logo
Wei Chong-Kai Wun break jinx, reach Indonesia Open semi-finals

Wei Chong-Kai Wun break jinx, reach Indonesia Open semi-finals

New Straits Times14 hours ago

KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun finally ended their losing streak against reigning Asian Games champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty of India to reach the semi-finals of the Indonesia Open on Friday.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun defeated the world No. 22 Indian pair 21-19, 21-16 in the quarter-finals at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta.
It was the Malaysians' first win in five meetings against the former world No. 1.
The pair will now face either world No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani or Indonesian world No. 8 Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Isfahani in the last four on Saturday.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Clubs just as vital as schools in hockey revival, say veterans
Clubs just as vital as schools in hockey revival, say veterans

The Star

time39 minutes ago

  • The Star

Clubs just as vital as schools in hockey revival, say veterans

Jayamaran represented the country several times at the SEA Games and Asian Games. FOR former Selangor hockey stalwarts Sri Muhunan Raja Retnam and M. Jayamaran, reviving the state's hockey strength will require strong partnerships between schools and clubs – with both playing vital and complementary roles. Sri Muhunan, who was part of the 1996 Selangor Tun Abdul Razak Cup-winning squad, believes clubs play a key role in sustaining talent after the school stage. 'Schools can only take you so far. It's the clubs that build match temperament, tactical sense, and character,' he said. Jayamaran, a former international who was groomed under the Selangor system but represented Kuala Lumpur during his Razak Cup triumphs in the 1990s, agreed that many young players lacked sufficient exposure outside school tournaments. 'School tournaments come and go. What we need is continuous, year-round training. Even weekly friendlies can be valuable, and clubs can provide that.' He said players needed regular matches to sharpen their skills. Both, having been involved in grassroots development programmes, said district-level competition must be revived to give players more game time. 'There should be league structures in every district. That's how you keep the sport alive,' said Jayamaran. Sri Muhunan said recog­nition and incentives could help retain youth players in the system. 'In the UK, even club matches end with small awards – best striker, best keeper. That kind of recognition keeps kids motiva­ted, but sustaining it comes at a cost,' he said. Club administrators almost always have to pay for pitch time, equipment and sometimes even arrange transport for students. 'If local councils give us lower pitch rates or basic grants, we can double the number of children playing,' Sri Muhunan said. Sri Muhunan was part of the squad that last lifted the Tun Abdul Razak Cup in 1996. Jayamaran also pointed out that without a long-term plan, many promising players could drift to other sports. 'You lose them to football or badminton. We have seen it happen many times. 'But the ones who stayed, the ones with the burning passion, they have become the core of today's state pool.' Despite the challenges, both are hopeful that the current SHA committee – led by people they once played alongside – can help rebuild the foundation. 'They know what Selangor hockey used to be,' said Jaya­maran. 'But to get back there, it is not just about one tournament or one team. It is about fixing the foundation.' Sri Muhunan said the hockey community had the passion and know-how to bring back Selan­gor's past strengths. 'There are veterans and ex-players with a lot of experience at the club level. They are already doing the work. They just need more support,' he said. Beyond coaching and competition, both stressed the importance of creating a nurturing environment that fuelled a young player's passion for the sport. 'Kids need to feel seen,' said Sri Muhunan. 'When their effort is recognised – whether through a small trophy, a mention during team talks, or even a pat on the back – it makes a huge difference. That's what keeps them coming back.' They added that friendship often mattered more than results at that level. 'If they enjoy the game and look forward to training, they will naturally improve,' said Jaya­maran. 'We have seen players develop simply because they had teammates who encouraged them and a coach who cared.' Both believe that a sense of belonging – to a club or team – provides great support for young players through the ups and downs in sport. They also urged parents to play a more active but supportive role. 'Let the kids enjoy the game. Don't pressure them to be national players. Help them grow first,' said Sri Muhunan. Jayamaran agreed, noting that talent would need time and space to develop. 'If the system is there, and if people are patient, the results will come,' he said.

Pearly-Thinaah have chance to make Indonesia their ‘home'
Pearly-Thinaah have chance to make Indonesia their ‘home'

The Star

time40 minutes ago

  • The Star

Pearly-Thinaah have chance to make Indonesia their ‘home'

Superior show: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah knocked out Singapore Open runners-up Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi 21-6, 21-18 in 37 minutes. PETALING JAYA: National women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah have a chance to make Indonesia one of their favourite hunting grounds when they face off China's Li Yijing-Luo Xumin in the semi-finals at Istora Senayan. The world No. 4 Pearly-Thinaah made it to the last four in Jakarta yesterday after knocking out Singapore Open runners-up Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi 21-6, 21-18 in 37 minutes. The Malaysians have a chance to reach their second final this year at the same venue if they can beat the Chinese pair for the first time. They had lost to the world No. 6 pair at the China Open last year. Ironically, it was the Chinese pair's only title to date. Pearly-Thinaah also reached the final of the Indonesian Masters this year but were beaten by Kim Hye-jeong-Kong Hee-yong of South Korea. Thinaah did not want to think too far but prefer to focus on their recovery before the semis clash. 'We will discuss about our plans against the Chinese pair, have a good rest and eat well before the match,' said Thinaah. She, however, is happy that their strategy worked to the tee against the Japanese pair yesterday. 'The Japanese pair were in good form coming here after reaching the Singapore Open final but we were more focused on our strategy against them. It worked.' Pearly attributed their calm approach for their quite consistent form in the last four weeks. They had won the Thailand Open, reached the Malaysian Masters semi-finals before losing in the last eight of Singapore Open last week. 'We are quite happy with our form and hope to keep the momentum going. In the past weeks, we have learnt to be calm and I think, that's the key,' added Pearly.

Chess-Carlsen puts meltdown behind him to win Norway Chess tournament
Chess-Carlsen puts meltdown behind him to win Norway Chess tournament

The Star

time3 hours ago

  • The Star

Chess-Carlsen puts meltdown behind him to win Norway Chess tournament

FILE PHOTO: Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen looks on ahead of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Paris, France, April 7, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes (Reuters) -Chess great Magnus Carlsen recovered from his meltdown against world champion Gukesh Dommaraju last weekend to win the Norway Chess tournament on Friday. The Norwegian world number one drew his last game against India's Arjun Erigaisi but it proved enough for him to finish on 16 points, half a point ahead of American Fabiano Caruana. Indian Gukesh, who lost to Caruana in the final game, ended up third on 14.5 points. "It's a huge relief after a day like this, a tournament like this," Carlsen said. Last Sunday, Carlsen had Gukesh on the ropes for much of their game but his composure cracked under the pressure of a ticking clock and he committed a blunder that handed Gukesh a decisive advantage. Carlsen slammed his fist on the table after the defeat before exchanging a quick handshake with Gukesh, apologising for his outburst and storming off. "Obviously my struggles here have been well documented but at least I fought until the end," the five-time classical world champion, who did not defend his title in 2023 citing a lack of motivation, said. "I'm not going to say that this tournament was my last (in standard chess) for sure, but I enjoy other forms of chess a lot more." (Reporting by Julien Pretot)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store