11/01/2026

SUNDAY | JAN 11, 2026

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Aaron-Wooi Yik storm into Malaysia Open final THE country’s top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are on the brink of clinching the Malaysia Open 2026 title as they stormed into today’s final after a hard-fought victory over their sixth seeded Indonesian opponents in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. maiden Malaysia Open final as they came out tops against sixth seeds from Indonesia Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Shohibul Fikri. The opening game was a nail-biter, with both pairs locked at 21-21, but the former 2022 world champions kept their cool to edge the match 23-21. lists found their rhythm on time to surge ahead 16-12 and sent the home crowd into a frenzy as they sealed the match 21-18 after 50 minutes of intense action. The result saw the world No. 2 pair presented with a chance to become the first local pair to lift the Malaysia Open men’s doubles title after Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah last won it in the 2014 edition. – Bernama In the semifinal action at a packed Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, the second seeded Aaron-Wooi Yik reached their Trailing 10-12 in the second set, the two-time Olympic Games bronze medal

National men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia (right) and Soh Wooi Yik in action against Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri at the 2026 Malaysia Open semifinals at the Axiata Arena yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Wreck-it Wrexham Okonkwo’s penalty shootout heroics causes FA Cup shock

WREXHAM won an FA Cup third round thriller in front of Hollywood owner Ryan Reynolds as Nottingham Forest were dumped out of the compe tition on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Arthur Okonkwo was the Wrexham hero with stops from Igor Jesus and Omari Hutchinson giving them a 4-3 victory on spot-kicks after Josh Windass, Callum Doyle, George Thomason and Jay Rodriguez had con verted from the spot. First-half goals from Liberato Cacace and Oliver Rathbone gave Wrexham early control and had Reynolds trading high fives and hugs from his vantage point in the main stand. Jesus cut the deficit before Dominic Hyam’s diving header restored Wrexham’s two-goal advantage with 16 minutes remaining. Forest looked dead and buried but substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi pro duced two outstanding finishes, the

club’s rich heritage in the FA Cup.” Forest boss Sean Dyche was scath ing about a first-half performance that eventually proved costly for last sea son’s semifinalists. “The first half is completely unac ceptable. I’ve let certain individuals know that and they’ve got to look in the mirror,” Dyche. “It’s unacceptable to me, but it’s unacceptable to the badge as well. “They all knock on your door and say ‘why aren’t I playing’? But the evi dence is quite honestly there. “Not for all, but that’s what football is. You’ve got to train and prepare right all the time, because when the day comes you’ve got to be ready and there’s too many who weren’t. “The players who came on second half were a credit and we looked like a Premier League side. “Penalties are a lottery, but we’ve created enough chances to win the game.” – The Independent

Wrexham came into the Racecourse Ground clash in fine form having won four successive games in the Championship. Forest substitute Hudson-Odoi took the tie into extra-time with two classy finishes, the second in the 89th minute, but goalkeeper Okonkwo proved the Wrexham hero with brilliant shoot-out stops. Parkinson told TNT Sports : “We had to rally the troops a bit in the break, because I think the whole ground had gone flat. “You get that feeling ‘have we lost our best chance to get through and beat a Premier League team?’ “But the lads rallied themselves, there was a lot of tired legs, and credit to both sides for putting on such a good game after that busy Christmas sched ule. “It’s a huge night for us and I’m pleased for this group of players to write their own bit of history in the

equaliser coming in the 89th minute. Wrexham have won three succes sive promotions to go from non-league to the Championship, but this was the first time since being taken over by Reynolds and fellow actor Rob Mac nearly five years ago that they had met Premier League opposition. Manager Phil Parkinson hailed Wrexham’s “special” giant-killing tri umph over Forest and expressed his delight that the Welsh club’s Hollywood owner Reynolds was there to see it. “I had a chat with him before the game and it was great to see him over here with his family,” Parkinson said about the Deadpool actor. “I think Ryan’s mum was here tonight, which was for the first time. So it’s really special and I hope they’ve enjoyed the night. “I’m sure that on the flight back home tonight, they’ll be having a few glasses of wine to celebrate.”