27/06/2025

FRIDAY | JUNE 27, 2025

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SPORTS

Grandmaster plan Parents should encourage children to take up chess, says Wan Azizah P ARENTS should encourage their children to take up chess, which has been proven to stimulate think National Open Team Chess Championships-PMX Trophy in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. “We encourage parents and families, especially in the Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary stressed that such tournaments are not just about competition, but are also an important platform for producing new national chess talent, including Malaysia’s first Grandmaster.

RESULTS & STANDINGS

THE World Corporate Golf Challenge (WCGC) Malaysia continues to gain traction among local corporate golfers with a bumper turnout of 124 participants teeing up the second qualifying leg on Tuesday. The award-winning Tropicana Golf & Country Club in Petaling Jaya provided the perfect setting for business leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals to enjoy a memorable day of golfing and strategic networking that could translate into fruitful partnerships in the professional world. Following on the success of the opening leg last month, the competition was keenly contested, with the top-five teams in the Two Ball Best Ball Stableford contest securing their spots in September’s national final at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club. Nine-handicapper Tay Cher Haw and his partner Liew Vin Sern (18) of Seng Haw Timber Sdn Bhd showed their prowess on the greens as they emerged clear winners, returning a combined Stableford score of 49 points. Three points behind in second on 46 points were the pair of Mohd Azmi Mahmud (6) and Azhar Husain (13) representing MG Synergy, who scored 46 points. The Widad Skycore (M) Sdn Bhd team of Isyraf Widad Dato’ Muhammad Ikmal Opat (2) and Mohd Adib Ibrahim (8) combined for a score of 45 points to finish in third on countback ahead of the pair of Muhammad Feyyaz (9) and Amirul Adli Senu (5) from Feyyaz Sports Group. The final pair to advance to the national final was the partnership of Muhammad Firdaus Hj Said (5) and Mohd Azwan (17) of Sinar Jernih Sdn Bhd, who also returned a score of 45 points. Featuring four qualifying rounds at some of Selangor’s top golf courses, the third qualifying round of the WCGC Malaysia will be played at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club on July 22. The winning team at the national final will represent Malaysia at the WCGC World Final, which will be played at the PGA Anying Golf Club in Shanghai, China from Oct 19-23. Huge turnout for Corp Golf Challenge Group F: Borussia Dortmund 1 (Svensson 36) Ulsan HD 0, Mamelodi Sundowns 0 Fluminense 0. P W D L F A Pts B. Dortmund 3 2 1 0 5 3 7 Fluminense 3 1 2 0 4 2 5 M. Sundowns 3 1 1 1 4 4 4 Ulsan HD 3 0 0 3 2 6 0 QUALIFIED ELIMINATED CLUB WORLD CUP Group E: Inter Milan 2 (Esposito 72, Bastoni 90+3) River Plate 0, Urawa Red Diamonds 0 Monterrey 4 (Deossa 30, Berterame 34, 90+7, Corona 38) . P W D L F A Pts Inter Milan 3 2 1 0 5 2 7 Monterrey 3 1 2 0 5 1 5 River Plate 3 1 1 1 3 3 4 Urawa Reds 3 0 0 3 2 9 0

ecosystem. Meanwhile, MCF president Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi said 350 participants are competing in the four-day championships, which began yesterday, to elevate team chess events in Malaysia. The tournament retains the format from last year, using the standard time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move, over seven rounds using the Swiss system. A total cash prize of RM30,000 is up for grabs, including RM6,000 for the champions, as well as special awards for the top three state chess associations. – Bernama

ing and enhance mental sharpness, said Bandar Tun Razak member of parliament Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. She said chess is a unique sport as it is inclusive and can be participated by everyone, regardless of age, gender and physical ability. “This sport is not limited by age, gender or even physical ability. We see that there are people with different differences, including people with disabilities, who can and are capable of playing chess,” she said at the launch of the 2025

“This tournament is not just a competition, it is a call to action and we want to produce our first Grandmaster… and we also want a woman Grandmaster,” she said. As such, she stressed the importance of integrated collaboration between the Youth and Sports Ministry, Education Ministry, Higher Education Ministry as well as chess associations and clubs to strengthen the sport’s development

constituency, to support their children’s participation in chess. We want to ensure children do not get involved in negative activities,” she added. Wan Azizah thanked the Malaysian Chess Federation for their continuous efforts in developing the sport of chess in the country through regular seminars, training classes and competitions held almost every weekend. The prime minister’s wife

BRIEFS Elephants explain pullout

December 2026. The project will be followed by Phase Two involving the construction of the artificial turf, a 1,682.8sqm building that includes a gymnasium, multipurpose room, players’ changing rooms, rehabilitation room and surau , in addition to the construction of the roof for the artificial turf. Phase Two is expected to be fully completed in December 2027. Located near the Putrajaya Equestrian Park, NTC is built on a 5.2ha site with Phase One of the project using funds from the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) totalling US$5.2 million (RM24m) while Phase Two is using an allocation of RM45m from the Malaysian Government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports. – Bernama SRI PAHANG FC have decided to stay out of the 2025/26 Super League season as they need time to further enhance and strengthen their internal structure to ensure a better future for the team. Sri Pahang FC also hope to be allowed to participate in the development of football in the state in the future. “As such, Sri Pahang FC would like to thank the organisers, authorities, sponsors, supporters and fans of Sri Pahang FC… hopefully, we will meet again the following season,” the club posted on Facebook . Previously, the Malaysian Football League (MFL) said that Sri Pahang FC, nicknamed the “Elephants”, submitted a formal letter dated June 16, stating their decision not to participate in the 2025/26 Malaysia League (M-League) cam paign despite being granted a national licence. Fiji team top draw at rugby meet DEBUTANTS Serevi Rugby Academy of Fiji are among 24 teams who will be competing in the three-day Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) Premier 7s from July 4. MCKK Premier Sevens director Muhammad Asri Rafai said that this year’s championships, featuring local schools and inter national academies, will also see the Shizuoka Seiko Academy (Japan), SMA Darunnajah (Indonesia) and Vajiravudh College (Thailand) bat tling it out for the crown in the 13th edition of the tournament at the MCKK school grounds. ”This is the first time we have a team from Fiji after trying so many times to bring them here. In addition, we have also brought four foreign teams to give our local players a taste of playing against interna tional sides,”he told a media conference today. The local teams competing this year include defend ing champions Sekolah Sukan Tunku Mahkota Ismail (SSTMI), last year’s runners-up SMK Jalan TIga (Aras), hosts MCKK, Royal Military College (RMC), Sekolah Dato’ Abdul Razak (SDAR) and Sekolah Sukan Malaysia Pahang (SSMP). SSTMI defeated Aras 36-5 in the final of last year’s edition.

FROM LEFT: BJGR GM Khor Kim Tong, Zia Iqmal, Ben Leong (men’s champion), Genevieve Ling (ladies champion and PGM GM Nik Mustapha.

Back-to-back wins for Leong, Ling BEN LEONG, kept his game plan and stayed on the fairways to ensure back-to-back wins in PGM Championships. After capturing the PGM KGPA

The highlight of the day was the Ladies Championship. Zulaikha Nasser and Genevieve Ling tied at 2-under after 54 holes – forcing a playoff. They went on to play three times from tee 10 after tied with par on first 2 attempts. On the 3rd playoff hole, Ling took advantage of landing her second shot on the green while Zulaikah chipped onto the green with her 3rd stroke. Ling made a brilliant putt which just stopped short of the hole and finished with a birdie while Zulaikah missed her putt. Ling also recently won the Ladies Championship at KGPA last month. Liyana Durisic who held a four strokes advantage going into the final round had to settle for 3rd place. PGM Penang Championship 2025 offers a prize purse of RM180,000 and RM30,000 respectively. – Bernama

Championship last month. Leong yesterday claimed the PGM Penang Championship 2025, played at Bukit Jawi Golf Resort (BJGR) on their picturesque Hill course. Leong recorded six birdies against one bogey yesterday to ensure a four stroke advantage over closest player, Daeng Abdul Rahman. Leong returned at 15-under score whereas Daeng Abdul Rahman was 11-under. R Nachimuthu took the third spot at 9-under. Edven Ying who was co-leader after round 2, got into some trouble at Hole 15 and ended with a score of nine. He settled at fourth position with Danny Chia at 6-under. Amateur, Zia Iqmal was the best amateur at even par after 54 holes.

No hiccups with National Training Centre construction THE construction of the National Training Centre (NTC) in Precinct 5, Putrajaya is progressing according to the original schedule and is expected to be completed without any delay. “For Phase One, the two pitches may be completed between September and October.

“For Phase 2, the facilities as issued by the Public Works Department (JKR) will be announced in mid July. For the artificial turf, the roof construction needs to start first,” he said when contacted by Bernama yesterday. Earlier, FAM shared the latest photos of NTC construction site in conjunction with the one-year anniversary of the project’s groundbreaking ceremony on June 26, 2024. Phase One of NTC includes a football field with different types of grass, that is also fully equipped with floodlights as well as a quality drainage system, landscaping and a 6m high fence around the field area, which is expected to be completed in

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman said the project, which is divided into Phase One and Two, is still ahead of schedule by 50 days. He said the two pitches, namely natural grass (bermuda) and hybrid in Phase One, are expected to be completed this year while the artificial turf and several other important facilities will follow in Phase Two. “Actually, this project is ahead of the original schedule by 50 days as a result of close cooperation from all parties.