25/05/2026

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

M ALAYSIA’S men’s doubles squad failed to meet their target of retaining the Malaysia Masters title won last year, with no Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) pair advancing to the final this time around. The disappointment deepened after national pairs Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King were eliminated in the semifinals on Saturday. National men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi admitted that the overall per formance of the men’s doubles department at this year’s edition fell short of expectations. “In terms of results, it was not good. Last year was better because we had an all-Malaysian final, but this year we only reached the semifinals,” he said when met yesterday. Despite missing the target, Herry said he was pleased with the progress shown by younger pairs such as Aaron Tai-Kang Kai Xing during the tour nament.

Cause for concern Henry admits men’s doubles fell short at Malaysian Masters

RESULTS & STANDINGS

LA LIGA: Valencia 3 (Guerra 66, Rioja 71, Rodriguez 90+7) Barcelona 1 (Lewandowski 61) , Real Betis 2 (Ezzalzouli 5, Fornals 68) Levante 1 (Espi 45+1) , Celta Vigo 1 (Moriba 51) Sevilla 0, Espanyol 1 (Fernandez 65) Real Sociedad 1 (Oskarsson 28) , Getafe 1 (Milla 59) Osasuna 0, Girona 1 (Marti nez 48) Elche 1 (Rodriguez 39) , Real Mallorca 3 (Torre 42, Morlanes 83, Muriqi 88) Real Oviedo 0, Alaves 1 (Martinez 13) Rayo Vallecano 2 (Camello 73, Nteka 90) , Real Madrid 4 (Garcia 12, Bellingham 41, Mbappe 51, Diaz 88) Athletic Bilbao 2 (Guruzeta 45+1, Izeta 90+1) . P W D L F A Pts Barcelona 38 31 1 6 95 36 94 Real Madrid 38 27 5 6 77 35 86 Villarreal 37 21 6 10 67 45 69 Atleti 37 21 6 10 61 39 69 Real Betis 38 15 15 8 59 48 60 Celta Vigo 38 14 12 12 53 48 54 Getafe 38 15 6 17 32 38 51 Rayo Vallecano38 12 14 12 41 44 50 Valencia 38 13 10 15 46 55 49 Real Sociedad 38 11 13 14 59 61 46 Espanyol 38 12 10 16 43 55 46 Athletic Bilbao38 13 6 19 43 58 45 Sevilla 38 12 7 19 46 60 43 Alaves 38 11 10 17 44 56 43 Elche 38 10 13 15 49 57 43 Levante 38 11 9 18 47 61 42 Osasuna 38 11 9 18 44 50 42 Mallorca 38 11 9 19 47 57 42 Girona 38 9 14 15 39 55 41 Real Oviedo 38 6 11 21 26 60 29 NOTE: Top five qualify for Champi ons League; 6th Europa League; 7th Conference League. SERIE A: Bologna 3 (Bernardeschi 25, Pobega 42, Zielinski 48-og) Inter 3 (Dimarco 22, Esposito 64, Diouf 87) , Lazio 2 (Dele-Bashiru 33, Pedro 35) Pisa 1 (Moreo 23) . P W D L F A Pts Inter Milan 38 27 6 5 89 35 87 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 38 16 8 14 49 46 56 Lazio 38 14 12 12 41 40 54 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 2027 50 35 Cremonese 37 8 10 19 31 53 34 Verona 37 3 12 22 25 59 21 Pisa 38 2 12 24 26 71 18 Note: Top four qualify for the Cham pions League; 5th and 6th Europa League; 7th Conference League. CHAMPIONSHIP (Promotion playoffs final) : Hull City 1 Middlesbrough 0.

depth in the country’s mixed doubles department, warning that it could create an unhealthy environ ment for top pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei. “Right now, we do not see any backup players because their level is still at the IC (International Challenge) stage. Even when competing at the IC level, they are only able to reach the quarterfinals and semifinals. “So if their performances remain like this, it will certainly be difficult to push Tang Jie-Ee Wei, and this will also become a problem,” he said yesterday. Rexy added that he and mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto would sit down to discuss the matter in an effort to further improve the quality of the coun try’s mixed doubles department. On another matter, Rexy confirmed that the top national women’s doubles pair of Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will compete in this week’s Singapore Open. The world No. 2 pair had withdrawn from last week’s Malaysia Masters after Pearly failed to fully recover from a back injury. At the Singapore Open, Pearly-Thinaah will meet Taiwan’s Hu Ling Fang-Jheng Yu Chieh in the first round. – Bernama

“From the way they played, there is improve ment compared to last year. What I hoped to see is beginning to show,” he said. On the performance of top national pair Aaron-Wooi Yik, who crashed out in the semifi nals, Herry admitted the duo’s inability to control their emotions contributed to the defeat and cost them a place in the final. “I saw Aaron and Wooi Yik were a bit nervous and too eager to win. Maybe because of that they could not control their emotions, and we even saw Aaron throwing his racket on court,” he said. Meanwhile national doubles coaching direc tor Rexy Mainaky raised concerns over the lack of

No joy in takraw victory

Thailand players walk off the court during the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup team regu final at Stadium Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur. – BERNAMAPIC

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NATIONAL sepak takraw head coach Ahmad Jais Baharun admitted he was uncomfortable with Malaysia being awarded victory after Thailand refused to continue the team regu final at the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup in Kuala Lumpur yester day. The dramatic final saw Malaysia crowned champions after Thailand withdrew during the second set of the deciding match at Stadium Titiwangsa. Thailand were leading 14-13 in the second set of the third match when Malaysia were awarded a point following a review over an alleged court-line infringement by a Thai player. The decision levelled the score at 14-14, deny ing Thailand the chance to seal the set 15-13 and force a decider. When the Thai team’s protest was overruled by match officials, Thailand decided to walk out and Malaysia were awarded the match 2-1. Ahmad Jais said the matter should have been handled professionally, with both teams continu ing the match to determine the true champion on the court. “From the video replay, it was clear that the Thai player’s foot crossed under the net, and per haps they could not accept the decision. For me, whatever decision the referee makes must be accepted openly. Any mistakes we make must also be accepted,” he told reporters after the final. Despite lifting the trophy, Ahmad Jais said he was personally dissatisfied with winning under controversial circumstances.

“I am not satisfied with this kind of victory. But perhaps this is our team’s fortune, and we have to accept and celebrate it.” He nevertheless praised the fighting spirit shown by his players despite the absence of first choice tekong Mohammad Syahir Mohd Rosdi due to injury. “The players gave everything and fought hard throughout the match. They deserved the success even though the final ended in controversy,” he said. Captain Amirul Zazwan Amir echoed Ahmad Jais, saying he would have preferred to complete the final rather than be awarded the title. “Given a choice, I would have continued play ing against them, no problem. But I am a player, and I have to follow whatever the coach and team president decide,” he told reporters. Amirul said the victory was very meaningful as Malaysia had suffered several defeats to Thailand, including in the 2024 World Cup final. “I feel this is historic. In 2024, I failed, but today I was able to deliver victory for the country. I am grateful to everyone who prayed for us,” he said. Meanwhile, Thailand team manager Auychai Srisuwan expressed disappointment with several refereeing decisions during the final, claiming some calls did not favour his side. However, Auychai stressed that Thailand had no issues with the Malaysian team or local sup porters throughout the tournament, saying the team’s frustration was directed solely at the offici ating. – Bernama

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Shi Feng downs Panitchaphon to retain Masters title CHINA’S men’s singles player Li Shi Feng successfully defended the Malaysia Masters title he won last year after defeating Thailand’s Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul yes terday. Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei to suc cessfully defend the title, who achieved the feat from 2009 to 2012 when the tournament was classified as a Grand Prix Gold event. said after the match. Meanwhile, China’s top seed Chen Yufei failed to live up to expectations after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Thailand star Ratchanok Intanon, 21-17, 21-15, in 51 minutes. World No. 7 Ratchanok

RM148,733.42

China captured their second title at the tournament after Chen Fan Shu Tian- Luo Xu Min defeated Japan’s Sayaka Hirota- Ayako Sakuramoto, 21-16, 25-23, in 52 minutes. China then secured their third title of the tournament in the mixed doubles event after Gao Jia Xuan-Wei Ya Xin defeated Thailand’s Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-13, 15-21, 21 11, in 58 minutes. – Bernama

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In the match held at the Unifi Arena in Kuala Lumpur, the fifth seed lived up to expectations by securing a straight-sets victory, 21-16, 21-17, in 50 minutes. The win makes Li Shi Feng the second men’s singles player after Malaysian badminton legend

“It’s great motivation for me heading into the upcoming tour naments because it’s been quite a while since I last won a title. “I’ve also had to deal with inju ries and various physical issues. So, I think winning this title is a way of proving myself again,” he

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Intanon was delighted to capture her third Malaysia Masters title, saying it was a good decision for her to compete in the tourna ment. In the women’s doubles event,

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