27/05/2025

SPORTS TUESDAY | MAY 27, 2025

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Ensure welfare of shuttlers safeguarded: Yeoh

RESULTS & STANDINGS

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Bournemouth 2 (Semenyo 74, 88) Leicester 0, Fulham 0 Manchester City 2 (Gundogan 21, Haaland 72 pen) , Ipswich 1 (Broadhead 52) West Ham 3 (Ward-Prowse 43, Bowen 55, Kudus 87) , Liverpool 1 (Salah 84) Crystal Palace 1 (Sarr 9) , Manchester United 2 (Diallo 76, Eriksen 87-pen) Aston Villa 0, Newcastle 0 Everton 1 (Alcaraz 65) , Nottingham Forest 0 Chelsea 1 (Colwill 50) , Southampton 1 (Stewart 56) Arsenal 2 (Tierney 43, Odegaard 90) , Tottenham 1 (Solanke 17-pen) Brighton 4 (Hinshelwood 51, 64, O’Riley 88-pen, Gomez 90+3) , Wolves 1 (Munetsi 75) Brentford 1 (Mbeumo 20) . P W D L F A Pts Liverpool 38 25 9 4 86 41 84 Arsenal 38 20 14 4 69 34 74 Man City 38 21 8 9 72 44 71 Chelsea 38 20 9 9 64 43 69 Newcastle 38 20 6 12 68 47 66 Aston Villa 38 19 9 10 58 51 66 Nottm Forest 38 19 8 11 58 46 65 Brighton 38 16 13 9 66 59 61 Bournemouth 38 15 11 12 58 46 56 Brentford 38 16 8 14 66 57 56 Fulham 38 15 9 14 54 54 54 Crystal Palace 38 13 14 11 51 51 53 Everton 38 11 15 12 42 44 48 West Ham 38 11 10 17 46 62 43 Man Utd 38 11 9 18 44 54 42 Wolves 38 12 6 20 54 69 42 Tottenham 38 11 5 22 64 65 38 Leicester 38 6 7 25 33 80 25 Ipswich 38 4 10 24 36 82 22 Southampton 38 2 6 30 26 86 12 Note: Top five qualify for Champions League; bottom three relegated to Championship. LA LIGA: Girona 0 Atletico Madrid 4 (Sorloth 68, 90, 90+3, Lenglet 87) , Villarreal 4 (Pino 4, Gueye 8, 53, Baena 39) Sevilla 2 (Sow 29, Martinez 85) , Athletic Bilbao 0 Barcelona 3 (Lewandowski 14, 17, Olmo 90+4-pen) . P W D L F A Pts Barcelona 38 28 4 6 102 39 88 Real Madrid 38 26 6 6 78 38 84 A. Madrid 38 22 10 6 68 30 76 A. Bilbao 38 19 13 6 54 29 70 Villarreal 38 20 10 8 71 51 70 Real Betis 38 16 12 10 57 50 60 Celta Vigo 38 16 7 15 59 57 55 R. Vallecano 38 13 13 12 41 45 52 Osasuna 38 12 16 10 48 52 52 Mallorca 38 13 9 16 35 44 48 R. Sociedad 38 13 7 18 35 46 46 Valencia 38 11 13 14 44 54 46 Getafe 38 11 9 18 34 39 42 Espanyol 38 11 9 18 40 51 42 Alaves 38 10 12 16 38 48 42 Girona 38 11 8 19 44 60 41 Sevilla 38 10 11 17 42 55 41 Leganes 38 9 13 16 39 56 40 Las Palmas 38 8 8 22 40 61 32 R. Valladolid 38 4 4 30 26 90 16 Note: Top five qualify for Champions League, 6th and 7th Europa League, 8th Conference League. SERIE A: Atalanta 2 (Maldini 32, 33) Parma 3 (Hainaut 49, Ondrejka 71, 90+1) , Empoli 1 (Fazzini 43) Verona 2 (Serdar 4, Bradaric 69) , Lazio 0 Lecce 1 (Coulibaly 43) , Torino 0 Roma 2 (Paredes 18-pen, Saelemaekers 53) , Udinese 2 (Lucca 26, Kabasele 61) Fiorentina 3 (Fagioli 46, Comuzzo 57, Kean 82) , Venezia 2 (Fila 2, Haps 55) Juventus 3 (Yildiz 25, Kolo Muani 31, Locatelli 73-pen) . P W D L F A Pts Napoli 38 24 10 4 59 27 82 Inter Milan 38 24 9 5 79 35 81 Atalanta 38 22 8 8 78 37 74 Juventus 38 18 16 4 58 35 70 Roma 38 20 9 9 56 35 69 Fiorentina 38 19 8 11 60 41 65 Lazio 38 18 11 9 61 49 65 AC Milan 38 18 9 11 61 43 63 Bologna 38 16 14 8 57 47 62 Como 38 13 10 15 49 52 49 Torino 38 10 14 14 39 45 44 Udinese 38 12 8 18 41 56 44 Genoa 38 10 13 15 37 49 43 Verona 38 10 7 21 34 66 37 Cagliari 38 9 9 20 40 56 36 Parma 38 7 15 16 44 58 36 Lecce 38 8 10 20 27 58 34 Empoli 38 6 13 19 33 59 31 Venezia 38 5 14 19 32 56 29 Monza 38 3 9 26 28 69 18 Note: Top four qualify for Champions League; 5th Europa League; 6th Conference League. CHAMPIONS RELEGATED

YOUTH and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh hopes that newly-appointed Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz will review the national governing body’s ecosystem to ensure the welfare of all national shuttlers is safeguarded. Yeoh also advised shuttlers to remain under the BAM umbrella instead of turning professional so that they can continue receiving full government support through the association. “There are many factors to be considered when a shuttler contemplates staying with BAM or turning pro,”Yeoh said. “The advantage of staying with BAM is that

and national athletes, which was also attended by National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh here today. Meanwhile, Yeoh said she was satisfied with the performance of the national shuttlers at the 2025 Malaysia Masters. “I believe that with the presence of coaches and the support from the RTG (Road to Gold) programme, we can continue to raise their performance level. “We have allocated a budget for the National Sports Council (NSC) talent development programme this year to ensure a constant supply of new talents,” she said. – Bernama

they will have ready sparring partners, which is something that will be lacking should they turn pro and which can also affect their performance. “That is why I’m asking BAM president Tengku Zafrul to review this ecosystem and ensure the players receive the best possible support. “If possible, for the shuttlers to remain with BAM so that the government’s assistance will reach them and there will be an orderly system… various types of government support are channelled through BAM. She said this at the launch of a video to raise awareness about the Drug-Free Youth campaign in collaboration with a cinema chain

Faith in the Fire Dragon Herry can lift more Malaysian pairs into world top 15, says Rexy

N ATIONAL doubles coach ing director Rexy Mainaky is confident that men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi has what it takes to lead more Malaysian pairs into the top 15 of the world rank ings. Rexy said this optimism stems from the encouraging results shown by several pairs since Herry began his tenure in February. If the current trajectory continues, Rexy believes it could mirror the successful era during his previous stint as national doubles head coach from 2005 to 2012. “I’m hopeful we can relive that era when we had at least five to six pairs in the top 15. With a seasoned coach like Herry and the training methods he’s applying, I’m positive this can become a reality,” Rexy told reporters after the 2025 Malaysia Masters yesterday. Among the former Malaysian men’s doubles pairs who broke into the world’s top 15 under Rexy between 2005 and 2012 were 2006 Asian Games gold medallists Koo Kien Keat–Tan Boon Heong, 2007 World Championship bronze medallists Choong Tan Fook–Lee Wan Wah, as well as Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif–Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari and Gan Teik Chai– Tan Bin Shen. Herry, widely known as the “Fire Dragon,” is a high-profile coach whose credentials

significantly boosted the players’ confidence and performance on court. He also hopes the rising form of the senior pairs will motivate younger players to step up and seize their moment on the international stage. Herry himself feels the upturn in fortunes of his

boasts three pairs in the world’s top 15: professional duo Goh Sze Fei– Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (ranked 2nd), Aaron–Wooi Yik (3rd), and Wei Chong–Kai Wun (8th), with Wan Junaidi Wan Arif–Yap Roy King not far behind at 22nd. Rexy highlighted that Herry has begun reshaping the men’s doubles squad with improved emotional

include producing multiple world class pairs for Indonesia, including Olympic gold medallists Candra Wijaya–Tony Gunawan (Sydney 2000) and Hendra Setiawan– Markis Kido (Beijing 2008). Though only four months into his role with the national team, the 62-year-old is already making his mark, with 2022 world champions Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik clinching the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo last month, followed by the Thailand Open title on May 18, under his guidance. On Sunday, his hallmark coaching

charges is because they have adapted to his tactical tweaks and understand his philosophy. “I feel that my (training) programmes are almost the same in Indonesia and Malaysia. But, perhaps, badminton fans in Malaysia can now see that there is a difference in the way they play the game.

control, endurance and speed, key elements that have

touch was on full display as Man Wei Chong–Tee Kai Wun stunned Aaron–Wooi Yik 21-12, 15-21, 21-16 in an all-Malaysian final to win the M a l a y s i a M a s t e r s , becoming the first home pair in 12 years to lift the title, in front of a jubilant crowd at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil. Malaysia now

“There is a difference in our players’

game plan now. This is my

opinion, the public can make a fairer assessment, particularly badminton fans in the country,” he told reporters after the Malaysia Masters finals. – Bernama but

Rexy Mainaky and Herry IP (inset). – BERNAMAPIC

BRIEFS

Shahmalarani clinches silver in Tashkent

for the Maybank Challenge Cup in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow has attracted the attention of several Southeast Asian heads of state. According to sources close to the organisers, several Asean leaders are expected to attend the 8.45pm match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. Their presence signals the increasingly important role that football plays as a cultural and diplomatic bridge in Southeast Asia, while also highlighting the sport’s unique ability to unite diverse nations through a shared passion. Meanwhile, event organiser ProEvents confirmed that over 60,000 tickets have been sold for the match, describing the overwhelming response from fans as a reflection of the deeper significance behind the clash. “We are truly moved by the overwhelming response from the fans. So far, over 60,000 tickets have been sold, reflecting the immense passion that Malaysians and (others in) the region have for the Red Devils. “This is more than just a match – it is a football celebration that connects a legendary club with its loyal supporters in Southeast Asia,” he told Bernama yesterday.

Perak FC ceases operation PERAK FC has suspended all operations with immediate effect due to financial issues facing the team. Perak FC management announced that it has sent back imported players and paid what it can to the staff and players of the Bos Gaurus squad with the remaining funds. “All staff and players have been informed that Perak FC will not participate in any league or competition in the coming season. The players and coaches are now free to seek opportunities at other football clubs,” according to the statement uploaded on its Facebook page. “After three years or two and a half seasons, with investments exceeding RM40m, we are very sad to announce that there are no more funds left to allocate.” VIPs at All-Stars game THE friendly between English football giants Manchester United and the Asean All-Stars

NATIONAL karate ace C. Shahmalarani has done the nation proud by winning a silver medal in the women’s kumite U-50kg at the 2025 Asian Karate Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Sunday. The achievement is all the more meaningful as it marks Malaysia’s first silver medal in the kumite discipline in 13 years. Shahmalarani’s hopes of clinching gold were dashed after the 26 year-old athlete lost in the final to home crowd favourite Gulshan Alimardanova 1-7 in the gold medal bout held at Yunusobod Sports Complex. “This wasn’t an overnight success. It took years of perseverance – five early exits, each one a lesson in patience, grit, and growth. After countless setbacks, I’ve finally reached the moment I’ve been striving for,” she said in a Facebook post. For the record, former national karateka R. Loganesha Rao won silver in the men’s kumite U-55kg at the 2012 edition, which was also held in Tashkent, while Malaysia’s last gold medal came in 2011 through Mohd Hatta Mahamut in the men’s kumite U-84kg in Quanzhou, China.