09/06/2025

SPORTS MONDAY | JUNE 9, 2025

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Johor targets Sukma top-three placing JOHOR is targeting a top-three placing in the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Selangor, said Johor Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah. “We need be set an example for other states in terms of the development of athletes and sports hubs. “I have set the target, which is the top three… but if we end up as overall champions, that will be a bonus.”

RESULTS & STANDINGS

EUROPEAN 2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS Group G: Malta 0 Lithuania 0, Finland 0 Netherlands 2 (Depay 6, Dumfries 23) . P W D L F A Pts Poland 2 2 0 0 3 0 6 Finland 3 1 1 1 3 4 4 Netherlands 1 1 0 0 2 0 3 Lithuania 3 0 2 1 2 3 2 Malta 3 0 1 2 0 3 1 Group H: Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 (Dzeko 66) San Marino 0, Austria 2 (Gregoritsch 42, Sabitzer 60) Romania 1 (Tanase 90+5) . P W D L F A Pts Bosnia 3 3 0 0 4 1 9 Romania 3 1 0 2 6 4 3 Cyprus 2 1 0 1 3 2 3 Austria 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 San Marino 3 0 0 3 1 8 0 Group K: Andorra 0 England 1 (Kane 50) , Albania 0 Serbia 0. P W D L F A Pts England 3 3 0 0 6 0 9 Albania 3 1 1 1 3 2 4 Latvia 2 1 0 1 1 3 3 Serbia 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Andorra 3 0 0 3 0 5 0 Note: Group winners qualify automati cally for 2026 World Cup finals in USA, Canada and Mexico; Group runners-up join four sides from Nations League in playoffs Joy for Nor Iman MALAYSIAN muay Thai exponent Nor Iman Aliff Rakib made sure his sacrifice – fighting on Hari Raya Aidiladha despite being under the weather – was worth it when he clinched a hard-fought win in the strawweight category of the One Championship in Bangkok on Saturday. The 21-year-old put up a strong performance against Morocco’s Elmehdi El Jamari to win all three rounds of the bout at the Bangkok Lumpinee Stadium. “I was sick today, so I had to switch plans. I tried to be more entertaining for the crowd today,” he said. For the record, Nor Iman Aliff has accumulated eight wins out of 10 bouts since joining the One Championship in April 2023. Meanwhile, another national exponent, Muhammad Johan Ghazali Zulfikar failed to bounce back from his previous loss when he fell to Colombian-US fighter Diego Paez in the flyweight category. However, the Malaysian, who is fondly called Jojo, did not go down without a fight as he gave it his all before he was adjudged to have lost 1-2. JDT get new head coach JOHOR DARUL TA’ZIM (JDT) Football Club have appointed Spaniard Xisco Munoz as their new head coach. The appointment was announced via an official statement by JDT on the club’s social media platforms on Saturday night. A video showing Munoz at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium was also uploaded with the statement: “La Liga winner and former Watford manager Xisco Munoz joins Johor Darul Ta’zim FC as head coach.” Hector Bidoglio had been JDT’s head coach since 2022. BRIEFS

in the Games’ 36-year history when it bagged 77 gold medals in the 2022 edition in Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile, Mohd Hairi said various international-class sports events are set to be held in the state, including the Sultan of Johor Cup hockey tournament. He reiterated Johor’s commitment to become a Sports Nation by 2030, in line with the decree of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim during the opening of the State Assembly session recently. “Tunku Mahkota Ismail decreed that Johor should be a Sports Nation by 2030, it is quite a huge task for me and my team to place Johor, and Malaysia in general, on the world stage. “Johor must become a state that provides the best in terms of facilities, infrastructure, athlete development and academics, thus attracting investors,” he said. – Bernama

“I have asked all state sports associations to make early preparations, as instructed by the state government,” he told reporters at the Larkin state constituency “Ibadah Korban Perdana” programme in Johor Bahru yesterday.

He said this when asked to comment on Johor’s preparations for Selangor Sukma, which is expected to be held in August 2026. Johor has won the overall title at Sukma once

Malaysia’s Pearly Tan (right) and Thinaah Muralitharan pose on the podium. – AFPPIC

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Gutsy display

N ATIONAL women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah had to set tle for the runner-up spot at the 2025 Indonesia Open after losing in a thrilling final against world No. 1 pair from China, Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning, yes terday. In a fierce 86-minute clash at Istora Senayan, Pearly-Thinaah, ranked fourth in the world, lost 25-23, 12-21, 19-21. It was their fourth consecutive defeat to the top Chinese pair since October last year. Despite failing to make history by winning their first Super 1000 title, the national pair still displayed extraordinary fighting spirit, especially in the first set, which saw a dramatic comeback after trailing 7-14 before collecting 12 of the next 16 points to lead 19-17. Despite a late rally by the Chinese pair, Pearly-Thinaah remained calm to take the first set 25-23. The come-from-behind win got the crowd at Istora on their feet. However, the momentum failed to continue in the second set when the national pair lost momentum after the score was tied at 8-8, before their opponents completely dominated, winning 13 of the last 17 points to take the

set 21-12. Pearly-Thinaah revived hopes in the final set when they led 13-11 and continued to put pressure on their opponents until the score was tied at 19-19. However, the last two points went to the Chinese pair to confirm the championship. The defeat saw Malaysia’s drought of women’s doubles titles at the Indonesia Open continue. It was last won by Chin Ee Hui-Wong Pei Tty in 2009. Yesterday’s final completed Pearly Thinaah’s impressive campaign in a series of four consecutive tournaments – emerging as champions of the Thailand Open, semifinalists of the Malaysian Masters, quarterfinalists of the Singapore Open and now runners-up of the Super 1000 in Jakarta. As finalists, they took home US$50,750 (RM215,000) in prize money while Liu Sheng Shu–Tan Ning received US$107,300 (RM454,000) as champions. – Agencies Pearly-Thinaah go down fighting against top Chinese pair in Jakarta second place, only 0.188 seconds (s) behind, while his compatriot David Gonzalez secured third place with a time of 26 minutes 52.968s. “Yes, finally we get a P1. The race was fantastic today and quite difficult. The tyre dropped a lot but I could manage it. “I would like to thank my sponsors and my family and all my friends who supported me. And Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha to all Malaysians,“ he said immediately after the race. Yesterday’s win sees the Terengganu-born youngster extend his lead with 125 points, holding a 30-point advantage over Uriarte in second place. The next race will take place in Mugello, Italy on June 21 and 22. – Bernama

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Hot Hakim Danish wins second race THE country’s rising star in motorsport, Muhammad Hakim Danish Ramli, repeated his achievement from last season by winning the second race of the third round in the MotoGP Rookies Cup at MotorLand Aragon, Spain yesterday.

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Adding to the cheers, this victory was his first win of the season and his second podium finish in the third round, after coming in second in the first race yesterday. In yesterday’s second race, the 17-year-old rider, who started from seventh position, successfully overtook his opponents one by one and continued to show excellent riding skills in the last two laps to win the race with a time of 26 minutes 52.773 seconds (s). Spanish rider, Brian Uriarte, had to settle for

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