02/07/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | JULY 2, 2025

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Race for prestigious award Five in the running for 2024 Athlete of the Year title

RESULTS

CLUB WORLD CUP (last 16) Inter Milan 0 Fluminense 2 (Cano 3, Hercules 90+3) , Manchester City 3 (Silva 9, Haaland 55, Foden 104) Al Hilal 4 (Leonardo 46, 113, Malcom 52, Koulibaly 94) aet. TOUCHLINES ASTON VILLA and England for ward Ollie Watkins, 29, is on Manchester United’s list of potential striker recruits if Denmark international Rasmus Hojlund, 22, leaves Old Trafford this summer. ENGLAND international Marcus Rashford faces returning to Manchester United for pre-season training as Aston Villa, where the forward was on loan during the second half of last season, will not be taking up the option to sign the 27-year-old for £40m (RM231m). BAYERN MUNICH have added Liverpool and Colombia forward Luis Diaz, 28, to their shortlist as they continue to search for a top-class left winger. ARSENAL have held talks with representatives of Crystal Palace and England midfielder Eberechi Eze, 27, who has a release clause of £67.5m (RM390m). FULHAM are plotting a summer move for Genk and Nigeria striker Tolu Arokodare, 24, who is also being watched by Manchester United and AC Milan. TOTTENHAM want to sign West Ham and Ghana forward Mohammed Kudus, 24, and are confident that can strike a deal well below his £85m (RM491m) release clause. WEST HAM would be open to offers of around £60m (RM347) for Kudus, who has also attracted interest from Chelsea, Newcastle and Manchester United. BRAZIL forward Richarlison, 28, has been given approval to leave Tottenham and is expected to head to Turkey to join Galatasaray. CHELSEA hope to raise about £35m (RM202m) from the sale of France forward Christopher Nkunku, 27, this summer. CRYSTAL PALACE are eyeing a £27m (RM156m) double swoop on Middlesbrough to sign English midfielder Hayden Hackney, 23, and Dutch defender Rav van den Berg, 20. MAN UNITED are struggling to offload Tyrell Malacia, 25, after PSV Eindhoven rejected the chance to sign the Netherlands defender permanently after a spell on loan. ENGLAND forward Tammy Abraham, 27, is close to making a £12.9m (RM74.5m) move from Italian side Roma to Turkish club Besiktas. ASTON VILLA are set to offload English forward Louie Barry, 22, to Championship side Hull City.

T HE race for the 2024 Malaysian Sportswriters Association (SAM)-100Plus Athlete of the Year Award is set to be fiercely contested, featuring a line-up of world-class athletes and Olympians who have brought pride to the nation on the international stage. Heading the list of five nominees are the country’s second-ranked men’s badminton doubles pair, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who were also bronze medallists at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The world No. 2 pair will be challenged by women’s bowling ace Sin Li Jane, who has enjoyed a stellar career, most recently winning the 2024 United States Women’s Open, and

categories: Best Report/News (Print Media), Best Report/News (Electronic Media), Best Commentary (Print Media), Best Commentary (Electronic Media), Best Special Report (Open), and Best Sports Photography,” he said at a press conference yesterday. Norismadi also announced that the SAM leadership unanimously agreed to increase the cash prize for the top journalism award, the Siebel Award, from RM7,000 to RM10,000. The cash prize for the Popular Sports Commentator Award has also been increased to RM3,000 from RM2,000 previously. – Bernama

Three athletes, Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli (shot put F20), Datuk Abdul Latif Romly (long jump T20), and Eddy Bernard (sprint T44), are also in the running for the coveted award. SAM president Norismadi Abd Manap said the winners of both main athlete awards will each receive RM10,000 in cash and a trophy at the awards ceremony, scheduled to be held at Sunway Resort Hotel on July 14. “The SAM-100Plus 2024 Awards will also recognise excellence in sports journalism through six other para

Nor Farah Ain Abdullah from lawn bowls, who was crowned 2024 National Sportswoman of the Year at the National Sports Awards in May. The other two shortlisted are famous tower runner Soh Wai Ching and wushu ace Tan Cheong Min Meanwhile, the contest for the 2024 Best Para Athlete of the Year Award will once again see intense rivalry between two familiar names – para badminton player Cheah Liek Hou and para powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin – as both aim to capture the trophy for the third time since its introduction in 2016.

SHORTS Tze Yong set for ACL surgery in Qatar

Thinaah and Pearly. – BERNAMAPIC

2025/26 Malaysia League season. Burhanuddin said the sponsorship in the form of money and services represents a RM150,000 increase from the previous season. “We believe that the strength of a football team does not solely depend on performance on the field, but also requires corporate backing, professional management and comprehensive community involvement. “This collaboration is expected to increase brand engagement of government-related company Trg Inc across all TFC platforms,” he said. – Bernama NATIONAL men’s singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong will undergo knee surgery in Doha, Qatar to treat an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he is currently suffering from. The update was shared by Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh when speaking to the media yesterday. “The National Sports Institute (NSI) is currently arranging the dates for his surgery. We should know when he will be going in two to three days,” he said. BAM had confirmed previously that Tze Yong sustained an ACL injury following an MRI scan that revealed a tear in his right knee. The Johor-born shuttler suffered the injury during the first round of the Malaysia Masters 2025 last month in a match against Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long, which forced him to retire mid game. Masoc appoint new CEO FORMER National Sports Council (NSC) director general Abdul Rashid Yaakub has been appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of the Malaysia SEA Games Organising Committee (Masoc) and Asean Para Games 2027. The announcement was made by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh in a Facebook post yesterday. Hannah said Abdul Rashid’s appointment took effect as of yesterday, and his main responsibility will be to lead the secretariat in coordinating all aspects of preparations for the biennial regional games. “Abdul Rashid, 61, has extensive experience in Malaysian sports, having been directly involved for over 37 years and holding various positions in the NSC before retiring as director general in early April 2025. “He also played a key role in assisting Masoc in management during Malaysia’s previous hosting of the SEA Games in 2017,” she said. In addition to Kuala Lumpur, the 2027 SEA Games and Asean Para Games will also be co hosted by three other states, namely Sarawak, Penang and Johor.

NATIONAL women’s doubles head coach Rosman Razak has reiterated that he has no issues with the commitment shown by the pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, despite the duo still being in contract negotiations with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). According to Rosman, his focus remains on training and tournament preparations, including monitoring the duo’s performance, which has been increasingly impressive on the international stage. “If there was a problem, I would speak up. But so far, I’ve had no issues. “In terms of training, focus and following instructions, everything is in order. It hasn’t disrupted my process,” he told reporters at the Malaysian Badminton Academy yesterday. On Monday, BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said a decision on whether Pearly-Thinaah would remain with the national body will only be known before the Japan Open begins on July 15. He said there are several matters that still need to be finalised between BAM and the players before a conclusive decision can be made. Pearly and Thinaah have yet to sign a new contract with BAM after their previous contract expired in December last year. Despite the uncertainty surrounding their future with the national body, Pearly and Thinaah continued to excel, notably clinching the Pearly-Thinaah staying focused despite contract uncertainty

Thailand Open title in May. Meanwhile, BAM Singles Coaching Director Kenneth Jonassen expressed confidence in former national men’s singles player Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin’s ability to steer the development of women’s singles. “We are pleased to welcome Iskandar back to BAM in this important role. His international coaching stint, combined with his background as a national player, brings a valuable blend of experience and perspective. “Our Women’s Singles squad is in a crucial phase of transition, and we believe Iskandar is the right person to guide the players, helping them build belief and resilience while pushing for consistent performances on the world stage,” he said. Sharing his enthusiasm about the new role, Iskandar said: “It feels great to return to BAM – not as a player this time, but as a coach ready to give back. My journey in Ireland taught me so much, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to apply those lessons here. “I see potential in our Women’s Singles players, and my focus will be on building their confidence, sharpening their tactical and physical awareness, and supporting them to break through at the international level. “I would like to thank BAM for the trust and opportunity – it means a lot to be able to contribute to the sport I love, in the place where it all began for me,” he said. – Bernama

Corporate figure to be new Terengganu FC CEO this season TERENGGANU FC (TFC) will be led by a corporate figure as chief executive officer (CEO) this season. Terengganu Football Association (PBSNT) chairman Hishamuddin Abdul Karim said the state FA has shortlisted several suitable candidates to lead the club, in line with the full privatisation plan for the club to move towards professional management. manage TFC. We need to fully embrace privatisation for the development of the club. “We will announce the person as soon as possible, within this month after interviews and approval from the board of directors,” he said when met at the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Terengganu Football Sdn Bhd (TFCSB) and the Terengganu Incorporated Group (Trg Inc) yesterday.

He said the final selection is under way and a closed interview would be conducted next week to select the most qualified and credible candidate to lead the club to greater heights. “This time, we will bring in a corporate figure to

At the ceremony, Trg Inc, represented by chief executive officer Datuk Burhanuddin Hilmi Mohamed, handed over a sponsorship worth RM1.65 million to support TFC in the upcoming