Fast but not furious
PETALING JAYA: It won't be just about times or medals for national sprint sensation Mohd Azeem Fahmi as he gears up for the Indian Open in Bhubaneswar, India, starting tomorrow.
The Auburn University student is also out to rediscover his joy for the sport.
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New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Liyana, Jing Xuen spearhead local challenge in Maybank Championship qualifier
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 69 golfers, including 24 Malaysians, will vie for five coveted spots in the prestigious Maybank Championship through its 36-hole Asean Qualifier, which tees off Tuesday at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC). The two-day battle will determine who joins the elite 78-woman field for the third edition of the Maybank Championship, scheduled from Oct 30-Nov 2. Offering US$3 million (RM12.7 million) in prize money, it is the richest LPGA Tour stop in Asia. Top Malaysian names such as Maybank ambassador Kelly Tan, national No. 1 Ashley Lau, newly-turned professional Mirabel Ting and Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific champion Jeneath Wong are expected to secure their places via sponsor invitations. However, the qualifier, open exclusively to players from the Southeast Asian region, gives the host nation a chance to further boost its representation. Among the notable Malaysians chasing qualification are Liyana Durisic, Genevieve Ling, Aretha Pan, Ng Jing Xuen and Winnie Ng. Last year, Liyana and Nur Durriyah Damian successfully battled their way through the qualifier to make the main event. Liyana, currently the national No. 2, is aiming for back-to-back appearances at KLGCC after an impressive season that saw her record top-10 finishes in all five of her starts on the Women's Professional Golf of Australia Tour. "Obviously, I think of good things when I come back here and I'm looking forward to qualifying again," said Liyana, who finished 74th in last year's Maybank Championship. This year's qualifier is more competitive, with the field more than doubling from last year's 35 players to 69, including a strong 36-player contingent from Thailand — but Liyana is unfazed. "There are more players in the field – more Thai players – and it's a very strong field. I'm looking forward to the challenge and stepping up my game. "I am hitting it good and hopefully I can continue the momentum into tomorrow," she added. Another strong local contender is Jing Xuen, the former SEA Games gold medallist who turned professional at just 16 last year. The 17-year-old has enjoyed a promising debut season on the China LPGA Tour, recording one top-10 and two top-20 finishes. "I'm pretty excited about this week. I am managing my expectations and will try to enjoy my game. Compared to China, the golf course here is so much tougher. I have improved my iron shots and I'm looking to put it to test here," said Jing Xuen. "It's a big deal for us this week. It's a fascinating opportunity to get a chance to qualify for an LPGA tournament. "Playing in the tournament proper in 2023 was such a great experience as I was 15 at that time. Playing alongside world-class players was great and I learned a lot. That's my final dream (to get onto the LPGA)." The Malaysian hopefuls will face stern competition from regional rivals, including eight players from Thailand, six from Indonesia, two from the Philippines and one from Singapore. Among the returning are last year's qualifiers Ida Ayu Indira Melati of Indonesia and Thailand's Chayanit Wangmahaporn.
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Lightning Ramadhan ready to strike twice
Solid show: Ramadhan Sananta (centre) in action during the Super League game. - Bernama PETALING JAYA: It just took three minutes for debutant Ramadhan Sananta to underline his prowess for Brunei as they drew 2-2 against Police in the Super League match at the Selayang Stadium on Saturday. A darting run, a clean finish and Ramadhan had put Brunei ahead against Police. Three minutes later, the 22-year-old Indonesian striker turned provider, slipping in a perfect pass for Miguel Oliveira to make it two. By the sixth minute of his debut, Ramadhan had done what every striker dreams of, a goal and an assist before the opposition had even settled. And while Police clawed their way back through Park Tae-su's quickfire double in the second half to force a 2-2 draw, the headlines belonged to the man in Brunei yellow. Now, the stage is set for a much bigger test. On Tuesday (Aug 12), last season's Super League runners-up Selangor await at the Petaling Jaya Stadium and Ramadhan is the man they will be watching closest. "We know Selangor are a strong and big team in Malaysia. It's not an easy task, but all the players are ready to give their best," Ramadhan said with quiet confidence. Signed from Indonesian Liga 1 side Persis Solo, Ramadhan's move to Brunei was to prove himself against some of South-East Asia's best defenders. His mission is clear: become a lethal finisher and win back his place in the Indonesian national team, where competition is fierce with the likes of Rafael Struick, Ole Romeny, Stefano Lilipaly and Ragnar Oratmangoen. Ramadhan has so far won 15 caps with Indonesia, scoring five goals. "I'm still learning to become a good and sharp striker. Perhaps in every opportunity, I should be able to score a goal. "I am very happy to be able to play in the Malaysian league, where we know there are many talented and quality players. And I have a strong ambition to score more goals and compete alongside other strikers." For Selangor's backline, that's the danger - Ramadhan does not just get chances, he makes them happen. Last weekend was his announcement. Next could be his statement.
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Yen Mei says Malaysia can take flight in air badminton
PETALING JAYA: Former singles shuttler Ho Yen Mei says there is still room for Malaysia to strengthen their presence in air badminton despite missing out on a slot for the inaugural World Cup from Dec 11-14 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). At the Asia Pacific Air Badminton Championships in Port Dickson on Sunday, Malaysia missed out on qualification after finishing fourth in the team relay, with only three slots available. China and Indonesia will join champions Hong Kong at the year-end event. Yen Mei, who was one of the key players in the Malaysian squad at the tournament, believes the nation still has potential in the sport as it is relatively new. However, she stressed that it must be given proper attention and preparation. "We have potential in this sport, and it is not that different from regular badminton, except that it uses a different type of shuttle and is played on sand. "In terms of players, there is a big gap between us and players from other countries. You can see that Hong Kong came well-prepared and went on to become champions. "For us, we have a lot of shortcomings physically. Fortunately, I am still actively playing and maintaining my stamina because this is a demanding sport," said the 29-year-old Yen Mei. The last time Yen Mei played for the Malaysian national squad was at the Asian Mixed Team Championships in Hong Kong in 2019 (previously known as the Tong Yun Kai Cup) before parting ways with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in 2020. Of the eight players in the national squad for this tournament, Yen Mei was the only one with extensive international experience, while the rest were players under the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association (KLBA). Malaysia reached the semi-finals of the team relay but lost 47-60 to Indonesia. In the men's triples, the national squad went down 3-1 to South Korea, while the women's triples campaign ended in the group stage. Despite the defeats, Yen Mei does not see it as a disappointment. Instead, she views it as the first step towards Malaysia taking this discipline of badminton seriously, as it has the potential to bring success to the country in the future. "If given another chance, I would love to play again as this sport is very enjoyable. We just need to prepare more thoroughly," added Yen Mei. Air badminton was first introduced by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in 2019. Malaysia also hosted the World Beach Games Asian Qualifiers in 2023 in Putrajaya.
