
Tang Jie-Ee Wei fall to Danish pair in Macau Open semi-final, miss all-Malaysian final
According to Free Malaysia Today (FMT), the world No. 3 duo lost 21-15, 17-21, 11-21 in a 54-minute match after a strong start. Despite comfortably taking the first game, they were undone by unforced errors in the next two, allowing the world No. 4 Danes to take control.
The win marked Christiansen-Boje's first victory over the Malaysians in three meetings, the report said.
Their exit ends hopes for an all-Malaysian final, after national underdogs Jimmy Wong and Lai Pei Jing — ranked world No. 127 — pulled off a shock win over a top Indonesian pair earlier to reach the World Tour Super 300 final.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Malaysia's men's singles shuttler Justin Hoh continued his fine run by coming from behind to defeat India's Tharun Mannepalli 19-21, 21-16, 21-16 in an epic 81-minute battle — marking his second win over Tharun in three meetings.
Justin will next face Indonesia's Alwi Farhan, who earlier stunned second seed Lakshya Sen of India with a commanding 21-16, 21-9 victory.
Also through to the final are national men's doubles pair Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King, who cruised past compatriots Choong Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal Nazri 21-13, 21-15 in just 34 minutes.
They will meet either Indonesia's Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani or Taiwan's Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen in tomorrow's final, acording to the report.
Hashtags

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

Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
FOMO fuels pickleball craze as Malaysians seek fun path to fitness
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — If you're an avid social media user, chances are you've come across videos of friends or celebrities playing a unique sport that combines elements of ping pong, badminton, and tennis — known as pickleball. This activity has been gaining popularity, even among those who initially had little interest in sports but eventually got hooked due to the psychological phenomenon known as the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). According to Norezzati Md Hanafiah, a psychologist at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), FOMO — often linked to social pressure or unhealthy lifestyle habits — can actually be used positively, including to encourage a more active lifestyle. She explained that from a psychological perspective, this drive is closely tied to the human instinct to be accepted within a social group, which is essential for emotional well-being. In the context of pickleball or other light sports, FOMO can turn into a positive motivator. 'One might start as a spectator, then develop an interest in trying it out, which can become a turning point toward adopting a healthier lifestyle. If handled properly, FOMO can spark healthy habits that spread widely within a community,' she said. Beyond physical benefits, pickleball also contributes to mental health through its relaxed and fun social aspects — enhancing mood, providing ongoing motivation, and offering social therapy for those dealing with work stress or burnout. Players looking at pickleball equipments. — Bernama pic According to Norezzati, the approach to health promotion is evolving, with a greater focus on the fun-first concept, as seen in pickleball. This makes physical activity enjoyable and more effective than approaches that emphasise beauty or weight loss. 'When an activity is seen as fun rather than a burden, people are more likely to stick with it. This makes a healthy lifestyle something to enjoy rather than something to be forced into,' she said, adding that social media plays a major role in spreading the trend and creating a wave of normalisation that encourages more people to try it without feeling embarrassed or self-conscious. Pickleball is also the sport of choice for national hockey legend Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi, 53, who was drawn to the game's unique, low-impact nature, making it suitable for all age groups. 'I find pickleball to be perfect for maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. Previously, I only did brisk walking and went to the gym for workouts,' said Mirnawan, who has been actively playing since mid-last year. As the owner of Pickleball Playground in Shah Alam, he also encourages participation among youth under the age of 18, seeing their potential as future athletes who could elevate the sport to greater heights. Mirnawan also described pickleball as a wallet-friendly and accessible sport, noting that with court rental fees ranging from RM50 to RM70 per hour — usually split among several players — and minimal equipment requirements, the sport is suitable for people from all walks of life. 'In residential areas, for instance, the community or management could make use of and modify existing badminton or basketball courts slightly, so residents can play for free and enjoy a variety of recreational sports,' he said. — Bernama


New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Five titles not enough — Herry demands world champs in Paris
KUALA LUMPUR: Coach Herry IP insists he's far from satisfied despite guiding Malaysia to five titles in just six months since taking charge of the national men's doubles squad in February. The latest success came courtesy of world No. 24 Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King, who lifted the Macau Open crown on Sunday after defeating Indonesia's Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 22-20, 21-18 in a 80-minute final. That win marked Malaysia's fifth men's doubles title of the season under the Indonesian coach – fondly dubbed the 'Fire Dragon'. Herry has already played a key role in helping world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik bag titles at the Badminton Asia Championships, Thailand Open and Singapore Open, while also reaching the finals of the Malaysia Masters and China Open. World No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun chipped in with a title of their own at the Malaysia Masters, bringing the tally to five since Herry's arrival. But the seasoned tactician is demanding more — with his sights firmly set on the biggest prize of all — the World Championships in Paris at the end of the month. "I hope we can produce world champions this year — it doesn't matter which pair does it, as long as they are from Malaysia," he told BH Sukan. To date, Malaysia have won the world title only once through Aaron-Wooi Yik in 2022 in Tokyo — ending the nation's long wait for glory. This time, four Malaysian pairs will be in the hunt for honours in Paris – three from the BA of Malaysia (BAM) — Aaron-Wooi Yik, Wei Chong-Kai Wun and Arif-Roy King, along with independent duo Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (world No. 4). On the Macau Open final, Herry said composure and patience were the keys to Arif-Roy King's breakthrough, particularly in challenging conditions – with the match frequently interrupted by water dripping from the arena's air conditioning system, creating slippery patches on court. "The match went on for 80 minutes because it had to be stopped multiple times due to the wet court," said Herry. "I told the boys to stay focused and patient – don't rush, as the court conditions were far from ideal. It wasn't about tactics – it was all about maintaining focus and composure." Herry described the pair's first World Tour title as the perfect morale booster ahead of the World Championships. "Yes, this is their first title, and it'll definitely give them an extra lift going into the Worlds." Their win in Macau also ended a 12-year drought for Malaysia in the men's doubles at the event – the last success coming in 2013 via Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong. Although pleased with the current level of consistency from his charges, Herry is aiming for greater depth moving forward. "I think our performance has been quite good and consistent, but I want more. In the future, I hope to see five or six Malaysian pairs capable of challenging for titles – not just two or three.


The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Coach Herry brings revival and hopes rise for men's doubles world title
Doubles soar: (From left) Yap Roy King, coach Herry and Wan Arif Wan Junaidi. - Roy King's Instagram PETALING JAYA: With a champion's mindset and a proven track record, legendary coach Herry Iman Pierngadi is reshaping Malaysia's men's doubles fortunes – just in time for the World Championships in Paris from Aug 25-31. Since taking charge in February from Tan Bin Shen, the Indonesian tactician has wasted no time leaving his mark, guiding Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, and Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi to title wins. All three pairs have made the cut for the world meet together with professionals Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, fulfilling the maximum representation in the event. In the past, there used to be only one or two titles delivered by the men's doubles in a year and usually the same pair would win it. But under Herry, the overall depth of the men's doubles in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has improved. The recent maiden win by Roy King-Arif in the Macau Open on Sunday showed that even the younger pairs in the team are all fired up. With better results and players showing more confidence in their game, it is a clear sign that Malaysia's chase for glory is gaining real momentum. Herry believes the strong form shown by the pairs bodes well for Malaysia's chances of capturing gold in the men's doubles in Paris. "It's good that we have four pairs heading to the World Championships in good form," said Herry. "When compared to other countries, Malaysia have a good chance to win the men's doubles title. "The pairs under me are beginning to adapt to my coaching style and philosophy. "When I first arrived, it was normal for the players to take some time to adapt. "There would be ups and downs, and we saw it with all the pairs. Now, they are getting better." Before Roy King-Arif, world No. 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik had captured gold in the Asian Championships for the first time and went on to add the Thailand Open and Singapore Open to their list of honours, besides finishing runners-up in the China Open and Malaysian Masters. World No. 7 Wei Chong-Kai Wun beat their teammates to win the Malaysian tourney to go with the Indonesian Masters crown. Herry can expect more than one pair to fight for honours at the world meet. In 2022, Aaron-Wooi Yik created history when they became the first Malaysian shuttlers to clinch the world title in Tokyo. The pair then won bronze in the last edition in 2023 in Copenhagen. While Malaysia have been overly reliant on Aaron-Wooi Yik in the past, Sze Fei-Izzuddin and Wei Chong-Kai Wun's improvement raises hopes that they could fight for a medal too this time. Both pairs will also have a better chance this time as being ranked in the world's top eight means that they will have an easier path to the quarter-finals. Despite being underdogs, debutants Roy King-Arif too will not be short of confidence after their triumph in Macau and will be hoping to spring a surprise. The seedings for the prestigious meet will be released on Friday while the draw will be out on Aug 13.