16/09/2026

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | SEPT 16, 2026

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Wolff described it as ‘a mini-Monaco,’ but the 22-turn Madring circuit desperately needs altering to ensure more overtaking opportunities Great party, dull race analogy to the Monaco crown-jewel event was not favourable for the new Madring circuit. of a fortituously timed virtual safety car (VSC) on lap 15.

Ű BY KIERAN JACKSON

I N ONE respect, it is the largest of compliments for a new Formula 1 grand prix. As comparisons go for a new European street circuit, Monaco is the gold-standard for the glitzy extravaganza which comes with the top-tier of modern-day single seater motorsport. On Sunday, Madrid awash with Real Madrid’s superstars and the King of Spain no less, was a buzzing assort ment of packed grandstands, impres sive logistics and lavish A-lister out fits. Yet after 90 minutes of largely dull and non-existent on-track racing, where simply “placing your car in the middle of the track” was adequate defence, as per Max Verstappen, the

gender row that saw her eligibility ques tioned. Hosts Japan will look to their Olympic champions for success, with gymnast Shinnosuke Oka and javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi named in their team. North Korea will have more than 100 athletes competing across 14 sports, aim ing to “bring joy to Marshal Kim Jong Un”. China will again expect to top the medals table after winning a whopping 201 golds and 383 medals on home soil in Hangzhou at the Covid-delayed Games in 2023. They will send more than 800 athletes, including 36 Olympic cham pions. Sooryavanshi will be part of an India cricket team looking to make a statement before the sport returns to the Olympics in LA after an absence of 128 years. India could face bitter rivals Pakistan in the final at Nagoya’s new purpose-built cricket ground. Reports of tents serving as dressing rooms and distant washroom facilities have left some of the top teams unim pressed. – AFP edness, that willingness to acknowl edge shortcomings and adapt, does seem authentic. Madrid has a lucra tive £41m-a-year (RM225m) deal with F1 over 10 years to host the Spanish Grand Prix, with Barcelona switching to a two-year rotational deal with Spa-Francorchamps. This event and circuit, positioned in the north-east of the Spanish capital, is not going anywhere. “They’ve built something chal lenging for the drivers – like a mini Macau or mini-Monaco,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said in his written media session afterwards. “The location was good and we should think about how much more we can do here. We have the space, which is rare in F1. “I had lunch with the COO [chief operating officer] of the circuit yester day and they are totally open-minded about next year. How should we change the track layout? They’re on it and they understand. But honestly, being here for the first time, overall I’m very impressed.” To a large degree, Madrid has proved the antithesis to the last debut race we had, in Las Vegas in 2023. That inaugural event, littered with pothole and scheduling issues early on, was saved by a enthralling grand prix after some brilliant racing at the end of the long straight through the famous strip. The Ifema Madrid exhibition cen tre, with its vast array of aircraft han gars, provided excellent facilities for teams and media, with a spread-out paddock widely praised given the huge influx of people, particularly on raceday. Yet inevitably, as F1 has found out the hard way this year given this much-maligned set of regulations and cars, the sport is the ultimate product for adjudication. Here, the main event fell flat. How easily can executives revise the fast flowing 22 corners? That remains to be seen. But if changes are feasible, changes must be made for 2027 and beyond. – The Independent

competition venues, although organisers said there was no serious damage. More rain is forecast this week. Athletes from 45 countries and territo ries will compete in more than 40 sports across the two weeks. Basketball and football are already under way, with several more events set to start before Saturday’s glittering open ing ceremony. As always at the Asian Games, Olympics staples such as athletics and swimming will sit side-by-side with regional favourites like sepak takraw and kabaddi . In a bid to attract younger viewers there will be eSports, breakdancing and BMX cycling. Padel, the fast-growing rac quet sport, and MMA will make their Asian Games debuts. The Games will function as qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in seven sports including surfing, tennis, archery and squash. Taiwan boxer Lin Yu-ting will also be there, two years after she won Paris Olympics gold in the middle of a major he did well to finish on the podium. Yet proceedings after lap 15? Monotonous. “I don’t know how someone looks at this design and goes, mint!” said a downbeat but refreshingly honest Norris in the press conference afterwards. “To me, it’s not a great racetrack.” Verstappen noted post-qualifying, having predicted a lack of overtaking from hours in the simulator, that some adjustments to the circuit are needed. Easier said then done, of course, but reigning F1 world champion Norris was on hand with quickfire solutions too, given the lack of a long straight which similar circuits in Baku and Jeddah do possess. An irony, in fact, given the Madring has the longest pit-lane of the season, at 550 metres, which also rendered multiple-stop strategies redundant, as fifth-placed George Russell found out to his detriment. “I think there are some obvious changes they should make,” Norris added. “They should get rid of turn 18-19… useless. Just have more of a straight into a hairpin. “A straight line from [turn] 17 straight to 20 [would help] to have a much wider entry like Austin turn 1 or turn 10, a big hairpin. You’ll create much better opportunities for every one and you’ll be able to enjoy the race.” The topic of race entertainment value was not isolated to the main event either. On a weekend where the Formula 3 season concluded and F2 held a sprint and feature race too, only crashes and red-flags provided a sense of intrigue. We’ve been here before: post-race in the media pen triggered the same discussions which we have on an annual basis in Monte-Carlo. Qualifying? Thrilling. Race? Dreary. “I hope there’s open-mindedness to make some track changes for next year,‘ Williams’ Alex Albon, who fin ished 15th, said. “I mean, if the F3 cars can’t over take, then you know there’s going to be no overtaking the whole weekend.” The good news is that open-mind

n also benefited, taking second place, but Lando Norris can count himself mightily unlucky to not come home with the victory, as by the time his

Put simply: the 22-turn tight and twisty track layout was widely chas tised for its lack of racing value. Kimi Antonelli triumphed again – his eighth victory of the season, tak ing him one ahead of forlorn Mercedes teammate George Russell’s career-total – after being the recipient

McLaren car entered the pit-lane, yellow flag conditions had ended. Ultimately,

Notices

322

Toto Wolff. – REUTERSPIC

DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KUALA LUMPUR DALAM NEGERI WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA GUAMAN SIVIL NO: WA-A72NCvC-2912-07/2026 ANTARA LEMBAGA KUMPULAN WANG SIMPANAN PEKERJA …PLAINTIF DAN 1. NG SOON KWAN (NO. K/P: 861022-56-6596) [Berniaga atas nama dan gaya AMAZING SOLUTION ENTERPRISE] [NO PENDAFTARAN: 202303043586 (003469649-H)] 2. TEK HONG KIT (NO. K/P: 931013-14-5942) [Berniaga atas nama dan gaya AMAZING SOLUTION ENTERPRISE] [NO PENDAFTARAN: 202303043586 (003469649-H)] [Berniaga atas nama dan gaya AMAZING SOLUTION ENTERPRISE] [NO PENDAFTARAN: 202303043586 (003469649-H)] B-06-08, Kiaramas Gateway Corporate Suite Jalan Kiara 5 50480 Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur dan/atau NG SOON KWAN (NO. K/P: 861022-56-6596) 51-1 Jalan 9/40 [Berniaga atas nama dan gaya AMAZING SOLUTION ENTERPRISE] [NO PENDAFTARAN: 202303043586 (003469649-H)] B-06-08, Kiaramas Gateway Corporate Suite Jalan Kiara 5 50480 Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur dan/atau TEK HONG KIT (NO. K/P: 931013-14-5942) 1-5 Prima Tiara Saru Jalan 6/38A Taman Sri Sinar 51200 Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur SILA AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu dalam Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Lumpur dalam Writ Saman No. WA-A72NCvC-2912-07/2026 oleh LEMBAGA KUMPULAN WANG SIMPANAN PEKERJA yang beralamat ibu pejabat di Seksyen Pendakwaan dan Litigasi, Jabatan Undang-Undang, Tingkat 4, Menara KWSP, No. 1, Persiaran Kwasa Utama, Kwasa Damansara, Seksyen U4, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan dalam mana tuntutan Plaintif adalah untuk suatu Penghakiman, termasuk tetapi tidak terhad kepada perintah perintah seperti berikut:- 1.Baki tunggakan caruman bulanan KWSP berjumlah RM10,406.00 bagi tempoh Mei 2025sehingga Julai 2025 dan Ogos 2025 sehingga September 2025; 2. Dividen seperti di Pernyataan Tuntutan; 3.Caj lewat bayar seperti di Pernyataan Tuntutan; 4. Kos bagi tindakan ini; 5. Lain-lain relif yang Mahkamah yang mulia ini fikir wajar dan suaimanfaat DAN TELAH DIPERINTAHKAN BAHAWA penyampaian Writ Saman dan Penyata Tuntutan bagi tindakan ini kepada kamu dilaksanakan secara penyampaian ganti melalui penampalan satu salinan Writ Saman bermeterai dan Pernyataan Tuntutan bermeterai masing masing bertarikh 13.07.2026 dan Perintah Penyampaian Ganti bertarikh 17.08.2026 di alamat-alamat seperti yang dinyatakan di atas dan melalui pengiklanan dalam satu akhbar harian tempatan dan penyampaian seumpama itu hendaklah dianggapkan sebagai penyampaian yang baik sempurna dan cukup ke atas Defendan-Defendan dalam tempoh penamatan tujuh (7) hari selepas tarikh yang terakhir penampalan dan pengiklanan sedemikian itu dilaksanakan,dan kos permohonan ini hendaklah menjadi kos dalam kausa. Kamu boleh mendapatkan Writ Saman dan Penyata Tuntutan ini dengan memohon di Mahkamah. Bertarikh pada 20 Ogos 2026 t.t. NOTIS IKLAN ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Ahmad Fuad Abi & Aidil, peguamcara Plaintif yang dinamakan dengan alamat penyampaian di I-91-1, Bistari De Kota, Jalan Teknologi 3/9,Kota Damansara,47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-2774 6324 | Emel: officekd@afaa-law.com [Ruj : AFAA/26/LIT/1720/KWSP(25)-2/AM] [Ruj KWSP: 09901/6071-01(L)/BDR/2026/0118] …DEFENDAN-DEFENDAN NOTIS Kepada:- 1.NG SOON KWAN (NO. K/P: 861022-56-6596) Taman Pusat Kepong 52100 Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur 2. TEK HONG KIT (NO. K/P: 931013-14-5942) ................................................. Tetuan Ahmad Fuad Abi & Aidil Peguamcara Plaintif

McLaren’s Lando Norris leads at the start of the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix at Madring in Madrid, Spain on Sunday. – REUTERSPIC

Games, glory and a cruise ship!

THE Asian Games open in Japan on Saturday with 2028 Olympics places up for grabs, fast-rising talents of world sport in action and thousands of athletes staying on a cruise ship in typhoon sea son. More than 17,000 competitors and officials are expected at the continent’s biggest sporting spectacular, which takes place in Nagoya and the wider Aichi pre fecture until Oct 4. The number of participants – more than the Olympics – has been a sore point for stretched-to-the-limit organis ers, who initially expected 15,000 and have had to scramble to find accommo dation for the rest. They opted from the start to house athletes in temporary accommodation in a bid to cut costs, ranging from a cruise liner and wooden containers to hotel rooms. Organisers say that the 20th edition of the Games, which were first held in 1951, will be “the most spectacular for genera tions”. Between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes and officials will stay on the Italian cruise ship Costa Serena, which usually features 571 cabins, seven swimming pools, eight res

taurants and nine bars. Cruise ships have been used previ ously as accommodation at international sporting events, but never on this scale. The unusual accommodation plans have been met with concern by some countries, with India even building their own replica container huts to prepare athletes for their stay. Yesterday, South Korean sports offi cials branded the facilities as “the worst” accommodation ever at the Games and said the beds were too short. With just days to go, a Korean Olympic committee official also told AFP that there was “a serious shortage of accom modation”. Organisers are adamant that every one will have a bed and confident that the typhoon season that usually visits Japan in September and October will not dampen the party. Weather has already disrupted prepa rations, with record rainfall forcing ath letes to evacuate their accommodation briefly last week. Rainwater also seeped into some