23/05/2025

FRIDAY | MAY 23, 2025

31

SPORTS

Aaron-Wooi Yik keeping title hopes alive Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin, Pearly-Thinaah through to the quarterfinals M EN’S doubles Aaron Chia Soh Wooi Yik through to the Malaysia Masters quarterfi nals after a commanding per formance in the second round at the Axiata Arena yesterday. Kai Wun. Wei Chong-Kai Wun, on the other hand, needed 32 minutes to dispose of Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa-Kyohei Yamashita 21-17, 21-13.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL: Tottenham 1 (Johnson 42) Manchester United 0. RESULTS Bruno vows to stay, but United could cash in MANCHESTER UNITED captain Bruno Fernandes has no intention of leaving this summer but admitted the club could end up cashing in on him following the damaging Europa League final loss to Tottenham. The 30-year-old has been a rare shining light in a dreadful season at Old Trafford, but even his star was dimmed in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to fellow Premier League strugglers Spurs in Bilbao. Fernandes has recently been linked with a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, leading head coach Ruben Amorim to stress United should try to keep “one of the top players in the world”. But the Europa League final defeat has financial ramifications as it means they miss out on Champions League qualification, with the lack of European football raising fresh questions over the skipper’s future. “I’ve always said I will be here until the club says to me that it’s time to go,” Fernandes said.“I’m eager to do more, to be able to bring the club to great days. “In the day that the club thinks that I’m too much or it’s time to part ways, football is like this, you never know it. But I’ve always said it and I keep my word in the same way. “If the club thinks it’s time to part ways because they want to do some cash in or whatever, it’s what it is, and football sometimes is like this.” Fernandes joined United from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020 and has just won the club’s Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for the fourth time – a joint record with Cristiano Ronaldo and David De Gea. The Portugal international’s future is one of numerous issues facing United as they enter a summer rebuild under Amorim, whose side sit 16th in the Premier League and have now fallen at the final hurdle in Europe. “We just agreed that he’s the right man,” Fernandes said of his compatriot, who succeeded Erik ten Hag in November. “He has done a lot of good things. We know that the manager is looked at by the results. Obviously we see more than that as players. “We know for everyone it will Ű BY SIMON PEACH

Kai Wun expressed relief after finally making it to the quarterfinals, having suffered early exits in their last three tournaments – the Orleans Masters, All England and Thailand Open. Looking ahead to today’s all-Malaysia quarterfinal clash, Wei Chong acknowledged the tough task awaiting them and hoped that they would be able to more consistent, having lost twice to Sze Fei–Nur Izzuddin, the World Tour Finals 2024 runners-up. Wei Chong-Kai Wun fell 13-21, 17-21 in the first round of the 2022 German Open 2022 and 19-21, 18-21 in the quarterfinals of the 2024 China Open 2024. Meanwhile, national women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah cruised into the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Masters yesterday after sweeping aside Thailand’s world No. 85 Pichamon Phatcharaphisutsin-Nannapas Sukklad 21-13, 21-15 in just 38 minutes. Pearly-Thinaah will now face Indonesia’s world No. 9 Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi for a place in the semifinals today. – Agencies including a muscle tear in his back followed by a spinal injury, since last year and had to undergo a long period of rest and rehabilitation before returning to action in the BAC (April 8-13). In the meantime, Tze Yong’s setback compounded what Jonassen admitted was a disappointing campaign for the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) men’s and women’s singles squads at the Malaysia Masters with all players bowing out in the opening round. “We’re here to win matches. Yes, there was fighting spirit but we need more than that. This tournament gave me insights into each player’s performance and what needs improvement, but I’ll keep that between me and the players for now,” he said. In other results, men’s singles shuttler Justin Hoh was sent packing by fourth seed Kodai Naraoka of Japan, 14-21, 20-22 in a 56-minute match while Leong Jun Hao fell 21-10, 18-21, 9-21 to Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen. In the women’s singles, 21-year-old Letshanaa lost to China’s Han Qian Xi, 21-10, 19-21, 12-21. – Bernama different opinion. “Yes, I am confident I am still the guy, more than the beginning,” he told TNT Sports . “I know the patience of the fans is going to be really short in the next season but I guarantee you I will not quit. I will not go away, I am really confident. “I’m not worried about that. If they (the club) say ‘Ruben, it is better to change’ I will leave the next day with no compensation. “I rely so much on my confidence I am not worried about that. The biggest pain is to lose the game and lose this final, not to give something to the fans and my players. “I am really confident with myself and I will continue to do my job if the board wants me.” – The Independent

The world No. 3 pair breezed past Taiwan’s world No. 21 Liu Kuang Heng Yang Po Han 21-13, 21-16. Earlier, Malaysia is guaranteed a spot in the men’s doubles semifinals with professional pair and world No. 2 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani set to face compatriots Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in an all-Malaysian quarterfinal today. In yesterday’s second-round action at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil here, the second-seeded Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin overcame a shaky start before defeating Taiwan’s unseeded duo of Chen Zhi Ray Lin Yu Chieh 21-19, 21-13 in 30 minutes. While Nur Izzuddin admitted that they could have performed better, especially in the opening game, against the world No. 38 Taiwanese pair, Sze Fei credited the tactical input from their coach and the energy of the home crowd for their strong finish in the second game. “Tomorrow will be a different match, but I think both pairs will give their best,” Sze Fei said as he looked ahead to their third meeting against Wei Chong

National women’s doubles Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah celebrate their victory after defeating Thai duo Pichamon Phatcharaphisutsin and Nannapas Sukklad (not pictured) yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Jonassen stays hopeful for Tze Yong

NATIONAL singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen is keeping his fingers crossed that men’s singles player Ng Tze Yong (pic) has not sustained a serious injury following his early exit from

mindset and we hope it’s nothing major,” Jonassen told reporters at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. “Something definitely happened, but we’ll have to wait for the scan results tomorrow before we can make a proper statement on the situation. “Obviously, we hope it’s a short-term issue and we’ll deal with it accordingly. Whenever something new happens, we need to adjust and potentially find another way of thinking and doing things.” Jonassen added that he remains optimistic, believing the injury is minor and may only cost Tze Yong a few tournaments before making a return, unless told otherwise. He dismissed concerns that fatigue from Tze Yong’s recent run of back-to-back tournaments may have contributed to the injury. “It has nothing to do with fatigue. It was basically a slip that made the difference. If we were gone deeper part of the second set and maybe a third set, then fatigue could probably be an issue,” he said. Tze Yong has suffered various injuries,

the 2025 Malaysia Masters

o n Wednesday, describing it as one

of the most frustrating moments of the tournament. Tze Yong, 25, who had only recently returned to competition after a long layoff was showing promising signs of recovery before slipping awkwardly during his first round match and was forced to retire while leading 4-3 in the second set, after having won the first set 22 20. “I’m keeping a positive

Ű BY JAMIE BRAIDWOOD

Amorim will not ask for compensation if sacked

RUBEN AMORIM said he would not ask for any compensation if Manchester United to decide to sack him following the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham. But the Portuguese coach said he will not quit despite the defeat to Spurs and with United on course for their worst ever Premier League campaign. While Spurs will be heading for the Champions League, defeat for United means they will miss out on Europe entirely next season. United were seven points off a Champions League place when Amorim took over in November but they are now 27 points adrift of fifth place and 16th. When asked if United had to take responsibility for a “failure” of a season, Amorim said he was well aware of how far the club has

fallen this year. “In this moment, I’m not going to be here defending myself,” Amorim said in a news conference. “It’s not my style, I cannot do it. It’s really hard for me. “I have nothing to show to the fans to say, I am going to improve because of this, I will not do that. In this moment, it is faith. Let’s see. “I’m always open, if the board and the fans feel I am not the right guy I will go in the next day without any conversation of compensation. “But I will not quit. Again, I am confident about my job. As you can see I will not change nothing in the way I do things.” Amorim also told TNT Sports that he is more confident than ever that he is the right man to lead United but accepted others might have a

be about him bringing back the positivity in the club, trying to bring the club back to fight for

trophies, fight for the b i g trophies. And we all agree that he’s the right man.” – The Independent

Bruno Fernamdes