06/07/2025

SPORTS 15 ON SUNDAY JULY 6, 2025

No cause for alarm over Zii Jia, says Jefri

RESULTS

CLUB WORLD CUP (quarterfinals) Fluminense 2 (Martinelli 40, Hercules 70) Al Hilal 1 (Marcos Leonardo 51), Palmeiras 1 (Este vao 53) Chelsea 2 (Palmer 16, Weverton 83-og) .

curiosity and so on, posted the pictures, or he is interested in that kind of art. “However, we are always open to help if his team needs help from NSC or the National Sports Institute (ISN),” Jefri said at the 2025 Athletes’ Day programme held at the Bukit Jalil

THE National Sports Council (NSC) says there is nothing to worry about the “strange” actions of professional singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia, which raised questions after he shared several mysterious sketches on social media on Friday. NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin said the council as well as Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh had contacted Lee Zii Jia’s team (Team LZJ) to ascertain why the player is behaving in such a startling manner. The mysterious posts (apparently of disturbing images including a stitched-up figure holding a blood-stained needle)

depression, besides insisting that NSC would continue to communicate with Team LZJ. “His team and friends also do not see any indication that he has any mental or personal problems. “In today’s generation, they might like that kind of art, right? So, let him express himself,” he said. Zii Jia, currently ranked 27th in the world, is expected to return to action at the Japan Open, which will take place from July 15 to 20. His ranking slipped outside the world’s top 20, having only played in two tournaments this year after injuring his right ankle at the World Tour Finals in December. – Bernama

SHORTS

NATIONAL PADEL SELECTION TODAY The Malaysian Padel Association (MPA) has announced the national team selection to compete at the forthcoming Asia Pacific Padel Championship (APPC) in August. Its secretary-general Jaafar Saadiq has confirmed that the selection will be held at the Ace Sports World (level 3) in Kepong today. He said that seven men and five women players will be selected to compete in the APPC from Aug 22 to 25. “Malaysia aims to solidify its position as one of the emerging forces in Asian padel as the goal is to qualify for key regional championships and to develop a competitive identity on the global stage,” he said. “The selection process, to be led by national head coach Jorge Chacón and assisted by his technical team members with a combined technical and international experience, will ensure a high-performance squad.” ANIQ EYES GOLD IN INDIA National weightlifter Mohamad Aniq Kasdan is aiming to qualify on merit for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games next year. Mohamad Aniq, an Olympian, said that to realise his dream, he needs to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in India this August. “If I want to qualify on merit (for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games), I really need to win gold in the qualification round this August (to automatically qualify). “If I don’t get (gold), I have to compete again at another championship next year to get a ticket to the Commonwealth Games,” he told Bernama . Meanwhile, Aniq said that he is targeting a total lift of 285kg, with 125kg in the snatch discipline and 160-165kg (clean and jerk) in the India championship. “I don’t want to target too much in this championship because I have just recovered from a right shoulder (ligament) injury. In fact, the injury is 70-80% healed and what is important to me is to qualify on merit for the Commonwealth Games,” he said. For the record, Aniq was the gold medallist in the 55kg weightlifting category at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. PERAK GOVT WELCOMES PAFA’S MOVE The Perak government welcomes the Perak Football Association’s (Pafa) move to sign new import players for the Perak FA football team, said State Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Khairudin Abu Hanipah, He said Pafa’s decision to bring in foreign players is aimed at strengthening the team in preparation for the 2025/26 A1 Semi-Pro League season. “Pafa are currently identifying several foreign players who suit the playing system and salary offers, and of course, Pafa will select the best players to strengthen the team. “Pafa also have the ambition and vision for Perak FA to succeed in the A1 League and eventually return to the Super League,” he told reporters on Friday. Prior to this, Pafa president Datuk Mohd Azhar Jamaluddin had said that 24 players have received offer letters to join the Perak FA team for the 2025/26 A1 Semi-Pro League and the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Selangor.

Na t i ona l S t ad i um yesterday. Jefri at the same t i m e rejected claims by s o m e parties that the Kedah born athlete suffering f r o m

by Zii Jia has now attracted more than 131,000 likes and more than 3,000 comments, thus raising speculation about the meaning behind his sharing, including allegations that the 27-year-old may be facing personal or mental health problems or an internal crisis. “They (Team LZJ) informed that there is nothing to worry about Zii Jia. Maybe Zii Jia, out of

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Confused duo Rexy says Wan Arif-Roy King baffled by Herry’s philosophy

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NATIONAL men’s doubles pair Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King are facing confusion in adapting to the philosophy introduced by head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi, according to national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky. Rexy said the confusion has caused Wan Arif-Roy King to lose their direction, resulting in numerous mistakes during their matches on court. “They seem to be forcing themselves to play according to the philosophy introduced (by Herry). I have already discussed with them, especially Wan Arif, who is confused and appears to have lost his way. “However, we’ve started to see some results in the last tournament at the Indonesia Open where they managed to play three sets against their teammates Man Wei Chong Tee Kai Wun. We hope they’ll be more confident in upcoming tournaments,” he said when met at a training session on Friday. Although they led 21-14 in the first set, Wan Arif-Roy King failed to contain the comeback from Wei Chong-Kai Wun and lost 11-21, 15 21, thus exiting in the second round of the 2025 Indonesia Open last month. Since being guided by Herry, who began his stint with the Badminton Association of Malaysia in February, the world No. 24 pair have only managed to reach one semifinal, which was at the Orleans Masters in France last March, out of eight tournaments entered.

This situation is clearly different from two other national pairs – 2022 world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Wei Chong-Kai Wun – who have shown a positive impact under Herry’s guidance. Aaron-Wooi Yik have excelled this year by winning three titles – the 2025 Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, the 2025 Thailand Open, and the 2025 Singapore Open – while Wei Chong-Kai Wun claimed the 2025 Indonesia Masters and 2025 Malaysia Masters titles. Meanwhile, Rexy revealed that national men’s doubles player Muhammad Haikal Nazri has not been as aggressive as before and has lost self-confidence after returning from a thigh muscle injury sustained during training last December. The situation forced Muhammad Haikal and his partner Choong Hon Jian to miss several major tournaments including the 2025 Malaysia Open last January, and their world ranking has now dropped to 47th. Although they returned to action last May, Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal have failed to shine, exiting early in all five tournaments they have participated in this year. Despite acknowledging the difficult period faced by Hon Jian Muhammad Haikal, the Indonesian doubles specialist hopes both players will use the current break to regain momentum for their next outing at the 2025 Japan Open from July 15-20. – Bernama

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