Latest news with #MSSM
Daily Express
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Express
Sabah Golf Association proud of junior golfers
Published on: Saturday, July 26, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 26, 2025 By: GL Oh Text Size: Hon (third left) and Bunsu (centre) with (from left) Rafiq, Ryan, Jamie, Dynneva and Shannon after the presentation. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Golf Association (SGA) will build on the State players' recent success at the Malaysian School Sports Council (MSSM) golf tournament in their preparation for the Malaysian Games (Sukma) next year. Its president Nash Hon said this on Thursday at the appreciation reception hosted by the State body at Sabah Golf and Country Club for the Under-18 boy and girl teams, who both emerged as runners-up in the tournament held in May. The boys' total score of 691 saw them finishing seven strokes behind champions Selangor, while the girls who managed 733, also came in second behind Selangor who had a 693. Mohamad Rafiq Anugerah Ali was the toast in the men's team with Ryan Lam Tse Ziang and Muhammad Arif Izwan Nordin. He almost made it to the podium in the individual event as he led the pack on day one with an impressive 70 and was joint lead the following day with 73 before faltering on the final round with 76 to finish fourth. Jamie Tan Huan Ying, who led the charge for the girls with Dynneva Joyce Donni and Shannon Sim Xuan also missed the individual medal by finishing fourth with her scores of 74-80-76. 'We are proud of our players and confident in our chances of clinching the MSSM title next year. SGA remains fully committed to supporting JPN (State Education Department) in the development of junior golfers, as MSSM serves as a vital stepping stone for our Sukma selection. 'We are confident in the potential of our young talents, and their MSSM performance is a clear indication of their readiness for Sukma next year. We must begin early to identify and nurture our medal prospects,' he said. He also revealed that SGA is currently in talks with the Sarawak Golf Association to revive the SGA Cup Golf Championship, which has been on hiatus for nearly a decade. 'The event is tentatively scheduled for early 2026, with several slots reserved for selected Sukma players as part of their early preparations.' He added that funding will be a major challenge for them as the selected Sukma players will have to train and acclimate to the golf courses in Kuala Lumpur. 'Unlike other sports, every golf course is different—it takes time to 'marry' the course. Unfortunately, this preparation comes at a significant cost, but I can assure that SGA will continue to advocate for our athletes, and our focus remains on ensuring Sabah's junior golfers are well-equipped and competitive on the national stage,' he added. Meanwhile, at the reception, apart from incentives awarded to all the team members except Mohd Arif, who was absent, special recognition was also given to Mohamad Rafiq Anugerah, Ryan Lam, and Jamie Tan for their outstanding performances in the Individual categories. Hon said the incentives were aimed to encourage continued dedication and improvement among the players. Also present at the reception was district education department officer Bunsu Gaga, who was also the deputy head of contingent for the state school sports council golf team. * 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
New Straits Times
19-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Runner Jayvind is a star in the making
KUALA LUMPUR: The name Jayvind Thanabalan may not ring a bell now, but expect to hear more of him in the national athletics scene in the near future. The Form Five student of SMK Tunku Syed Idrus, Tampin, shone at the Negri Sembilan Schools Sports Council (MSSNS) Athletics Championships at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium early this week. Jayvind shattered the boys Open 3000m record with a time of 8:54.15 — the previous mark was 9:40.82 set by S. Karti Keyan in 2018 — to win the gold medal. Remarkably, Jayvind's time was even faster than the national schools record of 8:55.99 set by S. Dinesh Varma of Selangor in 2019. Jayvind also set a new meet record in the 1500m by clocking 4:13.45, which erased the 20-year-old record of 4:13.70 set by S. Kajenthiran of Port Dickson in 2005. Jayvind was named as the best Male Athlete in the MSSNS for his feats. Jayvind, who took up athletics at the age of 10, also won the 8km MSSM cross country meet in Jasin, Melaka in May. Jayvind, whose idol is Malaysia's fastest man Azeem Fahmi, said: "All my hard work in training for the last six months has paid off. "I thanked my teachers, Fadhlan Aiman Azlan and Rosfazilawati for helping me in training and supporting me. "My ambition is to become a national runner one day," added Jayvind who is fired up to win his first ever medal in the MSSM competition in Perlis next month. Teacher Fadhlan said that Jayvind is a highly dedicated individual. "As his coach, I have great confidence in his future, not only in athletics, but also in his academic journey. I truly believe he has the potential to go far. "Despite having a very demanding training schedule, Jayvind has never wavered in his pursuit of excellence. "He starts his day as early as 4.30am with training, showing a level of discipline and dedication that is rare for someone his age. "Even after a full day at school, he continues with self-training in the evenings. "His consistency and work ethic are truly admirable, and it is this drive that sets him apart as a student-athlete destined for greatness," said Fadhlan.
Vancouver Sun
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Sushi and street-style vibes: Two chefs with total of four Michelin stars team up in Toronto
At $125 a pop, tickets for Masaki Saito's Toronto collaboration dinner with Nozomu Abe of New York City's Sushi Noz sold out in less than 30 minutes . The appeal isn't a surprise. Saito and Abe, who are from the same small coastal Hokkaido town, have four Michelin stars between them. And then there's the relative affordability. An omakase dinner at Sushi Masaki Saito , Canada's only restaurant to hold two Michelin stars , costs $780. On July 4 and 5 at MSSM Ossington , 144 guests saw the celebrity chefs in action. And, in a patriotic twist, in contrast to their Michelin-starred establishments, which use almost exclusively imported Japanese ingredients, Canadian products loomed large. Saito estimates that 95 per cent of the ingredients at Sushi Masaki Saito are Japanese; Abe uses 99 per cent imported products at Sushi Noz. At MSSM, where Saito's students execute his Edomae-style omakase menu for $98 per person, they typically use 50/50 imported and local ingredients. Saito and Abe tipped the Canadian balance even further for their collaboration dinner, saying that only seasonings such as soy sauce and vinegar were from Japan. Discover the best of B.C.'s recipes, restaurants and wine. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of West Coast Table will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The 11 courses included silky B.C. spot prawns cured in kelp and delicate hay-smoked oysters dusted with dill, Nova Scotia lobster with Ontario eggplant and a refreshing vinegar jelly, and a five-ingredient chilled Ontario corn purée. 'I never touch local American ingredients. When I touched the Canadian local ingredients, it was so good,' says Abe. While a hinoki wood counter cut from a 200-year-old tree and traditional Japanese woodwork define the room at Sushi Masaki Saito, MSSM Ossington is another story. The restaurant is covered in vibrant graffiti by Vancouver-based artist Chairman Ting . At the collaboration dinner I attended on July 5 (the first of three sittings), a DJ spun 1990s and early 2000s hip-hop as guests clinked beers over the two 12-seat sushi bars with Saito and Abe: 'Kampai!' Saito had long envisioned this fun atmosphere, he tells me. 'Five seats, four seats in the club, was my high school dream.' With MSSM's high ceilings, colourful graffiti stylings and pulsing music, he realized it. 'A street-style club inside a sushi restaurant is special,' says Saito. Abe agrees. The Michelin Guide described his namesake New York sushi restaurant as a 'sacred space, where every detail recreates an intimate Japanese refuge.' The atmosphere of the collaboration dinner was a marked change. 'My restaurant has no music, and it's very quiet. People focus on the food. Everyone is quiet,' says Abe. 'But this restaurant has big vibes.' Whether his three MSSM locations (including one in Edmonton ) or newest Toronto spot, Ramen Tabetai (where they make just enough rich, pork broth for 100 Jiro-style bowls per day, selling for $22.88), Saito highlights that his primary motivation for opening restaurants isn't monetary. 'Money is (further) down. First and second priorities are: I want to eat; I want to go. It's a very simple reason.' The restaurants Saito craved didn't exist, he adds, 'So, I made them myself.' Since Saito moved to Toronto in 2019, after running the counter at the two-star Sushi Ginza Onodera on Fifth Avenue in New York City, he says the culinary scene has changed 'little by little.' New York's evolution may be faster, but he thinks its growth has almost reached the ceiling. 'Canada has more space,' says Saito. 'Canada has potential.' His vision for Japanese cuisine in Canada doesn't include any more sushi spots. 'We did that already,' he adds. 'I want to open a tempura and a yakitori. More Japanese cuisine techniques.' Saito says many Japanese restaurants operate at the mid-level in Canada. Unlike New York, which has the likes of the Michelin-starred Tempura Matsui and Torien , specializing in binchotan-cooked skewers, the high-end is lacking. 'If we open, I want to open (a Michelin-level restaurant). No competition. Blue ocean.' He already has his sights set on Western Canada (Calgary and Vancouver specifically), but any future projects would open in Toronto first, with an increased focus on Canadian products. Sushi Masaki Saito aside, which he sees continuing to use predominantly Japanese ingredients, in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and trade war, Saito is pushing more local products at his other restaurants. 'They should use Canadian products more and more. And then more Canadian pride, like this,' he says, tapping his Sushi Masaki Saito chef's jacket with the Japanese and Canadian flags side by side. Saito notes that he didn't put an American flag on his chef's whites when he worked in New York City. (However, if it ever came down to Canada versus Japan, his allegiance lies with Japan, 'of course.') He points out that many people go to Japan to learn how to brand and care for food products so they fit into the premium category. (Witness the $120 melon or $325 strawberry .) 'Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, they know branding. So Canadian products — pork, chicken, everything — more high-brand, Canadian pride, please.' Saito says it isn't necessarily a question of one nation's products being better than another's. Factors such as the weather, temperature, humidity, the environment and nature all impact the quality. The Canadian products he considers the most promising include oysters, lobsters, spot prawns and sea urchins, which people already consider luxuries. He uses sea urchin companies as an example, which he thinks have the potential to build a brand that captures high-end chefs' attention at home and abroad. 'Then, in 50 years, after we die, maybe the Canadian sea urchin (will be) very famous in the world. They should do it because the Canadian sea urchin is good. Canadian lobster is good. The Canadian oyster is good. Very good, good, good.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our cookbook and recipe newsletter, Cook This, here .
The Star
23-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
From playground to podium, Goh sows Olympics seed through Kidslympic
One for the album: Former mixed doubles shuttler Goh Liu Ying (back row, centre) posing with participants of the Kidslympic programme. PETALING JAYA: Kids can start their journey towards realising their Olympic dreams from a young age thanks to Kidslympic Malaysia. Former shuttler Goh Liu Ying, who captured silver in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics with Chan Peng Soon in the mixed doubles, started the initiative to encourage more children under the age of 12 to take up sports. In this year's edition, athletics, swimming, 3x3 basketball, volleyball, football, gymnastics and obstacle race will be contested from Oct 10-12 at PNB Merdeka Ventures Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. The event was launched on Sunday, thanks to the partnership with Affin Bank and Watsons Malaysia as the main partners. 'I started Kidslympic with the main intention of helping children develop a better understanding of health and fitness,' said Liu Ying. 'For kids who may be interested in pursuing sports professionally but are still unsure of where their strengths lie, Kidslympic can serve as a platform for them to explore and discover which type of sport suits them best. 'This is actually one of the first sporting events in Malaysia specifically for children under the age of 12. 'It's somewhat similar to National Schools (MSSM) or inter schools championships but without the pressure and competitiveness that often come with it. 'MSSM have limited slots and requires students to go through school-based selections, but Kidslympic is open to all primary school children under 12, giving more kids the opportunity to participate,' added Liu Ying. Liu Ying's achievements as an athlete also spurred her to create Kidslympic. Kidslympic was first held last December and featured five sports – athletics, softball, volleyball, gymnastics and modern pentathlon, where 800 took part.
New Straits Times
22-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Olympian Liu Ying brings back Kidslympic to inspire next generation
KUALA LUMPUR: Kidslympic returns for its second edition in October, with organisers expecting around 5,000 children from across the country to take part. The grassroots sports festival, co-founded by former national shuttler Goh Liu Ying, is designed for children under-12 and promotes sports in a fun, inclusive environment. This year's event will run from Oct 10-12 at Merdeka Stadium and will feature nine disciplines - up from five last year - including gymnastics, basketball, football and athletics. Liu Ying, a three-time Olympian, said Kidslympic was created to fill a gap in the sporting calendar by offering an alternative to school competitions. "Last year was our first edition, and the response was very encouraging. This year, we're expanding with more participants and more events," she said. "In Malaysia, there aren't many platforms like this for young children. We're not trying to push them to go professional - it's about helping them lead active lifestyles. "If they're interested in pursuing sport more seriously later, this can become a stepping stone for talent development." Unlike school-based events such as the National Schools Sports Council (MSSM), Kidslympic is open to all, with no selection process or school affiliation required. "Anyone can register, you don't need to go through your school or district. Even individuals can sign up. We want kids to have the freedom to try two or three different sports and discover what they enjoy," said Liu Ying. Feedback from parents has also been overwhelmingly positive. "Some parents were initially worried about pressure, but they've found that Kidslympic is different. It's fun, low-pressure, and helps their children explore new interests." Although Liu Ying is best known for winning a silver medal in mixed doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics with Chan Peng Soon, badminton will not be featured this year. "We want to promote sports that don't usually get the spotlight. "Badminton already has a strong foundation in Malaysia, so we're giving other sports a chance to grow and be seen," she added.
