08/08/2025

SPORTS FRIDAY | AUG 8, 2025

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Rebels expects OWGR ‘to do the right thing’ JOAQUIN NIEMANN expects the Official World Golf Ranking “to do the right thing for golf” as it reviews LIV Golf’s latest submission to receive world rankings points for its events. The Chilean star has won a third of the 15 opportunity to earn more rankings points until playing a few tournaments on other tours after LIV’s season concludes later this month. Niemann, 26, is among those who are hoping the OWGR softens its stance and allows players to earn points through LIV events beginning next

time. I wanted to come strong to Cincy.” Sinner lukewarm on expanded format JANNIK SINNER yesterday gave tepid approval to the 12-day jumbo version of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters while confessing that he would actually prefer to keep the event to the usual one week length. The world No. 1 will be defending his title at the final big event prior to the Aug 24 start of the US Open. Extending the ongoing Canada event – and Cincinnati – to 12 days with 96-player draws also means that WTA and ATP events in Canada will stage unorthodox finals on Thursday while play is beginning in Cincinnati. Sinner said that given the choice he would opt for the classic system of one-week events for an increasingly crowded calendar. “We (top players) cannot control everything,” the Italian said. “The fans now have two weekends to hopefully watch some good tennis. That is exactly what we need in this sport.” But the Wimbledon champion added: “I would prefer a one-week event, it’s something that I like. But it’s OK, I’m here and I’m very happy.”

TRAMLINES

Alcaraz ready for a reboot CARLOS ALCARAZ says he has refused to let his Wimbledon finals loss to Jannik Sinner wipe the smile from his face as he prepares for his start at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters. The world No. 2, who was defeated in a Grand Slam final for the first time in his career in London last month, spent his first full day at the Cincinnati site yesterday and said he is ready for a reboot during the second half of the season. “Even if I lost, I left the court proud after Wimbledon,” the 2023 Cincinnati finalist said. “But the goals can change during the second half of the season. “My goal is to keep doing the right thing and improving. I want to enjoy my time on and off the court. “But I also want to try and recover the number one ranking by the end of the year,” he added. The world No. 2 said he spent a refreshing three weeks at home in Spain after his Wimbledon defeat. “I took a week off, not doing anything. “I tried to make the most of my

Year award, he is looking forward to playing on a TPC Southwind course that underwent renovation after last year’s St. Judge Championship concluded. “The golf course is healthy. They kept the DNA of what’s made this course really good and then enhanced it with some of the pitching areas.” Harris English, enjoying the best year of his career, returns to the site of his first PGA Tour victory. He won the event when it was part of the regular- season schedule in 2013. “After playing (practise rounds) the last couple days, the improvements obviously with the new greens, the greens are really firm,” English said. McIlroy’s absence has created some off-course controversy. He will easily qualify for the second stage of the play offs next week at the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club near Baltimore, but PGA Tour officials are concerned he elected to bypass the first leg. Those who finish Sunday ranked in the top 50 not only move on to Baltimore but are also eligible for each of the eight PGA Tour signature events in 2025. – Field Level Media year. “I feel like the ranking system is not up to me, it’s up to them. I’m expecting that they’re going to do the right thing for golf,” Niemann said yesterday ahead of this week’s LIV Golf Chicago event. He reached as high as 15th in the OWGR before signing with LIV, but Niemann added that the world rankings don’t factor into how he views himself among the game’s elite players. “No, not really. It’s not something that I think about to tell myself in the mirror, ‘Joaco, you are No. 5,‘ – no, I don’t do that. That’s not my job,“ he said. “I feel like I’m just here to do my best and try to make as many birdies as possible and to make the crowd enjoy us playing golf around the world.” Despite having won five of LIV’s first 11 events this year, he can still be caught by Spain’s Jon Rahm for the individual title over the next two events. Rahm beat Niemann by three strokes in Chicago last year, but has yet to claim an individual title in 2025. – Field Level Media do much and get back into it,” Thomas said of the past couple of weeks. “I think at least for me, the time off is nice to where I’m excited to go out to the course and practise. “I feel like I’m getting ready for something again because if not it can become a little – some days wake up and maybe not quite as motivated or excited as others. “Honestly, just happy to be here and rested and refreshed.” – Field Level Media

tournaments he has teed it up in worldwide this year and is by most accounts among the top tier of golfers on the planet. But Niemann is currently No. 103 in the OWGR because his five wins in 11 LIV Golf events in 2025 haven’t accrued any rankings points.

He was No. 68 after a tie for third in an Asian Tour event in February and he also tied for eighth at the PGA Championship before missing the cut at the year’s final two majors. Niemann will not have an

Joaquin Niemann. – REUTERSPIC

Scottie leads favourites at St. Jude Scheffler riding momentum into first leg of season-ending playoffs S COTTIE SCHEFFLER, the No. 1 golfer in the world, enters the FedEx St. Jude Championship – the first leg of the season “I would say my prep week last week definitely looked a bit dif ferent than it would back to the beginning of the year when I was coming off injury.

Notices

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT KOTA BHARU IN THE STATE OF KELANTAN DARUL NAIM, MALAYSIA COMPANIES WINDING UP NO.: DA-28NCC-40-07/2025 In the matter of Section 465 (1) (e) of the Companies Act 2016,the provisions of the Companies Act 2016 and the Companies (Winding up) Rules 1972 AND In the matter of FZI Collections (M) Sdn. Bhd. [Company No.: 202001020150 (1376470-T)] BETWEEN PERBADANAN USAHAWAN NASIONAL BERHAD [COMPANY NO.: 199101010745 (221057-V)] …PETITIONER AND FZI COLLECTIONS (M) SDN. BHD. [COMPANY NO.: 202001020150 (1376470-T)] …RESPONDENT ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a Petition for the Winding-Up of the above named Company by the High Court at Kota Bharu was on the 21st day of July 2025 presented to the said Court by Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad. And that the said Petition is directed to be heard before the High Court sitting at Kota Bharu on Monday the 22nd day of September 2025 at 9:00 o’clock in the forenoon and any creditor or contributory of the said company desirous to support or oppose the making of an order on the said Petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his Counsel for that purpose and a copy of the Petition will be furnished to any Creditor or contributory of the said Company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The Petitioner’s address is at 7th Floor, Block 1B, Plaza Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5,Kuala Lumpur Sentral,50470 Kuala Lumpur. The Petitioner’s Solicitor is Messrs. Kama & Wan, whose address is at Lot 226,T/2B, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 15200 Kota Bharu, Kelantan Darul Naim. ………………t.t………………… Messrs. Kama & Wan Solicitor for the Petitioner NOTE : Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said Petition must serve on or send by post to the above-named Messrs. Kama & Wan, notice in writing of his intention to do so. The notice must state the name and address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm and must be signed by the person or firm or his or their Solicitors (if any) and must be served,or if posted,must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the above-named not later that 12:00 o’clock in the noon of the 21st day of September 2025. Sunday. This Advertisement of Petition is filed by Messrs. Kama & Wan,Advocates & Solicitors on behalf of the Petitioner of Lot 226,T/2B, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra,15200 Kota Bharu,Kelantan Darul Naim. (T: 09 7449993) (E: kamawan.kotabharu@gmail.com) [Ref. No.:AA/PUNB/FCMSB/83(LP)/ WUP/102(LP)/KB/FN]

“So making sure I’m rested, ready to play. My game is in a good spot, and I feel like some extra practise at this point in the year can almost be detrimental in terms of just physical and mental fatigue.” The opening tournament of the play offs features 69 of the top 70 golfers in the FedEx Cup standings, including Scheffler, defending cham pion Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and resurgent Justin Thomas. Reigning Masters

have looked before the Scottish Open and definitely looked a little bit different than it would have looked if you go

ending PGA Tour playoffs – on a successful stretch. Scheffler will be coming off 11 consecutive top-10 fin ishes. With that momentum, which includes last month’s Open title,

Scheffler has handled the FedEx Cup playoffs prepara tion a bit differently than he would have for an event earlier in the season. For Scheffler, at this stage of the golf year, he’s finding that less is better. “That extra practise is maybe only

champion Rory McIlroy decided to skip the first leg and is the only eligible golfer among the top 70 sitting out the tourna ment. With four wins this sea

going to be draining for me a little bit, and

that’s something that I’ve learned to manage as my career has gone on,” he said yesterday from TPC Southwind, site of the St. Jude Championship.

son, including two victories in majors, Scheffler is among the favourites. Expected to earn a fourth straight PGA Tour Player of the

Scottie Scheffler. – REUTERSPIC

Rested Thomas ready for FedEx challenge

JUSTIN THOMAS thinks he has had a nice season. He knows how to erase all doubts. “I definitely know three ways I could make it a lot happier and feel a lot better about it,” he said yesterday in Memphis as he prepares for the first of three FedEx Cup Playoff events this week. Thomas arrived at TPC Southwind for the FedEx St. Jude Championship ranked No. 6 in the FedEx Cup standings and No. 4 in the world rankings. “I’m definitely not going to make any

judgements or assess anything for the time being with three big events left and three tournaments I feel like I could have a good chance to go out and try to win and put myself in contention,” he said. “That’s the goal, just to try to do that each week. I’m teeing it up these next three, and hopefully we can try to get a couple of them and ultimately the FedEx Cup. “It’s hard to say right now but ask me again in three weeks hopefully.”

Thomas, 32, won his 16th career PGA Tour title at the RBC Heritage in April and also has runner-up finishes this year at The American Express in January, the Valspar Championship in March and the Truist Championship in May. He has not played since finishing T34 at The Open Championship in Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland, a nice bounce back after missing the cuts at the PGA Championship and US Open. “It was just nice to honestly take some time away, just relax a little bit, not