Rafiq feels he can fix his technical flaws and strike it right again
PETALING JAYA: Bowler Rafiq Ismail (pic) aims to turn things around for himself when he returns to the Sunway Mega Lanes for the Kuala Lumpur International Open from May 25-June 1.
The 27-year-old wants to make amends for his poor run at the Malaysian Open last month at the same venue, where he failed to progress into the second round.
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The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Rashid believes Tze Yong can fight his way back despite tough road to recovery
KUALA LUMPUR: Former singles legend Datuk Rashid Sidek hopes men singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong will make a strong comeback from his latest injury setback although it looks tough on paper. Tze Yong has to go for another round of surgery to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained at the Malaysian Masters last month and that means he will be out of the competition scene for a few months. Rashid sympathies with Tze Yong, who is currently lying at 199th spot in the world rankings. 'Tze Yong is a very determined player and I hope he will come out of this difficult situation stronger,' said Rashid. 'It will be hard for sure. Careers of former players like women singles players Julia Wong and Norshaliza Baharom were cut short because of recurring injuries. Even mixed doubles shuttler Goh Liu Ying struggled during her heydays. 'It will never be the same after a surgery. The players will have to deal with fear of aggravating the injury when they push themselves during training after making a comeback. 'The leg will be swollen when they go the extra mile in training. It's also hard for coaches to decide how much is enough when an injured player returns for training. 'I'm sorry that Tze Yong has to go through this but knowing him, I'm sure, he will go through this bravely and stay positive. With Tze Yong is out in the cold again, Malaysia's hopefuls are Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh and professional Lee Zii Jia. 'It's a tough season for Malaysia's singles department but I hope coach Kenneth (Jonassen) will be able to manage it,' he said. Tze Yong, who was forced to retire from a match against Hong Kong's Angus Ng Ka Long due to pain in his knee at the home meet, is choosing to be optimistic. 'It's tough to accept, especially after all the hard work leading up to this point, but I know this is just another challenge to overcome,' said the 25-year-old Tze Yong, who just recently returned to competition after taking slightly over a year to recover from his previous injury. He underwent surgery for his back twice last year after injuring it during the Malaysian Open in January. 'I'm staying positive, and I'm fully focused on coming back stronger.' The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) confirmed that Tze Yong had to undergo knee surgery after scans revealed a torn ACL, requiring surgical intervention following a thorough medical examination. 'This is a difficult moment for Tze Yong, but he is mentally strong and focused on the recovery process,' said Kenneth Jonassen, BAM's director of singles. 'Our medical and coaching teams are working closely with him to ensure he gets the best care possible. We will support him every step of the way, both on and off court.'
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Another forced break as Tze Yong goes for knee surgery but he's staying positive
Ng Tze Yong. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Men's singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong will have to go through another round of surgery to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained during his first round match at the Malaysian Masters last month. Despite the knee injury setback, which was announced by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) on Friday (June 6), Tze Yong remains optimistic and committed to his rehabilitation journey. The 25-year-old Tze Yong was forced to retire from the match against Hong Kong's Angus Ng Ka Long due to pain in his knee 'It's tough to accept, especially after all the hard work leading up to this point, but I know this is just another challenge to overcome," said Tze Yong. It will be his third surgery in 18 months. He went through surgery for back twice last year after injuring during the Malaysian Open in January. "I'm staying positive, and I'm fully focused on coming back stronger. I want to thank BAM, National Sports Institute (ISN) and everyone on the medical and coaching teams for their constant support and care. Thank you also to all the fans for your kind messages - it really means a lot to me. The BA of Malaysia confirmed that Tze Yong had to undergo knee surgery after scans revealed a torn ACL, requiring surgical intervention following a thorough medical examination. He is currently undergoing prehabilitation (prehab) to strengthen the knee and surrounding muscles ahead of the scheduled surgery. 'This is a difficult moment for Tze Yong, but he is mentally strong and focused on the recovery process," said Kenneth Jonassen, BAM's director of singles. "Our medical and coaching teams are working closely with him to ensure he gets the best care possible. We will support him every step of the way, both on and off court."
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- New Straits Times
Rising star Izz Naqiuddin bowls to KL Open victory
SUBANG JAYA: Rising national bowler Izz Naqiuddin Putera Islahuddin continued to stake his claim as a future star after clinching the Mixed Open title at the Kuala Lumpur Open on Sunday. The 21-year-old topped a strong 36-bowler field with 1,993 pinfalls over 10 games at Sunway Mega Lanes, finishing ahead of Ahmad Azriq Izam (1,951) and Ahmad Aidil Abdul Halim (1,882). The field included national stars like Rafiq Ismail and Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam, as well as regional heavyweights Ryan Lalisang, Yannaphon Larpapharat and Australia's Sam Cooley — making Izz's win all the more impressive. "It felt great to come out on top today, especially in a field that had my idol Rafiq Ismail," said Izz, who earned RM30,000 in prize money. "I bowled consistently, didn't have to adjust much. I'm happy because hard work pays off." The victory marked Izz's third career title after winning the Penang Pesta International in 2023 and the Sonic Classic in Singapore last year. The win was also a timely response after a poor title defence at the Sonic Classic and a 16th-place finish at the Malaysian Open last month. Izz was a surprise pick for last year's Asian Championships in Bangkok, selected ahead of regulars like Timmy Tan and Ahmad Muaz Fishol, and he justified it by helping Malaysia win team silver. Now eyeing a spot at the World Championships in Hong Kong or Sea Games in Thailand later this year, Izz hopes this title will boost his case. "This gives me confidence. Only six make the squad, and it would be my debut if I get in," he said. "I'm saving most of the prize money but plan to buy something nice for my dad too." Nur Syazwani Sahar also impressed, retaining her women's Open title with a 10th-place finish (1,776). The 26-year-old had only returned from the United States last Friday after finishing joint 13th at the USBC Queens, where she competed against nearly 200 bowlers. "I started with a perfect game, but a bad pair of lanes threw me off. I regrouped and aimed for a 200 average, finishing with a 243," she said. "Given the jet lag, I'm pretty satisfied." Syazwani took home RM7,850 — RM7,000 for the women's crown and RM850 for her overall finish — and now shifts focus to next week's Singapore Open, where she's targeting a top-10 result. Faten Najihah Ahmad Faik and Lavinia Kho finished as the second and third-best women respectively. Among other notable national stars, Ahmad Muaz Fishol (1,815) and Hafiz Zainuddin (1,813) placed sixth and seventh, while Tun Hakim (1,786) was ninth. Rafiq (1,732) and Timmy Tan (1,706) ended 16th and 19th.
