3/09/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | SEP 3, 2025

31

Pearly-Thinaah remain steadfast

Paris win proof of RTG effectiveness YOUTH and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has hailed the effectiveness of the Road To Gold (RTG) programme by citing the gold and silver medal achievements of Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (mixed doubles) and Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women’s doubles) at the recent Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships. This, she said, showed that the investment made by the government was worthwhile for Malaysian sports. “For the RTG, athletes will sign con tracts promising their commitment to the country, as this is a national invest ment. So, in just four months, we can see its success. “Their success is a significant achievement for the RTG, which has invested funds for all these four shut tlers,”Yeoh said when met at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Earlier, Tang Jie-Ee Wei and Pearly-Thinaah received a hero’s wel come after their medal-winning per formances at the World Championships, which ended in Paris on Sunday. Asked to comment on the gold medal success of Tang Jie-Ee Wei, Yeoh was full of praise for the way they have bounced back, having previously announced that they were splitting up in March. Hannah said the pair should now be viewed as one of the world’s mixed doubles giants after their golden feat in Paris. “Sometimes, your perseverance will take you to the next break through. I am very happy that they continued to work hard since resum ing their partnership and for never giv ing up,” she said. Yeoh also praised the efforts put in by women’s doubles pair Pearly and Thinaah, who returned home with the silver medal. “They are an inspiration to many women’s shuttlers in Malaysia. They have turned imagination into reality – and that’s a great achievement,” she said. Yeoh said Tang Jie-Ee Wei and Pearly-Thinaah are deserving recipi ents of the National Sports Incentives Scheme (Shakam), where gold medal lists receive RM20,000 and silver medallists RM10,000. “I have also discussed with BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz for additional Shakam incentives. An announce ment on that will be made later,” she said. – Bernama

NATIONAL women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah hope their silver-medal achievement at the World Championships will spur them on and inspire more women to be bold in chasing their dreams. The world’s second-ranked pair created history when they won the silver medal at the BWF World Championships in Paris on Sunday, becoming the first Malaysian women’s doubles team to achieve this prestigious achievement. “I’m very happy and proud that we could elevate women’s doubles in the eyes of the world. We have no regrets, as we really gave it our everything … we worked hard for this medal.

“Everyone gave their best on the court because no one wanted to lose. For us, this achievement is something that should be used as a lesson,” she said. After narrowly missing out on gold in Paris, the duo have vowed to learn from the defeat to China’s world No. 1 duo Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning in the final on Sunday and return stronger. Pearly-Thinaah’s success was also aided by women’s doubles head coach, Rosman Razak, and coaching director, Rexy Mainaky. The pair is scheduled to participate in the Hong Kong Open next week. – Bernama/Agencies

“We are not contented and we will fight again (to reach greater heights),” said Pearly when met at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday. “This medal is the result of our hard work, but the journey is still long. We will not stop here, but will continue to fight,” she said. Thinaah hopes that all the experiences and achievements at the prestigious tournament can be used as lessons to create more success in the future. “As the second seed in the tournament, of course we brought our own hopes and expectations. But thankfully we had a coach and partner who were always there for us.

Tough climb to the top Tang Jie-Ee Wei’s long and winding road to world supremacy W HERE there is a will, there is a way. This proverb aptly describes the journey that welcomed their daughter home from Paris, said they were proud of her achievements.

Meanwhile, Tang Jie’s mother, Chen Keat Siew, was just as ecstatic, saying their victory had brought joy to the family and the country. She said the world crown was more significant than the Korea Open title, which the pair won last year during the Merdeka month. “We’re really happy, really excited. This is special because it fell on Merdeka Day. Back then, it was the Korea Open; now he’s a world champion. “This is not the end; after this, he has to work even harder,” she said.

Paris yesterday. On Sunday, Tang Jie-Ee Wei, who split up briefly in March, were crowned world champions after they disposed of China’s Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin 21-15, 21-14 in the mixed doubles final at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships at the Adidas Arena in Paris, France. Tang Jie, meanwhile, attributed their World Championships success to “our improving communication”. “For us, every championship is an experience. Win or lose is not the real measure, but what we

According to Kok Leong, Ee Wei’s triumph with her partner Tang Jie was especially meaningful as it was achieved on the day Malaysia cele brated its 68th National Day. “It was really

national mixed doubles shuttler Toh Ee Wei had to endure en route to emerging as world champions with her partner Chen Tang Jie. The 23-year-old Ee Wei admitted that the journey had been fraught with obstacles, including health issues, thus forcing her to take a short break. “My journey has not been easy and I’ve gone through a lot of ups and downs … a lot of sickness also. But the NSC (National Sports Council) and NSI (National Sports Institute) helped me a lot. “I also received a lot of support from (Youth and Sports Minister) Hannah Yeoh and the Road To Gold (RTG) programme. “So, that’s what really helped me on the court. Not just me, though, but also for every

emotional. The first time such a big title was won on Merdeka Day; the whole of Malaysia felt proud. “We at home cried as well, even prouder that she came back healthy and unin jured,” he said .

go through and how we communi cate with each other daily – that’s more important,” he said. Ee Wei’s parents, Toh Kok Leong and Jane Yeoh, w h o

She also hoped her son’s suc cess would not stop here, but continue with more victories in the future. – Bernama

other player in BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia),” she said when met at the Kuala Lumpur

International Airport upon the shuttlers’ arri val from

Toh Ee Wei and Chen Tang Jie. – AFPPIC

Speedy Tigers crush Taiwan THE national men’s hockey squad wrapped up their Group B campaign at the 2025 Asia Cup in style with a thumping 15 0 victory over Taiwan at the Bihar Sports University Hockey Stadium in India on Monday.

Nova reveals secret of success COMMUNICATION and a balanced character are the main keys to Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei’s success when they lifted the world champion title in Paris on Sunday. The national mixed doubles head coach, Nova Widianto, said that this aspect was the difference com pared to other pairs who were just armed with skills on the court. “Many other pairs have skills, but if their communi cation and character are not in sync, they cannot become champions.

as Group B winners with nine points, fol lowed by South Korea (six), Bangladesh (three) and Taiwan (0). The Speedy Tigers had already sealed their Super Four ticket after defeating South Korea 4-1 in their second match on Saturday. Under the tournament format, only the top two teams from each group progress to the Super Four stage, with the top two sides from that round contesting the final on Sept 7. “Super Four is going to be difficult, so recovery is very important. We will play South Korea again, India and either China or Japan, and we need at least six points to make the final,” Speedy Tigers head coach Sarjit Singh said in a video recording sent to the media after the win. – Bernama

have also been angry... almost every tournament there have been problems. “However, it is our job to encourage and guide them, maybe that is what makes Tang Jie-Ee Wei feel grateful because even though there are problems, I still support them,“ he said. Meanwhile, women’s doubles head coach Rosman Razak admitted that the success of his team, Pearly Tan-M Thinaah, does not lie solely in their speed and strokes. On the contrary, the main factor in their silver medal was the maturity they displayed on the court. “In the past, if their game did not go well, their emotions would be affected and their game would sink. “But now they dare to change tactics, listen to instructions and continue to fight. Whether it works or not is secondary, what is important is that they are ready to give everything,“ he said. – Bernama

Mohamad Akhimullah Anuar Esook starred with five goals in the 10th, 20th, 29th (penalty stroke), 45th and 56th min utes, while Mohamad Ashran Hamsani netted four times (8th, 15th, 32nd and 54th minutes). Norsyafiq Sumantri contributed a hat trick (20th, 40th, 60th), with further strikes coming from Muhammad Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal (22nd), Andywalfian Jeffrynus (24th) and Nik Muhammad Aiman Nik Rozemi (32nd). The emphatic win confirmed Malaysia

“In Paris, they showed composure, confidence and excellent communication, that is the real key to their victory,“ he told Bernama at Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday. Meanwhile, Nova, who is also a two-time world champion, said that his team’s success did not come by chance and admitted that he almost gave up on guid ing the world’s fourth-ranked pair. “As coaches, we have to be patient, but in fact, I