30/03/2026

SPORTS MONDAY | MAR 30, 2026

31

/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

ON TELEGRAM m RAM

FTAA affiliation application incomplete: MA

RESULTS

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES Zambia 9 Malawi 8 ( FT 0-0 - Zambia win 9-8 on pen) , Namibia 5 Comoros 4 ( FT 0-0 - Namibia win 5-4 on pen) , Kyrgyz Republic 2 Madagascar 5, South Korea 0 Ivory Coast 4, San Marino 1 Faroe Islands 2, Botswana 0 Zimbabwe 3, Senegal 2 Peru 0, Canada 2 Iceland 2, Hungary 1 Slovenia 0, Scotland 0 Japan 1, Burkina Faso 5 Guinea-Bissau 0, United States 2 Belgium 5, Haiti 0 Tunisia 1, Puerto Rico 2 US Virgin Islands 0, Mexico 0 Portugal 0.

MALAYSIA ATHLETICS (MA) has clarified that the application for affiliation submitted by the Federal Territories Athletics Association (FTAA) was received a few days before the Hari Raya Aidilfitri period, but several required supporting docu ments were not included in the submission. In a statement yesterday, MA said that under its constitution, the formation of FTAA must com prise valid representations from Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, while the affiliation process must undergo proper review and formal endorse ment by the MA Council in accordance with the association’s governance procedures.

According to MA, the application was received after the most recent MA Council Meeting held in early March, and the matter will therefore be tabled at the next council meeting for due consid eration. “As such, all parties are respectfully urged to allow this process to take place in accordance with MA’s Constitution and established governance practices,” the statement said. MA added that it welcomes the involvement and guidance of relevant authorities, including the Commissioner of Sports (PJS), and remains committed to upholding the principles of good

governance and sporting integrity in the best interest of national athletics development. At the same time, MA gave an assurance that no athletes or officials would be disadvantaged throughout the process. The national governing body said athletes from the Federal Territories who have qualified for upcoming competitions will continue to receive support and will not be excluded, while officials have not missed opportunities to partici pate in the Technical Officials Examination scheduled for April 2026. MA emphasised that the focus of athletics should remain on performance, development and unity, rather than unnecessary controversy that could affect the reputation and progress of the sport in the country. Yesterday, a news portal reported that Sports Commissioner Arrifin Ghani is expected to call MA for a meeting early this week to explain the alleged delay in granting affiliate status to the FTAA. Arrifin said the application submitted was complete and complied with all requirements, adding that his office had approved FTAA’s con stitution on July 7, 2025, with the approval circu lated to relevant parties, including MA, 11 days later. – Bernama

Harimau Malaya playing for national pride against Vietnam, says Lambert Looking for redemption

347/26

29/03/2026

7559 4229 4917

5608 2240 2138 5560 5637

7717 9971 6033 7712 7076

9159 0488 9948 5382 2147

8558 4920 8333 5058 0225

Harimau Malaya squad training in Thailand ahead of the match against Vietnam. – @MalaysiaNT/X

H ARIMAU MALAYA wingback Declan Lambert admits that he and his teammates will be playing for national pride when they take on Vietnam in their last Group F match in the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Nam Dinh tomor row. This, he said, is because Malaysia are already out of the running for the 2027 Asian Cup Finals, although he was quick to add that it hasn’t stopped the players from giving it their everything in training to impress the coaching staff. “It’s a tough one to take (being out of the finals), but it’s still an important game for us to show that we can still compete against – and beat – these teams despite us being out. (It’s) also to show our pride as Malaysians,” he said in a video clip shared by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) with the media yesterday. Leftback Daniel Ting said tomorrow’s match still matters though it no longer has any bearing

RM4,183,064.15

ers, including Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed and Muhammad Haziq Nadzli. “I hope that whoever is fielded will give his best to help the team against Vietnam,” he said. Azri also hailed the progress shown by the young Melaka FC goalkeeper, saying it bodes well for his future. Vietnam, meanwhile, have qualified for the 2027 Asian Cup Finals, leading Group F with 15 points, followed by Malaysia in second spot with nine points. Laos and Nepal are third and fourth, respectively, with three points each. Malaysia’s hopes of featuring in the Asian Cup Finals on merit for the second consecutive time were dashed after being docked points by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

for Malaysia. “Of course we want to win,” he said. “Even if it doesn’t change qualification, there are still Fifa points. We want to build those points again and move back up the rankings.” The 34-year-old, who previously played for Sabah, said the national players’ mood remains positive despite the off-field issues that rocked Harimau Malaya recently. “Everyone is happy to represent the coun try,” he said. “Even with the points situation, you always want to win when you play for Malaysia. The vibes are positive.” Meanwhile, Harimau Malaya goalkeeper Muhammad Azri Abdul Ghani views the pres ence of youngster Haziq Aiman Mohd Esa as a positive development as it keeps them on their toes ahead of tomorrow’s match. Azri said the presence of the 21-year-old not only strengthens the team but also provides healthy competition among the four goalkeep

7559 + 4917 4229 + 4917 4917 + 4229

7559 + 4229 4229 + 7559 4917 + 7559

RM353,571.87

7 11131519223132

Recently, the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee found that FAM had breached Article 56 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code for fielding ineligible players in two Asian Cup 2027 qualifying matches against Nepal and Vietnam. – Bernama/Agencies Former national shuttler sets up academy to produce champs

24 27

RM11,752,929.78

FORMER national women’s dou bles shuttler Lee Meng Yean has taken a step towards boosting grassroots development through the setting up of an academy focusing on honing the basic skills of young talents. Meng Yean, who featured at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with her dou bles partner Chow Mei Kuan, said the academy aims to develop and nurture the players’ skills from a young age. “I currently manage this acad emy with the aim of grooming and developing teenage shuttlers right

Uber Cup Finals, Meng Yean feels that since the squad comprises many young shuttlers, it’s not fair to heap too much pressure on them. She believes that their partici pation in the 2026 Uber Cup Finals in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 to May 3, will provide them with valuable exposure and experience. The national women’s team, drawn in Group B with six-time champions Japan, Turkiye and South Africa, will be seeking to advance to the knockout stages for the first time since the 2010 edi tion. – Bernama

Meanwhile, Meng Yean admit ted that her experience as a national shuttler, in addition to her Olympic participation, was the main driving force behind her intention to give back to the sport, especially in producing a new gen eration of back-up shuttlers. “I played for the national team and featured in the Olympics, but failed to bag any medals. So, I hope to help these young players achieve their targets. That is my dream,” she said. Asked about the national women’s team’s chances in the

from the basic level. This is to ensure they have the basics right before they get to the state level,” she said at the Future Champs Badminton Academy media open day at the Kepong Sports A Plus 4 Badminton Centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. “This programme not only helps in the development of these young shuttlers, but also contrib utes to the country’s overall bad minton development,” she added. The academy, which has been operating for the past four months, currently has about 50 trainees.

RM210,256.89

5 9 2 9 1 7 59291

92917

5929

2917

592

917

59

17

29

15

All jackpot amounts stated above are for this Draw. Subject to T&Cs of the Scheme. Please visit to www.magnum4d.my for more info. THE BIGGER PLAY IS TO PLAY RESPONSIBLY