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Nova takes responsibility Head coach apologises for poor performance of Tang Jie-Ee Wei

RESULTS & STANDINGS

SERIE A: Fiorentina 1 (Piccoli 39) Atalanta 1 (Comuzzo 82-og) . P W D L F A Pts Inter Milan 37 27 5 5 86 32 86 Napoli 37 22 7 8 57 36 73 AC Milan 37 20 10 7 52 33 70 Roma 37 22 4 11 57 31 70 Como 37 19 11 7 61 28 68 Juventus 37 19 11 7 59 32 68 Atalanta 38 15 14 9 51 36 59 Bologna 37 16 7 14 46 43 55 Lazio 37 13 12 12 39 39 51 Udinese 37 14 8 15 45 47 50 Sassuolo 37 14 7 16 46 49 49 Torino 37 12 8 17 42 61 44 Parma 37 10 12 15 27 46 42 Fiorentina 38 9 15 14 41 50 42 Genoa 37 10 11 16 41 50 41 Cagliari 37 10 10 17 38 52 40 Lecce 37 9 8 20 27 50 35 Cremonese 37 8 10 19 31 53 34 Verona 37 3 12 22 25 59 21 Pisa 37 2 12 23 25 69 18 FRENCH CUP (Final) : Lens 3 (Thauvin 25, Edouard 42, Sima 78) Nice 1 (Coulibaly 45+3) . CHAMPIONS RELEGATED

THE performance of the national mixed doubles squad at the 2026 Malaysian Masters has been described as disap pointing, with head coach Nova Widianto taking full responsibility after Malaysia failed to place a pair in the semifinals. “Overall, the mixed doubles results here are not good. We have to admit they were bad. I personally apologise and am ready to take responsibility (for the poor performance by the national mixed doubles players),” he said when met yesterday. Earlier, Malaysian hopes of

pair admitted they failed to deliver their best performance at the Unifi Arena. Ee Wei said they were dis appointed with their display, adding that they were far from their usual level. “We did not produce our usual style of play. I think we did not even reach 20% of our actual performance level,” she said after the match. Tang Jie said the pair would review their performance and make necessary adjustments ahead of their next week’s Singapore Open, particularly in improving their attacking game. – Bernama

“The first thing I noticed today was that they looked empty and unfocused. They did not lose because the Chinese pair played exception ally well. “In my opinion, their oppo nents were also below par. During the crucial points, our players seemed to play with out ideas and without soul,” he said. Nova added that he would hold discussions with the world champions to find the best solution and help them regain top form ahead of the Singapore Open next week. The national mixed doubles

having a representative in the mixed doubles semifinals were dashed after world champions Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei crashed out in the quarterfinals. The world No. 4 pair suf fered a straight-games defeat, 18-21, 16-21, to China’s eighth seeded duo Gao Jia Xuan and Wei Ya Xin in 44 minutes. Commenting on the per formance of Tang Jie and Ee Wei, Nova admitted he was deeply disappointed with the lacklustre display shown by the pair, whom he described as playing without spirit or direction.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin stun Aaron-Wooi Yik

GOH Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani defeated compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in an all-Malaysian semifinal yesterday to reach the Malaysia Masters final. The victory marks the world No. 7 pair’s second World Tour final of the season. Sze Fei-Izzuddin defeated the world No. 2 duo 21-18, 21-12 at Unifi Arena in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. The win is only their third victory over Aaron-Wooi Yik in nine meetings, with their most recent success at the Badminton Asia Championships two years ago. The last time they reached the Malaysian Masters final was in the 2017 edition in Sibu, Sarawak, where they finished runners-up after losing to Indonesia’s Berry Angriawan Hardianto. But the dream of an all Malaysian men’s doubles final was dashed when compatriots Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King went down to Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard in yesterday’s second semifinal match. The Danes won 21-19, 21-17. Meanwhile in singles, Thailand’s men’s singles shuttler Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul pulled off a major upset by defeating France’s third seed Christo Popov yesterday. The world No. 28 was in complete control as he stunned the world No. 4 with a convinc ing 21-13, 21-13 win in just 39 minutes at the Unifi Arena in Kuala Lumpur. The 21-year-old’s run marks his third final appearance of the season, having also reached the title matches at the Indonesia Masters and the Thailand Open. Awaiting Panitchaphon in today’s final is

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Goh Sze Fei (right) and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in action against compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (not pictured) in the men’s doubles semifinal match at the Malaysia Masters at Unifi Arena, Bukit Jalil yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

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games victory over Japan’s Hina Akechi. The Chinese star needed just 43 minutes to seal a comfortable 21-11, 21-14 win. “The match was good, and I feel my over all performance is improving. My tactics on court worked well, but there are still some areas that I need to fine-tune,” she said. Yufei will face Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon in the final after the Thai star beat Denmark’s Line Hojmark Kjærsfeldt 21-12, 21 12 in 39 minutes in the other semifinal. – Bernama

China’s Li Shifeng, who advanced after over coming compatriot Hu Zhe Ann 21-17, 21-16 in a match lasting nearly an hour. “Reaching the final again is a great oppor tunity for me. I want to learn from this tourna ment without putting too much pressure on myself,” Panitchaphon said. “I will try to learn from Shifeng and gain as much experience on the court as possible.” In the women’s singles event, former world No. 1 Chen Yufei lived up to expecta tions by cruising into the final with a straight

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Selangor ultras visible absence at ACC final a puzzle

BY ZUJ AHSAN

defeat the defending champion in the return leg at the Chang Arena in Thailand on May 27. On the pitch, Selangor’s pro gress under head coach Kim Pan-gon – who took over mid way through the season – has been viewed as encouraging by Mohd Faizal. He pointed out that despite not starting the campaign with the team, the coach managed to guide Selangor to the ACC final, a semifinal appearance in the Malaysia Cup, and a third-place finish in the Super League. “For a coach who came in mid-season, those are positive results. It shows there is progress and direction within the squad.”

“As supporters, regardless of the situation or whether it’s the final leg or not, we should show up. That’s part of our responsibil ity to the team,” he said. Mohd Faizal, however, admit ted he was not privy to the rea sons behind Ultrasel’s boycott, saying he could not confirm the factors that led to their absence. “I’m not sure about the details behind it. That’s something only they can explain.” theSun had reached out to Ultrasel for comment but had yet to get a reply. Selangor lost to Buriram United FC 1-0 and will get the chance to end the season with a cup should they find a way to

President Kelab Penyokong Anak Selangor, Mohd Faizal Wahid, acknowl edged the situation but stressed that the turnout overall remained strong. “Tickets were already sold out. The stadium is not that big, and certain sections were already filled. The emptiness you see is mainly at the upper levels, and that’s where the cameras were focused, so it became an issue,” he told theSun . Mohd Faizal stressed that from a supporter’s standpoint, fans should continue turning up consistently, regardless of the club’s less-than-impressive fin ish to the season. of

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SELANGOR die hard fan group Ultrasel’s absence took centre stage despite a sold-out crowd during the first leg of the Asean Club Championship (ACC) final at the MBPJ Stadium in Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, on May 20, raising questions over the noticeable pockets of empty seats in the upper tiers. While tickets for the match were fully snapped up, the boy cott by Selangor’s main ultras group created a visible void that was made worse by television coverage focusing on the less populated sections of the sta dium.

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