27/07/2025

theSun on Sunday JULY 27, 2025

SPORTS 15

Hoe Yean, Ling Ching finally deliver WOMEN’S singles shuttler Wong Ling Ching’s bid for a finals spot ended with a semifinal exit at the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games (WUG) at the Westenergie Sporthalle in Mulheim, Germanay, yesterday. However, Ling Ching ensured the badminton squad did not return empty handed, sharing the bronze medal with Ella Lin of the United States following both players’ semifinal appearances. In the last-four clash, the 21-year-old lost 16-14, 5-15, 13-15 to Thailand’s Tidapron Kleebyeesun. “The first set went according to plan, but in the second and third sets, my opponent changed her playing style. Overall, I lacked confidence and patience. “I didn’t set high expectations, but after the draw, I believed I had a chance at a medal. Still, I’m disappointed as I had aimed to reach the final (after making it to the semifinals),” she told reporters here. Earlier, the Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah student had defeated India’s Devika Sihag 17-15, 15-11 in the quarterfinals. Ling Ching’s bronze is the second medal for the Malaysian contingent at WUG 2025, following national swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean’s silver in the men’s 400m freestyle. Hoe Yean carved out a historic milestone by clinching the silver medal by breaking his own national record of 3 minutes 48.36 seconds by clocking 3:47.38s. Hoe Yean’s achievement also ended Malaysia’s 34-year medal drought in swimming at the WUG, the last being Jeffrey Ong’s silver in the men’s 1,500m freestyle at the 1991 Sheffield Games. He then helped the Malaysian quartet, with Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal, Lim Yin Chuen and Tan Khai Xin, to clock 7 minutes 19.66 seconds to finish sixth in the final. Despite the placing, the team broke the national record in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay. His next stop is the World Aquatics Championships 2025 in Singapore, starting today, for the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay. Looking ahead, Hoe Yean also sets his sights on the 2025 Thailand SEA Games in December by aiming to deliver more gold medals. “I think I’ll be shortlisted as well. So let’s hope for the best and let’s get more gold in SEA games,” he said. Meanwhile, men’s singles shuttler Eogene Ewe missed the chance to add to the medal tally after going down 13-15, 14-16 to Ting Yen Chen of Taiwan in the quarterfinals. Eogene admitted he was disappointed, especially after leading 14-10 in the second set and appearing poised to force a decider. “I got a bit nervous because I really wanted to win and get a medal. It was a quarter-final match and I lacked the composure and maturity to handle the pressure,” he said. In athletics, Wan Muhammad Fazri Wan Zahari lived up to expectations by advancing to the semifinals of the men’s 800m after clocking 1 minute 49.53 seconds to finish fifth in Heat 4 at the Lohrheidestadion in Bochum. However, in other field events, Muhammad Naufa Shahrul Afzam (men’s pole vault), Muhammad Izzul Haniff Mohd Raffi (men’s triple jump) and Ng Jing Xuan (women’s javelin) were all eliminated in the qualifying and first-round stages. – Bernama

SHORTS

The two Tier 1 matches serve as warm up fixtures ahead of the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers in October. NEW HOME GROUND FOR PERAK FA The Perak Football Complex will be the official venue for Perak FA to compete in this season’s A1 Semi Pro League, which is scheduled to begin on Aug 3. Perak Football Association (PAFA) president Datuk Mohd Azhar Jamaluddin said they had asked the Malaysian Stadium Corporation (PSM) to conduct a full inspection of the pitch and facilities at the complex, which opened in 2019. “In principle, I think the use of the complex as the team’s official ground is not a problem, but several conditions need to be met before official approval is given.

“Improvements to this complex may also be one of the conditions, and I think it is a good thing because apart from football, it can be the venue for various other activities,” he said when met at the Perak Football Complex in Ipoh on Friday. Mohd Azhar said the effort to make the complex an official home turf for Perak FA was also due to the fact that the existing location, the Manjung Municipal Council (MPM) Stadium, is quite far away, and the team’s training centre is located in Ipoh. “For the first match against UM Damansara United on Aug 4, we will play at the MPM Stadium. However, for us to continue at the stadium may affect the players’ performance, and the team’s financial costs may also increase due to logistical factors,” he said.

HERITAGE PLAYERS GET THUMBS UP Harimau Malayawinger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi said there is no rivalry between local-born and heritage players in the national squad. He stressed that mentality is key, and every player shares the same goal under one flag. “The presence of heritage players has been a big help to the team from time to time,” he said. Arif also said the players are fully focused on preparing for September’s friendlies against Singapore and Palestine. “To me, I just focus on what’s ahead. Preparation is important,” he told reporters after being named ambassador for a leading sports brand here yesterday.

Malaysia’s Pearly Tan (left) and Thinaah Muralitharan play a point during their women’s doubles semifinal. – AFPPIC

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Tame exit for Pearly-Thinaah National world No. 3 pair fail against Chinese duo again

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NATIONAL women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah fell short of reaching the final of the 2025 China Open Badminton Championship after losing to home duo Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian in the semifinals yesterday. In the match held at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, world No. 3 Pearly-Thinaah went down 14-21, 17-21 in 38 minutes, extending their head-to-head record against the Chinese pair, who were backed by a vociferous home crowd, to 1-4 from five encounters. The only time when Pearly-Thinaah won was at the Indian Open in January after the Chinese duo were forced to retire due to injury. Yi Fan-Shu Xian will next face compatriots Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning in the final today after they defeated South Korean duo Kim Hye Jeong Kong Hee Yong in straight sets 21 10,21-12. Pearly-Thinaah’s hope for a second World Tour title this year after winning the Thailand Open in May continues to be elusive despite having reached four finals so far. They last week advanced to the final of the Japan Open following their advance to the same stage at the Indonesia Open last month, with the result seen as a boost of confidence for them to improve their performance ahead of the World Badminton Championships in Paris next month. “We will take a lot of positive lessons from these two tournaments. Whether we win or lose, we have gained a lot of experience and lessons,” Pearly told the Badminton World Federation (BWF) yesterday. “We will go home, learn and

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improve what we lack for the next tournament.” Thinaah said the momentum built up to the quarterfinals in Changzhou was good but still not enough. “As Pearly said, there is still room for us to improve. For now, we want to rest well and prepare for the World Championships,” she said. Commenting on yesterday’s loss to Yi Fan-Shu Xian, Thinaah explained that the fast-paced game and windy court conditions made it difficult for them to adjust their playing style throughout the match. “It was difficult to switch from defence to offence because the wind was a bit of a problem today. But we don’t want to use that as an excuse. “It’s a lesson and we will discuss with the coach to prepare a better strategy,” said Thinaah. Pearly, meanwhile, admitted that the opponent’s strategy was more effective in adapting to the court conditions. “Their play was very good, especially reading the wind direction. In the second set we tried to change our strategy and play against the wind. “I think we started playing better but a bit late. So we have to learn and act faster from now on,” she said. The Malaysian duo took home US$28,000 (RM118,000) as semifinalists at the World Tour Super 1000 event. – Bernama/Agencies

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