23/01/2026

SPORTS FRIDAY | JAN 23, 2026

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FAM denies AFC takeover T HE Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has denied claims that its administration will be taken over by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Meanwhile, AFC has also denied claims that it plans to step in and run the FAM through a normalisation committee. Football associations deny claims amid resignation rumours

RESULTS

TOP national women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah needed just 43 minutes to subdue Taiwan’s Lin Xiao Min-Wang Yu Qiao 21-13, 21-12 and check into the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters Badminton Championships at Istora Senayan in Jakarta yesterday. Up next for Pearly-Thinaah are either Japan’s Kaho Osawa-Mai Tanabe or South Korea’s Kim Yu Jung-Lee Yu Lim. Malaysia’s Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun also marched into the men’s doubles last eight, following a 54-minute hard-fought 21-17, 9-21, 21 16 win over India’s Hariharan Amsakarunan-MR Arjun. The Malaysians, however, can expect an even sterner test in the quarterfinals as they will be up against home favourites and world No. 7 pair Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani. There was also good news for Malaysia in women’s singles when K. Letshanaa checked into the last eight after disposing of sixth-seeded Michelle Li of Canada 21-14, 21-14. However, it was the end of the road for national men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia and mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yi. While Zii Jia lost 21-15, 17-21, 8-21 to Thailand’s Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul, Pang Ron-Su Yi went down 13-21, 19-21 to fifth-seeded Guo Xin Wa Chen Fang Hui of China. Earlier, the country’s top mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Thailand’s Pakkapon Teeraratsakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai. The world champions did not face much trouble in claiming a 21-12, 21-18 victory in 35 minutes at the Istora Senayan. Awaiting the world No. 4 after this are the Indonesian pair of Hee Yong Kai Terry-Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja or Jesper Toft-Amalie Magelund of Denmark. However, the day did not favour the national men’s doubles pair of Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong as they lost to the tournament’s fifth seeds, Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani of Indonesia. Mohd Azriyn-Wee Kiong won the first set 21-19, before losing 16-21 and 17-21. – Bernama Pearly-Thinaah through to Masters quarters CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (league phase) : Gala tasaray 1 (Llorente 20-og) Atletico Madrid 1 (Simeone 4) , Qarabag 3 (Duran 4, 80, Mustafazade 90+4) Eintracht Frankfurt 2 (Can Uzun 10, Chaibi 78-pen) , Atalanta 2 (Scamacca 16, Krstovic 88) Athletic Bilbao 3 (Guruzeta 58, Serrano 70, Navarro 74) , Bayern Munich 2 (Kane 52, 55-pen) Union Saint-Gilloise 0, Chelsea 1 (Caicedo 78) Pafos 0, Juventus 2 (Thuram 55, McKennie 64) Benfica 0, Marseille 0 Liverpool 3 (Szoboszlai 45+1, Rulli 72 og, Gakpo 90+3) , Newcastle 3 (Wissa 8, Gordon 30, Barnes 65) PSV Eindhoven 0, Slavia Prague 2 (Kusej 10, Lewandowski 44-og) Barcelona 4 (Lopez 34, 42, Olmo 63, Lewandowski 71) . ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP: Southampton 1 Sheffield United 0, Watford 1 Portsmouth 1, Stoke City 1 Middlesbrough 2.

Code (FDC). The investigation found that FAM submitted documents believed to be falsified to certify the eligibility of all seven players, allowing them to participate in the 4-0 victory over Vietnam in Group F of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers here last June. Following the ruling, FAM and the players were fined. All seven players were suspended from any football-related activities for 12 months. FAM is currently awaiting the outcome of its appeal on the matter at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after Fifa’s Appeal Committee rejected the appeal submitted by FAM and all seven players, thereby upholding the Disciplinary Committee’s ruling on the serious violation of Article 22 of the FDC. However, the issue of falsified documents has tarnished FAM’s image and eroded support ers’ trust in the governing body, sparking calls for the FAM leadership to resign. – Bernama

AFC secretary general Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John said the organisation had no authority to take over the administration of another asso ciation. “The rumours are not true. I am not sure about the mass resignation but AFC cannot take over the administration of another association,” he told Bernama . He added that while AFC could offer support to FAM, any assistance would depend on the nature of the issues involved and what the gov erning body required. The storm currently facing FAM began in September last year after Fifa confirmed that FAM and seven players – Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Manchuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel – were found to have violated Article 22 of the Fifa Disciplinary

through a normalisation committee. The reports came amid separate allegations that members of FAM executive committee (Exco) would resign en masse as early as next week. FAM acting president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi said a normalisation committee is only set up to assist associations that have been sus pended. “The normalisation committee is only when a football association is suspended. In this case, even if resignations occur, we may only involve the AFC to help and provide advice,” he told Bernama when contacted yesterday. Commenting on the alleged mass resigna tion next week, Mohd Yusoff added that an Exco meeting will be held next Wednesday to finalise the matter.

SHORTS

the highest level despite the chal lenges posed by age. In the event, the silver medal went to Myanmar athlete Akari Chaw with a throw of 12.32m, while the bronze medal was claimed by another Malaysian representative, Mazzdiana Nuratasya Abd Rahim, who recorded 12.23m. Two other national athletes, Nor Syalila Mat Nor and Siti Zaidah Mokhtar, finished fourth and fifth, respectively, with throws of 11.86m and 10.28m respectively. Silver for Mohamad Yusof NATIONAL cyclist Mohamad Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin won a silver medal in the men’s C1-C2 road cycling event at the 2025 Asean Para Games (APG) at Suranaree University of Technology yesterday. The 28-year-old athlete added to his medal collection in the games after finishing the race in 1 hour 47.57 seconds (s), a mere 00.10s behind Indonesian cyclist Alana Tifan Abid who won the gold. Meanwhile, the bronze medal was won by home rider Rimtamad Teerayut (1:59.02s). Yesterday, Mohamad Yusof opened his campaign at the biennial games by winning Malaysia’s first gold in the men’s C1-C2 road cycling individual time trial event. Meanwhile, for the C3-C5 cate gory, Zuhairie Ahmad Tarmizi ensured the national camp secured a podium position by winning the bronze medal with a time of 2:14.29s. Indonesian rider Sufyan Saori won the gold (2:14:29s), while Filipino rider Lee Patrick Gerard won the silver (2:14.29s). a collaboration with the Malaysian Armed Forces to ensure that these ath letes fight hard to bring honour to the country and make the country and Malaysians proud,” he said. Responding to Puah’s supplemen tary question regarding the position of Malaysia’s e-sports industry compared to other countries, Mohammed Taufiq said the country’s e-sports industry continued to grow and Malaysia was seen as a new force in the Southeast Asian sports landscape. – Bernama

Rusdianto wins gold THE Malaysian camp’s wait to see the glint of gold from the swimming pool finally ended when Rusdianto Rusmadi presented the inaugural gold medal in the para swimming event at the 2025 Asean Para Games (APG) yesterday. The national athlete performed brilliantly to win the men’s 50m but terfly event in the S8 category with a time of 30.54 seconds (s) in the final, beating two Vietnamese representa tives, Huynh Anh Khoa who won the silver (31.26s) and Quang Thoal Han who took home the bronze (33.41s). Rusdianto’s success has certainly boosted the spirit of the national para swimming camp to continue chasing success until the final day of the com petition scheduled to take place this Sunday. “I know that there are many new athletes in the team, so I have to give my best. I will continue to go all out,” he said, stressing that the gold medal was not just a personal success, but hoped it could be a catalyst for the development of other para athletes, especially new recruits. Earlier, Rusdianto also contributed a silver medal in the men’s 100m backstroke S7-S8 event after record ing a time of 1 minute 14.77 seconds. Today, Rusdianto will compete in the final of the men’s 100m butterfly S8 event. Colorine Sijang sets new record WHEN most of her peers choose to slow down, national discus thrower Colorine Sijang has proven that fight

National discus athlete Colorine Sijang celebrates after winning the women’s F40/F41 event at the APG Thailand 2025 yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Colorine’s maiden APG appearance, with her admitting that the achieve ment was the result of strong deter mination to continue improving her performance after competing at the Sarawak Para Sukma 2024. “I just wanted to do my best. At Para Sukma, my distance was just over 11m, so at this APG I really tar geted to improve further,” she told reporters, unable to hold back tears after the medal presentation cere mony yesterday. “This is my first APG. I’m touched and excited. All the sacrifices and three months of training in Kuala Lumpur finally paid off,” she said, stressing that mental resilience was the key to remaining competitive at

ing spirit knows no age as the 47 year-old emerged champion of the women’s F40, F41 event at the 2025 Thailand Asean Para Games (APG) as well as setting a new championship record. The Kuching-born athlete deliv ered a gold medal for the country with a throw of 12.82 metres (m) at His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium, showcasing a confident performance on the inter national stage. More meaningfully, the mark erased the previous record held by Thailand’s Kannikon Yaemmali (10.83m) set at the 2022 APG in Solo, Indonesia. The success also came in

KBS to implement phase three of high-performance preparation

THE Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) will continue to strengthen the devel opment of national athletes through high-performance preparations implemented in stages covering three main phases starting this January until the organisation of the 2027 SEA Games scheduled for September next year. Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari said the first phase focuses on the selection and identification of potential athletes as

lete development strategy. Apart from the physical training aspect, he said the ministry also placed emphasis on the mental well-being of athletes as an important element in building continuous performance. He explained that national athletes were also equipped with a mental empowerment programme to ensure that they remained focused, disci plined and had a high fighting spirit when competing. “In this regard, KBS has established

who wanted to know the ministry’s plan to ensure the performance and achievements of national athletes continue to improve, especially at major events such as the Olympic Games. Mohammed Taufiq said the achievements of the Malaysian contin gent at last year’s SEA Games, which saw the collection of 231 medals, exceeding the original target of 200 medals, provided a solid foundation for formulating a more effective ath

well as the provision of training sup port according to performance needs. “The second phase emphasises empowerment and performance improvement through high-intensity training before entering the third phase, which involves intensive full time training to ensure optimum readiness,” he said during the ques tion and answer session at Dewan Rakyat yesterday. He was responding to a question by Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (PH-Tebrau)