Malaysia top Group B in quadrant
Published on: Monday, May 12, 2025
Published on: Mon, May 12, 2025
By: Bernama Text Size: Malaysia's Muhammad Fitri Mohd Azwadi (right) attempts a block during the quadrant match against Japan. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia concluded their Group B campaign on top of the standings after defeating Japan in the quadrant event of the 2025 Sepak Takraw Asia Cup at Titiwangsa Stadium here on Sunday. In the final group stage match, Malaysia fielded Amirul Zazwan Amir, Norfaizzul Abd Razak, Muhammad Shahalril Aiman Halim, and Muhammad Fetri Mohd Azwadi. The team faced stiff resistance early on before rallying to clinch the first set 17-15. A final point setup from Amirul Zazwan, followed by a smash from Muhammad Afifuddin, could not be returned effectively by the Japanese players, handing Malaysia a decisive 15-10 victory in the second set. The national quadrant team, coached by Mohammad Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman, will play in the semi-finals today (Monday), with their opponents to be determined after the Group A match between South Korea and Vietnam. 'Honestly, we were not satisfied with our match against China, but we found our rhythm against the Philippines and carried that momentum into today's game. 'Tomorrow, it doesn't matter who our opponent is — we are ready,' said Amirul Zazwan when met by reporters. Meanwhile, Malaysia had no trouble confirming a place in the semi-finals after defeating Taiwan 2-0 in the doubles event on Sunday. In the concluding match to determine the runners-up of Group B, Malaysia fielded Muhammad Noraizat Mohd Nordin and Aidil Aiman Azwawi, who comfortably secured a 15-11 win in the first set. The second set featured a tense contest as both teams traded points, but the re-entry of Muhammad Noraizat—who was temporarily replaced by Muhammad Redwan Hakim Muhammad—shifted the momentum back in Malaysia's favour. A powerful final serve by Muhammad Noraizat then sealed the victory at 17-15 for the national side. Malaysia, as the runners-up of Group B, are scheduled to face Group A winners India in the semi-finals today (Monday). * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
15 hours ago
- Daily Express
Ruthless Pearly-Thinaah in final
Published on: Sunday, June 08, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 08, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: Saturday's win marks the third time that Pearly-Thinaah will be playing in a final this season. The pair have won a total of four BWF World Tour titles to date. PETALING JAYA: Women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah stormed into the Indonesian Open final after an impressive win over China's world No. 6 Li Yijing-Luo Xumin. Pearly-Thinaah displayed great fighting spirit and determination to come from behind to claim a 12-21, 21-17, 21-11 victory in 64 minutes at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta on Saturday (June 7). Advertisement It was a huge breakthrough for the world No. 4 pair as they have reached their maiden World Tour Super 1000 final. Pearly-Thinaah achieved the personal milestone after avenging their defeat to Yijing-Xuomin in the China Open last September. Standing in Pearly-Thinaah's way to their biggest title so far will either be another Chinese pair, world No. 1 Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning or South Korea's world No. 3 Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee. 'We are very happy because we managed to change the rhythm of the game to our advantage. We supported each other and communicated well, which greatly helped our win today,' said Pearly. Advertisement The pair also expressed satisfaction but believe there is still much room for improvement heading into their second final appearance in Indonesia. 'For now, we want to get enough rest, discuss with our coach, and focus on recovery,' she added. Earlier, national mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei were stranded in the semi-finals after losing to Thailand's Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh, 21-23, 21-15, 21-11. Saturday's win marks the third time that Pearly-Thinaah will be playing in a final this season. Their first final appearance was also at the Istora Stadium in Jakarta during the Indonesia Masters in January, where they lost to South Korea's Kim Hye Jeong-Kong Hee-Yong. Last month, they won the Super 500 Thailand Open, and now, they are in the hunt for their first title in the Super 1000 series, which offers a total prize money of US$1.45 million (RM6.13 million). Pearly-Thinaah have won a total of four BWF World Tour titles to date. The winners of the doubles events today will earn US$107,300 (RM452, 289), and the runners-up US$50,750 (RM214,520). The semi-finalists take home US$20,300 (RM85,898). Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah were in ruthless form on Friday (June 6) when the pair took just 37 minutes to sent Japan's Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi packing with a superb 21-6, 21-18 win. It was their fifth win against the Japanese pair. Meanwhile, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained by national men's singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong may well see him struggle to regain his old form, said former world number one Roslin Hashim. The ex-national shuttler also admitted that even before the ACL injury, Tze Yong's performances of late had been quite shaky since returning to action in April following a back injury. 'When Tze Yong sustained the lower back injury previously, he had to undergo surgery… now he has got an ACL injury (knee). These two lower parts of the body are extremely crucial to a shuttler. 'When he came back to action (after his lower back injury), his performance wasn't that stable either. At an age where he should be reaching his peak powers but, unfortunately, he has suffered another serious injury and his recovery this time will take a long time. So, it will be difficult for Tze Yong to regain his old form,' he said. The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) confirmed in a statement that Tze Yong suffered an ACL injury, with the 25-year-old shuttler also admitting to finding it hard to accept this latest injury blow after all the efforts he had put in to get back to action. BAM singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen said Tze Yong, who may be sidelined for nine to 12 months, is currently undergoing prehabilitation (prehab) to strengthen the knee and the surrounding muscles ahead of the scheduled surgery for the ACL injury he sustained at the 2025 Malaysia Masters last month. Tze Yong has suffered various injuries, including a muscle tear in his back followed by a spinal injury since last year and underwent a long period of rest and rehabilitation before returning to action in the Badminton Asia Championship 2025 in Ningbo, China, in April. Despite his bleak assessment of Tze Yong's situation, Roslin, however, hopes the 2022 Commonwealth Games men's singles silver medallist possesses a burning desire and determination to fight back from adversity. 'I sympathise with Tze Yong, I hope he remains strong. If he intends to get back on the court, he will need every ounce of his inner strength and remain steadfast in facing this latest setback,' he said. Roslin, winner of the men's singles gold medal at the 2001 SEA Games, said the absence of the Johor-born Tze Yong, ranked 199 in the world, has also been a huge loss for the national camp. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
18 hours ago
- Daily Express
Bromell scorches to 100m gold
Published on: Sunday, June 08, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 08, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: (From left to right) Americans Courtney Lindsey, Fred Kerley and Trayvon Bromell compete in the men's 100m event of the Diamond League meeting at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. ROME: American Trayvon Bromell set the fastest time over the 100m this season as he won the Rome Diamond League in 9.84 seconds on Friday. Bromell, a two-time world outdoor bronze medallist and 2016 world indoor champion, dominated the field, with compatriot Fred Kerley coming in fifth in 10.06sec. Advertisement Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme (9.99) and Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala (10.01) rounded out the podium in the blue riband event. Kenya's Beatrice Chebet, who won Olympic golds in the 5,000 and 10,000m in Paris last year, posted the second fastest time of all time in the women's 5,000m, clocking 14:03.69 after a stunning solo breakaway at the Stadio Olimpico. It was just three seconds off Gudaf Tsegay's world record set in Eugene in 2023, the Ethiopian finishing third in the Italian capital as the field struggled with Chebet's kick four laps out from the finish. 'I was planning to run 14:15, but I felt like my body was moving and I decided to go,' said Chebet. Advertisement 'So I see that my body is in a good shape and I am capable of of the world record. So now I am going home and will prepare for it. Everything is possible. If I get someone who will push me up to 3000, it is possible.' Another Olympic champion, Quincy Hall of the USA, held his nerve to claim victory in the men's 400m in 44.22sec, winning in a photo finish from fast-finishing South African Zakithi Nene. There was a first Diamond League win since 2022 for Sandi Morris in the women's pole vault, the American clearing 4.80m for the victory. 'Today is monumental for me on a personal level,' said Morris, a three-time world silver medallist. 'I have been fighting with problems with my shoulder so I have to keep the volume of jumps lower. I really wanted to keep jumping but I also listen to my goals.' There was, however, no glory for Gianmarco Tamberi in the men's high jump in front of his adoring fans. The joint 2020 Olympic gold medallist, also the current European and world champion, bombed out at a lowly 2.16m in a competition won by South Korea's Sanghyeok Woo, with a best of 2.32m. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Wei Chong-Kai Wun go down fighting in Indonesian Open semis
File picture of doubles pair Man Wei Chong (right) and Kai Wun Tee in action at the Perodua Malaysia Masters 2025. - Photo: Bernama PETALING JAYA: Men's doubles shuttlers Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun's hopes of reaching their second consecutive Indonesian Open final were dashed after they were denied by homesters Sabar Gutama-Moh Reza. Wei Chong-Kai Wun had beaten world No. 8 Sabar-Moh in the last four last year but the latter avenged their defeat by coming out on top 18-21, 21-12, 21-18 at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta on Saturday (June 7). World No. 7 Wei Chong-Kai Wun did well to come back and win the second game after losing the first but could not maintain their form against the spirited duo in the decider and lost in the match lasting an hour. Sabar-Moh will take on either teammates Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto or South Korea's Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae for the title on Sunday (June 8).
