01/07/2025

TUESDAY | JULY 1, 2025

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SPORTS

Pearly-Thinaah’s contract to be finalised soon

RESULTS

CLUB WORLD CUP (LAST 16): Paris Saint-Germain 4 (Neves 6, 39, Aviles 44-og, Hakimi 45+3) Inter Miami 0, Flamengo 2 (Gerson 33, Jorginho 55-pen) Bayern Munich 4 (Pulgar 6-og, Kane 9, 73, Goretzka 41). CONCACAF GOLD CUP (QUARTERFINALS) : Canada 1 Guatemala 1 (Guatemala win 7-6 on penal ties) , United States 2 Costa Rica 2 (United States win 6-5 on penalties).

THE decision on whether the country’s top women’s doubles pair, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (pic) , will remain with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will only be known before the Japan Open, scheduled for July 15. BAM President Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said that this was agreed upon by both players

matters are always common in any negotiation. “I think in any contract negotiation, there is always discussion. To me, what is fair is we need to value them accordingly, their contribution. “And also what is important to me is that when we value someone or in this case the pair, we also need to put targets. So if they do better, we should pay them more,” he said. On other news, former national men’s singles player Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin has returned to the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), this time as a singles coach. The appointment of the 33-year-old Iskandar Zulkarnain was announced by Tengku Zafrul at a press conference at Akademi Badminton Malaysia yesterday. “Iskandar Zulkarnain will begin his duties on Oct 1. “Negotiations were ongoing and finally last week we managed to finalise and he will be coming back from Ireland,” he said. – Bernama

it just now, and they also agreed that it should be settled before the Japan Open, and we will make an announcement (regarding the matter),” he said at a press conference after the engagement session with the players at the Badminton Academy of Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara. Earlier media reports had said that the pair has yet to sign a new contract with the BAM although their previous contract had expired

SIDENETTING USA, Guatemala through to Gold Cup semis

last December. Despite the uncertainty surrounding their future with BAM, Pearly-Thinaah have continued to show excellent performance, winning the Thailand Open in May. Meanwhile, when asked if the world No. 3 pair requested higher compensation than before, Zafrul acknowledged that discussions on such

during an engagement session held yesterday. According to him, there are a few matters that need to be finalised between BAM and the players before a definitive decision can be reached. “We are close to finalising it. Our discussion only has one or two issues left that I believe we can resolve, God willing. But the time given, I set

GOALKEEPER Matt Freese was the hero as the United States defeated Costa Rica 4-3 on penalties to reach the semifinals of the Concacaf Gold Cup yesterday. Freese made three saves in the shootout after the game finished 2-2 at the end of regulation time to send Mauricio Pochettino’s side into a semifinal against Guatemala. “Penalties are my thing,” Freese said afterwards. “On the plane ride over here to Minnesota I was studying the penalties so I was ready for it if we needed it. “It was a full team effort – it really shows the energy and the mentality of this group to come back from 1-0… then you know, everyone steps up for PKs and does a great job.” Meanwhile, Jose Morales scored the winner in the shootout against Canada yesterday in Minneapolis. Canada played the second half with 10 men after Jacob Shaffelburg was shown a red card four minutes into the first half stoppage time for a foul on Stheven Robles. Calvert-Lewin leaves Everton DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN is leaving Everton as a free agent after nine years at the Premier League club, the striker said yesterday. Calvert-Lewin, who scored 57 goals in 239 league appearances for Everton, said leaving was an “incredibly difficult decision”. “This isn’t something I chose lightly,”he wrote on social media. “Everton has been my home since I was 19 years-old. It’s the place that saw potential in me, challenged me to grow and shaped me both as a footballer and as a man. “The choice to move on was not simply about me, it was a decision with my family and we spent a long time considering together.” Calvert-Lewin had his best season at Everton in 2020-21 when he netted 16 goals in the league, but struggled in the following four seasons, scoring only 17 times in the competition. ‘Lack of rest could destroy City’ MANCHESTER CITY manager Pep Guardiola is concerned about the lack of rest his side will get ahead of the new Premier League season and said their involvement in the Club World Cup could “destroy” them. City wrapped up the previous Premier League season on May 25 and opened their Club World Cup campaign in Philadelphia just over three weeks later on June 18. Guardiola said he did not know how much the Club World Cup would take out of his squad and told reporters to ask him about the impact later in the year. “I may say, so listen, we are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us,” he added. “I don’t know, but it’s the first time in our life that that’s happened. So we’ll see.” Guardiola said he understood comments made by former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who said the expanded 32-team event, to be held once every four years during the pre-season, was football’s worst idea. “Jurgen, we fought together many, many times… when we went to UEFA meetings especially, or when we discussed the Premier League calendar, about how to add more quality, giving the managers and players more rest,“ Guardiola said. “So his comments didn’t surprise me a lot… I understand his argument, because I would defend his argument as well.”

Written in the stars

Aaliyah leads Malaysia to historic victory at Asian Waterski Championships N ATIONAL waterski star Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah made history by winning four gold medals and ever, topping the standings with 7,262.44 points, ahead of Japan (6,664.52 points) and South Korea (5,059.65 points), based on combined scores from the slalom, tricks and jump events.

breaking the Asian jump record three times at the 2025 IWWF Asian Waterski Championships held at Rabbit Lake in Bangkok. The 21-year-old dominated the women’s open category, sweeping all four events – slalom, jump, tricks

“We’re very proud of the team. Aaliyah is now at the peak of her performance and is even helping guide her younger brothers, who have grown strong enough to beat top Asian male skiers,” said national head coach Hanifah Yoong. Aaliyah’s brother, Aiden, also impressed by wi nn i ng

Malaysia’ Aaliyah Yoong in action. – BERNAMAPIC

two gold medals in the men’s tricks and overall events, setting a

new national record of 5,700 points in tricks. He also secured two bronze medals in the slalom and jump events. Meanwhile, another brother, Adam, contributed a bronze in the men’s tricks event. Malaysia returned home with a total of seven gold medals from the championship, which ran from June 24-29. – Bernama

and overall –

for third consecutive time, following the

similar clean sweeps at the 2019 (Thailand) and 2022 (Korea) editions. Aaliyah’s outstanding performance helped Malaysia clinch the overall team title for the first time

SHORTS

FIH Nations Cup, Malaysia, who played host, finished out of the top five after losing 1-2 to Wales in the fifth and sixth place playoff. No comment: FAM THE Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has refused to be drawn into head coach Peter Cklamovski’s claims of interference in national team management, saying he should clarify the matter. “We don’t know what Peter meant. I think it’s best to ask him directly,” he said yesterday. Earlier, the media reported that Cklamovski had alleged internal issues in their efforts to advance on the international stage. He made the allegations following Malaysia’s 4-0 victory over Vietnam in the second Group F match of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 10. “Let Peter explain it himself. Sometimes, when statements are translated or relayed, the

context can get lost. So honestly, it’s best to ask him directly,” he said. Strong finish for royal duo TUNKU Panglima Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ibrahim and Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Sultan Ibrahim have successfully completed the gruelling 24 Hours of Spa Francorchamps endurance race in Belgium with Johor Motorsports Racing (JMR). The royal duo, the sons of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, alongside British driver Alexander Sims and Australian Jordan Love who drove the team’s Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R crossed the finish line 12th in the Bronze Cup class and 43rd overall out of a 74 car field. JMR will return to action at Fuji Speedway, Japan, from July 11 to 13 for rounds seven and eight of the GT World Challenge Asia.

Not Sarjit’s fault: Subahan NATIONAL men’s hockey squad head coach Sarjit Singh should not be blamed entirely for Speedy Tigers’poor performance at the recent International Hockey Federation (FIH) 2025 Nations Cup Hockey Tournament. Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said the entire team, including the players, must take responsibility after failing to achieve their mission of advancing to the semifinals of the tournament. “To be honest, I have been in this sport for a long time and I see that the Malaysian team under Sarjit can play. They can compete with any of the world’s giants. “The problem is still the same, the problem of holding the lead,” he told the media at the MHC press conference yesterday. Earlier at the