03/07/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | JULY 3, 2025

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Elavarasan targets top-eight for Real Warriors NEWLY appointed Kelantan “The Real Warriors” (Kelantan TRW) head coach E. Elavarasan is determined to steer the team to a stronger standing in the 2025/26 Super League campaign. and once among the best. “That is what drives me to restore its standing in this Super League season.

CLUB WORLD CUP (Last 16) Real Madrid 1 (G. Garcia 54) Juventus 0, Borussia Dortmund 2 (Guirassy 14, 24) Monterrey 1 (Berterame 48) . RESULTS

Officer Datuk Mohd Irwan Rizal Mohd Ali. Elavarasan further urged football fans not to place undue pressure on the newly-formed Kelantan TRW squad, stressing that the players truly need the continued support of their fans. He said although Kelantan’s performances over the past three or four years have been lacklustre, he is confident that things will improve steadily over time. “We need to play first before we can truly assess our strengths and weaknesses. We’re also expecting the arrival of foreign players next week. “So far, we have 10 players including those with experience, as well as some U-23 players with strong potential. “With the addition of new players and management, I hope we can bring the team to a much better level,” he said. – Bernama

“I had discussions with clubs abroad before making this decision. In fact, I’ve been shuttling overseas over the past few years. This offer gave me a reason to finally settle down here,” he said. He was speaking to reporters after conducting his first training session with his players at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium in Kota Bahru on Tuesday, which was also attended by Kelantan TRW Chief Executive

BRIEFS

Elavarasan said that in the previous season, the team – then known as Kelantan Darul Naim FC (KDN FC) – finished at the bottom of the league table, and this time he is targeting at least a top eight finish. “I accepted the offer to become the new head coach due to several factors. I’ve always seen Kelantan as a team with great history

From between the sticks to the tee box

FORMER Kedah goalkeeper Mohd Azmi Mahmud has proven he’s just as capable on the golf course, finishing runner-up in the second leg of the qualifying round to earn a spot in the World Corporate Golf Challenge (WCGC) Malaysia National Finals. During the match held at the Tropicana Golf & Country Club in Petaling Jaya recently, single handicapper Mohd Azmi and his partner Azhar Husain were among the top five winners who qualified for the national finals. “After retiring from football, I took up golf as a part-time sport but soon got hooked on it. We were in a tough field with many good players and am glad we qualified for the national finals,” said Mohd Azmi in a statement. Sad end to Ballard MALAYSIA ATHLETICS (MA) has confirmed it will not be renewing the contract of its technical director, Robert Ballard, which is set to expire on July 31. In a statement yesterday, MA said the services of Ballard, 60, would not be extended due to a lack of government funding and private sponsorship for the national athletics body. “Ballard has been with MA since 2023 and has made significant contributions to the development and performance improvement of national athletes over the past two years. MA extends its deepest appreciation and thanks for his dedication and commitment during his time with us. We wish Ballard continued success in all his future endeavours,” the statement said. Ballard had previously served as technical director in February 2014 on a two-year contract but decided to part ways with the association early on Dec 8, 2015. Ballard later returned to the position in August 2023 on a two-year contract. Record participants for marathon A record 33,000 participants from 48 countries will compete at the Score Marathon 2025 in Putrajaya on July 13. Adding to the prestige of the event is its recognition as a World Athletics Label Road Race, placing it among 301 certified events globally and one of only three in Malaysia with the distinction. Score Sports Management chief executive officer Patricia Tan, in a statement today, said this year’s participation is 36% higher than last year’s 24,253 entries, reflecting Score Marathon’s rapid growth and regional influence. The event will feature four distances, namely 5 kilometres (km), 10km, 21km and 42km. The World Athletics Label Road Race also certifies it as a qualifying event for the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbottWMM), and affirms its global stature through affiliations with the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) as well as continued support from the Youth and Sports Ministry. MRC, YSB to hold charity golf tournament THE Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) and Yayasan Sultanah Bahiyah (YSB) will organise the YSB-MRC Charity Golf Tournament 2025 on July 16 at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Shah Alam. YSB, in a statement yesterday, said the tournament is to raise funds in support of humanitarian and community welfare programmes for underserved populations across Malaysia.“The event aims to rally support for vital services, including disaster relief, healthcare, education and social assistance for those most in need. The tournament will directly support MRC and YSB’s ongoing efforts to uplift lives and build resilient communities. This includes strengthening disaster response operations and emergency relief efforts, expanding first aid training and mobile health services for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, refugees, migrants and the Orang Asli as well as providing education support, food aid and community development programmes for low-income families and children,” the statement said.

National doubles pair Thinaah Muralitharan (left) and Pearly Tan. – BERNAMAPIC

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Steel Magnolias Coach Rosman hails Pearly-Thinaah’s maturity, fighting spirit

RM5,596,444.99

N ATIONAL women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are showing clear signs of maturity by strongly challenging China’s top pairs, who have long been their nemeses. National women’s doubles coach Rosman Razak said the world No. 3 pair are now mentally stronger and no longer give up easily when facing tough situations in matches. “In the past, if things didn’t go well on court, they would become ‘lost.’ But that’s no longer the case. They try, they fight, and sometimes, right in the middle of the match, their form and fighting spirit return. “That is most evident – their maturity and willingness to keep trying. I really like that,” he said when met at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday. According to Rosman, the six-week break from tournaments ahead of the Japan and China Opens this month is the best phase to rebuild physical conditioning and allow time for injury recovery, particularly for Pearly Thinaah. “This is the best time to ‘repair’ everything – recovery, physical conditioning, injury prevention – we’re doing all of that now. “But at the same time, we don’t know whether their momentum can be maintained or if they’ll need time to regain their rhythm,” he said. Rosman also confirmed that two national women’s doubles pairs – Pearly Thinaah and Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee – have qualified for the 2025 World Championships in Paris this August. When asked about potential pairs to fill the second national doubles slot, Rosman stressed that all players still have equal opportunities and must compete fairly to earn their place. “I don’t want to talk about individuals. But currently, Ong Xin Yee

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RM247,182.42

Carmen Ting’s performance looks much better than the other juniors. That said, the others are catching up in the race for that spot,” he said. Rosman also named the young pair Low Zi Yu-Dania Sofea Zaidi as among the prospects, having shown encouraging results in lower-tier international competitions, but emphasised that they still need time and sufficient exposure. “Sofea is only 18, Zi Yu is just 15. I think the progress of these young players shows potential. But they need time and exposure. Don’t compare them with Pearly and Thinaah,” he said. In related news, national doubles shuttler Man Wei Chong says he and partner Tee Kai Wun are focused on giving their best rather than obsessing over titles at the Japan and China Open tournaments later this month. The 25-year-old player, who has won two titles this season, is confident that the outcomes would be good if they can maintain a high level of performance. “We should not be overly concerned about the results. If we maintain our performance, the results will come naturally. “I believe that is the best approach to easing the presssure on ourselves. We should be forward-looking and give it our all in the second half (of the year),” he told reporters. Wei Chong-Kai Wun won the Indonesia Masters 2025 in January and the Malaysia Masters in May. The Japan Open will be held from July 15 to 20 in Tokyo, while the China Open will take place in Changzhou from July 22 to 27. – Bernama

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