28/05/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | MAY 28, 2025

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Reunited bliss Tang Jie-Ee Wei off to winning start in S’pore

men’s doubles pair to be ranked No. 1 in the world since Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong were perched atop the rankings in 2016, thus joining an elite list of former national greats to have achieved the feat, including Razif-Jalani Sidek, Koo Kien Keat Tan Boon Heong and Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock. Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin clinched the India Open crown in January but their form took a dip and they failed to reach the semi-finals of any of the tournaments they competed in after that. Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin will be in action in the May 27-June 1 Singapore Open and will begin their campaign against Taiwan’s Lee Fang Chih Lee Fang Jen today. Meanwhile, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik remained in third spot in the world ranking while newly-crowned Malaysia Masters champions Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun moved up one rung to be placed seventh. – Bernama

pair – Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien – crashed out in the opening round after going down 1 19,19-21, 20-22 to Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran. In related news, national men’s doubles professional pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani are now ranked as world No. 1 based on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) ranking released yesterday. Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin, having amassed 91,090 points, climbed up one position to take over the top spot from Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (90,411 points) after the Danes failed to defend their title at the recently concluded Malaysia Masters. Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin are the first Malaysian

N ATIONAL mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei got their 2025 Singapore Open Badminton Championships off to a winning start when they eased to a 21-18, 21-15 victory over Americans Presley Smith-Jennie Gai yesterday. World No. 4 Tang Jie-Ee Wei, who resumed

their partnership after a temporary split, needed just 31 minutes to see off the challenge of the world No. 42 ranked Americans at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The Malaysians will take on Taiwan’s Ye Hong Wei-Nicole Gonzales Chan in the second round. Meanwhile, another Malaysian mixed doubles

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All Stars ready to battle Devils

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Red Devil fans in a meet-and-greet session with Manchester United star players. – BERNAMA

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THE Asean All-Stars are eyeing an upset when they take on English giants Manchester United in the Maybank Challenge Cup match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, tonight. Asean All-Stars head coach Kim Sang Sik admitted that time constraints posed the biggest challenge in building team chemistry, as the squad has only had one training session together. However, Kim who is also the Vietnam national team head coach, said all players continued to show strong commitment ahead of the clash. “We are all from different nations across Asean countries. All the players are in good condition. We are working hard. “We’ve only had one training session so far, but they are very serious. They want to win this game. They want to work hard. So we are going YOUNG Malaysia racer Amer Harris Jefry is on a mission to clinch the overall title when he makes his debut in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (PCCA) at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) in Selangor on June 6-8. The 22-year-old, who is sponsored by CIMB Group Holdings Berhad, is confident of achiev ing his target since the race is being held in Sepang, his home turf. “I have spent thousands of hours training in Sepang. So, I’m confident I can at Sepang,” Amer said at the event to mark his collabora tion with CIMB, which was attended by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Malaysia and CIMB Bank Gurdip Singh Sidhu. “Whatever it is, my mission is to clinch the overall title, but it won’t be easy because there will be stiff competition from other drivers who

responsibility for us, and of course, we will give our very best,” said the Sri Pahang FC striker. Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim insists the Red Devils are treating today’s match seriously. “We have a lot to do, we have to improve the team. If there’s any game to be played, we’re going to use it to improve the team,” he said. “We have almost all of the squad here; some of the players, for example Noussair Mazraoui, had an injury last Sunday, but the rest are here. “We also have young kids here to understand what it means to play for Man United, so it’s an important moment for us to play this game.” Meanwhile, more than 1,000 fans mobbed the Manchester United players during a meet and-greet reception that included team captain Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte, Amad, Garnacho, Harry Amass and Kobbie Mainoo. kept me determined to excel in motorsports. “This partnership is timely as it marks a key milestone in my professional journey. I hope that I will be able to reach new heights in motorsports and continue making Malaysia proud, both on and off the track.” Speaking at the partnership ceremony yes terday, Yeoh called on the corporate sector to play a greater role in supporting motorsports in Malaysia, stressing that government allocations alone are insufficient to meet the sport’s devel opment needs. She acknowledged the RM5.6 million alloca tion by KBS this year but underlined the impor tance of external support. “We have a lot more work to do and like I said, RM5.6 million is hardly enough. This is why we encourage the corporate sectors to come in,”she said. – Bernama

to prepare well and try to have a good match,” he told a press conference yesterday. The All-Stars squad will feature a mix of experienced and young players, including local representatives such as Muhammad Azam Azmi Murad, Muhammad Adib Abdul Raop, Muhammad Haziq Nadzli, Declan Lambert and Harimau Malaya naturalised striker Sergio Aguero. Also strengthening the squad are several captains from Southeast Asian countries, including Mo Kan of Cambodia, Bounphachan Bounkong (Laos) and Vietnam’s skipper Do Duy Manh. Meanwhile, Aguero who has been selected captain of the All-Stars, said the team will strive to secure a victory despite United’s reputation as one of the world’s club giants. “We are proud to have the opportunity to play against such a great team. It’s a huge have been in the game a long time. “But I will try my best. I feel that even finish ing among the top three would be quite an achievement,”he added. Amer also aims to compete in the Super GT in Japan in the next three to four years as he feels that would be the best platform for him to showcase his ability. He joins an elite roster of national sports icons under the CIMB banner, including Olympian and professional track cyclist Dato’ Azizulhasni Awang, national squash player S. Sivasangari and golfer Ervin Chang. “I am humbled and honoured to be CIMB’s brand partner. I understand that with this comes a big responsibility,” Amer said at the event. “Racing has always been a passion of mine, and the support of my family and team have

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