21/07/2025

SPORTS MONDAY | JULY 21, 2025

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Malaysia falls short against India in Germany

SHORTS

National junior shuttlers go down fighting

THE national badminton squad came up short in their quest to repeat last edition’s success, falling 2-3 to India in a tense mixed team quarterfinal clash at the 2025 World University Games (WUG) in Rhine-Ruhr yesterday. Malaysia’s hopes of drawing first blood were dashed when the mixed

doubles pair of Wee Yee Hern-Clarissa San went down 9-15, 15-11, 11-15 to Sathish Kumar Karunakaran and Vaishnavi Khadkekar. Men’s singles shuttler Jacky Kok Jing Hong levelled the tie with a gritty comeback win over Saneeth Dayanand, 9-15, 15-13, 15-11. India regained the lead through women’s singles player Devika Shag, who edged Siti Zulaikha Muhammad Azmi Tan 15-5, 8-15, 15-12 in a hard fought duel.

Jeremy Goonting-Muhammad Fazri Mohamad Razif cruised past Saneeth-Sathish Kumar 15-8, 15-6 to bring the tie to a thrilling decider. However, India sealed their place in the semifinals after women’s doubles pair Tasnim Mir and Varshini Viswanath Sri staged a gutsy comeback to defeat Lee Xin Jie and Low Yeen Yuan 9-15, 15-13, 15-13 in the deciding rubber. The win sends India through to the semifinals, where they will take on Taiwan, while China is set to face South Korea in the other last-four showdown. Malaysia’s campaign now shifts focus to the individual events, set to begin tomorrow. Malaysia bagged two bronze medals at the previous edition in Chengdu, one in the mixed team event and another in men’s doubles. – Bernama

THE national junior shuttlers emerged as Group B runners-up in the 2025 Badminton Asia Junior Championships (BAJC) mixed team event after going down fighting 92-110 to host Indonesia at the Manahan Indoor Stadium in Solo yesterday. This year’s BAJC features a new format where each team play 10 matches – two each in men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. Each match is played up to 11 points, with the first team to reach a total of 110 points declared the winner. With one loss and three wins in Group B, Malaysia remained in second spot, having already confirmed their place in the knockout rounds on Saturday. Indonesia topped Group B with a perfect record. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. Malaysia had defeated Macau (110-59), Myanmar (110-52) and Singapore (110-58) in their first three Group B matches. Addeen clinches 8th PSA title NATIONAL men’s squash player Muhammad Addeen Idrakie Bahtiar won his eighth Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour series title after emerging champion of the Victorian Open in Australia yesterday. The Squash Racquet Association of Malaysia (SRAM) in a statement announced that the 31 year-old player defeated compatriot Nathan Kueh in 11-2, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3 in 46 minutes. “I feel happy and proud with myself and my performance for this week. Especially winning back-to-back tournaments overseas. “Feel confident back with myself and my squash after few months out due to shoulder injury,” he said in a statement from SRAM. It is Addeen Idrakie’s eighth PSA title, after winning the Morrinsville Open in New Zealand last week. KELANTAN RED WARRIORS (KRW) have unveiled three new import players, including Manchester United academy graduate Otis Khan, as part of their preparations for the 2025/26 A1 Semi-Pro League season scheduled to kick off in early August. Otis, 29, who also represents the Pakistan national team, was introduced alongside two other foreign players – Emmanuel Mbarga from Cameroon and Kayden Soper from Australia. KRW president Nik Hafiz Naim Nik Hassan said the team’s preparations were now 90% complete, and he was optimistic that the squad under head coach Irfan Bakti Abu Salim would be competitive this season. “We are featuring a combination of quality import players, experienced names and talented young players. This is a vital formula to restore Kelantan’s standing in the Malaysian football scene,” he told reporters after the launch of KRW FC’s new jersey yesterday. Sponsored by Thai sportswear company Warrix, the new kits feature a home jersey with a red checkered design, while the away jersey is white. In addition to the foreign players, KRW are also strengthened by seasoned players such as striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and midfielder Faiz Nasir, as well as a line-up of promising young talent. Irfan Bakti’s men are scheduled to open their A1 League campaign against Selangor II on Aug 4 at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium. – Bernama Kelantan RW sign ManU academy graduate Khan

Malaysia kept their hopes alive when the men’s doubles duo Bryan

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20/07/2025

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M ARCUS RASHFORD is on the brink of a dream move to Barcelona after the La Liga champions struck an agreement with Manchester United, according to reports. The 27-year-old forward, one of five first-team players exiled from Ruben Amorim’s pre-season plans, looks set to land at the Nou Camp this summer. According to The Athletic , Barcelona are advancing with a swoop for Rashford after submitting a formal offer via intermediaries. United are said to have agreed to the proposal, which is a season long loan with an option to make the deal permanent next season. The report adds that while the deal is not yet done, talks between all parties have entered the final stages. It’s not a transfer which comes completely out of the blue, with Rashford reportedly long having his heart set on a switch to the Spanish giants and saying only last month he wanted to play alongside teenage superstar Lamine Yamal. Barca, too, have not hidden their interest in the 27-year-old England forward. In May, sporting director Deco admitted they “like” Rashford and suggested he could “improve the team”. It is claimed that Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has already spoken to Rashford and approved his arrival, bolstering his attacking options. The Blaugrana’s desire to boost their firepower this summer has been no secret, having missed out on Athletic Club

winger Nico Williams and failed with a bid for Liverpool’s Luis Diaz. “Strengthening the left-hand side of the forward line has been Barcelona’s priority all summer and, for a long time, it appeared they’d be successful in snapping up their number one target, Nico Williams,” said Spanish football writer Andy West. “But the Athletic Bilbao winger eventually opted to sign a new contract with his current club, so Barca were forced to look elsewhere, with an attempted move for Liverpool’s Luis Diaz also falling through.” Flick is believed to have wanted a versatile option who could operate in the wide areas as well as up front, and Rashford fits that criteria. It remains to be seen whether Barcelona will be contributing towards the England international’s £325,000-a week (RM1.85 million) wages during his stay. While they would have been prepared to pay a fee for both Williams and Diaz, there is a financial advantage to signing Rashford – the deal would initially be on loan with an option to buy. “Barcelona’s long-standing financial problems are still an issue and they were hoping to raise funds by selling goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has been supplanted by new signing Joan Garcia,” added West. “But that plan has been foiled by the German veteran requiring back surgery, which means that signing Rashford on loan has become even more enticing.”– Express Newspaper/Agencies

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