
Aniq smashes own national record but misses podium finish in China
KUALA LUMPUR: National weightlifter Aniq Kasdan bettered his own national record in the snatch at the Asian Championships in China but still missed out on the podium in the end.
Aniq cleared 125kg and 128kg before smashing his own national record by lifting 132kg in his final attempt in the men's below 61kg class at the Asian meet held in Jiangshan.

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


The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
China's World Cup Dreams End After 1-0 Defeat to Indonesia
CHINA coach Branko Ivankovic took responsibility for his team's exit from the World Cup qualifiers after they fell to a 1-0 defeat by Indonesia in Jakarta on Thursday. China had faint hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup despite three consecutive losses against Japan, Saudi Arabia and Australia, which left them bottom of Asian qualifying Group C. The expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams for the 2026 edition had ignited Chinese hopes of a return to the finals for the first time since their sole appearance in 2002. "This team has been fighting for this goal for over 20 years," Ivankovic told reporters. "We believed that if we could reach the next stage from this tough group, we would have a strong chance of qualifying. But we didn't succeed, and as head coach, I definitely bear significant responsibility." The 71-year-old Croatian was appointed by China in February last year to replace Aleksandar Jankovic after the Serbian failed to take the East Asian country beyond the group phase of the 2024 Asian Cup. "We've brought in a younger generation of players who have injected energy into the team. Based on their performances, I believe this team has a promising future," Ivankovic said. "We knew this match would be tough — not just because of the opponent, but also the weather. I want to thank my players for fighting until the very last second." China next host Bahrain, who are in fifth place in Group C, for their final third-round qualifier on June 10.


New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Harimau Malaya should salute Garuda
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian football fans can only watch with envy as neighbours Indonesia moved closer to their World Cup dream this week. The Southeast Asian nation now have a real chance of making it to the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, if they succeed in the next round of qualifying. The whole of Indonesia erupted into raptures after the Garuda stunned China 1-0 at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Thursday. Oxford United striker Ole Romeny scored the winner, albeit a controversial penalty, in the 45th minute. The win leaves Indonesia in fourth spot in Group C — with 12 points with one game remaining — and into the next round of qualifying which could see them appearing in their first World Cup since gaining independence as a country in 1945. The Indonesia team felt they could pull it off, and on the eve of the match, their coach, Patrick Kluivert said he was "very confident" his team would get a positive result against China. In comparison, Malaysia, who used to be the better of Indonesia from the 1970s-1980s, always fell in the first or second round of World Cup qualifying. Indonesia are currently ranked world No. 123 while Malaysia are 132. Here is the situation. As Indonesia bid to reach the highest stage in world football, Malaysia are currently training for a "very tough" Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10. While Malaysia have been busy recruiting "heritage players" from around the world — those with ancestral ties to Malaysia — Indonesia have gone on a recruitment drive of Dutch-born players and coaches from their former colonial ruler. "The result is the most important thing. We are happy with the result. After this, we are going to build even more," said Kluivert. "The things that we wanted to see came off in the game. I am very proud of my team." The defeat leaves China rooted to the bottom of Asian qualifying Group C with one game remaining. "As a coach of course I have the responsibility for the result," said manager Branko Ivankovic, who will likely face calls to quit. The Croat said the future was bright for Chinese football despite the latest heartbreak. They have won just two of their nine games in this round of Asian qualifying, losing seven. "We brought the new generations and players into team China. I think we brought the motivation as well, I think this is where the future will be," said Ivankovic.


New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- New Straits Times
China fans savage team again after latest World Cup flop
SHANGHAI: Fed-up Chinese football fans and pundits expressed dismay today after the country's World Cup dreams were torpedoed following a crushing qualifying defeat in Indonesia. President Xi Jinping has said he wanted China to win the World Cup one day but the latest flop means they have only ever played there once, in 2002, when they failed to get a point or score a goal. The 1-0 defeat in Jakarta on Thursday left them rooted to the foot of Asian qualifying Group C with seven losses in nine games. They have conceded 20 goals. Football commentator Zhan Jun said Branko Ivankovic's men lost "due to lack of experience, lack of ability and poor handling of details". The Croatian coach's tactics were "not suitable for the team" and put too much pressure on defensive midfielder Wang Shangyuan, Zhan wrote on the Weibo social media site. Veteran pundit Ji Yuyang complained that Ivankovic's leadership had let the team down and that the coach was "not as good as several of his predecessors". "In their group the Chinese team lost the most games and conceded the most goals," Ji noted on Weibo. China's long-suffering fans vented online. One said that "these national players simply don't realise that the point of football is to kick the ball into the opponents' goal". "They only know how to stupidly chase the ball!" The national team has long been the butt of jokes and a target of derision in China both for its poor record and corruption in the sport. "The last time the national team made it to the World Cup, I was in year six of primary school," wrote another online. "We might be able to make it by the time my grandchildren are in sixth grade." Chinese people "have long been emotionally prepared to be eliminated (from the World Cup)," one supporter said on Weibo. "No matter how crappy you are, we will not give up our World Cup dream!" The national team play again on Tuesday in the southwestern city of Chongqing in what is now a deadrubber against similarly eliminated Bahrain.