National award bowls Farah over after year of enduring tough times
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
20 hours ago
- The Star
M'sia name big team but set modest SEA Games target in the pool
Someone to rely on: Khiew Hoe Yean has been in record-breaking form this season where he won silver at the World University Games in Berlin last month. — GLENN GUAN/The Star
The Star
20 hours ago
- The Star
Emotional equaliser as Brazilian Peres saves Rhinos in the nick of time
Pointing to the heavens: Sabah's Gabriel Peres (left) celebrating with teammates after scoring against Kuala Lumpur during their Super League match at the Cheras Football Stadium. — GLENN GUAN/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah defender Gabriel Peres' last-gasp equaliser against Kuala Lumpur in their Super League match at the Cheras Football Stadium on Wednesday meant the world to the Brazilian. For the 28-year-old centreback, it was a golden goal that welcomed him back to the game he loved so much after being away for far too long due to a knee injury. Peres' unbridled joy and emotions were for all to see, as he sprinted towards the Sabah supporters with arms outstretched after saving the Rhinos from the jaws of defeat. As his teammates swarmed around him, tears glistened in his eyes as he is finally living the moment he had dreamed of during lonely, gruelling months of recovery. 'I have no words to describe this moment,' said Peres. 'I just have to thank God above all and my family, teammates and the coaching staff who always trusted me. ''We're all a family, united by a purpose.' Peres said the goal was more than a statistic - it was proof that perseverance has its reward. 'This goal is not just mine. It belongs to everyone who never stopped believing in me when I couldn't be on the pitch. It's for them.' Against the City Boys, Sabah found themselves trailing after New Zealand rightback Dane Ingham's unfortunate own goal in the 65th minute. Just as the clock ticked past 90 minutes and hope began to fade, Sabah were awarded a free-kick which was deftly taken by midfielder Stuart Wilkin, and met with a perfectly timed leap from Peres for the equaliser. As for KL coach Risto Vidakovic, he called the late strike 'the worst feeling' for his side. 'We had chances to finish off the game, especially in the second half. We controlled the match after Sabah played with one player less when Dean (Pelekanos) was sent off in the 43rd minute,' said the Bosnian. 'We didn't deserve this draw, we needed the three. But this is football, it happens.''
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Nova: Chen-Toh must be mentally tougher to go far in Paris
Giving their all: Mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei training at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara ahead of the World Championships in Paris. — ART CHEN/The Star PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei need to adopt the champions' mentality to win the biggest titles. Mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto believes his charges are lacking mental toughness and grit needed to overcome obstacles and win matches in the big tournaments. World No. 4 Tang Jie-Ee Wei have been stopped five times in the semi-finals this year and have yet to reach a final since finishing runners-up in the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou last December. The pair's best result in their careers so far was the second place finish in the Tour Finals while their biggest title was the World Tour Super 500 Korean Open last August. With the World Championships fast approaching from Aug 25-31 in Paris, Nova wants Tang Jie-Ee Wei to toughen up and find ways to win even when they are not in their best form. 'The top pairs are not always at their best but they still find ways to win and Tang Jie-Ee Wei need to learn to overcome challenges in matches too,' said Nova, after overseeing a training session at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara yesterday. 'Currently, they are not tough enough to overcome the obstacles. They are lacking the champions' mentality and this is holding them back in the big tournaments. 'This is reflected in their results this year. Their performances have dropped compared to the last two years. 'We are trying to find ways to help them overcome this issue by giving them a challenging environment in training. If they can come up with solutions during training, then surely they can do better in tournaments.' Nova has called on Tang Jie-Ee Wei to re-ignite their season by winning a medal in the world meet. It has been 19 years since Malaysia last won a medal in the mixed doubles in the tournament and the Indonesian wants the pair to end the country's long wait. Koo Kien Keat-Wong Pei Tty, who won bronze in the 2006 edition in Madrid, are still Malaysia's sole medallists in the mixed doubles in the world meet so far. Nova feels Tang Jie-Ee Wei have a genuine chance this time as they will be seeded fourth in the tourney and will avoid the likes of China's top two seeds Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping and Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin as well as Thailand's third seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran at least until the semi-finals. 'Looking at Tang Jie-Ee Wei's seeding, they should at least reach the semi-finals and win a medal,' said Nova. 'Luck has not been good for Malaysia in the mixed doubles in the World Championships for so long and hopefully this time we can deliver better results.' The much anticipated draw for the prestigious event will be released today.
