15/07/2025

SPORTS TUESDAY | JULY 15, 2025

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No funding issues NSC denies lack of support for National road cycling team T HE National Sports Council (NSC) has denied allegations of weaknesses in the national road cycling team’s preparations for the 2025 SEA Games Pro Cycling (MPC) lies under the jurisdiction of PKBM,” he told reporters after attending the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM)- 100PLUS Awards 2024 yesterday.

SIDENETTING Sabah still shaping squad for M-League SABAH FC are still in the team-building phase ahead of the Malaysia League kickoff scheduled for this August, according to head coach Alto Linus. As such, the Rhinos will continue to play several more friendly matches in the final weeks of pre-season to ensure all players are fully prepared for the 2025/26 Malaysia League campaign. “I believe we need another three to four friendly matches before we’re truly ready for the league competition,” he said in a statement yesterday. Commenting on the three new imports – Dean Pelekanos, Dane Ingham and Adjin Mujagic – who joined the team this season, Alto expressed satisfaction with their cur rent performance, particularly in pre season friendlies. Despite an 8-2 defeat in a friendly match against Buriram United in Pattani, Thailand, yesterday, Alto praised the performance of sev eral young players recently promoted from the U-23 squad. He said two key defenders, Dominic and Gabriel, are expected to make a full recovery from injury within a week, which will further THE Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) is collaborating with the National Sports Institute (NSI) to streamline the certification process for sports coaches nationwide. Its Minister Hannah Yeoh said among efforts underway include identifying the best mechanism to ensure that each coach obtains a valid accreditation certificate and to display a KBS list of certified coaches (names with official recognition) who can be hired for the safety of trainees.“KBS is in the process of discussing with NSI to see how each coach should acquire a certificate and we want to display the names of coaches who have success fully obtained the certification because now we (also) have a facility for tax deduction for sports training. This means that parents will choose (only) certified coaches for sports training and we want to ensure a safe environ ment for children or anyone who wants to engage in sports,” she said after the SAM-100Plus 2024 awards yesterday. Yeoh said further information on this list of certified (national or state) coaches will be shared by NSI soon. THE largest group of Malaysian contin gent to the 2025 World University Games (WUG) in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, left from Terminal 1 of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Sunday night. A total of 41 individu als, consisting of 15 from badminton, followed by swimming (eight), taek wondo (11) and seven officials, includ ing members of the medical team and media, boarded a flight to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before continu ing their journey to Dusseldorf, Germany. The opening ceremony of the 2025 WUG is scheduled at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena this tomor row. Malaysia is targeting seven medals regardless of colour in this edition and will participate in six of the 19 sports, involving the participation of 64 ath letes, consisting of 39 men and 25 women. The six sports that the national contingent will participate in are artis tic gymnastics, badminton, archery, athletics, swimming and taekwondo. strengthen the team’s backline. KBS to prioritise young trainees’ safety Malaysian contingent to compete in Germany

Meanwhile, Jefri said the issue of clubs pull ing out should not arise, given the prior under standing between NSC and PKBM. Earlier, PKBM president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill stressed that the national road cycling squad would not withdraw from the 2025 SEA Games and would aim to defend the medals won in the previous edition. He also denied any issue with the NSC and expressed appreciation for its continued sup port, including financial and logistical assis tance. Yesterday, several media outlets reported that TSG and MPC felt their contributions were not appreciated after a RM250,000 request for Games preparation was rejected by the NSC at a meeting last week. – Bernama

He added that claims that NSC had not pro vided support in terms of needs or prepara tions should not have risen, given that team selection was PKBM’s responsibility. Commenting on PKBM’s request to pur chase bicycles, Jefri said that if TSG were cho sen to compete at the Games, the matter would not arise as the team already possesses the necessary equipment. “If there is a new plan or additional requests, I urge PKBM to come and discuss with us so we can evaluate the matter together,” he said.

in Thailand, asserting that funding has already been channelled to the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (PKBM). NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin said an allocation of RM300,000 had been approved, with part of the amount already disbursed to fund preparations for the biennial games. “We held a workshop to list athletes for the SEA Games with PKBM on Jan 16, and both parties agreed that the road cycling team will consist of professional riders. “However, the decision to choose either Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) or Malaysian

Zulfadhli dedicates award to late father

Farah Ain, Bonnie

honoured at SAM awards

NATIONAL lawn bowler Nor Farah Ain Abdullah beat several top contenders to clinch the Best Athlete Award at the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) – 100PLUS 2024 Awards Ceremony yesterday. The National Sportswoman of the 2024 National Sports Awards (ASN) in May staved off the challenge of other nominees, namely national men’s badminton doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, women’s bowling champion Sin Li Jane, tower runner Soh Wai Ching and national women’s wushu champion Tan Cheong Min. “For this success, I am very grateful, thank God. Maybe this is my year of abundance. I am very happy because I have helped to highlight lawn bowls so that people know more about this sport. “Last year, Aleena (Ahmad Nawawi) and I won and this year, I managed to bring honour to lawn bowls again in the SAM Awards,” she told reporters when met here today. Meanwhile, national powerlifting champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin won the Best Para Athlete for the third time by defeating his closest challenger, Cheah Liek Hou (para badminton). Also listed in the same category were Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli (shot put F20), Datuk Abdul Latif Romly (long jump T20) and Eddy Bernard (sprint T44). The ceremony also recognised the country’s sports journalists with Astro Arena journalist, Norsyarafina Nasrom named the winner of the SAM Siebel Award. She and cameraman Muhamad Shahir Othman took home the RM10,000 cash prize and a trophy. – Bernama

Bernama photographer Zulfadhli Zulkifli with his Best Sports Photography Category trophy and mock cheque at the SAM-100Plus 2024 Awards Ceremony yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

WINNING his first award at the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM)-100PLUS 2024 Awards yesterday was not just a personal triumph for Bernama photographer Zulfadhli Zulkifli but also a heartfelt tribute to his late father, the most influential person in his life. Zulfadhli, who clinched the Best Sports Photography category with his entry selected by a panel of professional judges, dedicated the achievement to his late father, Zulkifli Din, who passed away in 2021. The winning photo, taken at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre in Kuching on Aug 20 last year, captured the graceful movement of Federal Territories diver Ong Jia Le during the women’s 1 metre springboard event at Sukma Sarawak 2024. “My late father was the one who introduced me

to the world of photography. I’m very grateful because he taught me from a young age, although I only managed to win an award after he had died. “But Alhamdulillah , I’m thankful to have won on my first attempt. I’m truly, truly grateful and would like to thank my colleagues, family and friends who have always supported me. A job like mine requires a lot of sacrifice,” he told Bernama yester day. Also making it into the top five for the same award category were two other Bernama photog raphers – Mohd Faizol Ab Aziz and Muhd Na’im Mohd Zamri. Bernama journalist Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif was listed among the top five final ists for the Best Print Media News Commentary category. – Bernama

Kelantan Real Warriors urged to settle salary arrears THE management of Kelantan The Real Warriors (Kelantan TRW) has been urged to find the best way to resolve the issue of salary arrears involving the team’s players and coaches from last season. involved. “In general, clubs from Kelantan participating in the Malaysia League are privately managed and operate with their own funds. Pertubuhan Seni Silat Gayong Warisan Training Court at Sekolah Menengah Ugama Riayatul Diniah yesterday.

Zamakhshari said he understood that the management had pro posed paying the arrears in instal ments, but the players and coaches did not agree to this method. “Nevertheless, I hope further dis cussions can be held to reach an amicable settlement. I believe the new management is financially sta ble, but they are taking a more cau tious approach in managing their funds,” he said. – Bernama

Earlier, the media reported that Kelantan TRW’s management had been given two days to decide whether to accept the terms pro posed by nearly 20 former players and coaches to settle the salary arrears that have persisted since February.

“I was informed that the new management of Kelantan TRW has sufficient funds to pay the salaries, but the players and coaches did not accept the proposed payment method,”he told Bernama after offi ciating at the opening session of the

Kelantan Youth, Sports and NGOs Committee chairman Zamakhshari Muhamad said he was deeply con cerned about the protracted issue and hoped it could be settled quickly for the welfare of all parties