04/03/2026

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | MAR 4, 2026

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Crucial test for JDT Southern Tigers brace for tough match against Hiroshima in ACLE J OHOR Darul Ta’zim FC (JDT) are determined to capitalise on home advantage when they take to the pitch against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the first leg of the 2025/26 AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) Round of 16 match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium (SSI) in Iskandar Puteri, Johor today. Despite acknowledging the visitors’ strengths, Munoz expressed confidence in his squad’s capa bility to rise to the occasion. “We also have a strong team. We need to show strong mentality, intensity and power throughout the match. With our fans, our ‘extra player’ behind us, we can give our maximum performance.

RESULTS & STANDINGS

Equestrian Association target six gold medals at SEA Games THE Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) has set a target of at least six gold medals at the 2027 SEA Games, which will be hosted by Malaysia. Its honorary secretary, Yap Mou Soon, said the target is realistic as the association plans to include endurance in the Games programme – a discipline that has been Malaysia’s main strength at the international level. “The equestrian squad consistently returns with medals whenever competing overseas, and we hope to repeat that achievement on home ground. “Our Key Performance Indicator (KPI) at the Malaysia SEA Games is to win six gold medals,” he said after a working committee meeting in Bukit Jalil yesterday. He said EAM will propose seven events to be contested: show jumping (team and individual), dressage (team and individual), eventing (team and individual), as well as endurance, subject to approval by the organising committee. Mou Soon said the main challenge in realising the gold medal target is securing quality horses. “Horses are also athletes. Countries like Thailand are now using very expensive horses, so we also need to raise our level in this aspect,” he said. EAM is also targeting two gold medals at the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya from Sept 19 to Oct 4. “We hope to win one gold through the individual dressage event and another in individual show jumping,” he said. The two medal hopesfuls are Megan Ding (dressage) and Shoorendran Nageswaran (show jumping). – Bernama SERIE A: Pisa 0 Bologna 1 (Odgaard 90) , Udinese 3 (Kabasele 10, Davis 64 pen, Buksa 90+4) Fiorentina 0. TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts Inter Milan 27 22 1 4 64 21 67 AC Milan 27 16 9 2 43 20 57 Napoli 27 16 5 6 41 28 53 Roma 27 16 3 8 37 19 51 Como 27 13 9 5 44 20 48 Juventus 27 13 8 6 46 28 47 Atalanta 27 12 9 6 37 24 45 Bologna 27 11 6 10 36 32 39 Sassuolo 27 11 5 11 34 36 38 Udinese 27 10 5 12 31 39 35 ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP: Birming ham 1 Middlesbrough 3. TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts Coventry 35 21 8 6 72 38 71 Mid’boro 35 19 9 7 54 35 66 Millwall 35 18 8 9 47 40 62 Ipswich 33 17 9 7 59 34 60 Hull 34 18 6 10 56 48 60 Wrexham 35 15 12 8 54 45 57 Southampton 35 14 11 10 57 46 53 Derby 35 14 9 12 52 46 51 Watford 35 13 12 10 45 41 51 Bristol City 35 14 8 13 48 44 50 LA LIGA: Real Madrid 0 Getafe 1 (Satriano 39) . TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts Barcelona 26 21 1 4 71 26 64 Real Madrid 26 19 3 4 54 22 60 Atletico 26 15 6 5 43 23 51 Villarreal 26 16 3 7 48 31 51 Real Betis 26 11 10 5 42 32 43 Celta Vigo 26 10 10 6 36 28 40 Espanyol 26 10 6 10 33 39 36 Sociedad 26 9 8 9 38 38 35 Bilbao 26 10 5 11 30 36 35 Osasuna 26 9 6 1130 30 33

despite being reduced to 10 men. “They showed good quality even when they played with 10 players in the last match. It will be a tough match, but we are ready for it,” he said. Asked about key threats from the home side, Gaul said Hiroshima would focus on neutralising several important players but stressed that his team’s main priority was to impose their own game. “They have a lot of good players, especially in attack. We need to control the game, but the most important thing is to focus on our performance. Every result is important. If we can get a good result tomorrow, it will be very positive for us. “Of course, the long travel and the different temperature here could pose challenges, but we have to give our best performance and concentrate on our play,” he said. JDT suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima in their ACLE Group A match on Feb 10 at the Edion Peace Wing Stadium in Hiroshima after being reduced to 10 men. – Bernama However, the advantage did not last long as Pakistan struck three times through Nadeem Ahmad (45’), Sufyan Khan (49’) and a final goal by Ammad Muhammad (56’). Malaysia will complete their group stage cam paign with a must-win clash against China today. Under the competition format, the top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals, while the four best teams overall will contest the final. The top three teams overall from this qualifying campaign will secure automatic berths at the 2026 World Cup. In women’s hockey, the national women’s hockey squad began their 2026 World Cup qualifying cam paign with a 5-0 defeat to Ireland in Santiago, Chile. Both teams were evenly matched in the opening quarter, which ended goalless but Ireland broke the deadlock in the second quarter through a field goal by Kathryn Mullan in the 21st minute. Caoimhe Perdue extended the lead three min utes later from a penalty corner to give Ireland a 2-0 advantage at half-time. After the break, Ireland tightened their grip on the match with two more field goals in the third quarter, scored by Sarah McAuley in the 34th minute and Michelle Carey in the 37th minute. Roisin Upton added a fifth goal in the 40th minute to complete the emphatic win. Women’s hockey head coach Mohd Nasihin Nubli said the team had started well and managed to con tain Ireland at certain stages, but lapses in discipline and avoidable mistakes allowed their opponents to capitalise, particularly through counter-attacks. “I hope the players will make full use of the 24 hours before the next match against Canada tomor row to focus on recovery,” he said in a video shared by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation on Monday night. Malaysia will face Canada today before conclud ing their Group B campaign against Japan on Friday. – Bernama

“It is an important game and we must be strong. If we have the opportunity, we need to finish the game early,” he said. Munoz also emphasised the importance of composure and enjoyment in competing at the highest level. “We will see how they start the game, but what is important is that we enjoy the moment. We are playing at a high level against a Japanese team,” he said. Meanwhile, Sanfrecce Hiroshima head coach Bartosch Gaul expects a stern test against JDT but believes his side are well prepared for the first-leg clash today. He acknowledged the quality shown by JDT in their previous outing, particularly their resilience Two minutes later, Malaysia extended their lead when penalty corner specialist Mohamad Akhimullah Anuar Esook converted to put the coun try comfortably ahead at 2-0. Stung by the early setback, Pakistan, coached by Ahmed Butt, fought back through a field goal by Waheed Ashraf Rana in the 14th minute before Zikriya Hayat levelled the score at 2-2 just two min utes later. In the third quarter, Mohd Fitri Saari reignited Malaysia’s hopes by calmly converting a penalty stroke in the 40th minute to restore a 3-2 lead.

The Southern Tigers are expected to adopt a more defensive approach with high intensity to secure a favourable result ahead of the return leg, thus strengthening their chances of advancing to the quarterfinals of Asia’s premier club competi tion. JDT head coach Xisco Munoz described today’s clash as a crucial test, stressing the need for his side to control the tempo especially against Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, a team known for their attacking transitions. “It will be a tough game. The most important thing is to control the game and understand the different phases. They are strong and have good players, especially going forward,” he said in a pre match press conference at SSI yesterday. THE national men’s hockey squad missed the chance to strengthen their position at the top of Group B after going down 5-3 to Pakistan in their second match of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in Ismailia, Egypt on Monday. The defeat saw Sarjit Singh’s men slip to second place in the group, overtaken by Pakistan who now have a maximum six points from two matches. Malaysia began the match with high intensity, dominating play from the opening minute and were rewarded when Muhajir Abdu Rauf struck a field goal in the 12th minute.

Sarjit’s Speedy Tigers fall to Pakistan

Hockey players from Malaysia (left) and Pakistan in action during their 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Ismailia, Egypt on Monday. – MHC/FACEBOOK

Swimmer Hoe Yean eyes 400m freestyle record in Japan, Scotland NATIONAL swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean has set a mission to break the national record in the men’s 400m freestyle at the Asian Games in Japan and the Commonwealth Games in Scotland this year. The 23-year-old said he aims to set new records at both events to establish himself as a world-class swimmer. “I am in good condition to chase that target; I just need to stay disciplined and consistent in my training,” he told Bernama yesterday. Aquatic Malaysia (MAS) will appoint a coach on a long-term contract to ensure the national team’s training will not be disrupted. “We have made two changes to the coach since 2023; having a coach with a long-term plan is crucial for swimmers,” he added.

Hoe Yean himself set the national record for the men’s 400m freestyle at the 2025 World University Games in Berlin, with a time of 3:47.38s, surpassing the old record of 3:48.36s. The Kuala Lumpur-born athlete is also target ing consistent performances in every competi tion he enters, to build confidence ahead of the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. On the matter of a new coach, Hoe Yean hopes

Former national swimming coach Eric Anderson did not renew his contract with MAS when it expired on Dec 31, 2025. That post has been vacant since, but MAS said a new coach will be appointed this month. – Bernama

“If I can clock 3 minutes 46 seconds or 3:45s, it means I am a world-class swimmer, as that tim ing should even be good enough for a spot in a World Championship final. That is my goal for this year.