12/09/2025

SPORTS FRIDAY | SEPT 12, 2025

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Shot in the arm for ladies golf THE inaugural Ladies’ Golf Tournament 2025 scheduled from Oct 12-15 at The Mines Resort & Golf Club in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, carries a long-term vision to establish Malaysia as the home of a world-renowned women’s golf event.

SHORTS Pearly-Thinaah progress, Wei Chong-Kai Wun crash out NATIONAL top women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah had no trouble advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2025 Hong Kong Open Badminton Championships. In their second-round match at the Hong Kong Coliseum, the second seeds and defending champions easily defeated Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Meilyssa Trias Puspitasari 21 18, 21-17 in just 38 minutes. Awaiting the world No. 2 pair are either compatriots Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing or Taiwan’s Hsu Ya Ching Sung Yu-Hsuan. Meanwhile, it was disappointment for men’s doubles pair Man Wei Chong Tee Kai Wun, who were eliminated by Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-Huei-Yang Po-Hsuan 17-21, 21-11, 15-21. Earlier, national men’s doubles pair Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King also advanced after defeating compatriots Choong Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal Nazri 21-17, 21-19, setting up a clash with India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy Chirag Shetty. In another match, men’s singles shuttler Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin fell short, losing to sixth seed Christo Popov of France 17-21, 19-21. NATIONAL 400m runner Umar Osman has been encouraged to make the most of his chance at this month’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo to deliver his best performance ahead of the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand this December. National Sports Council (MSN) director-general Jefri Ngadirin said the prestigious event, taking place from Sept. 13 to 21, is a key opportunity for Umar to improve his times and stay in contention for medals, especially gold. “We hope Umar can seize this opportunity to achieve his best. We want to see him run under 46 seconds to secure a medal at the upcoming SEA Games,” he said when met yesterday. Umar’s best time this year came at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, last May, where he clocked 46.25s. He also holds the national 400m record of 46.09s. Emotional Axelsen well beaten on return REIGNING two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen was dumped out in the first round of the Hong Kong Open on Wednesday as his eagerly anticipated return fell flat. In his first competitive match in six months following back surgery, the Danish former world No. 1 was well beaten in straight games by Japan’s Kodai Naraoka. The fifth-seeded Naraoka blew Axelsen away 21-15, 21-7 in just 37 minutes. As well as being rusty, the 31-year old Axelsen had battled fever in the lead-up to his return to action. “It was nice to get out there again but I wish I enjoyed it more,“ said Axelsen, according to badminton’s global governing body the BWF. He was “visibly emotional” afterwards, the BWF’s website said. Axelsen added: “There’s been a lot of unfortunate events – getting sick last week, not being able to practise and still trying to push through. “I set very high standards for myself so performing at what I’d consider a relatively low level is hard to accept.” Umar encouraged to improve times

important platform for local women professionals. “This event is being held to give them a dedicated opportunity, especially to support the careers of women golfers in Malaysia. “We are also inviting 30 top amateurs to gain valuable experience by competing with the professionals,” said Mohd Anwar, who is also the executive chairman of the resort. The tournament, which offers RM100,000 in prize money, is hosted by The Mines in collaboration with Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM). The championship will feature 60 of Malaysia’s finest female golfers – 30 professionals and 30 amateurs, competing in a 54-hole stroke play event. – Bernama

Tournament 2025 official press conference yesterday. Lee also underlined the importance of creating more opportunities for local players to progress. He noted that the Malaysian women professionals are still at the early stages of their careers and require more support, opportunities and tournaments. “Our pros, in terms of rewards, they are still not there yet. In terms of skill, they are already there but not in terms of opportunity. No tournament means no prize money and as a professional, you live on prize money,” he said. Meanwhile, Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) president Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor said the tournament would provide an

Founder of the resort Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew said the tournament seeks to elevate women’s golf in Malaysia and the region, echoing Malaysia’s past milestone of becoming the first country to offer US$1 million (RM4m) in prize money in 2000. “We hope one day, in the West, there is a very famous tournament called the Masters. In the East, coming from Malaysia, there is a very famous tournament called the Ladies. That is our vision,” he told reporters at the Ladies’ Golf

Sweet dreams are made of this Two golds, one silver at World Wushu Championships best moment of career, says Cheong Min N ATIONAL wushu ace Tan Cheong Min when met at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 upon arrival from Brazil on Wednesday night. achieved today proves that continuous investment, quality training and comprehensive support are the main keys to athletes’ performance improvement.

has described her achievement of two golds and a silver at the 17th World Wushu Championships in Brasilia, Brazil, as the sweetest moment in her career. She was also pleased that her achievement this time made

“So, I feel that although I won two gold medals in different events this time, it’s still well worth it because six years is quite a long time for any athlete, especially for us women.” She admitted that the three-month intensive training the national wushu squad underwent in China before heading to Brazil had a great impact on their mesmerising performances in the world meet. Cheong Min began her campaign with a silver in Nandao before striking gold in Nangun. The world champion then concluded her campaign with a team gold in the Duilian event with Lee Jia Rong and Pang Pui Yee.

“The tears shed by Tan Cheong Min, for instance, symbolise her 12-year journey in the national wushu squad, with a crucial moment in her preparation being three months of training in China,” she said in a statement on her official Facebook page yesterday. Malaysia’s gold medals were delivered by Si Shin Peng in the men’s jianshu and qiangshu events, Tan Cheong Min in the women’s nangun, the women’s duilian team comprising Jia Rong and Pui Yee, as well as Jia Rong again in the women’s daoshu. Hannah said the achievement also proved that when athletes’ welfare is prioritised through scientific training, quality coaches, stable allowances and long-term planning, they become happier and perform better. She expressed confidence that with such continued investment, Malaysia has the potential not only to become a powerhouse in wushu but also to elevate its performance in other meets at the world stage. Yeoh also said the wushu squad are in line for the huge reward under the National Sports Incentives Scheme (Shakam) by taking into account the fact that the world championships are held once every two years. “There is a difference between the badminton and other world championships, with the Badminton World Championships held every year. So, for their achievement this time, the wushu team will receive a total windfall of RM480,000. “One gold medal is worth RM80,000, a silver RM40,000 and a bronze RM20,000. So, those who bagged the bronze medal will have to split it among themselves, be it between two or three exponents… they will share the RM20,000,” she said. – Bernama this December. Although disappointed not to be able to lead his charges to Saudi Arabia next year, Mohd Nafuzi said he was very satisfied with the commitment and fighting spirit shown by the players. “The disappointment came because we felt we should have qualified. From what we displayed in the first match against Lebanon, then Mongolia and especially against the hosts yesterday, I think we gave a good fight despite the heavy rain making conditions difficult. “We had chances to win, but that’s football. We made mistakes, and the opponents scored a last-minute goal. Still, the fighting spirit shown by the players made me very proud,” he said. He expressed hope that his squad could reduce mistakes and sharpen their game to return stronger and win medals at the SEA Games in Thailand. – Bernama

amends for the disappointment she experienced in the 2023 edition in the United States, where she

s u f f e r e d health issues. “Six years ago, in Shanghai, China, I got a gold

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh described the national wushu squad’s achievement of five gold, one silver and two bronze medals in Brazil as proof of the effectiveness of the government’s continuous investment in the sport’s development.

medal in women’s Nandao,” she said as she s h e d tears of joy

She said the success was the result of the M a d a n i

government’s investment through the National Sports C o u n c i l (NSC), which allocated

RM4,335,122 to wushu this year. “ T h e v i c t o r y

Tan Cheong Min. – BERNAMAPIC

Muhammad Ubaidullah laments Asian Cup failure

NOT only disappointed but also embarrassed, national U-23 team captain Muhammad Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili admitted he felt he had failed to lead his teammates to qualify for the 2026 U-23 Asian Cup final round in Saudi Arabia. Muhammad Ubaidullah said the atmosphere in the dressing room at Thammasat Stadium, Pathum Thani, was sombre after the 2-1 defeat to hosts Thailand in the final Group F qualifier on Wednesday night. “Some (players) cried, some lamented in silence. So, what can we do? We just tried our best, but in the end, it is God who determines everything. “There were also positives in terms of gameplay and the tactics applied by the coach, but at the end of the day, even if we play well, but the result is not there, it doesn’t count,” he told reporters upon arrival at Terminal 1 of Kuala

Lumpur International Airport yesterday. Wednesday night’s result saw Thailand qualify for the U-23 Asian Cup final round next year after topping Group F with seven points, while Lebanon secured second spot based on goal difference. Mohd Nafuzi Zain’s men ended their qualification campaign in third place in Group F with three points, courtesy of a 7-0 win over Mongolia. Malaysia had previously qualified for the U-23 Asian Cup final rounds in 2018, 2022 and 2024, with their best achievement being a quarterfinal berth in 2018. Based on Harimau Muda’s performance in the current campaign, Muhammad Ubaidullah said the gap with top teams in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand, was not too wide, and he believed his teammates could make amends and spring a surprise at the 2025 SEA Games