20/08/2026

SPORTS

SPORTS THURSDAY | AUG 20, 2026

31

gold medal was especially meaningful as this was his first appearance at the biennial Games. “I would like to thank my coach, who has fought tirelessly to help me from when I was young until now,” he said, struggling to hold back tears. Danish said he would now focus on his studies as he prepares to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination this year.

However, he said the team appeared stronger this time around in terms of its coaching line-up and experienced foreign players, who are expected to have a positive impact on the Turtles squad. “The head coach may have his own personal target, but the management is targeting a top-five finish because we found that the preparations of many teams such as Star City, Kuching City FC and Selangor competing this season have been very good. At the same time, we certainly hope for a better result than last season. The quality of the squad we have this season is also better and more convincing... the aura is there. InsyaAllah, we can go far,” he told reporters yesterday. Mohd Syahrizan said the club had so far secured sponsorships worth about RM3 million from 19 companies in the form of cash, goods and services to finance the team’s expenses this season. Mohd Syahrizan said the club expected 15,000

spectators to attend the first match at Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium (SSMZA) on Saturday.

BRIEFS

From bullying victim to silat champ WHAT started as a desire to learn silat to defend himself against bullying eventually paved the way for Melaka athlete Muhammad Danish Asyraaf Asuwandi to achieve success in the sport. In the silat final of the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma), the 17-year-old won gold in the men’s U 45kg category after defeating Penang exponent Ihsan Zulfaqar Mohd Izwan 25-19. “At first, I didn’t want to do it because I was more interested in football. But another reason I became interested in silat was that I was often bullied at school. After that, I caught the attention of the coach, and he invited me to take up silat,” said Danish, who started practicing the sport at the age of nine. According to the national junior exponent, the

Additional RM1m will bolster weightlifting development

THE Malaysian Weightlifting Association (PABM) described the RM1 million development incen tive announced by the government as an impor tant boost to strengthen the development of weightlifting in the country, particularly in talent identification. Its president Datuk Ayub Rahmat said the association greatly appreciated the Youth and Sports Ministry’s (KBS) concern for the devel opment of the sport, as well as the government’s strong commitment to ensuring the continued development of national weightlifting. “So we are grateful that our aspirations have been fulfilled by the honourable minister. We would also like to express our thanks for the concern shown and for understanding the sport of weightlifting,” he said. Yesterday, the government, through KBS, approved additional assistance of more than RM1 million to PABM to strengthen the development of the sport, particularly at the grassroots level. Its Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari said the assistance followed the outstanding achievement of the national weightlifting squad, which emerged as the country’s biggest medal con tributor at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with seven medals.

Turtles target top-five finish

TERENGGANU FC (TFC) are targeting a top-five finish in the Super League, which kicks off this Saturday. Terengganu Football Club Sdn Bhd acting chief execu tive officer Mohd Syahrizan Mohd Zain said the Turtles had set a realistic target given expectations of stiffer competition from the teams competing this season.

Sacrifice pays off for Rui Jie Federal Territories diver Yong Rui Jie competes in the men’s 3m springboard final at the 2026 Sukma Selangor at the Darul Ehsan Aquatic Centre yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

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F EDERAL TERRITORIES diver Yong Rui Jie’s daily 5.30am training routine finally paid off when he clinched the men’s 3m springboard gold medal at the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Shah Alam yesterday. The victory also served as redemption for Rui Jie, who settled for silver at the 2024 Sarawak Sukma. This time, he defeated defending champion Elvis Priestly to claim gold in his final appearance at the Games. Rui Jie produced a consistent performance at the Selangor Aquatic Centre, accumulating 391.85 points to secure the first diving gold for the Federal Territories contingent. For Rui Jie, the achievement was the ulti mate reward for the demanding training rou tine he endured to reach his current level. “I had to wake up at 5.30am every day for training, getting into the cold water, then going to class. After class, I would come back for training again. “So, I feel like if I didn’t win this medal, I would feel sorry for myself. I feel like I deserve MEDAL TALLY G S B STATE 2026 SUKMA GAMES Ttl 1. Selangor 30 32 22 84 2. Terengganu 26 27 20 73 3. Johor 21 25 20 66 4. F. Territories 19 19 18 56 5. Sarawak 18 13 23 54 6. Pahang 16 12 19 47 7. Sabah 12 9 10 31 8. Perlis 12 3 9 24 9. Penang 10 16 24 50 10. Kedah 9 12 29 50 11. Perak 8 13 24 45 12. Melaka 8 8 4 20 13. Kelantan 7 4 11 22 14. N. Sembilan 3 5 18 26 15. Brunei 0 1 5 6 FT diver avenges 2024 silver by dethroning Priestly in final Sukma appearance this medal,” he told reporters after the event. He dedicated the victory to his family and coaching team, whom he credited for support ing his development and helping him repay their faith in him. Rui Jie also felt his familiarity with the venue played a role in his success, describing the Shah Alam facility as his “second home” after beginning training there a decade ago. With his Sukma campaign now over, Rui Jie is turning his attention to the senior level and the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan. “My next target after Sukma is the Asian Games in Japan. “So, today’s performance, for me, I think was okay. I hope to carry this momentum through to the Asian Games. “The events have not been finalised yet, so I don’t know. Maybe I should dream a little bigger – I want to win a medal,” he said. Selangor’s Muhammad Haris Mohd Rezal took silver with 387.45 points, while Priestly had to settle for bronze with 368.30 points. – Bernama

RM9,240,158.27

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RM294,560.43

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RM12,828,896.94

Zen Hong fires his way to fifth gold

RM182,309.13

PAHANG SHOOTER Cheah Zen Hong was in a class of his own after clinching his fifth gold medal at the 2026 Sukma, winning the men’s individual 10m air pistol event at the National Shooting Range in Subang yesterday. The 20-year-old made the achievement even sweeter by breaking his own Sukma record of 231.5 points, firing 24 shots for a total of 236.8pts to secure gold for Pahang. His compatriot Ahmad Danial Hakim took silver with 234.6pts, while Sarawak’s Lai Muhd Danial won bronze with 213.3pts. Zen Hong initially trailed in the final but staged a dramatic comeback, overtaking

proved crucial. “Okay, honestly, I was nervous at the begin ning. But I just reminded myself of what my coach always says: just focus and focus on the fundamentals. “I am grateful that I was able to do that until the end of the final,” he said. Zen Hong is now hoping to match the seven-gold haul he achieved at Sukma Sarawak, although he does not want the tar get to become an added source of pressure. “I just want to focus on one event at a time and not put too much pressure on myself,” he said. – Bernama

Ahmad Danial with his final two shots to seal his fifth gold of the Games. The victory also extended his dominance in the event after he won the 10m air pistol gold at the previous two editions – Sarawak 2024 and Sukma MSN 2022. Zen Hong had earlier won gold in the indi vidual and team 50m free pistol events on Monday and the individual 25m rapid fire event on Tuesday, before adding the men’s 10m air pistol team gold yesterday morning. Reflecting on his comeback in the final, Zen Hong said staying calm and sticking to the fundamentals, as instructed by his coach,

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