Latest news with #NationalSportsAwards
The Star
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Can the badminton eco-system be transformed under Zafrul?
AS I stepped into the hotel hosting the prestigious National Sports Awards for the year 2024 in Subang last Tuesday, I bumped into Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidullah Sanusi, president of the Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF). I did not introduce myself as a journalist. Instead, I dropped my sister-in-law's name, Yusniza.
New Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Yeoh: I trust Pearly-Thinaah will make a wise decision
SUBANG JAYA: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh hopes that women's badminton doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will not rush and make the wrong decision regarding their future. The duo have been in a contract negotiation stalemate with the BA of Malaysia (BAM) since their previous contracts expired in December and have been reported to be contemplating turning professional. Yeoh, however, believes remaining with BAM would be the "safer" option for the world No. 4 pair. "Actually I have not met with them but what I can say is that they should take time to think about this properly," said Yeoh after attending the National Sports Awards here today (May 13). "It is not easy to just move out (of BAM) and find sponsors on your own. "Sponsorship depends a lot on your current rankings and the titles you win. There will be both low and high seasons. "This is why it is always safer to be with the association (BAM) because the association will always supply the resources. "Pearly-Thinaah are up and coming names and we have a lot of hope in them. I hope they won't rush to make a decision but instead take some time to really think about it." Yeoh added that she hopes newly elected BAM president Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz will be able to retain players under the national body. "With Tengku Zafrul in the association now, I am sure he will also be playing his part to try and keep as many players as possible under BAM," she said. Yeoh added that she is also confident Zafrul, with his vast experience in both the corporate sector and the government, will be able to strengthen BAM's administration including its finances. BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh remained tight-lipped on how contract negotiations with the Pearly-Thinaah are progressing. The pair are currently competing at the Thailand Open. "I have no comment at the moment, I have not heard anything (regarding negotiations)," said Kenny, who also attended the awards ceremony. "As our deputy president Datuk V. Subramaniam has said, we will have negotiations with them as soon as we have a suitable time, so let's have that discussion first." Meanwhile, professional singles player Lee Zii Jia was also reluctant to comment on Pearly-Thinaah's situation. "It is not my position (place) to comment on this," said Zii Jia. "Everyone has their own dreams and their own thoughts. I am not them and I do not know what they have gone through throughout their careers, thus I am not in a position to speak for them." Zii Jia had left BAM to turn professional in early 2022.
New Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Why isn't Wai Ching recognised, though he towers over the world?
KUALA LUMPUR: When we talk about world-class Malaysian athletes, the usual names that spring to mind are Olympic medallists, badminton champions, bowlers, squash players. But while the spotlight stays fixed on the usual courts and arenas, one Malaysian has been quietly conquering the world in a very different setting — stairwells. Yes, stairwells. Soh Wai Ching isn't just running up buildings for fun. He's the undisputed world No. 1 in tower running, a brutal test of endurance and power where competitors race up skyscrapers in some of the biggest cities on the planet. From the One World Trade Centre (2,226 steps) in New York to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Wai Ching has scaled them all — winning, breaking records and flying the Malaysian flag in places where most would struggle to climb just one flight without gasping for air. He's not just competing. He's dominating. Last year alone, Wai Ching took part in 38 races worldwide. He won 30 of them and set 26 course records. It's an impressive run of success, especially for a man who only picked up the sport in 2017. And yet, despite being the best in the world, the 31-year-old wasn't even shortlisted nor nominated for the 2024 National Sports Awards, which was held on Tuesday. However, he was recognised for the 2022 awards, when he was honoured with a special award for being world No. 1. Let that sink in. While athletes in more mainstream sports receive applause, endorsements and the full support of sporting institutions, Wai Ching continues to train, travel, and compete with minimal backing, often funding his own flights and accommodation to participate in events around the world. He doesn't complain. He doesn't court attention. He just keeps running. But why isn't he being recognised? The National Sports Awards were created to honour the country's finest sporting achievements. Not the most popular athletes. Not the best-funded. Not the most televised. If performance, consistency, and international success are the true yardsticks, then Wai Ching ticks every box than some. Tower running may not yet be an Olympic sport, but it's no novelty act. It's a legitimate, highly competitive international discipline governed by the Towerrunning World Association, with elite athletes vying for world ranking points. Wai Ching doesn't just turn up and do well, he tops the world rankings year after year. Imagine if a Malaysian badminton player was world No.1 for two straight seasons. There would be parades, media specials, maybe even a Datukship. But for tower running? Not even a mention. This isn't about pitting sports against each other. No one is suggesting that Olympic medallists like Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik don't deserve their honours. They've done the country proud, especially after retaining their bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Games. But Malaysia must broaden its idea of sporting greatness. Just because a sport isn't on TV every weekend doesn't mean its athletes aren't world-class. Wai Ching's omission is more than just an oversight. It's a worrying sign that we still judge athletes by the visibility of their sport, rather than the scale of their achievements. It also sends the wrong message to our younger generation that unless you're in a sport with big sponsors, TV deals and Olympic status, you don't stand a chance of national recognition. That's not only unfair, it's short-sighted. Especially when you consider that tower running could soon be included in the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee has already opened the door to host nations, adding sports that reflect local interests and innovation. If this happens, Malaysia could find itself with a genuine gold medal contender in Wai Ching. So why wait until then? He's already proven himself as the best in the world. He's already raised the Jalur Gemilang at podiums from Taipei to Tokyo, Chicago to Seoul. What more does he have to do? The National Sports Awards should honour merit, not marketing. They should celebrate athletes who excel on the world stage, regardless of whether they play with a racquet, a ball, or a stopwatch in a stairwell. Wai Ching has earned his moment in the spotlight. His story is not just one of medals and trophies. It's a story of perseverance, self-belief and national pride. He represents what's possible when talent meets tenacity even without the trappings of mainstream support. He's not asking for praise. But he deserves it. It's time Malaysia stopped ignoring excellence simply because it doesn't look familiar. It's time the sports awards honoured the man who took the stairs and reached the top. It's time we took the stairs with Wai Ching.
Borneo Post
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Borneo Post
Abas chief Si honoured at National Sports Awards
Si (sixth right) with Rentap (fourth left), Fatimah (fifth right), Hii (third right) and other state officials and sports leaders at the NSA ceremony yesterday. Also seen is Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (fourth right) who received the National Para Athlete of the Year. KUCHING (May 14): Amateur Tenpin Bowling Association of Sarawak (Abas) president Sunny Si Poh Heng created more history for Sarawak tenpin bowling when he received the National Sports Leadership Award at the National Sports Awards (NSA) 2024 at Dorsett Grand Subang in Subang Jaya, Selangor yesterday. After becoming the first Sarawakian to be elected as the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) deputy president in September last year, Si became the first ABAS president to receive the National Sports Leadership Award from Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeo at the awards ceremony. Among those present at the ceremony were Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu, Minister for Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah and Deputy State Secretary (Operations) Hii Chang Kee. 'I am deeply honoured and proud to be nominated … I wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) for the gracious nomination and to National Sports Council (MSN) for their kind endorsement,' he told The Borneo Post. Adding on, he said the recognition would not be possible without the support and encouragement of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYSED) and the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) whose commitment to the development of sports and leadership continues to inspire and empower individuals across the nation. 'I am profoundly grateful to MTBC and Abas for entrusting me with the opportunity to serve and contribute within the sport I hold so dearly,' he added. Si has helmed Abas since 1988 and served as MTBC deputy president since 2024 and vice president from 1996 to 2004. He has also been Sarawak Sports Corporation management board committee since 2016 and MSNS management committee from 2008 to 2017. He had served as assistant chef-de-mission for tenpin bowling from Sukma V (1994) to XXI (2024) at the state level, and technical officer and team manager to the SEA, Asian and Commonwealth Games at the national level.
The Star
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Hannah hopes Zafrul's expertise can help shuttlers stay in national set-up
PETALING JAYA: With the appointment of Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz as Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president, the hope is that shuttlers will remain under the national set-up in the long run. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said she hopes the experience and knowledge brought in by Zafrul as head of BAM would translate to players choosing to stay with the association, as he can strengthen it in terms of finances. 'With Tengku Zafrul in the association now, I'm sure he will be looking at keeping as many players as possible under the BAM roof,' she said when met at the National Sports Awards at the Dorsett Grand Subang yesterday. With Zafrul's knowledge in the government and corporate sector, Hannah hopes Zafrul can help the association bring in more funds. 'Certain sports ecosystems need a lot of money, and that's not something everyone can do. 'Tengku Zafrul knows the government and corporate landscape, and I trust he can bring in good money. I'm sure all the states want that as well. 'I wish him all the best,' she said. The issue of shuttlers opting to leave the national set-up in search of an independent route has been ongoing and in the spotlight again after the future of women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah has been left hanging as they are said to be looking at turning professional. Hannah said the duo should think carefully and not rush into making the wrong decision, adding that staying with BAM may be the safer option. 'I have not met Pearly and Thinaah but I think they need time to think about this properly. 'When you are on your own, sponsorships really depend on your rankings and the tournaments you win. 'There will be high and low seasons, and it's always safer to be with the association because they will always supply the resources. 'I hope they will not make the decision in a rush, and really take some time to think about it,' said Hannah. At the same time, BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh said the contract negotiations are still ongoing with the world No. 4 pair. 'As our deputy president, Datuk V. Subramaniam has said, as soon as we have the time, we will discuss this matter with them,' said Kenny, who was also at the awards ceremony. Kenny accepted Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik's National Sportsman award on their behalf as they are currently competing at the Thailand Open.
