Sin-sational spirit: Li Jane keeps Malaysia in the frame
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Boon Heong bets on Zii Jia's spark and Aaron-Wooi's steel at world meet
Paris Olympic Games bronze medal winners Lee Zii Jia, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. —AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star PETALING JAYA: One returns as underdog, the other as past champions. But former great Tan Boon Heong has faith in both men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia and doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik to deliver at the World Championships starting on Monday (Aug 25) in Paris. The world meet in Paris mark a comeback for Zii Jia and chance to rediscover his spark after five months out with an ankle injury. As for the 2022 winners Aaron-Wooi Yik, it is about proving again why they are Malaysia's most reliable big-stage performers. Boon Heong believes both stories could still end in glory. "For Zii Jia, the first and second rounds at the worlds will be very important. If he can find a way past these rounds, he could pull off something special," said Boon Heong. Zii Jia, whose rankings has dropped to No. 52 in the world, will open his campaign against South Korea's world No. 38 Jeon Hyeok-jin. A win could see him go up against China's world No. 4 Li Shifeng for a place in the third round. "We don't know how is his current physical condition but all the fans are hoping he can get a good result." The 27-year-old Zii Jia's best performance in the prestigious event so far came in the 2021 edition in Huelva, Spain where he made it into the quarter-finals before going down to Denmark's Anders Antonsen. In the last two editions in 2022 and 2023, Zii Jia lost in the third round. Unlike Zii Jia, Boon Heong says Aaron-Wooi Yik have the knack of rising to the big occasions, notably winning bronze medals in the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics, 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and 2023 world meet in Copenhagen. "Aaron-Wooi Yik are more confident in major events. Their achievements speak for themselves," said Boon Heong. "They have won two medals in the Olympics and they have showed that they can handle the pressure. "They definitely have a chance to win their second world title, especially with the competition looking open this time." Boon Heong himself has an impressive record in the big tournaments with Koo Kien Keat. The 37-year-old and Kien Keat won a bronze and silver in the world meet in the 2009 and 2010 editions respectively and captured gold in the 2006 Asian Games. Boon Heong believes that Aaron-Wooi Yik's potential opponents are not as formidable as they were before though and can be beaten. The duo need to navigate a difficult draw with a possible last eight clash against either China's Paris Olympics silver medallists Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang or India's 2022 Asian Games champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty awaiting. "Weikeng-Wang Chang and Satwiksairaj-Chirag have not won any titles so far this year," said Boon Heong. "The Chinese and Indian pairs are not as strong as they were in the past few years, so Aaron-Wooi Yik have a chance to beat either pair. "For me, the draw is not important. Whoever they face, they need to stay focused." For Aaron-Wooi Yik, they are aiming to reach their sixth final this year after claiming the Asian Championships, Singapore Open and Thailand Open and finishing runners-up in the China Open and Malaysian Masters.
The Star
17 hours ago
- The Star
New RM800,000 pickleball, padel court for Kelana Jaya
The underutilised futsal court in SS7 is set to make way for new racquet sports facility. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star A FUTSAL court in SS7, Kelana Jaya in Selangor, will soon be transformed into an RM800,000 court for pickleball and padel, under a public-private partnership project by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ). Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon said the agreement allowed a private firm to construct and run the facility for 21 years. 'We have inked an agreement where the firm builds and manages the facility, while MBPJ will rent out the courts,' he said. MBPJ Zone 22 councillor Mohamed Hamka Mohamed Jumah said construction was expected to take four months. 'Once the fixtures and old concrete are removed, workers will use compacted gravel to create a new suitable surface,' he said. He added that the new racquet court would replace the underutilised futsal court. 'Work will be done quickly as youths are eager to use the court,' said Mohamed Hamka. 'Once construction is complete, the final steps will include court markings, installing nets and poles as well as setting up anti-glare lighting for optimal playing conditions,' he added. Pickleball is a cross between tennis, table-tennis and badminton, while padel is fast-paced and is often described as a mix between tennis and squash. Both sports can be played with either two or four players. Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, when presenting the state's 2025 Budget, announced that pickleball would be introduced as a medal sport at the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma).
The Star
17 hours ago
- The Star
CEO: SIC eyes long-term expansion
Italy's Francesco Bagnaia from Ducati Team during free practice session at the Petronas Grand Prix Malaysia 2024 at Sepang International Circuit in Sepang. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: After weathering the financial strain due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) is charting a new growth trajectory, anchored by land monetisation, strategic investments and expanded commercial offerings. SIC chief executive officer (CEO) Azhan Shafriman Hanif said the circuit is finalising a 10-year long-term business plan to unlock the commercial potential of its 303-ha landbank. 'We only fully utilise about 50% of the land during international events. The rest sits idle most of the year. We want to change that by bringing in investors to develop hotels, motorsport facilities, vehicle storage, attractions and food and beverage outlets,' he told Bernama in an interview recently. Azhan Shafriman, who took the helm in April 2020, said the early years of his leadership were marked by crisis management, as Covid-19 halted all large-scale events, which were the circuit's core revenue driver. In 2023, SIC turned profitable for the first time since the pandemic, with the return of international events like MotoGP. 'That year marked our turning point. In 2022, we had just six months to prepare for MotoGP after the borders reopened in April. But we pulled it off,' said Azhan Shafriman, noting that 2022 was his first MotoGP season since taking on his role as SIC's CEO Beyond motorsports, he envisions transforming Sepang into a lifestyle hub with improved amenities for both visitors and staff.
