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FRIDAY | DEC 19, 2025

Malaysian Paper

200 and counting

Malaysia reach

SEA Games target as cycling takes centre stage

M ALAYSIA reached their 200-medal target at the SEA Games yesterday after the men’s team pur suit cyclists won gold at the Thailand Sports Authority Cycling Track in Bangkok. The gold provided a milestone for the national contingent, with the 200th medal coming from the top of the podium. The Malaysian quartet of Azim Aliyas, Hafiq Jafri, Yusri Shaari and Newjoe Lau powered to victory in the final, finishing ahead of Thailand’s Nattakrit Kaeonoi, Thak Kaeonoi, Thurakit Boonratanathanakorn and Putipong Chaloemsrimueang who took silver. Malaysia clocked 4:18.606 in qualifying, comfortably faster than Thailand’s 4:25.349. Indonesia were disqualified earlier in the day, ruling them out of medal contention. Earlier, Nur Aisyah Zubir set the tone by claiming gold in the women’s

scratch race after holding off challenges from riders from Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. Singapore’s Elizabeth Tan took silver, while Indonesia’s Ayustina secured bronze. But the emotional centrepiece belonged to Ridwan, who clinched gold in the men’s keirin on his SEA Games debut before breaking down in tears as he spoke of pressure, family sacrifice and online criticism. “I want to thank my coach, my family, my teammates and all the staff who have been working from morning until evening,” said Ridwan. “This is the first gold on the track today, and I’m very happy. I trained overseas for a month, including in Chiang Mai, and all that effort paid off.” Thailand’s Jai Angsuthasawi and Norasetthada Bunna completed the podium with silver and bronze respectively, while Malaysia’s Fadhil Zonis finished just outside the medals. – Agencies

National track cyclist Nur Aisyah Mohamad Zubir wins the gold medal in the women’s scratch event at the Thailand 2025 SEA Games at the Hua Mak Velodrome yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Pep heaps praise on ‘exceptional’

Rayan after Carabao Cup victory

Ű BY IAN PARKER

(Foden) this type of goal, with Kevin (De Bruyne) before, so I am happy that it opened the game.” With seven changes from Sunday’s 3-0 win at Crystal Palace, City were far from their best and might have gone down to 10 men 16 minutes in when Abdukodir Khusanov fouled Kevin Schade as he prepared to shoot from the edge of the box. Having survived that, they bossed the rest of the first half and Savinho’s heavily-deflected strike made sure of the win. The Brazilian’s shot might not have troubled Hakon Valdimarsson until it struck the retreating Kristoffer Ajer to loop over the goalkeeper, but Guardiola praised Savinho’s mentality after he has been on the receiving end of criticism. “What I like is that he is always going all the time,” Guardiola said. “The final decision can be better but always as a reward of his work ethic and he goes and he goes all the time.” Brentford boss Keith Andrews was clear in his view Abdukodir Khusanov that should have walked, reshaping

the entire game. “I’m very quick to defend officials generally, it’s such a difficult job, but that was one they didn’t get right,” he said. “The explanation was that the touch being too far away

because he’s clean through on goal. “If it’s a red card it’s a big advantage for us obviously, but we’ll never know.” Despite that moment, Andrews was pleased with his side’s display. “We showed a lot of courage, a lot of conviction and bravery in how we played and we had to,”he added. “We were missing some players from the front line, we had one day’s prep after Leeds where we changed the system, how we pressed. “It’s testament to the players, how intelligent they are, how adaptable they are and how versatile they are…I felt there were moments where we could have punished City, we just didn’t quite take the extra pass, but we restricted them to very little.” Brentford were staying in Manchester after the game and were due to train at City’s facility overnight. Asked if he agreed with Andrews on Khusanov decision, Pep said: “Tomorrow at the training ground, I’ll invite him to the

PEP GUARDIOLA called Rayan Cherki an “exceptional player” after the Frenchman’s first-half strike inspired Manchester City to a 2-0 Carabao Cup quarterfinal win over Brentford. Cherki has endured an injury impacted start to life at City since his £30 million (RM174m) summer move from Lyon, but the 22-year-old has impressed in recent weeks, with four assists in his last four Premier League appearances and now a superb goal for his fourth of the campaign. When Brentford failed to properly clear Divine Mukasa’s corner, the ball came to Cherki on the edge of the box and he quickly side-stepped Mikkel Damsgaard before unleashing a pow erful shot into the top corner. “Close to the 18-yard box of the opponent he is an exceptional player,” Guardiola said. “It was a fantastic goal, a blind guy, a blind woman can realise, it is not neces sary to be a journalist or a manager to realise he is a fantastic, fantastic player. “I saw it many times with Phil

from goal doesn’t quite sit well with me after watch ing it back

City’s Rayan Cherki celebrates after scoring the opening goal during yesterday’s Carabao Cup quarterfinal against Brentford at the Etihad Stadium. – REUTERSPIC

cafe and we will defi nitely discuss it.” – The Independent

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