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SPORTS THURSDAY | MAR 26, 2026

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Growth of wushu drives Cheong Min forward NATIONAL wushu champion Tan Cheong Min is grateful and proud of how her career has progressed, given that the earlier generations of exponents had fewer op portunities to compete in major international tournaments. exponents to compete on the global stage, thereby accelerating the emergence of new talents. The 27-year-old shared her excitement at making history as the first Malaysian to win a wushu gold medal at the World University Games (Universiade) in Chengdu, China, last year in the Nanquan + Nandao event. Cairo calling Sanjay Improved depth in M’sian squash turns Asian qualifiers into high-pressure showdown N ATIONAL squash player Sanjay Jeeva admitted he will face pressure at next food poisoning. So, I am try ing to recover from that. “There are big differences (when playing against interna tional and Malaysian oppo nents) because every time we face our fellow countrymen, they will keep the results and records against you. “So, it will add the pressure. Plus, as I am the second ranked national player, I am the one who is be expected to win,” he told theSun on Tuesday. Apart from Sanjay, other and mentally. “I have around eight days before leaving for Hong Kong and during this period, there will be quiet intensive training. “I am also going to prepare Ű BY ZIKRY MARZUKI zikry@thesundaily.com She said the growing development of wushu has created wider opportunities for Malaysian “As a national wushu exponent, I can say that my career has been quite successful compared to my seniors. I also feel very fortunate because, during their time, there were several major Games or competitions they did not have the chance to participate in. “Last year, I competed in the World Games, and it was a very good and exciting experience. I

also became the first Malaysian to win a gold medal ( Nanquan + Nandao event),” she told Bernama recently. Cheong Min, who also bagged two gold medals at last year’s World Wushu Championships in Brasilia, Brazil, said her success in China was not just a personal achievement but one that also held great significance for the development of wushu at the international level. “The gold medal was not just for me, but for the sport and the global wushu community, as it was something historic. “Currently, wushu is not contested at the Olympic Games. Hopefully, through platforms like the World Games, one day the sport will be included in the Olympics,” said the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games silver medallist. The 2019/2020 National Sportswoman admits that she still harbours dreams of delivering an Asian Games gold medal for the country, despite being aware of the tough challenges ahead at the next edition to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from Sept 19-Oct 4. “I am still targeting an Asian Games gold, but the main threat will come from China, who are very strong. “However, in sports, anything can happen because everyone can make mistakes. Impossible or otherwise, we will fight to achieve it,” said Cheong Min, who has also collected several gold medals at the SEA Games. – Bernama

myself mentally because I am most likely going to face other Malaysians, which will give different types of mental pres sure,” he said. Although he acknowledges facing significant challenges, Sanjay has consistently per formed better against his fel low countrymen, including in his recent match against Lee at the all-Malaysian final of the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand. Sanjay said he plans to use this win to support his bid to compete in the World Championships for a second consecutive year, after making his debut in the international tournament last year. The Asian Qualifiers will also feature national women’s squash players Ainaa Amani, Yasshmita Jadishkumar, and Sehveetrraa Kumar.

week’s Asian qualifiers in Hong Kong, where he will be vying for a spot in the 2026 PSA World Championships, sched uled to take place in Cairo from May 8 to 16. The number of Malaysian squash players has improved signifi

Malaysians competing in Hong Kong include world No. 83 Duncan Lee and 22-year old Ameeshenraj Chandran, who also featured in the recent Indian Open.

Nathan Kueh, Joachim Chuah, and Syafiq Kamal will likewise be aiming to secure spots in the World Championships. Sanjay will begin his campaign in Hong Kong against South Korea’s Jeongmin Ryu, marking their first meet ing. Regarding his preparation for the the Belgium-born Sanjay said he will need to put in extra effort to improve both physically tournament,

cantly in terms of per formance, giving world No. 63 Sanjay stiff com petition in the Asian qualifiers. Most of them are also familiar with each other’s records and playing styles. The 26-year-old

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also battled food poi soning during his trip to the Indian Open from March 18 to 22, where he was knocked out in the semifinals by India’s Veer Chotrani, los ing 11–7, 11–5, 5–11, 11–6 in 37 minutes. Prior to that, the sixth seed secured a 3–0 quarterfinal win over Egypt’s Ibrahim El Kabbani and a 3–0 victory against India’s Om Semwal in the second round. “I just came back from India and unfortu nately I did get some

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National squash player Sanjay Jeeva poses with his 2025 SEA Games gold medal after speaking to theSun on Tuesday.

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Second straight win in Thailand for TSG’S Barbier TERENGGANU CYCLING TEAM (TSG) rider Pierre Barbier won Stage Two of the Tour of Thailand yesterday for his second straight victory in the race. place again today, just like yesterday. “Today’s stage covered a distance of 150.2km, from Phon Pisai to Nong Khai. Barbier clocked a time of three hours 19 minutes and 58 seconds to take first place, beating 113 riders from 19 teams,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

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clocking a time of two hours 20 minutes and 32 seconds from Nong Kha-Tha Bo-Nong Khai over a distance of 108.6km. “In last year’s edition, TSG secured two podium finishes, both in third place, while the team also ended the race among the top three overall,” Nasiruddin said. Second place went to La-Ning Star (LNS) rider Alexander Saby, while third place was taken by Oskar Nisu of China Arta (CAT). Apart from Barbier, TSG is also fielding five other riders, namely Vadim Pronskiy, Adne Van Engelen, Juan Pedro Lozano Navarro, James Gadner and Muhammad Qayyim Saipul Anuwai, the only local rider in the line up. – Bernama

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The victory also saw him don the yellow jersey as the overall leader after the second stage. TSG chief operating officer Nasiruddin Wan Idrus said the achievement fulfilled the team’s target of securing two podium finishes in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) 2.1 rated race. “The main challenge was the heat, which exceeded 40°C. “However, with the support of his teammates, Barbier was able to finish in first

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Second place in Stage Two was claimed by Salby Alexander of China’s Li Ning Star team, while third place went to Pulard Armand Jean Baptiste from Roojai Insurance Winspace of Thailand. Barbier delivered an impressive performance to emerge champion of the first stage on Tuesday. The French rider clinched first place after

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