19/07/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | JULY 19, 2025

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AS expected, Malaysia had no trouble defeating Canada in the Group D mixed team badminton match at the 2025 World University Games (WUG) at the Westenergie Sporthalle in Mulheim, Germany yesterday. Malaysia’s first point came from the men’s doubles pair Muhammad Fazriq Mohamad Razif-Bryan Jeremy Goonting, who beat Nathan Mills-Harold Tan 15-10, 15-5 in just 16 minutes. The winning momentum continued with women’s singles shuttler Wong Ling Ching, who outplayed Alena Yu 15-10, 15-8. Men’s singles player Jacky Kok Jing Hong delivered the winning point for the national squad, but had to work hard before coming back to edge Victor Lai 6-15, 15-8, 15-12. “I’m grateful to the coach for giving me the opportunity to play. My opponent wasn’t an easy one today – he caused some upsets at the recent Canada Open (earlier this month) – but I still felt motivated to compete. “Overall, all the players gave their best. You could see that those off court gave great support while those on court played their hearts out,” Kok said when met after the match. Also in action yesterday were women’s doubles pair Lee Xin Jie-Low Yeen Yuan, who defeated Sophia Nong-Eliana Zhang 15-3, 15 10. In the mixed doubles, however, Liew Xun Vannee Gobi lost to Timothy Lock-Chloe Hoang 11-15, 9-15. Malaysia were drawn only with Canada in the group stage. A new draw will determine the matchups in the round of 16, with half of the matches taking place today, while the rest will continue tomorrow. “As group winners, we will face group runners-up, but not the same team again. For example, if we meet Canada, another draw will be conducted. “In today’s matches, most of the athletes still seemed to be adjusting to the court. Their match temperament wasn’t very stable, but I hope it will improve in the next rounds,” said badminton squad head coach Datuk Rashid Sidek. Meanwhile, national swimming ace Khiew Hoe Yean continued his strong form after qualifying for the semifinals of the men’s 200m freestyle event held at the Schwimm-und Sprunghalle im Europasportpark in Berlin. Hoe Yean, who was still fresh from his silver medal success in the 400m freestyle yesterday, finished third in Heat Three with a time of 1 minute 48.68 seconds. American swimmer Baylor William Nelson came in second with 1:47.67s, behind Brazil’s Kaique Kauan De Morais Alves, who won the heat with 1:47.39s. Joining Hoe Yean in the semifinals was teammate Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal, who finished sixth in Heat Eight with a time of 1:49.66s. The semifinals are scheduled for today morning. – Bernama M’sia thrash Canada, Hoe Yean advances to semis IRAQ coach Graham Arnold is confident he can lead the country to a first World Cup in 40 years after his team were drawn to face Saudi Arabia and Indonesia in the next phase of Asian qualifying for the 2026 tournament in North America. The three teams will play each other in Jeddah in October, with the winner of the group advancing directly to the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Former Australia boss Arnold, who replaced Jesus Casas in May, will be attempting to steer Iraq to the World Cup for the second time after they

Thinaah Muralitharan (left) and Pearly Tan. – BERNAMAPIC

Raising a storm Pearly-Thinaah cruise, world No. 1 Sze Fei-Izzuddin survive scare M ALAYSIA’S top women’s doubles pair, Pearly Tan-M Thinaah, advanced to the semifi in 59 minutes. Sze Fei-Izzuddin will take on Taiwan’s Liu Kuang-heng-Yang Po han next for a place in the final.

Nur Izzudin. – BWFWORLDTOUR

The Taiwanese pair prevented an all-Malaysian final when they defeated veterans Tan Wee Kiong Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub 18-21, 25 23, 21-17. Earlier, Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi continued their impressive run in Japan, securing a spot in the semifinals with a thrilling victory over China’s top men’s doubles pair, Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang. The duo, who have been in fine form throughout the tournament, clinched a 25-23, 21-19 win over the world No. 6 ranked Chinese team. The victory marked their second triumph over Liang and Wang in five encounters. They will next face world

nals of the Japan Open with a con vincing victory in their quarterfinal match yesterday. The world No. 3 pair took 54 minutes to defeat world No. 69 Jeong Na Eun-Lee Yeon Woo in straight sets, winning 21-15, 21-19, at the Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo. It was their third victory in a row against the South Korean pair. The duo will now face the formidable pairing of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida, currently ranked world No. 2, who advanced to the last four after a come-from-behind win over South Korea’s Kim Hye-jeong and Kong Hee-yong 19-21, 21-19, 21-18. The Malaysian pair have struggled against the Japanese in their previous encounters, having won just once in their last 14 meetings. They were the third Malaysian pair to book a spot in the semifinals of the tournament after world No. 1 men’s doubles team Goh Sze Fei Nur Izzuddin Rumsani overcame world No. 5 Fajar Alfian Muhammad Shohibul Fikri of Indonesia. The independent duo were staring at defeat when they were 19-20 down in the third game against the scratch Indonesian pair, but brilliantly came back to claim a hard-fought 21-13, 17-21, 22-20 win

No. 3 Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho for a place in the final after the South Korean defeated Malaysians Chong Man Wei-Tee Kai Wun 21-13, 18-21, 21-13. The other Malaysian pair to make the semifinals in Japan were mixed doubles team Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei who downed Japan’s Sayaka Hobara-Hiroki Midorikawa in straight sets, 21-14, 21 12 to advance. – Bernama/ Agencies

Arnold confident of making Iraq’s World Cup dream come true

with everything we have to make the dream of millions of Iraqis come true.” The group runners-up will progress to a playoff for a berth in a series of intercontinental match-ups in March. Australia overcame a poor start under Arnold to book their spot at the expanded 48-team World Cup with Tony Popovic in charge. Regional heavyweights Japan, South Korea and Iran also secured berths in North America, along with first-time qualifiers Uzbekistan and Jordan. – Reuters

He resigned as Australia coach in September last year following a 0-0 draw with Indonesia in Jakarta. The 61-year-old last faced Saudi Arabia in March 2022, when his Australia team lost 1-0 in World Cup qualifier at the same King Abdullah Sports City Stadium where his Iraq team will face the Green Falcons on Oct. 14. “Having the belief in the players as I do, when we reach the crucial playoff matches in October, they will be in peak form, both physically and mentally ready to win,” he said. “I firmly believe this is our time and we will fight

made their debut at Mexico 1986. “I have extensive experience working against both the Saudi and Indonesian national teams. I know their strengths, but I also know their weaknesses,” Arnold said. “But we are Iraq, an extremely proud nation with a higher Fifa ranking than both Saudi and Indonesia and we need to prove that.” Arnold’s finest coaching achievement to date came at the 2022 World Cup when he led Australia to the last 16, with the Socceroos eliminated by eventual champions Argentina.