24/03/2025

SPORTS MONDAY | MAR 24, 2025

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Peng Soon wants aggression from Pang Ron-Su Yin

RESULTS

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS Europe

MALAYSIA’S rising mixed doubles pair, Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin, must develop a fearless mentality and play with greater aggression if they aim to progress further in their careers, according to former great Chan Peng Soon. Peng Soon said the world No. 14 pair should emulate the competitive spirit of compatriots Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, who have established themselves among the world’s top mixed doubles pairs. “They (Pang Ron-Su Yin) still need to work hard and mature a little more. They might not be the best for Malaysia right now, but we never know what the future holds. “Don’t give up early because there are still opportunities. They need to be consistent and braver, which will help build their self-confidence on court - that is very important,” he told Bernama recently. Pang Ron-Su Yin have had an inconsistent season so far, reaching only two quarterfinals in the seven

recent struggles of Tang Jie Ee Wei, following their early exits in two European tournaments, are at a normal phase that any pair would go through. Peng Soon shared that he and his former partner Goh Liu Ying also

challenges as a way to develop their on-court understanding. “Liu Ying and I used to argue a lot, but in a way, it was good because we would always try to find solutions to move forward. It’s normal for doubles pairs to have ups and downs,” he said. Speculation is now rife about a possible rift between the world No. 4 pair after Ee Wei

Group I: Moldova 0 Norway 5 (Ryerson 5, Haaland 23, Aasgaard 38, Sorloth 43, Donnum 69) , Israel 2 (Hein 23-og, Dasa 75) Estonia 1 (Paskotsi 10) . Group J: Liechtenstein 0 North Mace donia 3 (Trajkovski 7, Musliu 42, Miovski 84) , Wales 3 (D. James 9, B. Davies 47, Matondo 90) Kazakhstan 1 (Tagybergen 32-pen) . Group L: Montenegro 3 (Jovetic 22, Tuci 70, Marusic 73) Gibraltar 1 (Bent 13) , Czech Republic 2 (Schick 25, 85) Faroe Islands 1 (Vatnhamar 83) . Africa Group B: Togo 2 Mauritania 2, Sudan 0 Senegal 0. IS former Asian champion Lee Zii Jia set to miss the 2025 Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) in Ningbo, China, from April 8-13? This question arises after a check by Bernama on the official Badminton World Federation website found the world No. 8 Zii Jia listed as having withdrawn from the tournament. Zii Jia, who won the Asian title in 2022, pulled out of the Swiss Open, which concludes today, reportedly due to a ligament injury in his right ankle. Apart from Zii Jia, Malaysia’s mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei have also been listed as withdrawals from the tournament. However, as of now, there has been no official confirmation or statement from the Badminton Association of Malaysia or Team LZJ NATIONAL woman cyclist Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri can take her time to recover from the injury she sustained at the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Track Cycling Nations Cup in Turkiye last week because her next assignment is only due in May. Nurul Izzah, who injured her knee, said she intends to use the long break to fully recover and rest before the National Track Cycling Championships are held from May 20-25. “Overall, the recovery process is coming along fine, the wound on my leg has dried up and I have gone to the National Sports Institute for a checkup and was told it’s nothing serious. After the Turkiye outing, there aren’t that many major meets until July. My next assignment is the national championships in May. I will now focus on my rehabilitation. It’s the off-season now and I am on holiday until Hari Raya Aidilfitri (at the end of this month)… I will train on my own,” she told reporters recently. regarding the withdrawals. Time to recuperate BRIEFS Yes or no?

had

recently deleted all photos with Tang Jie on Instagram following their first-round exit at the 2025 All England. Tang Jie-Ee Wei were defeated by Indonesia’s Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto-Gloria

disagreements in the past but s a w such

Emanuelle Widjaja 21-18, 20 22, 11-21 in the prestigious tournament in Birmingham. – Bernama

tournaments they have competed in. Since being paired in 2023, their best achievement came at the China Masters 2024, where they finished as runners-up after losing to home duo Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping 23 21, 23-25, 16-21. Meanwhile, Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist Peng Soon believes that the

Mixed doubles pair Cheng Su Yin (left) and Hoo Pang Ron. – BERNAMAPIC

180/25

23/03/2025

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Gorkhalis test for Cklamovski

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M ALAYSIA aim to make a roaring start to their 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign when they host Nepal in their Group F opener at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, tomorrow. The match will serve not only as a new benchmark in the Harimau Malaya squad’s ongoing transformation but also the first test for Australian head coach Peter Cklamovski, who took charge last December. Tasked with elevating Malaysia to a higher level, the 46-year-old tactician is expected to implement an intense attacking philosophy that defines his style of play. The spotlight will also be on several new faces, including the latest heritage players – Dutch-born Hector Hevel and Spain’s Gabriel Palermo – who arrived in Malaysia this week. Both players have joined team training sessions, but their inclusion in the starting lineup will depend on Cklamovski’s assessment of their tactical fit and chemistry with the squad. Based on Fifa rankings, Malaysia, at 132nd place, look far superior to Nepal, who sit at 175th place. The latest head-to-head records also favour Malaysia, who have won the last three encounters with Nepal, including a 5-1 victory in a closed-door friendly in Shah Alam, Selangor, last March. Under Cklamovski’s guidance, Malaysia are

expected to optimise a 3-4-3 formation that balances attack and defence while adopting an aggressive, possession-based playing style. Captain Dion Cools is set to lead the defensive line, while sensational winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi expected to play a key role in spearheading the attack. Fans will also be eager to witness the return of winger Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim, who will be playing for the national squad for the first time since he suffered an acid attack last May. Hevel’s presence will give the coach more options and if fielded in midfield, he could provide Malaysia with greater creativity and control, while Palermo’s defensive abilities will also be tested. Meanwhile, Nepal, coached by another Australian, Matt Ross, may adopt a defensive approach while relying on quick counterattacks led by strike duo Gillespye Jung Karki and Anjan Bista. The “Gorkhalis” will be buoyed by their recent morale-boosting 1-0 win over Singapore in an international friendly last week. Apart from Nepal, Malaysia will also face Vietnam and Laos in Group F. – Bernama New Harimau Malaya coach to go on offensive against Nepal

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Electronic Sports set two-gold target at SEA Games THE Malaysian Electronic Sports Federation (MESF) has set a target of bringing home two gold medals at the Thailand 2025 SEA Games scheduled to take place from Dec 9 to 20, according to its president Muhammad Naim Al Amin. “We know the Thai AoV team is very strong, but we also have players of calibre. For the MLBB, even if other teams are great, that doesn’t mean we’re weak. yesterday at the Pavilion Exhibition Centre, Bukit Jalil. Muhammad Naim stressed that his team is committed to protecting the welfare of athletes when it has collaborated with Esport MedicA as a proactive measure to ensure that the mental aspects and well-being of players are always maintained, especially in the face of high pressure during tournaments. “On the other hand, the fighting spirit of our athletes is a determining factor for success, which is why we do not only focus on technicalities but on spirituality and the spirit of carrying the name of Malaysia,” he told reporters after the launch of the Malaysia Esports Cup 2025 which took place from Saturday to In this biennial edition, Malaysia will participate in all six esports events that will be He said the target was based on the Arena of Valor (AoV) and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) categories based on the excellent performance of the national players in local and international tournaments.

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contested, namely eFootball, MLBB in the men’s and women’s categories, AoV, Free Fire and Fifa Online 4. On team selection, he explained that the selection was made based on performance in the professional league run by the game’s publisher. Malaysia has previously won the esports gold medal through the game Hearthstone which was won by Dr. Yew Weng Kean at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines. – Bernama

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