28/08/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | AUG 28, 2025

31

Heartbeat of Team Malaysia Fans say supporting national team expresses love for country

RESULTS

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (PLAYOFFS) : Kairat 0 Celtic 0 aet, Kairat win 3-2 on pen, Pafos 1 Crvena zvezda 1 (Oafos win 3-2 on agg), Sturm Graz 2 Bodo/Glimt 1 (Bodo win 6-2 on agg) . CARABAO CUP (ROUND 2) : Reading 2 Wimbledon 1, Cambridge United 3 Charlton Athletic 1, Wolves 3 West Ham United 2, Bournemouth 0 Brentford 2, Accrington Stanley 0 Doncaster Rovers 2, Barnsley 2 Rotherham United 1, Birmingham 0 Port Vale 1, Bromley 1 Wycombe Wanderers 1 (Wycombe win 5 4 on pen), Burnley 2 Derby County 1, Burton Albion 0 Lincoln City 1, Cardiff City 3 Cheltenham Town 0, Norwich 0 Southampton 3, Preston North End 2 Wrexham 3, Stoke City 0 Bradford City 3, Sunderland 1 Huddersfield Town 1 (Huddersfield win 6-5 on pen) , Swansea 1 Plymouth Argyle 1 (Swansea win 5-3 on pen), Wigan 1 Stockport County 0, Mill wall 2 Coventry 1, Sheffield Wednesday 1 Leeds United 1 (Sheffield win 3-0 on pen) . GERMAN CUP (2ND ROUND) : Eintracht Braunschweig 4 Stuttgart 4 (Stuttgart win 8-7 on pen).

T HEY may not don the national jersey to represent Malaysia, nor stand on the podium to sing the Negaraku, but Malaysian sports fans can be regarded as the heartbeat of national athletes’ struggle each time they compete on the championship stage. Rain or shine, the chants, the beat of the kompang , and the thunder of drums never fail to echo, igniting the fighting spirit of Malaysian athletes. For die-hard Malaysian sports supporter Mansor Khoni, better known as Tok Moh, his presence at stadiums always attracts attention with his Jalur Gemilang -themed outfit that has become his identity. Now nearing his seventh decade, Tok Moh, who began supporting national teams back in the 1980s, has never tired or grown weary of giving his unwavering support to the country’s heroes and heroines. Instead, he feels proud when giving his wholehearted support to the national teams, especially when Malaysia emerge as champions in the tournaments they compete in. “To be honest, I never feel tired of

supporting the Malaysian team, and I am proud to back them. For me, when they win, we too feel happier because that victory also belongs to the supporters,” he told Bernama . At the same time, Tok Moh said the contribution of supporters is minimal compared to that of the athletes who strive to bring glory to the nation on the world stage. “In the past, soldiers fought with weapons for the country, singers contributed their voices to the nation, and athletes too can give their all for Malaysia. “But for ordinary citizens like me, my contribution to the country is by being a loyal supporter of our national athletes,” he said. Meanwhile, from a younger generation of supporters, Derrick Gan – whose image went viral last year showing him in tears while watching Malaysia play South Korea in the Asian Cup in Qatar – shared the same sentiments as Tok Moh. Having pawned his motorcycle to raise funds to attend the Asian Cup, Derrick said the small sacrifice was nothing compared to the pride and emotion of singing the Negaraku on foreign soil, while watching Malaysia hold their ground against a world football giant.

“I never regretted spending money to support the national team. For me, it was worth it, especially when we support them and they win. “But we shouldn’t only support them when they win – we must continue to stand by the national team even when they lose,” he said. Derrick added that supporting the national team is not just about watching them play in the arena or on the pitch, but also a way to express his love for the country. He also said it fosters greater unity among Malaysians, as thousands of supporters from different races pack stadiums and venues, sitting together to cheer for one team – Malaysia. – Bernama

250/25

27/08/2025

3423 0933 9983

BERNAMAPIC

Wei Chong-Kai Wun battle past Popov brothers

4560 4620 3703 5337 7138

3462 9726 3097 1261 2709

7988 0162 7516 5832 6826

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Mohd Joehari calls time on FAM presidency

RM5,735,591.87

3423 + 9983 0933 + 9983 9983 + 0933

3423 + 0933 0933 + 3423 9983 + 3423

THE guessing game is over. Datuk Mohd Joehari Mohd Ayub (pic) has stepped down as president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). The national governing body confirmed this in a statement, saying Mohd Joehari had tendered his resignation letter recently. Deputy president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi chaired the FAM executive committee meeting at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya yesterday to discuss the matter. “The FAM executive committee reviewed Datuk Joehari’s request before eventually agreeing to accept the FAM president’s resignation out of respect for his wishes. “The committee would like to record its gratitude and express its appreciation to Joehari for his service, contributions, dedication and commitment throughout his time with FAM since he was elected as vice-president in 2017 and later as president on Feb 15 this year,” it added. Mohd Joehari previously held the vice president’s post before becoming the eighth FAM president, as well as the first from Sabah to helm the national football governing body, replacing Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin. Mohd Joehari was appointed to replace Hamidin after being returned unopposed at the FAM congress for the 2025-2029 term in February. Meanwhile, FAM said the executive committee also agreed to name Mohd Yusoff as acting president, effective immediately. “According to Article 42, Paragraph 7 of the FAM Statutes, if the president’s post becomes vacant, the longest serving deputy president will replace him until the next congress, which is next year. “The Congress shall elect a new president for the remainder of the term of office,” FAM added. – Bernama

RM142,951.27

Malaysia’s Man Wei Chong (left) and Tee Kai Wun in action. – AFPPIC

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NATIONAL MEN’S doubles pair Man Wei Chong Tee Kai Wun outlasted French brothers Christo and Toma Junior Popov to advance to the third round of the World Championships 2025 in Paris on Tuesday. Wei Chong-Kai Wun, who received a “bye” in the opening round, were pushed to the limit before prevailing 21-15, 13-21, 21-19 in a 65 minute battle against the home pair at the Adidas Arena. The seventh seeds will next face England’s Ben Lane-Sean Vendy. Lane-Sean Vendy booked their place in the third round after defeating South Korea’s Kim Gi Jung-Kim Sa Rang 21-18, 21-16. Men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao cleared his first hurdle in Paris, needed just 31 minutes to dispose of Switzerland’s Tobias Kuenzi 21-12, 21 14 at the Adidas Arena. The Malaysian faces a sterner test next, as he will be up against 14th seed Kenta Nishimoto after the Japanese downed Taiwan’s Wang Tzu Wei 21-13, 21-13 in the opening round. Meanwhile, there was no such luck for national women’s singles professional shuttler Goh Jin Wei, who lost 14-21, 9-21 to world No. 14 Gao Fang Jie of China in the first round.

Women’s singles player, K. Letshanaa, dominated the game when she recorded an easy 21-18, 21-8 victory over Hong Kong’s, Saloni Samirbhai Mehta to advance to the second round. The real test awaits the world No. 40 when she faces former world champion, PV Sindhu of India next. Sindhu has a medal in her sights at the world championships as the Indian returns to Paris one year on from the Olympic Games. Last year in the French capital, Sindhu was unable to add to her Olympic haul of silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at the following Games in Tokyo. “It was sad that I couldn’t get the medal, but then I mean you learn a lot, you win some and you lose some right,”Sindhu said after getting her world championships off to a sluggish start to defeat Bulgaria’s Kaloyana Nalbantova in straight games 23-21, 21-6. Now back at the same venue 12 months on, Sindhu admitted she did not want to leave empty-handed again. “Definitely hoping for a medal this time, I mean it’s just one match at a time for me, so really looking forward to it (the tournament),” she said. – Bernama

RM10,275,203.63

RM112,240.15

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