
Addeen bags second straight title, Wa Sern clinches Satellite event
For 31-year-old Addeen, the win marked his second title in as many weeks after triumphing at the Morrinsville Open in New Zealand last weekend.
World No. 104 Addeen proved too strong for unseeded compatriot Nathan Kueh, cruising to an 11-2, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3 victory in the final in Melbourne, Australia.
"This is my best run since recovering from a shoulder injury five months ago," said Addeen. "I'm proud of winning back-to-back titles. My next event is the National Championships next month, and I'll give it my all to defend my title."
Meanwhile, reigning Asian Junior Under-19 champion Wa Sern bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on his final World Junior Championships appearance by clinching the Satellite event in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia did not send a team to the championships in Cairo due to the ongoing Middle East crisis.
Second seed and world No. 370 Wa Sern barely broke a sweat as he swept aside compatriot M. Nickhileswar 11-5, 11-7, 11-0 in the final at the ACE University Malaya Centre of Excellence.
"Winning this tournament will help improve my world ranking," said Wa Sern.
"I'm also looking forward to the National Championships in Penang next week before I head back to the United States to resume my studies at Trinity College, Connecticut."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Quality, quantity from Malaysia for World Championships
KUALA LUMPUR: It's a double booster. Malaysia will have both quality and quantity in men's doubles at next's World Championships in Paris. Malaysia will be the only country represented by four men's pairs, not even China or Indonesia, at the world meet. This came about after Wan Arif Junaidi–Yap Roy King became the fourth Malaysian pair to qualify for Paris. World No. 24 Arif–Junaidi came in after Indonesian world No. 17 Shohibul Fikri-Daniel Marthin decided not to compete in the world meet as Daniel is still recovering from knee surgery. Earlier, world No. 2 Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik, world No. 4 Goh Sze Fei–Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and world No. 7 Man Wei Chong–Tee Kai Wun have booked their world tickets. And Malaysia will be the only country boasting three world top-eight pairs in Aaron–Wooi Yik, Sze Fei–Izzuddin and Wei Chong–Kai Wun, and having the biggest representation. The more, the better is Malaysia's chance of landing a second world title since Aaron–Wooi Yik's triumph in 2022 in Tokyo where Malaysia were also represented by four pairs. However, a cautious national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said having the numbers may not make the task easier. "Numbers alone will not ensure success. We must make sure our preparation heads in the right way for the title. "So, it is not about how many of our pairs qualified for Paris. We will have to fight for that, and good preparation will ensure the title." Rexy's caution may have some truth, as Aaron–Wooi Yik were left to battle on their own after Sze Fei–Izzuddin, Ong Yew Sin–Teo Ee Yi and Goh V Shem–Tan Wee Kiong were eliminated before the World Championships quarter-final in 2022. Malaysia had three pairs at the last World Championships (2023), where Aaron–Wooi Yik secured a bronze while Wei Chong–Kai Wun and Yew Sin–Ee Yi crashed out in the third round.


New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Tunku Ismail: 'Don't insult your fans'
KUALA LUMPUR: "Don't insult the intelligence of Selangor fans." That is Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim's response to Selangor FC chief executive officer Dr Johan Kamal Hamidon's claim that they are closing the gap with the Southern Tigers. The Regent of Johor's comments on X came despite former Malaysian football aristocrats Selangor having won no major trophies since 2015. At a partnership event with Provident on Wednesday, Johan told the media: "In my view, we need to be realistic and consider the competitive nature of our league. Over the past two seasons, we have successfully narrowed the gap with the champions (JDT)." He added that Selangor's KPI remain unchanged: top two in the Super League, finals in the Malaysia Cup and FA Cup, and progression to the knockout rounds in the Asean Club Championship and AFC Champions League II. But Tunku Ismail posted on X: "Selangor CEO Johan said the gap between JDT and Selangor is narrowing? 2023 – 15-point difference in the league; 2024-25 – 28-point difference; 2022 – Lost 5-1, drew 1-1, lost 2-1 in the Malaysia Cup final; 2023 – Lost 4-0, 4-0, and 2-0; 2024-25 – Lost 3-0 at home and 6-1, the biggest defeat in FA Cup final history. "So please explain to me, Johan, how exactly has Selangor narrowed the gap? If you're trying to cover up your own failures, at least don't insult the intelligence of your own supporters. Selangor fans deserve better." While Johan may have hoped to portray Selangor's decade-long rebuild as progress, critics see the results on the pitch as proof that the Red Giants are still light years behind JDT. With Selangor's last Super League title coming in 2010, the FA Cup in 2009 and the Malaysia Cup in 2015, their fans have grown increasingly restless amid the club's rhetoric about a "long-term project". Last season, Selangor were only able to lift the second-tier Challenge Cup after beating Police in the final, a far cry from the elite status they once held. Now, with the Charity Shield showdown between Selangor and JDT set for Aug 8 at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Tunku Ismail has fired the opening shot.


New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Justin continues strong run at Macau Open
KUALA LUMPUR: Justin Hoh continued his fine run at the Macau Open by beating India's seventh seed Ayush Shetty 21-18, 21-16 to book his spot in the men's singles quarter-finals on Thursday. The world No. 45 Malaysian extended his head-to-head record against world No. 31 Ayush to 3-2. It marks only the third time Justin has reached the last eight of a World Tour Super 300 or higher event, having previously made it this far at the Taiwan Open in 2023 and 2024. The 21-year-old will next face either Thailand's former world championship bronze medallist Kantaphon Wangcharoen or Singapore's Jason Teh, with his sights firmly set on a breakthrough semi-final appearance. There was also cheer in the mixed doubles where professional pair Jimmy Wong-Lai Pei Jing pulled off an upset against world No. 18 Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto of India. Making their World Tour debut as a pair, Jimmy-Pei Jing recovered from a game down to prevail 19-21, 21-13, 21-18 and advance to the last eight. They will next take on second seeds Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi of China. Jimmy-Pei Jing, who first joined forces in March, have reached three finals on the satellite circuit — the Vietnam International Challenge, Thailand International Series and St Denis Reunion Open — and will be eyeing a career-best outing in Macau. For Pei Jing, Macau holds fond memories — she was a semi-finalist at the same tournament in 2016 with her now-retired partner Tan Kian Meng. She will also be hoping for another strong result before heading to Paris later this month, where she will serve as a sparring partner to the French national team in preparation for the World Championships from Aug 25–31.