan Ibrahim on Feb 19 for their final group match. Only the top eight teams after eight league-stage matches will progress to the Round of 16. – Bernama

man down. JDT were awarded a free kick from the incident, and Bergson Da Silva found the net after reacting quickly to Heberty’s shot, which had struck the post. However, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review confirmed Bergson was offside. Early in

RM11,831,277.44

RM100,000.00

the second h a l f , B e r g s o n came

1 1 7 3 0 1 11730

close again in the 50th minute, but his shot was denied by Central Coast Mariners’ substitute goalkeeper

17301

1173

7301

117

301

11

01

73

19

Alvaro Gonzalez

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