Young Tigers gear up for tough road to World Cup
With the Junior World Cup just months away from Nov 28-Dec 10 in Chennai and Madurai, the team are diving into an intense build-up to take on the best in the world.
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Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
After 25 years and countless moves, Malaysia finally gets its first chess Grandmaster
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 — For the first time in the nation's history, Malaysia can proudly call one of its own a Grandmaster (GM), the highest title awarded in the world of chess. Yeoh Li Tian, a 25-year-old prodigy from Petaling Jaya, officially earned the coveted GM title after securing his third norm and surpassing the 2500 FIDE rating mark by winning the GM-IM Invitational Chess Championship 2025 held here today. The title, awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), is a lifelong honour and places Li Tian among an elite group of fewer than 2,000 Grandmasters worldwide. Speaking to Bernama, Li Tian, who began playing chess at the age of three, admitted that his journey was long and grueling, marked by sacrifices and perseverance. 'I always tell people that I have no childhood. So I guess that that will be my biggest sacrifice. Since young, like even in primary school, I go to school, come back, do my homework and then I start working on chess,' he said. When asked about achieving the GM title on home soil, he said the moment was even more meaningful after narrowly missing the opportunity during the 2022 SEA Games in Hanoi. 'I felt really relieved and happy to actually get my last norm back in Malaysia. I hope that it inspires more chess players to play chess,' he added. Looking ahead, Li Tian remains uncertain about his next steps but hinted that he might compete in the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand at the end of this year. 'Malaysia Chess Federation (MCF) already approached me for this SEA Games. I think there's a high chance that I will be playing,' he said. Meanwhile, MCF President Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi described Li Tian's achievement as a historic milestone in the nation's chess history. He added that the MCF is now more determined than ever to nurture and produce more Malaysian GM, with the goal of elevating and strengthening the local chess scene. 'I feel the achievement is a new positive and healthy development for the game of chess in the country. 'We do not want this achievement to stop here and if can, we want more GM from Malaysia to emerge, just like ehat has been produced by neighbouring countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines,' he said. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Free Malaysia Today
World No 127 pair Jimmy-Pei Jing defy odds to enter Macau Open final
Jimmy Wong-Lai Pei Jing are in a World Tour final after having teamed up only in March. PETALING JAYA : New mixed doubles combination Jimmy Wong-Lai Pei Jing pulled off another major upset in the Macau Open today by defeating sixth seeds Amri Syahnawi-Nita Violina Marwah of Indonesia to advance to tomorrow's final. The Malaysians, who are ranked No 127 in the world, took 42 minutes to defeat the world No 16 Indonesians 21-18, 21-16. The victory marks the first time the pair have reached a World Tour final together, having only partnered in March after Pei Jing's split with her regular partner, Tan Kian Meng, who has retired. In the final, they will meet either compatriots Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei or Danish pair Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje, who will be playing in the other semi-final later today. Jimmy-Pei Jing's giant-killing feats include victories over second seeded Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi of China in the quarter-finals, and India's world No 18 pair Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto in the round of 16. Jimmy, 23, and Pei Jing, 33, became the second Malaysian finalists in Macau after men's singles player Justin Hoh defeated India's Tharun Mannepalli in the semi-finals earlier. The Macau Open is a BWF World Tour 300 event which offers a total prize money of US$370,000 (RM1.58 million), with the singles champions receiving US$27,750 (RM118,792) and the runners-up US$14,060 (RM60,188).
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Hoh on a high: Justin qualifies for Macau Open final
It was undoubtedly Justin Hoh's best performance since he started his badminton career in 2017. (Wikipedia pic) PETALING JAYA : Men's singles shuttler Justin Hoh hit a career high at the Macau Open today by reaching his first BWF World Tour Super series final. The world No 45 did not have it easy against his 47th ranked rival Tharun Mannepalli, taking 80 minutes to win 19-21, 21-16, 21-16. Justin, 21, who is having a fine run in the Super 300 tournament, will meet the winner of the match between Indonesia's Farhan Alwai and Lakshya Sen of India in tomorrow's final. Both players are ranked much higher than Justin in the world standings. This is Justin's best performance since he started his badminton career in 2017. The Macau Open offers total prize money of US$370,000 (RM1.58 million), with the singles champions receiving US$27,750 (RM118,792) and the runners-up US$14,060 (RM60,188). The winners of the doubles events will take home US$29,230 (RM125,128) while the runners-up pocket US$14,060 (RM60,188).
