14/05/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | MAY 14, 2025

31

Y OUTH and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh believes it is better for the national women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah to stay with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) rather than make a hasty choice to go independent. According to reports on Saturday, despite initial speculation of a split (with BAM), the world No. 4 pair is expected to sign new contracts with the national body after this week’s Thailand Open. The move, if confirmed, would end weeks of speculation about their future. Yeoh urged the shuttlers to weigh their options carefully, especially given the realities of funding and sponsorship outside the national setup. “They need time to think properly, and it’s not as easy as moving out and finding sponsors when you are on your own,” said after the National Sports Awards in Subang Jaya yesterday. “Sponsorships really depend a lot on your ranking and the championships you win. There will be low seasons and high seasons. That’s why it’s always safer to be with the association – because the association will always supply the resources.”

Think carefully Consider realities outside BAM, Youth and Sports Minister Yeoh tells Pearly-Thinaah

and the corporate world. I believe that’s what the state badminton leaders saw when they elected him. So I wish him all the best.” At the same time, she added that it would be good if former players are given more opportunities to contribute. “My hope is that he might also create more room for former players to give back and share their input. “The game of badminton today is very different, and it’s

such issues. “I think with Tengku Zafrul there now, he will make sure that he keeps as many players as possible under the BAM roof.” Yeoh acknowledged that managing an elite sports body is no easy task, particularly for cash heavy sports like badminton. “There are a few sports where the ecosystem needs a lot of money, and not just anyone can attract that sort of funding,” she said. “Some may argue this person never played the sport, but the role of an administrator is not to play – it’s to secure funds and govern the structure. “Tengku Zafrul has experience in the government

The pair, who made history by becoming the first Malaysian women’s doubles team to reach the Olympic semifinals in Paris last year, had reportedly requested salaries on par with BAM’s top earners – believed to be around RM2 million a year. Their situation has drawn widespread attention, with some viewing it as a test of how BAM balances player welfare and accountability. “Pearly and Thinaah are up-and-coming names, and we put a lot of hope in them. I hope they won’t make their decision in a rush, but really put some time into thinking about it,” Yeoh added. Meanwhile, Yeoh is confident that newly elected BAM president Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz will play a proactive role in addressing

important to hear the voices of current players and those who have been there.” –

scoop.my

RESULTS & STANDINGS

ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP (PLAYOFF, 2ND LEG) : Sheffield United 3 Bristol City 0 - Sheffield won 6-0 on agg. SERIE A: Atalanta 2 (Lookman 9, Sule mana 76) Roma 1 (Cristante 32), Venezia 2 (Fali Cande 60, Oristanio 68) Fiorentina 1 (Mandragora 77). P W D L F A Pts Napoli 36 23 9 4 57 27 78 Inter Milan 36 23 8 5 75 33 77 Atalanta 36 21 8 7 73 32 71 Juventus 36 16 16 4 53 33 64 Lazio 36 18 10 8 59 46 64 Roma 36 18 9 9 51 34 63 Bologna 36 16 14 6 54 41 62 AC Milan 36 17 9 10 58 40 60 Fiorentina 36 17 8 11 54 37 59 Como 36 13 9 14 48 49 48 Torino 36 10 14 12 39 42 44 Udinese 36 12 8 16 39 51 44 Genoa 36 9 13 14 32 45 40 Cagliari 36 8 9 1937 54 33 Verona 36 9 6 2131 64 33 Parma 36 6 14 16 41 56 32 Venezia 36 5 14 17 30 50 29 Lecce 36 6 10 20 25 58 28 Empoli 36 5 13 18 29 56 28 Monza 36 3 9 2427 64 18 RELEGATED National Sportsman: Aaron Chia Soh Wooi Yik (Badminton) National Sportswoman: Nor Farah Ain Abdullah (Field Bowling) National Paralympic Athlete: Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (Powerlifting) National Paralympic Female Athlete: Hasmunirah Maliki (Para Field Bowling) National Men’s Team: Sepak takraw National Women’s Team: Tenpin bowling National Men’s Coach: Jamil Adam (Powerlifting) National Women’s Coach: Siti Rahmah Mohamed Nasir (Pencak Silat) Sports Figure Award: Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam Sports Leadership Award: Sunny Si Poh Heng (Sarawak Tenpin Bowling Association) and Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria (Malaysian Badminton Association) Special Award: Johor Motorsport Racing Team, Malaysian Deaf Sports Association, Late Datuk Hasbullah Awang, Malaysian Deaf Sports Association, Selangor Red Giants (e sports). Full list of recipients at the 2024 National Sports Awards

Malaysia’s Khairul Aman Mohd Rosdi (above) tries to block the ball from Nepal’s Padam Bahadur Thada Magar during the 2025 Asian Cup Sepaktakraw Championship. – BERNAMAPIC

Sepak Takraw champs warned against complacency

The title, the second time won by the 2022 world champions, saw them fend off challenges from professional men’s singles player Lee Zii Jia, national weightlifter Mohamad Aniq Kasdan, wushu athlete Wong Weng Soon and pencak silat exponent Abdul Latif Maxzakir. Last year, the world No. 5 pair defended their Olympic bronze medal for the second consecutive time by defeating Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark, 16-21, 22-20, 21-19, at the Paris Olympics. National lawn bowl champion Nor Farah Ain Abdullah was named the National Sportswoman, beating Sin Li Jane (tenpin bowling), Tan Cheong Min (wushu), Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri (cycling) and Nor Farah Mazlan (pencak silat). The world No. 1 lawn bowler made history by becoming the first female lawn bowling athlete of the country to win the National Sportswoman title. Nor Farah stole the limelight by winning a gold THE national sepak takraw quadrant squad has been reminded not to be lulled into complacency with their current status as Asian champions. National quadrant squad coach, Muhammad Zulkarnain Mohamed Arif, said that although he was proud of his men’s achievements, their responsibilities are still not over for this year. According to him, there are two major tournaments awaiting the national team, namely the Thai King’s Cup scheduled to be held in July, as well as the SEA Games in Thailand later this year, which required thorough preparation and continued focus. “This quad event is actually still new to us. We are still trying to find our rhythm in this event and so far the performance has been commendable. “But after this we have two big tournaments, the Thai King’s Cup and the SEA Games at the end of the year, where great teams like Thailand, Myanmar and

His Majesty, Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia presented the awards respectively to Aaron and Wooi Yik, represented by Badminton Association of Malaysia secretary-general, Datuk Kenny Goh and Nor Farah. Aaron-Wooi Yik were not present at the awards ceremony as they are participating in the 2025 Thailand Open which began yesterday until Sunday. The achievement of defending the gold medal in the men’s 72kg category at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris qualified national powerlifting champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin to win the National Paralympic Athlete for the third time after 2021 and 2023, defeating three para-athletics contenders, namely Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli, Datuk Abdul Latif Romly,and Eddy Bernard (para athletes) as well as Cheah Liek Hou (para badminton). The 2024 para lawn bowls World Championship champion, Hasmunirah Maliki, won the National Paralympic Athlete title after defeating four other Indonesia will definitely participate in both tournaments,” he said when met recently. On Monday, the national quad squad created history by becoming the champion of the event after defeating Japan in the 2025 Asian Cup sepak takraw tournament at Titiwangsa Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. The national squad, consisting of Muhammad Afifuddin Mohd Razali, Amirul Zazwan Amir, Norfaizzul Abd Razak and Muhammad Shahril Aiman Halim, had no problem defeating the rising sun squad in straight sets, 15-8, 15-11. Meanwhile, the national doubles squad coach, Aswadi Abdullah said he was still proud of his men’s performance despite failing to become the champion of the event. According to him, the line-up of players fielded in this tournament, namely Muhammad Noraizat

candidates, para-cycling representatives Nur Azlia Syafinaz Mohd Zais and Nur Suraiya Muhamad Zamri, Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim (boccia) and Noor Imanina Idris (para athletics). The national men’s sepak takraw team emerged as the winner of the National Men’s Team Award after achieving double success in the doubles and regu competition at the 2024 Sepak Takraw World Cup. The women’s bowling squad won the National Women’s Team Award by taking home three gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the 2024 Asian Tenpin Bowling Championship. The council also recognised the role and contribution of the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka, Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam in martial arts while previously leading the Malaysian Karate Federation (MAKAF) and the Malaysia National Silat Federation (PESAKA). The prestigious Sports Figure Award, which was first introduced in 1966, is the government’s highest recognition to appreciate the excellence achieved throughout the year by athletes, coaches, officials and national sports associations. – Bernama namely two Nordin, Muhammad Redwan Hakim Muhammad and Aidil Aiman Azmawi, presented the best action throughout the tournament “The performances from the beginning to the final were actually the best by the players. We have a chance to win, but luck was not on our side. “In conclusion, from the group stage until today, the players have been able to translate what is wanted and gave their best and for me, that is enough,” he said. At the same time, he did not rule out the possibility of reshuffling the players to face the Thai King’s Cup. Earlier, Malaysia had targeted to win a double title at the 2025 Asian Cup Sepak Takraw Championship which did not materialise when they lost 1-2 to traditional enemies Thailand in the doubles final. – Bernama

Aaron-Wooi Yik, Nor Farah bag top sports awards NATIONAL badminton men’s doubles Aaron Chia Soh Wooi Yik won the Sportsman of the Year award at the 2024 National Sports Awards (ASN) ceremony in Petaling Jaya, Selangor yesterday. medal in the women’s individual event at the 2024 World Indoor Bowls Championships in Guernsey, Channel Islands, in April last year.