Queen Mirabel nails first pro crown with nine-stroke victory in Pahang
The 19-year-old lifted the women's title in the PGM Royal Pahang Championship in Kuantan by a massive nine strokes – only three weeks after turning pro.
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New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Pearly-Thinaah return to historic venue for world conquest
KUALA LUMPUR: Women's doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will return to a familiar battleground this month when they compete in the World Championships in Paris. The world No. 2 Malaysians will play at the Adidas Arena — formerly known as Arena Porte De La Chapelle — the same venue where they made Olympic history last year. Pearly-Thinaah reached the semi-finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the first Malaysian pair to do so. Although they missed out on a bronze medal after losing to Japan's Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida, former national high performance director Datuk James Selvaraj believes the experience gained there will greatly help Pearly-Thinaah when the French capital hosts the world meet. Pearly-Thinaah are on the right track for the Paris showpiece, reaching four World Tour events finals this year and winning the Thailand Open in May. "Playing at the venue where you made history can have a positive impact," said James. "They know what the place is like. It was there they reached the semi-finals of the Paris Olympics. "Now, they should try to enter the final. Whether they win or not, I don't mind, but at least they must try." James hopes to see great on-court communication and chemistry between the duo, urging Pearly-Thinaah to stay mentally strong. "They must learn to be confident. They must motivate themselves to play better. Only then can they advance to the final," he said. Pearly-Thinaah's previous best result at the World Championships was a quarter-final finish in 2023. Meanwhile former Olympic medallist Datuk Razif Sidek said Malaysia's best chance of winning a medal at the world meet will be in the doubles. "There's a chance for us to at least have one pair reach the final," said Razif. "We have three pairs in the top seven on the world rankings. If the draw is favourable, they must take advantage of it." Both James and Razif feel that the doubles players will have to carry Malaysia's challenge for medals in Paris due to uncertainty in the singles department, with the only real hope for a deep run being Lee Zii Jia. However, the independent shuttler has not played competitively since March due to an ankle injury.
New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Rexy urges coaches to forge 'mental warriors'
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian badminton coaches should not focus only on techniques, but also on the minds of their players. That's the message from former world and Olympic champion Rexy Mainaky, who is credited by many people with Malaysia's badminton success, especially in doubles, in recent years. The Indonesian-born BAM doubles coaching director urged Malaysian coaches to go beyond technical instructions and adopt a more emotionally attuned approach to forge players into "mental warriors". "It's not about being robotic — pressing red for errors or green for perfect play. These are human beings. To get the best out of them, we need to coach with heart, not just methods," said Rexy today. He said while skill refinement remains part of training, performance inconsistencies at the elite level are more often due to emotional and psychological factors than technical flaws. Drawing on his experience, Rexy said that coaches must observe closely, understand emotional cues, and offer timely support — not unlike raising a child. "A coach's role is not just about tactics or skills. They must understand their players completely — like how a parent understands a child. "A child may do something wrong because they lack experience. But we, as adults, know that it could affect their character. It's the same with athletes. Coaches must be able to recognise and guide them through it," he added. Rexy said that coaches must be alert to subtle shifts in a player's attitude or confidence, particularly when performances fluctuate despite consistent training. "People may say, 'Oh, their front-court play is weak,' or 'They're too slow,' but the real issue might be the player's state of mind. Maybe their focus was disturbed before the match. We're all human — players too." He said improvements in technique are usually marginal, and that success requires alignment between a player's mindset and the coach's goals. "If a player improves technically but is still mentally inconsistent — good one day, poor the next — what's the reason? That's when coaches need to look deeper. What's the root cause?" Rexy also emphasised that coaching must extend beyond the court to include life management — rest, diet, and emotional discipline — all of which impact performance. "Preparation isn't only about on-court work. It includes rest, diet, staying healthy and mentally switched on. The player must want to succeed, but the coach must guide them towards that mindset."
Focus Malaysia
a day ago
- Focus Malaysia
From giants to strugglers: Why Malaysian football fell behind
FROM the 1950s to the 1980s, Malaysia was a football powerhouse in Asia. Our national team not only held its own against regional rivals like South Korea, but often outplayed them. Icons such as Mokhtar Dahari, Soh Chin Aun, Hassan Sani, Santokh Singh, and the legendary goalkeeper R. Arumugam who famously known as the 'Spiderman' were admired across the continent. Back then, Japan was far from being a footballing threat. Today, however, the story has flipped entirely. South Korea and Japan are now among Asia's elite, regularly qualifying for World Cups and producing players who star in Europe's top leagues. Meanwhile, Malaysia struggles to dominate even within Southeast Asia, relying heavily on naturalised players to boost the national team a strategy that has delivered underwhelming results. At the heart of this decline lies a stark difference in vision and commitment. Japan's failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup led to the creation of a '100-Year Vision', a long-term development plan focusing on grassroots, coaching, facilities, and professional league structure. South Korea similarly made deep investments in youth development, sports science, and international exposure for its young talents. Both countries built solid footballing ecosystems from the ground up, with a focus on sustainability. Malaysia, on the other hand, has often opted for short-term solutions. The naturalisation of foreign players may provide a temporary boost, but it does not address the systemic flaws in talent development. Without consistent investment in youth systems, coaching quality, and infrastructure, our reliance on imported talent merely delays the hard work of rebuilding from within. A strong football culture begins at the grassroots level. In Japan and South Korea, children are introduced to football through structured school and academy systems, with certified coaches and modern facilities supporting their growth. Regional and national competitions ensure that young players receive continuous, competitive match experience. In Malaysia, grassroots development remains disjointed and underfunded. Coaching standards vary widely, especially in rural areas where facilities are often inadequate. Talented young players frequently slip through the cracks due to poor scouting and the lack of a nationwide, coordinated talent pipeline. Moreover, our education system often places academic performance above sports, forcing young athletes to choose between the classroom and the football pitch. In contrast, East Asian countries integrate sports deeply into school life, allowing talent to flourish without compromising education. Another uncomfortable truth is the influence of race and religion in the management and selection process within Malaysian football. While not always explicit, there is a widespread perception that these factors sometimes outweigh merit in team selection and administrative decisions. This undermines trust in the system and alienates talented players from minority communities. During the golden era of Malaysian football, players like R. Arumugam, of Indian descent, were national heroes. Today, such representation is rarer not because the talent isn't there, but because of systemic barriers. Football should be a force for unity, not division. In multicultural Malaysia, our diversity should be a strength we celebrate, not an obstacle to overcome. The quality of a country's domestic league plays a crucial role in shaping its national team. The J-League and K-League are professionally run, stable, and commercially successful, with clear links to youth development. Malaysian football, however, continues to suffer from mismanagement. Issues such as unpaid wages, poor club governance, and inconsistent league structures create an unprofessional environment that hinders player growth. Without a strong, competitive domestic league, it's nearly impossible to produce players capable of performing on the international stage. Another major gap lies in international exposure. Japanese and South Korean players often move to Europe as teenagers, gaining vital experience in top leagues and adapting to the physical and mental demands of elite football. These early experiences help them grow into disciplined, tactically astute professionals. Malaysian players, by contrast, rarely play abroad. When they do, many struggle to adapt and return home prematurely. This is not just a matter of skill, but also mindset. Young players in Japan and Korea grow up dreaming of playing in the Bundesliga or La Liga. In Malaysia, ambitions often stop at local league stardom or representing a state team. The path to recovery is clear but demands courage and consistency. First, football administration must be depoliticised. Race and religion must have no role in talent identification or selection. Only performance, discipline, and potential should matter. Second, grassroots development must be rebuilt. This includes training more certified coaches, building accessible facilities nationwide, and reintegrating football into the school curriculum. Third, the domestic league must be professionalized, with clubs held to strict governance and financial standards. Finally, we need to shift the national footballing mindset that encouraging young players to dream bigger, aim higher, and embrace overseas challenges as part of their development. Malaysia once stood on equal footing with Korea, and even ahead of Japan. Legends like Mokhtar Dahari and R. Arumugam are reminders of what we once were and what we can be again. With clear vision, inclusive leadership, and a relentless commitment to reform, Malaysian football can return to glory. But the journey starts not with shortcuts, but with honest reflection and the willingness to rebuild from the ground up. ‒ Aug 5, 2025 R. Paneir Selvam is the principal consultant of Arunachala Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd (ARRESCON), a think tank specialising on strategic national and geo-political matters. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: mStar
