24/05/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | MAY 24, 2025

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

Herry fumes as teen pair go down fighting

SHORTS MWF to send mix team to Thailand

N ATIONAL WOMEN’S doubles pair, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, displayed a power game to defeat Indonesian pair, Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi, in straight sets 21-14, 21-14 in 34 minutes in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Malaysia Masters yesterday. Even though they were initially rattled by their opponents, who are ranked ninth in the world, Pearly-Thinaah quickly changed their strategy with a more aggressive game to secure a ticket to the semifinals at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. “As I have already said before, even though we won that day, everything still starts from zero and the feeling being a champion is already over,” Pearly told reporters after the win. “We are starting from zero and take one step at a time and we hope to give our best for tomorrow’s (today’s) match.” Next, a more arduous challenge awaits Pearly-Thinaah when they face NATIONAL MEN’S doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi has pointed out the three controversial decisions he believes led to teenagers Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai’s second round exit in the ongoing Malaysia Masters at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Aaron-Khai Xing, the 2024 world junior champions who are making their Malaysia Masters debut, went down fighting 10-21, 26 24, 16-21 in 67 minutes to seventh-seeded Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard of Denmark. Herry claims that there were at least three controversial calls which directly impacted the final result. “Yes, three times (decisions)… one time the shuttle was clearly out but was adjudged to be in. Another time the shuttle was in but was ruled out. That’s twice. “Then, in the third game, he (the umpire) ruled that Aaron had touched the shuttle, but there was no contact. We have seen the recording and there was no contact as Aaron

managed to evade the shuttle. “If that had been out, it would have seen our pair narrow the score to 13-14. But because the umpire ruled that Aaron had touched it, the score became 15-12 in favour of the Danes,” he told reporters yesterday. Unfortunately, world No. 58 Aaron-Khai Xing could not challenge the decision because the challenge system was only available on Court 1 while their match was played on Court 2. Herry feels that the controversial decisions placed emotional stress on 19-year-old Khai Xing and 18-year-old Aaron. Herry, who hopes that the youngsters will bounce back from the setback, has also called on the Badminton Federation of Malaysia (BAM) to submit an official protest to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) against the controversial decisions made by the umpire. Meanwhile, BAM has confirmed that national men’s singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong sustained a knee injury during his opening round match against Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long

but were blocked by the South Korean pair, Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee in 20-22, 21-8 and 17 21. Meanwhile in the men’s doubles, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik sent the home fans into a frenzy by outplaying Danish pair Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard 21-10, 21-19. Aaron-Wooi Yik had to put up a fight in the second game after falling behind 12-16, but emerged victorious in the 35-minute match. They will meet another Danish pair, world No 1 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, in the semifinals today. In an earlier match, it’s third time lucky for Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun as they pulled off a sensational win over compatriots and world No. 2 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani to check into the the last four. Coming into the clash with a 0-2 head-to head record, the 2023 edition runners-up flipped the script, delivering a sublime on Wednesday. Following a medical evaluation, Tze Yong has been diagnosed with a strain to the knee and will be out of action for at least two weeks pending further assessment. “Tze Yong was forced to retire midway through the match due to discomfort in his knee. BAM wishes Tze Yong a smooth and speedy recovery,” the association said in a statement yesterday. 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. He has suffered various injuries before these 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 Badminton Asia Championship (April 8-13). – Bernama

FIVE of Malaysia’s finest footballers are in the Asean All-Stars squad to face English Premier League (EPL) giants Manchester United in a friendly at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. The five are Muhammad Azam Azmi Murad, Muhammad Adib Abdul Ra’op, Muhammad Haziq Nadzli, Declan Lambert and Sergio Aguero. Terengganu FC right-back Muhammad Azam, known for his pace and attacking runs, said he is honoured to represent the country in the friendly. “Wearing the national colours in this All SEVENTY per cent of the exponents that the Malaysia Wushu Federation (MWF) will send to the 2025 Thailand SEA Games at the end of this year will be from the Podium Programme, with the rest being backup athletes. MWF president Datuk Chong Kim Fatt said all those involved would, however, still undergo the selection process through various championships in the next few months before the squad is finalised. “For us to be among the medallists, we can bank on the Podium Programme exponents but we must still make early preparations to give the backup exponents a chance,” he said when met at a sports related forum in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. “Among the competitions they will be taking part in are the Asian Junior Wushu Championships in China in July and the World Wushu Championships in Brazil in September. “But we still want to maintain our performance in Thailand, so there will be a combination of Podium Programme and backup exponents.” At the previous edition of the SEA Games in Cambodia, the wushu team returned home with two golds, two silvers and six bronzes. Rising talents in mixed doubles MIXED DOUBLES shuttler Toh Ee Wei has admitted that the national mixed doubles camp is becoming more competitive with the emergence of new talents like Loo Bing Kun and Chan Wen Tse. Toh Ee Wei, who won the Korean Open mixed doubles title in 2024 with Chen Tang Jie, said these new talents have been stealing the show during training sessions at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara by displaying a high level of discipline and commitment. “They are very disciplined and work very hard. So, I believe that if they can keep this up, they have the potential to be among the world’s best combinations. “As (a senior player) I want to help Bing Kun do well so that more people will know who he is. Hopefully, our brief time as partners will be meaningful for him,”she told reporters at the Axiata Arena yesterday. Ee Wei partnered Bing Kun to a quarterfinal finish in the 2025 Taiwan Open but their pair marked the end of their brief partnership with a second-round exit in the ongoing Malaysia Masters after losing 21-19, 20-22, 18-21 to Taiwan’s Ye Hong Wei-Nicole Gonzales Chan. Previously, Ee Wei formed the country’s top mixed doubles partnership with Tang Jie but they were temporarily split up due to the pair’s strained relationship, which is believed to have started at the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, world No. 5 Ee Wei and Tang Jie have agreed to resume their partnership, starting with next week’s Singapore Open.

All guns blazing Pearly-Thinaah, Aaron-Wooi Yik storm into Malaysia Masters semis

discuss more on the court. See how we play and be more confident,” said Pearly. If they successfully advance to the final stage, Pearly-Thinaah have the opportunity to add to their collection a second title this season, just six days after winning the championship at the 2025 Thailand Open on May 18. For the record, they advanced to the final of the 2023 edition of the Malaysian Masters

performance in the last eight to dispatch their more seasoned opponents 19-21, 21-7, 21-16. The fifth-seeded Wei Chong-Kai Wun, who lost the opening game, deserve praise for not capitulating but fighting back to outplay the second-seeded Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin 21-7 to force the decider. Buoyed by their second game fightback win, the world No. 8 Wei Chong-Kai Wun displayed nerves of steel to clinch victory in 44 minutes. – Bernama

seventh seeds, Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian of China, who beat Lanny Tria Mayasari-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti from Indonesia, 21-15, 15-21, 21 14. The record between the two pairs is now level at 1-1, with Pearly-Thinaah once beating them at the 2025 Indian Open when the Chinese pair pulled out while leading 14-4. “We want to stay firm

on our gameplay and discuss it with the coach and tomorrow we will

Malaysia’s Pearly Tan (right) and M. Thinaah pose for a photo after defeating Indonesia’s Febriana Dwi Puji Kusuma and Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi. – BERNAMAPIC

Five Malaysians in All-Star team to face Red Devils

lit up the Super League. “Joining the Asean All-Stars is a tremendous opportunity. I’m proud to stand alongside my fellow Malaysians and showcase our talent on such a grand stage,“ he said. The Asean All-Stars team will be coached by South Korean Kim Sang Sik, who recently led Vietnam to the 2024 ASEAN Championship title. The friendly, which is part of Manchester United’s pre-season tour, is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans and highlight the best of Southeast Asian football talent. – Bernama

like Manchester United is a challenge I’ve dreamt of. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to keep our side in the game,” he said. Kuala Lumpur (KL) City FC’s Lambert, who has been a Malaysian international since 2022, will anchor the defence with his experience and leadership. “I’m honoured to lead this defence alongside my national teammates. Together, we’ll show the spirit of Malaysian football,” he said. Rounding out the Malaysian quintet is prolific Sri Pahang striker Sergio Aguero, whose instinctive finishing and sharp positioning have

Stars side is a proud moment. I aim to give my all and show what Malaysian football can achieve,” he said. Penang FC winger Muhammad Adib, meanwhile, expressed excitement about the opportunity to play against a world-class team. “This is more than just a match; it’s a chance for all of us to demonstrate our skill and heart on the international stage,” he said. Meanwhile, Perak FC goalkeeper Muhammad Haziq said he is ready to step up to the challenge of facing some of the world’s top attacking players. “Standing between the posts against a team