17/08/2025

theSun on Sunday AUG 17, 2025

SPORTS 15

KLSCM reveals this year’s pacer team with Asics

RESULT ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Liverpool 4 (Ekitike 37, Gakpo 49, Chiesa 88, Salah 90+4) Bournemouth 2 (Semenyo 64, 76) . LA LIGA: Girona 1 (Roca 57) Rayo Vallecano 3 (De Frutos 18, Garcia 20, Palazon 45-pen) , Villarreal 2 (Eyong 29, Gueye 36) Real Oviedo 0. FRENCH LIGUE 1: Rennes 1 Marseille 0.

KUALA LUMPUR Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) 2025, Malaysia’s premier running event, officially announced its full line-up of pacers yes terday. This dedicated team of KLSCM pacers will guide participants across the Pantai KL 10km, Asics Half Marathon and Full Marathon catego ries, helping them achieve their personal bests and providing support every step of the way. “We are committed to providing the best pac ers for our race and have selected capable sea soned runners through our pacer assessment process. We are confident the individuals in this year’s group have the drive, passion and mental

more than just timekeepers but as community builders who inspire and support runners throughout their journey. “Their presence aligns perfectly with our mis sion to inspire physical movement as a pathway to a better mental well-being and deepen our commitment to supporting and growing Malaysia’s running community.” The pacers will be kitted out in exclusive Asics gear designed to keep them comfortable and supported from start to finish.

strength to lead their pace group and help their fellow runners get into their rhythm while moti vating them. “We would like to express our deep gratitude to the KLSCM 2025 pacers for their time, com mitment, sacrifice and generosity,” said Rainer Biemans, Director of Dirigo Events and Project Director of the KLSCM. Boon Tib Soom Nik, Country Manager of Asics Malaysia, also shared his perspective: “These KLSCM pacers are the heart of the race, acting as

Return of the legend

Chong Wei, three others appointed as BAM council members

MALAYSIAN badminton legend Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei has been appointed as one of the new Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) council members, mark ing his return to the sport in line with BAM’s vision of making Malaysia a global badminton powerhouse. BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the appointment of Chong Wei along with three other promi nent figures was approved by council members in yesterday’s meeting. The other three new council members are branding and media strategist and former CEO of NTV7 and Telekom Malaysia Datuk Seri Shazalli; a member of EPF’s investment panel and board Tan Sri Gooi Hoe Soon; and partner of Cecil Abraham & Partners Datuk Sunil Abraham. “They have agreed. They are independ ent. I can appoint five but we appoint four first with the consultation with the coun cil members. Right now he’s (Chong Wei)

decision. I don’t want to tell the council members, this is my view and do it. I want to sit down and think properly because the committee to me, the right step is to have the plan. Make sure we adopt the plan. “Then you get the committee set up based on the plan. So that committee can then execute the plan. You cannot do a committee and then do a plan, right? So this is where you need to think step by step, be methodical in our approach so that we can defend later when we want, when it comes to execution,” he said. Tengku Zafrul earlier outlined five goals for the national body with immedi ate targets including winning the 2026 Thomas Cup, capturing Olympic gold in 2028 and reaching world No.1 in three of five categories. He said the long-term focus is on build ing a sustainable championship pipeline and promoting a healthier Malaysia. – Bernama

put on the council first. “Once we finalise the committee, logi cally, if we should put the council mem bers and all the council members includ ing the independent ones where they can contribute the most. So if you think you can contribute on performance, we should put him in performance,” he said. Tengku Zafrul said this at his first council meeting at the Akademi Badminton Malaysia yesterday, where earlier BAM received a Perodua Aruz multipurpose vehicle. He added that the committees are expected to be finalised by October in line with the next BAM council meeting but some decisions may be implemented ear lier. He also confirmed his proposal to streamline BAM’s committee structure for greater efficiency. “Yes, my proposal is we look at com bining some and having new ones also. Again, I want to be more inclusive in my

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7826 2121 4208

7049 1358 9180 2337 1082

3384 1231 8239 8304 7615

7700 1210 6824 7909 1102

5130 9369 0078 5548 5699

RM17,709,679.92

7826 + 2121 2121 + 7826 4208 + 7826

7826 + 4208 2121 + 4208 4208 + 2121

Faizal to guide nation’s next gen of lethal forwards

RM242,909.81

BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE

FORMER national hockey ace Faizal Saari, 34, who officially retired from the national team in February this year, is now working on establishing his own hockey academy in the Klang Valley. Faizal, who earned 302 caps with the Speedy Tigers, said the effort is currently under way with the help of former schoolmates from Sekolah Sukan Bandar Penawar (SSBP), now known as Sekolah Sukan Tunku Mahkota Ismail (SSTMI). Originally from Terengganu, Faizal said his passion for coaching began even before he retired from the national team, but he was unable to fully commit to it while still donning the national jersey. According to Faizal, his mis sion is to groom a trio of lethal forwards capable of breaking into the national team and ele vating the Speedy Tigers on global stage. “My main goal is to produce killers … my expertise is in the attacking line, so I want to nur ture three feared strikers. That’s my mission, which is to develop three sensational attackers in the same era who can become the focal point of the national team’s offence. Hockey formations use three strikers, so that’s what I’m aim

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RM10,381,652.88

RM237,108.39

Faizal Saari giving instuctions during a training clinic yesterday. – REGION SPORT HOCKEY CLUB

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said the club was established in 2019 after he returned from Singapore, where he coached a junior hockey club. He explained that the club’s mission is not only to discover new talent but also to guide young athletes in shaping their hockey careers. “Hockey isn’t an easy career path, especially now. Many former national junior players eventually pivot to coaching due to a lack of opportunities at the senior level,” he said.

during a recent two-day coaching session in Johor.” He added that the rise of private hockey academies not only helps revive the sport locally but also gives more players a chance to extend their careers and expand the national talent pool. “I plan to bring this acad emy to the Klang Valley and have already started taking steps in that direction.” Meanwhile, RSHC president Mohd Norrashid Ramlan, 39,

ing for,” he told theSun yester day. To achieve this, he is col laborating with Region Sport Hockey Club (RSHC) based in Taman Daya, Johor Bahru. “I’m currently working with RSHC because I have old teammates here from our jun ior playing days. I also studied at SSTMI. “My goal is to pass on my knowledge to young players and the response has been really encouraging, especially

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