14/07/2025

SPORTS MONDAY | JULY 14, 2025

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Lawn bowls team comes out tops THE national lawn bowls squad created a sensation when it successfully reclaimed the overall champions title of the Lion City Cup 2025 held in Singapore yesterday. The tournament held at Kallang

Big boost for KLFA

finished as runners-up at the Australian Open, managed to win the gold medal at the tournament yesterday, showing that the national squad consistently performs well,” he told Bernama yesterday. For the record, last year, Malaysia failed to defend the overall championship it won in 2023 when it finished second with one gold, three silver and two bronze. – Bernama

was even more impressive that Malaysia only sent a reserve men’s squad to compete in the men’s category but was still able to win the overall tournament yesterday. “The women’s squad we sent is an elite squad, but our men’s squad sent a reserve team consisting of university students, but they were still able to show encouraging achievements. “For the pairs event, Emma Firyana and Nurul Alyani, who

Malaysia’s gold medals were won by Emma Firyana Saroji and Nurul Alyani Jamil in the ladies pairs event, Muhammad Fikri Mohamed Hashim-Muhammad Attiq Imran Aminuddin in the mens’ pairs U-25 (B25) event, and Noor Azzahara Abd Razak-Nurul Balqis Anisha Bakal (B-25 Ladies Pairs). Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF) president, Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz said it

Lawn Bowls Green and Tanglin Club saw the national squad bag three gold medals, one silver and six bronze medals to lead the medal tally and emerged as the overall tournament champion.

THE RM1 million allocation announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) will be util ised responsibly to strengthen the association further, says its president, Syed Yazid Syed Omar. He said any decision regarding the use of the funds would be brought to and decided in a meeting with the association’s executive com mittee. “Yes, I didn’t expect the contribution. But we are grateful, Alhamdulillah , suddenly the Prime Minister announced this RM1 million. That’s a lot. “As I’ve said, this time KLFA has an executive committee. Whatever we do, it will be discussed in the meeting. “I can’t say now how the RM1 million will be spent. What’s certain is, we’ll be able to take bet ter care of KLFA,” he said. Syed Yazid was speaking to reporters at KLFA’s Golden Jubilee celebration held at Bangsar South City on Saturday night Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had announced the RM1 million alloca tion for KLFA in his speech at the event. Meanwhile, KLFA patron Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, in his speech, said that football should serve as a medium of unity among the people and a cata lyst for social mobility among urban youth. He said KLFA would focus on strengthening grassroots football development, particularly involving players under 12, 14 and 16, with a multiracial approach and prioritising children from B40 families.

Man on a mission Muhammad aims to power M’sia to U-23 Cup glory

M IDFIELDER Muhammad Abu Khalil (pic) aims to contribute to Malaysia’s U-23 squad’s mission of clinching the title at the 2025 Asean U-23 Championship, which kicks off in Jakarta tomorrow. For Muhammad, the experience of learning football abroad in Japan and Thailand has become a crucial asset in Japan and Thailand, so with the experience I gained from a year abroad, God willing, it will help mature my style of play... and of course, we are aiming for the title,” he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang yesterday. Expanding further, Muhammad said the chemistry among players in the current training camp has made preparations smoother, as most of them have known each other since their academy days. “In this call-up, many players are ones we’ve known from before – from JDT Academy, AMD (Akademi Mokhtar Dahari) as well – and we’ve actually known these players for a long time, and now we’ve reunited again,” he said. Meanwhile, head coach Mohd Nafuzi boosting his performance on the regional stage with the Harimau Muda squad. “Yes, definitely. I went to

Zain said the opening match against the Philippines will be crucial in setting the tone and momentum for the team throughout the tournament. “I think that will be our turning point – the first match. Because even if we win, it doesn’t guarantee anything yet. But it’s like having ‘one foot in,’ and that’s the most important,” he said.

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Mohd Nafuzi stressed that mental strength and self confidence must be given priority, especially ahead of the much-anticipated clash against hosts Indonesia in the final group match. “Okay, in terms of

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mentality, in terms of self confidence, that’s the main aspect. We know that the Malaysia-Indonesia match will draw a lot of attention,” he said. Previously, Mohd Nafuzi had set the semifinals as a minimum target to pave the way to the final. Malaysia are drawn in Group A and will open their campaign against the Philippines tomorrow, followed by Brunei on July 18, before concluding the group stage against Indonesia on July 21. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals scheduled for July 25, while the final and third-place playoff will take place on July 29. – Bernama

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“KLFA is also strengthening strategic collabo rations with various parties, including the Ministry of Education Malaysia to enhance foot ball at the school level, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports for coach development and youth programmes.… as well as with local communi ties, so that fields and public facilities can be fully utilised,” he said. – Bernama Addeen ends title drought

RM155,484.89

NATIONAL squash player Addeen Idrakie (left) in action. – BERNAMAPIC

NATIONAL player Addeen Idrakie’s long wait for a Professional Squash Association (PSA) title ended after he clinched the Morrinsville Open in New Zealand on Saturday. The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) in a statement said the 31-year-old battled past compatriot Joachim Chuah in a five-set thriller at the Morrinsville Squash Club to win the PSA Challenger level event 7 11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4. However, it was a bittersweet victory for Addeen as Joachim suffered an injury in the deciding set with the score tied at 4-4, forcing him to limp through the remaining points. “It was a hard and good match from Joachim just now. I think the last time I won a title was in 2023 in Australia. Happy to win a title again after squash

m a r k e d Ad d e e n ’ s seventh PSA Tour title and his first since triumphing at the North Coast Open in Australia last year.

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Addeen had been sidelined for six months due to a shoulder injury before making his competitive return at the President’s Trophy in Seremban last month, where he finished as runner-up to Canada’s Karim Aguib. – Bernama

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five months out from squash,” he said in a statement by SRAM.

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The win