17/10/2025

SPORTS FRIDAY | OCT 17, 2025

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Stage set for national shuttlers in Thailand

BADMINTON Association of Malaysia (BAM) is sending a elite squad for the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand from Dec 9-20 to restore the national team’s pride after the harrowing experience at the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. National badminton legend Datuk Rashid Sidek said BAM’s move in naming the likes of two world champions, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (men’s doubles) and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (mixed doubles), would increase their chances of returning home from Thailand with the gold medal, after bringing back just two silvers and four

national governing body’s 80th annual general meeting in May. BAM have also placed their faith in 2025 World Championships runners-up Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women’s doubles); Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh (men’s singles); and K. Letshanaa and Wong Ling Ching (women’s singles). Others included are Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (men’s doubles); Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing (women’s doubles); and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin (mixed doubles). All those listed will also compete in their respective team events. – Bernama

Bernama yesterday. Rashid said the SEA Games are prestigious in their own right, and the national shuttlers should seize the opportunity to fly the Malaysian flag high and mighty at the biennial Games. He added that Malaysian shuttlers would still face a torrid time at the SEA Games should other countries, such as Indonesia and hosts Thailand, also send their best this time. “Although this is only the SEA

Games, there are many in the Southeast Asian region who are world-class shuttlers,” he said. Rashid also said that listing their strongest squad for the 2025 SEA Games would enhance the image of BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz if their gamble hits the jackpot, since the Thailand edition is the first one under his leadership. Tengku Zafrul was elected unopposed to helm BAM during the

bronzes from the previous edition. “High chance of getting three or four golds… to restore our dignity. Previously (in the 2023 edition), we lost to the Philippines (in the women’s team event). “Our dignity was tarnished, and it was a reality that was hard to accept. If you want to send, then send the strongest lineup… the best we have, and it would be worth the while,” he said when contacted by

BRIEFS Early exits at Denmark Open

‘Emulate Arif Aiman’ Mohd Yusoff tells young footballers to be inspired by AFC Player of the Year

NATIONAL top men’s doubles pairs Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani crashed out in the first round of the 2025 Denmark Open at Jyske Bank Arena in Odense tonight. Aaron Wooi Yik who are the second seeds, were stunned by unseeded Indonesian pair Muhammad Rian Ardianto-Rahmat Hidayat after losing 17-21, 13-21 in just 33 minutes. Meanwhile, Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin who are the third seeds lost 13-21, 21-13, 14-21 to Ben Lane-Sean Vendy of England in 55 min. Another men’s doubles pair, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi also crashed out in the first round after going down 19 21, 14-21 to France’s Christo-Toma Junior Popov. Last Sunday’s Arctic Open champions, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah lived up to expectations after cruising past Indonesia’s Rachel Allessya Rose-Febi Setianingrum 21-13, 21-17 to book their place in the second round. Meanwhile, it’s the end of the road for Malaysia in men’s singles after their sole representa tive, Leong Jun Hao, crashed out in the opening round in Odense on Wednesday. National men’s doubles pair Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King were also knocked out after losing 15-21, 19-21 to 2021 world champions Takuro Hoki-Hugo Kobayashi of Japan. Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing suf fered the same fate in women’s doubles, going down 5-21, 16-21 to South Korea’s Jeong Na Eun Lee Yeon Woo. However, women’s doubles pair Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting have advanced to the second round after taking 30 minutes to dispose of Ukraine’s Polina Buhrova-Yevheniia Kantemyr 21-11, 21-16. Malaysia’s professional mixed doubles pair of Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sen also bowed out early after losing 7-21, 14-21 to India’s Dhruv Kapila Tanisha Crasto. Sivasangari falters at Silicon Valley final NATIONAL women’s squash ace S. Sivasangari failed to wrest the Silicon Valley Open title from Olivia Weaver of the United States in Redwood City, California, yesterday. The third-seeded Malaysian could not match the precision and pace of the 30 year-old American, who fully capitalised on her home ground advantage, to seal a 12-10, 4-11, 11-4, 11-4 victory in 47 minutes. World No. 8 Sivasangari paid the price for some costly errors, especially in the first and third games, before Weaver went on to tighten her grip and dominate the court in the fourth.

H ARIMAU MALAYA star Arif Aiman (pic) Mohd Hanapi became the first Malaysian to be nominated for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Player of the Year award. The 23-year-old Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) winger described the recognition as a significant milestone and a source of motivation to continue improving for both club and country. “I always give my best for my club and country and I am excited to be the first Malaysian to be here,” he was quoted as saying on the AFC website (the-AFC.com) yesterday. Among those nominated for the award were Qatari forward Akram Afif who could become the first player to clinch the accolade three times and winger Salem Al Dawsari who is in the running to become the first Saudi Arabian to win it twice. Meanwhile, Arif Aiman is only the second Southeast Asian nominee after Therdsak Chaiman of Thailand in 2003. “It’s just the beginning for me. I must prepare to work harder and dedicate myself to reaching the same level as Salem and Akram; I will take them as my role models, to take responsibility for myself (and reach the

highest levels),” said the four-time National Football Awards (ABK) Most Valuable Player (MVP). In the meantime, Akram who played a key role in helping Qatar secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup yesterday, said that for him, team success matters more than personal recognition. “Individual awards are always special, but what matters most to me is the success of the team. There are many great players who deserve it as well. If I win, it will be a reward for everyone I work with – my wife and my teammates, coaches, the fans who always support me, and of course, my family,” he said. Echoing the sentiment was Salem, who said: “What is most important to me are the team’s achievements, after which individual awards and accolades (will follow). If I win tomorrow, we will celebrate and it will be motivation for me to achieve more,”. The winners will be announced today at the AFC Awards 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) acting president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi urge young footballers to emulate and draw inspiration from the

achievements of the Harimau Malaya ace in their quest to reach the highest level. Mohd Yusoff added that the Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) player’s nomination is proof that local talents are capable of competing on the Asian stage if they possess a high level of discipline and work ethic. “I think this is the first time that a player from Malaysia has been nominated for this award, and what is more impressive is that it is a local player. This is a significant and proud achievement. “Young players must make Arif Aiman their role model, meaning if they work hard and put in the hard yards, they too can be on par with the best in Asia,” he said when met recently. He said the success of the 23-year-old, who is currently hailed as the country’s best player, proves that the factor of origin or lineage is not the main measure in determining a player’s ability to represent the national team. “Although many feel that we need these heritage players, it is not so. In football, what matters is that a player’s quality and performance must be of the highest level for him to represent Malaysia,” he said. – Bernama

Nepal ask Fifa to overturn defeat NEPAL have appealed to Fifa to overturn their 2-0 defeat to Malaysia in 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers in March this year, claiming that their opponents fielded an ineligible player.

Kluivert, Indonesia part ways after WC exit PATRICK KLUIVERT’S stint as Indonesia coach is over after they “mutually” agreed to part ways yes terday following a failed bid to reach the World Cup. He added: “Even though I’m deeply disappointed and sorry for the fact that we didn’t make it to the World Cup, I’ll always be proud of what we built together.” The Dutchman took over follow ing the controversial sacking of South Korean Shin Tae-yong. The former striker signed a two

Fifa accused the FAM of submitting doctored or false documents that said the seven players had Malaysian ancestry, making them eligible to represent the country. FAM denied knowingly doing anything wrong. Fifa said an investigation showed that none of the players actually had a parent or grandparent born in the Southeast Asian nation. The seven banned players had all played in Malaysia’s 4-0 Asian Cup qualifying win against Vietnam in June. Nepal are currently at the bottom of Asian Cup qualifying Group F with no points from four games. Malaysia are top on 12 points, Vietnam are second on nine points with Laos third on three. – AFP

national football coaching and development programme,” it added. The statement did not name Kluivert’s successor. Amsterdam-born Kluivert retired as a player in 2008 after a stellar career that started at Ajax, where he won the Champions League, before moves to AC Milan and Barcelona. Kluivert’s managerial career has not been nearly as spectacular. His previous coaching role was in charge of Adana Demirspor in Turkey for five months in 2023. Before that he was caretaker manager of Curacao in 2021. He was also No. 2 to Louis van Gaal with the Dutch national side in 2012-2014. – AFP

Last month, the world governing body Fifa banned seven Malaysian foreign-born players for a year and fined the FA of Malaysia (FAM) US$440,000 (RM1.86 million), saying they had submitted forged ancestry documents. One of the seven, Hector Hevel, scored Malaysia’s opening goal in the match played in Johor, Malaysia. “We have reached out regarding an ineligible player in the match. Thus the result has to be overturned,” Indra Man Tuladhar, CEO of All Nepal Football Association, told AFP .

Indonesia’s hopes of qualifying for the tournament in North America next year ended with defeats to Iraq and Saudi Arabia in the past week. The 49-year-old Netherlands and Barcelona great, who was only appointed in January, was in charge for just eight matches. He won three of his games in charge, losing four and drawing one. Writing on Instagram, Kluivert called it “an unforgettable journey”.

year contract at the start of the year, tasked with taking Indonesia to their first World Cup since gaining independence in 1945. The Football Association of Indonesia, PSSI, said Kluivert’s departure was “through mutual ter mination”. “This step was taken as part of a comprehensive evaluation of the