15/06/2025

SPORTS 15 ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2025

SHORTS

TOUCHLINES

ons, to Sporting for Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, 27. B AYE R LEVE R KU S EN are poised to make a bid for M anchester City’s English attacking mid fielder James M cAtee, 22, when the transfer window reopens . NAPOLI are competing with clubs from Saudi

Arabia for the signing of Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez, 25, from Liverpool. JO S E M OU R INHO’ S Fenerbahce are interested in signing English rightback Kyle Walker, 35, from M anchester City following his unsuccess ful loan at AC M ilan . EVE R TON are interested in Brazilian former Manchester United midfielder Fred, 32, who is cur rently at Fenerbahce. VILLA RR EAL’ S 6ft 4in French striker Thierno B arry, 22, is also a summer transfer target for Everton . A S TON VILLA have made an approach to sign 19 year-old Spanish winger Jesus Rodriguez from Real Betis.

NEWCA S TLE have stepped up their interest in B righton and B razil forward Joao Pedro after learning the 23-year-old would be interested in signing for Eddie Howe’s side . A RS ENAL have made an opening bid of £46.8m (RM270m), with a possible £8.5m (RM49m) in add

MALAYSIA’S most iconic amateur golf tour nament is back and bigger than ever. Carlsberg Golf Classic (CGC) returns for its 32nd edition, bringing with it RM2.7 million in prizes, 32 qualifying rounds nationwide, and a grand finale on one of Asia’s most elite courses – the West Course at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC). Participants can always expect not just top-tier prizes, but also top-tier hospitality, camaraderie, and a tournament environ ment that is sure to last a lifetime. From avid golfers to casual fans, CGC is designed to deliver a holistic experience on and off the course – pairing the spirit of competition with #BestWithCarlsberg moments. FAS appoint Fazzrudin as president KUCHING City Football Club presi dent Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman has won the Sarawak Football Association (FAS) president post uncontested at the association’s Annual General Meeting yesterday. Fazzrudin who takes over from Abang Zulkarnain Abang Abdul Rahman, will hold the position for the 2025-2027 term. Fazzrudin, who is also the chief political secretary to the Sarawak premier, won uncontested following the withdrawal of another candidate, Dr Mohd Shafiq Abdullah, at the last minute. Met with reporters after the meet ing, Fazzrudin said that among his main agenda as FAS president is to bring football to the grassroots level by organising the Sarawak Premier League. He said the league would involve teams representing parts of Sarawak and it would be an annual event. “If the quality of the league is good, then we hope it can produce more quality players who may be approached by teams in the Malaysian League or overseas leagues. We want to see football players from Sarawak being able to play at a higher level. “I hope we can start this league by September at the latest as it may take three months,” he said. At the same meeting, the position of FAS deputy president was also won unopposed by Datuk Hamzah Brahim. sprinter Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi created a sensa tion when he helped Auburn University quartet win the 4x100 metres (m) relay at the 2025 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Track and Field Championships yesterday. The Auburn quartet of Muhammad Azeem, Kayinsola Ajayi, Dario Matau and Makanakaishe Charamba showed off an energetic run to clinch the championship title with a time of 38.33 seconds (s). The second place went to the University of Southern California (USC) with a time of 38.46s while Louisiana State University (LSU) was in third place (38.56s) Earlier, the Auburn quartet recorded a record of 37.97s in the semifinals on Wednesday to advance to the final. For the record, Muhammad Azeem, better known as Azeem Fahmi had also assisted his university crowned champion in the same event in 2024. Auburn clinch NCAA title NATIONAL

Malaysian hockey team captain, Muhammad Marhan Mohd Jalil (right) with Muhammad Hafizuddin Othman during a press conference. – BERNAMAPIC

217/25

14/06/2025

2027 0459 3421

No home advantage

Pakistan no pushover for Speedy Tigers in opening group match

5345 7238 8935 5029 0784

2080 1217 8988 6954 5377

8264 4355 8961 8099 1742

4330 2936 3567 5050 3641

RM23,855,604.02

NATIONAL men’s hockey team cap tain Muhammad Marhan Mohd Jalil admitted that the Speedy Tigers will face great pressure when they take on Pakistan in the first Group B match of the 2025 FIH Nations Cup Hockey Championship today at Bukit Jalil National Stadium. According to him, playing before their own fans is not an easy task, but he hopes that the players can take the pressure in their pursuit of a first win that is expected to provide a motivational boost for the national team. “For me, every game, anywhere, there is definitely pressure, especially when playing on home turf, the pressure is the team want to give the best result. “So the team need to be more disciplined on the field from the first minute until the end. This is because the first game is important and we need to win to increase our motivation and increase our chances of advancing to the semifinals,” he said at a pre-match press conference yesterday. “For over three decades, the Carlsberg Golf Classic has stood as a symbol of our dedication to the golfing community. It goes beyond the game – it’s about passion, friendships, and unforgettable moments shared on the green. “This year, we’re proud to raise the bar yet again with unmatched prizes and expe riences. We believe great things happen when the love of golf meets the enjoyment of a perfectly brewed Carlsberg. That’s what makes it truly #BestWithCarlsberg,” said Stefano Clini, Managing Director of Carlsberg Malaysia. From June to October, over 3,600 golf ers will tee off across 32 clubs nationwide –

Meanwhile, when asked to comment on the Pakistani team, the 35-year-old described his opponent as a strong team besides having the advantage of penalty corner specialist Sufyan Khan. However, he asked the team not to focus too much on the player because he believed the Pakistani team had a different strategy. “We cannot focus on just one person because we need to remember that they (Pakistan) may have other weapons. Maybe they have a second person, we don’t even know. “So, we will follow the strategy that has been planned by the coach and hope the defence is at its best in the match,” he said. At the FIH Nations Cup Hockey Championship, Malaysia were drawn in Group B with Pakistan, New Zealand and Japan, while Group A comprises France, South Africa, South Korea and Wales. For the record, Speedy Tigers finished the previous edition in Gniezno, Poland in seventh place. – Bernama including 16 in Klang Valley, seven in the South, five in East Malaysia, and four in the North. Making a return to this year’s line-up is A’Famosa Golf Resort in Malacca, adding to the diverse mix of championship courses and enriching the Southern leg of the series. The journey culminates on Nov 7 at KLGCC, where 32 national finalists will play on a course prepped to professional stan dards just days after the LPGA’s biggest stars. CGC promises an exhilarating journey. Each round is set to deliver not just fierce competition, but also moments of kinship, celebration, and the unmistakable joy of the game.

2027 + 3421 0459 + 3421 3421 + 0459

2027 + 0459 0459 + 2027 3421 + 2027

RM273,693.09

9 12172025293033

2 26

RM12,976,191.47

CGC in search of new champions

RM100,000.00

2 7 5 9 2 1 27592

75921

2759

5921

275

921

27

21

59

00

All jackpot amounts stated above are for this Draw. Subject to T&Cs of the Scheme. Please visit to www.magnum4d.my for more info. THE BIGGER PLAY IS TO PLAY RESPONSIBLY