19/09/2025

SPORTS FRIDAY | SEPT 19, 2025

31

Mixed fortunes at China Masters

RESULTS

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (LEAGUE PHASE) : Olympiakos 0 Pafos 0, Slavia Prague 2 (Mbodji 23, 74) Bodo/Glimt 2 (Bassi 78, Brunstad Fet 90) , Ajax 0 Inter Milan 2 (Thuram 42, 47), Bayern Munich 3 (Chalobah 20-og, Kane 27-pen, 63) Chelsea 1 (Palmer 29), Liverpool 3 (Robertson 4, Salah 6, Van Dijk 90+2) Atletico Madrid (ESP) 2 (Llorente 45+3, 81), Paris Saint-Germain 4 (Marquin hos 3, Kvaratskhelia 39, Mendes 51, Ramos 90+1) Atalanta 0. CARABAO CUP (3RD ROUND) : Swansea City 3 Nottingham Forest 2. Funding woes for Kelantan Deaf Games squad THE Kelantan Deaf Sports Association (KelSDeaf ) has expressed disappointment as its contingent is still facing funding constraints to participate in the 2025 Malaysian Deaf Games (Sopma 2025) scheduled to be held in Kuching, Sarawak from Oct 1-7. Its president Saiful Helmie Dzamani said that the contingent had so far only managed to raise about RM34,000 and that the amount was far lower than the required target of RM60,000, especially to cover the rising cost of air tickets. “If no additional funds are obtained by Sept 20, with great reluctance, we may have to withdraw from Sopma. Even more regrettably, there is a possibility that our athletes will migrate to join other states that are more supportive,“ he said at a press conference in Kota Bharu on Wednesday. He said the delay in government agencies, including the Youth and Sports Department and the Kelantan State Sports Council (MSN). Saiful Helmie appealed (again) to the state government, elected representatives and the private sector to come forward to help ensure that Kelantan athletes could fly to Kuching to bring glory to the state. “I hope the issue of the welfare of deaf athletes can be highlighted in the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly session and that amendments to the Sports Development Act for the deaf be considered so that their rights and welfare are guaranteed on par with Sukma and Para-Sukma contingent athletes,” he said. – Bernama obtaining the funds was due to the lack of confidence of certain parties in the abilities of deaf athletes and the lack of solid support from state

NEWLY crowned mixed doubles world champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei had to dig deep in a tense rubber set thriller to stay alive at the China Masters 2025. The third-seeded duo overcame Indonesia’s Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Alberta Nathaniel 21 13, 13-21, 21-16 in a 73-minute showdown at the Shenzhen Arena to book their place in the last eight yesterday. They will now play Hong Kong’s fifth seeds Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet in the quarterfinals. After the match, Tang Jie said that communication between them helped a lot, especially when his partner was not at her best fitness level. “I think overall, communication is the key. The

anyway. So I’m really grateful that we were able to win,” she said. Meanwhile, professional men’s doubles pair and third seeds Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani also moved to the last eight as they got the better of Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-Huei-Yang Po Hsuan 21-16, 22-20. Awaiting Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin today are Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Shohibul Fikri from Indonesia. However, professional duo and eighth seeds Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie’s journey in the Super 750 tournament came to an end as they were stunned by unseeded duo from Taiwan, Ye Hong Wei-Nicole Gonzales Chan, 6-21, 21-16, 12 21. – Bernama/Agencies

focus now is to rest and prepare for tomorrow’s match. “I knew Ee Wei was not feeling well today, so I tried to make her feel more comfortable on court. “In doubles, we have to complement each other, team spirit is the most important. Thankfully we were able to advance to the quarterfinals,” he added. Ee Wei, who decided to play despite having a fever and cough, admitted that the victory was achieved as a result of solid cooperation on court. “Tang Jie talked to me a lot about the game plan. I followed and trusted him. That was the key to today’s victory. “I was actually not feeling well before coming here, I had a cold and a cough, but I tried to fight

Top draw for Tiger Trophy World No. 1 Thitikul headlines stellar cast for Maybank Championship G OLF FANS in Malaysia will be in for a thrilling spectacle of world-class golf when the 2025 Maybank Championship

LPGA title. English sensation Lottie Woad will also be making her first appearance in Kuala Lumpurp. A former world amateur No. 1, Woad stunned the golfing world when she won the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open in her first start as a professional this July. She finished third at last week’s Kroger Queen City Championship and will be one of the players to watch. Japan’s Iwai twins, Akie and Chisato, will no doubt be popular draws as well having both broken through as Rolex First-Time Winners on the 2025 LPGA Tour. The depth of this year’s Maybank Championship will be amplified by other global standouts such as Rio Takeda, Angel Yin, and A Lim Kim - all winners on the 2025 LPGA Tour. Each of these players will bring a distinct pedigree and playing style to KLGCC: from Japanese star Takeda’s rising momentum as a two-time LPGA Tour winner and American Yin’s fearless aggression, to the consistency of Korean talent Kim who has three LPGA titles including the 2020 US Women’s Open. Adding her considerable star power to the field is New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, who at age 28 has already achieved legendary status as a multiple major champion, Olympic gold medalist and World Golf Hall of Famer. Flying the Jalur Gemilang at KLGCC will be five Malaysian talents at varying stages in their careers – Mirabel Ting, Ashley Lau, Kelly Tan, Liyana Durisic, and Genevieve Ling, who will collectively carry the nation’s hopes. Ting and Lau thrilled the galleries and ignited national fervour last year with stellar performances, finishing T12 and T22 respectively. The presence of the Malaysian and Asean players reflects Maybank’s commitment to giving the region’s brightest young players a pathway onto the LPGA stage. For these golfers, KLGCC will be a stage for them to shine and benchmark their talents against a world-class field, as well as a platform to inspire the next wave of regional champions.

returns to Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) from Oct 30 to Nov 2. No less than 18 winners from the 2025 LPGA Tour have signed on for the much-anticipated Championship, including reigning World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand. With 24 events played so far, there have been no repeat winners yet this season which highlights the growing in depth strength of the LPGA Tour and the women’s game. Known for her aggressive game and shot-making prowess, the hugely popular Thitikul will return to KLGCC determined to convert consistency into history as she attempts to chase down the title that has twice eluded her narrowly. Standing in Thitikul’s way will be the two players who denied her the Tiger Trophy in the past two Championships – defending champion Ruoning Yin of China, who won by one shot over Thitikul in 2024, and inaugural winner Celine Boutier of France, who clinched the Tiger Trophy in 2023 after an epic nine-hole playoff with the Thai player. Australian Grace Kim, who claimed her maiden Major title and second LPGA victory at this year’s Evian Championship following a dramatic playoff with Thitikul, will be among the contenders and drawcards at KLGCC. Making a much

anticipated debut in the Championship will be the LPGA Tour’s latest Major champion, rising Japanese player Miyu Yamashita. A 13-time winner on the Japan LPGA Tour, Yamashita won the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl in early August for her maiden

Jeeno Thitikul. – REUTERSPIC

Sivasangari crashes out of Egyptian Open

MALAYSIA’S interest in the Egyptian Open 2025 came to an end after their sole hope, S. Sivasangari crashed out at the quarterfinals in Giza on Wednesday. The Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour Diamond level tournament saw seventh seed Sivasangari once again find home player and fourth seed Amina Orfi a tough nut to crack as the Malaysian went down 6-11, 8-11, 11-4, 9 11. The loss marks Sivasangari’s sixth defeat in seven encounters against Amina, since both

Game four was the best of the set, with neither player able to stay ahead for long as they traded the lead. Eventually, though, the No. 4 seed was able to break through, capitalising on a crucial Sivasangari error to clinch the match 11-9. Amina will next take on compatriot Fayrouz Aboelkheir in the semifinals after Fayrouz pulled off one of the tournament’s major upsets by seeing off defending champion and fellow Egyptian Nour El Sherbini, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5. – Bernama/Agencies

Sivasangari, with Amina dispatching her 3-1 to extend her winning run over the Malaysian to four consecutive matches. The Egyptian made a strong start again, controlling proceedings in game one and then coming through a tighter game two 11-8. As the ball softened, the attack-minded Sivasangari had more success, disrupting Amina’s relentless rhythm with an 11-4 win.

players first crossed swords at the Squash On Fire Open 2023 in Washington. Amina, widely considered the breakout talent of her generation, has enjoyed a spectacular start to the new season, making history by becoming the first ever player to win the junior world championship four times and winning the London Classic last week. That run in London included a win over