22/06/2025

SPORTS 15 ON SUNDAY JUNE 22, 2025 RTG panel to help shuttlers find suitable training venues, says minister first Olympic gold medal, with focus on the Paris 2024 and LA 2028 Games. In related news, Yeoh expressed hope that the contract issue involving national women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, whose deal with the Badminton Association of Malaysia ended last December, can be resolved promptly. She stressed the importance of settling the matter quickly, as any delay could affect the performance of the world number three pair. – Bernama

Support for pros

SRI PAHANG FC’S decision to skip the 2025/2026 Malaysia League (M-League) season is a big loss to Malaysian football, said former Pahang coach Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan. Zainal, who was a legend of “The Elephants” squad, admitted to being affected by the develop ment, as the team not only have a long history in Malaysian football – including winning the Super League, Malaysia Cup and FA Cup – but have also produced many national players. “This is a sad decision... how ever, we must respect it (the deci sion not to compete). But it’s a great loss. “A huge loss for the country’s football, the league and Pahang. I hope the situation will recover and Pahang will return,” he said after attending the WRA Academy Football Clinic at the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council Stadium in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. However, the Football Association of Malaysia executive committee member believes that talent development in Pahang will not be affected by this. “In my view, what’s missing is the senior team, but the youth teams are still active. That’s a posi tive move. “I hope these young players won’t give up and will work hard to restore Pahang’s image until the team returns to the top league,” said Zainal, who won the Malaysia Cup with Pahang in 1983 and 1992 as a player. On Friday, the Malaysian Football League announced in a statement that Sri Pahang, despite having obtained the 2025–2026 National Licence, had submitted a confirmation letter dated June 16, 2025, stating its decision to with draw from the M-League. Sri Pahang finished eighth in last season’s Super League with 29 points. The last title won by Sri Pahang was the 2018 FA Cup. – Bernama Elephants exit a big loss: Zainal Boca Juniors 2 0 1 1 3 4 1 Auckland City 2 0 0 2 0 16 0 Group D: Chelsea 1 (Neto 13) Flamengo 3 (Bruno Henrique 62, Danilo 65, Wallace Yan 83), Los Ange les FC 0 Esperance Tunis 1 (Belaili 70) . PWD L F APts Flamengo 2 2 0 0 5 1 6 Chelsea 2 1 0 1 3 3 3 Esperance 2 1 0 1 1 2 3 LAFC 2 0 0 2 0 3 0 QUALIFIED ELIMINATED CLUB WORLD CUP GROUP C: Benfica 6 (Di Maria 45+8 pen, 90+8-pen, Pavlidis 53, Sanches 63, Barreiro 76, 78) Auckland City 0, Bayern Munich 2 (Kane 18, Olise 84) Boca Juniors 1 (Merentiel 66) . PWD L F APts Bayern 2 2 0 0 12 1 6 Benfica 2 1 1 0 8 2 4 RESULTS & STANDINGS

THE Road to Gold (RTG) Committee will help professional badminton players under its programme find more condu cive training venues, said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh. She said the RTG Committee is aware that these players are currently training in halls which are also open to the public. “I hope we can help find more suitable and private training locations for professional athletes (badminton players). “As it stands, they’ve been training in places like shopping malls where the public can watch them. I believe RTG Programme coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam will coordinate the necessary support,” she told reporters after opening the Asean Persons With Disabilities in Sports Conference 2025 in Putrajaya yesterday. Yeoh, who also chairs the RTG Committee, said efforts will also be made to help professional players find quality sparring partners to boost their performance. Last week, she announced that four professional badminton players – men’s Kiwis in final Defending champions New Zealand advanced to the final of the 2025 International Hockey Federation (FIH) Men’s Nations Cup after defeating South Korea 4-3 in a penalty shootout at the National Stadium Bukit Jalil on Saturday night. In a thrilling semifinal clash, the Black Sticks were not given an easy path by South Korea after being tied 2-2 at the end of 60 minutes of regulation play. Earlier, field goals by Jonty Elmes in the 10th minute and Dylan Thomas nine minutes later put New Zealand ahead, before penalty corner goals from Lim Dohyun in the 25th minute and Yang Jihun in the 37th minute helped South Korea level the tie. New Zealand’s result confirms a final showdown against Pakistan, after Pakistan overcame France 3-2, also via a penalty shootout, in the other semifinal match. Both those teams were tied 3-3 after regulation time. 10 teams for u-16 cricket tournament Ten teams, including host Malaysia, are set to vie for the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under-16 East Zone Cup 2025, which kicks off today. The Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) said the prestigious youth tournament will run until July 5 at the YSD-UKM Oval in Bangi; Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar Oval in Mantin, Negeri Sembilan; and Selangor Turf Club in Seri Kembangan. “The competition will fol low a round-robin format, with the top two teams progressing to the final. “Organised as part of the ACC’s youth development path way, the tournament will be played in the 50-over format to simulate the competitive conditions of future international cricket,” it said in a statement. Malaysia have been drawn in Group B alongside Hong Kong, Thailand, the Maldives and Myanmar while Group A will feature Nepal, Singapore, Indonesia, Bhutan and Japan. MCA president Mahinda Vallipuram, in the same statement, said the tournament is an important part of their players’ development pipeline as they could become the next generation of national cricketers on the international stage. KDN FC settling salary arrears Kelantan Darul Naim FC (KDN FC) has set tled about 10 to 20% of the salary arrears of last season’s Super League players. KDN FC BRIEFS

world No. 1 pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and mixed doubles duo Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie – had committed to the RTG programme for the 2025 cycle. Although the negotiations took a little longer, Ramalingam said he was glad the quartet had decide to join the programme. “I think it’s a good sign that the programme is well received by all parties. “The programme has always been about performance support and I believe that’s what the athletes will get, even the previous RTG cycle,” he said. “I think if you speak to the coaches, the athletes, they have no complaints about the RTG support system. “It’s down to the athletes at the end of the day, we can provide the best.” Ramalingam added that with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28) still a long way off, athletes can make full use of the time with the services provided by RTG. Introduced by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) in April 2023, the RTG projest is a national initiative to coordinate Malaysia’s efforts to win its

220/25

21/06/2025

5017 4415 1138

8222 4347 5666 0484 0122

7607 0477 1688 3108 8195

1978 6231 2326 1403 4814

7884 6131 1882 1713 2674

RM15,613,945.01

5017 + 1138 4415 + 1138 1138 + 4415

5017 + 4415 4415 + 5017 1138 + 5017

RM254,796.96

1 2 111416213336

17 18

South Korea’s Kim Hyeongjin (bottom right) is pushed by New Zealand’s Patrick Ward (left) during their FIH Men’s Nations Cup semifinal match. – BERNAMAPIC

RM13,203,659.02

chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Irwan Rizal Mohd Ali Napiah said this was the result of meetings between the club management and the players involved in the wage dis pute. He said the players agreed on a pay ment arrangement to fully settle the out standing salaries. “The arrears involve sala ries for February, March and April 2025. We began meeting with the players yesterday to resolve this matter,“ he told reporters after attending a programme with KDN FC Supporters’ Club in Kota Bharu on Saturday night. He said negotiations would continue from time to time until all arrears are cleared before the start of the 2025/2026 Malaysian League season. Commenting on the team’s preparations, Irwan Rizal said KDN FC has allocated RM6 million for team management this season, including for players, coaches, officials and other management aspects.

RM100,000.00

1 7 1 5 3 8 17153

71538

1715

1538

171

538

17

38

15

10

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