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The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Gumi outing a valuable experience for our athletes, says Ballard
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian athletes may have left the Asian Track and Field Championships with mixed emotions, but the overall takeaway was clear – it was crucial learning experience ahead of Thailand SEA Games in December. Malaysian Athletics (MA) technical director Robert Ballard believes the recent outing in Gumi, South Korea, gave the team valuable insights, from medal-winning highs to painful relay missteps.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singapore's Thiruben Thana Rajan breaks 38-year-old national record at Asian Athletics C'ships
SINGAPORE – Not long after breaking a 38-year-old national record in the men's 800m on May 30, Singapore's Thiruben Thana Rajan has cast his sights on an even older mark. The middle distance runner clocked 1min 49.94sec during the heats of the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea to eclipse Sinnathambi Pandian's record of 1:50.56, which was set in 1987. Now, the 24-year-old is eyeing a podium spot at the SEA Games. The only male Singaporean 800m runner to have achieved this was Serjit Singh, who won a bronze in the 1973 edition in Singapore. Thiruben, who finished 17th out of 28 in the heats at the Gumi Civic Stadium and did not qualify for the final, said he had been aiming to break the long-standing national record for a year. He added: 'I sat down with my coaches and we had a plan, basically whatever we planned just happened today, so it's quite surreal for me but it's an event that I have a lot more potential in, so it's definitely just the start. 'Seeing the field, I know that I still have some work to do to be at that calibre to get into the final, but it is not impossible… Maybe in the next Asian champs in two years' time.' India's Krishan Kumar clocked 1:48.66 to clinch the last spot for the eight-man final, while Ko Ochiai of Japan topped the heats in 1:46.24. For now, Thiruben has some intermediate goals. '(My next target is) getting the national record down even more, putting it down to 1:48 or 1:47, and then, of course, going for the SEA Games, and being at least on the podium and hopefully for gold,' he said. Singapore Athletics (SA) president Lien Choong Luen said of Thiruben's feat: 'Another long-standing record broken, and the first Singaporean to dip below 1:50 ever. ' One of my personal favourite events, it was great to watch. Thiru has been knocking on the door all season and for it to come together at this major competition is simply the icing on the cake.' Thiruben, whose role as a marketing and sponsorships executive at SA includes creating social media content to celebrate the athletes' achievements and milestones, will now have to write his own post, something that he has been 'thinking about for a while'. Meanwhile, in the women's 200m, sprint queen Shanti Pereira is on track to defend her title in the final on May 31, having clocked 23.59sec to finish second overall in the heats, behind Japan's Remi Tsuruta (23.37sec) and ahead of China's Chen Yujie (23.60sec). Pereira, who won a 100m and 200m double in the 2023 edition in Thailand, had settled for silver in the 100m on May 28 after clocking 11.41sec, losing out to China's Liang Xiaojing by just 0.04sec. In the men's 400m hurdles, Calvin Quek registered 50.58sec to finish seventh out of 17 and qualified for the final on May 31. Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ex-Malaysian footballer, coach K. Rajagobal's ‘Inilah Saya' book a nine-year project in the making
Datuk K. Rajagobal was standing at the cashier of an eatery in Publika, Kuala Lumpur, waiting to pay for his meal, when he was approached by a gentleman who recognised the legendary sports figure. Others in the shop had their eyes on him, knowing very well who he was. That is the power of 'King Raja'. Despite having played for Selangor and Malaysia some four decades ago, and later gaining national fame as coach from 2009 to 2013, Rajagobal continues to attract attention wherever he goes. Much has been written and said about Rajagobal, but he is best remembered as the man behind the euphoria that swept the nation when his squad won the 2009 SEA Games gold medal and the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup in 2010. Malaysians proudly wore the national jersey again, and many believed that more glory was on the horizon. Unfortunately, Malaysia has not won either tournament since. Fresh from recording a Julang podcast episode with seasoned journalist Rizal Hashim and Twentytwo13 editor Haresh Deol on May 29, Rajagobal sat down with the duo to talk about his book Inilah Saya (This is Me), which will be showcased at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair at the World Trade Centre tomorrow. In his trademark white shirt, adorned with a sewn-on Jalur Gemilang on the left, Rajagobal spoke over teh tarik (tea) and roti bakar (toast). 'After winning the AFF Cup in 2010, many told me to write a book about my journey and success. But it wasn't the right time,' he said. 'When I left the FA of Malaysia (FAM) in 2013, I thought it might finally be the right time. My eldest son, Kanason, told me, 'Appa, why don't you write a book?' I was still busy coaching, but when I returned from Sarawak in 2016, that's when I decided to start working on it.' 'It's been a nine-year project because of several delays. I was coaching PKNS FC between 2018 and 2019, so things stalled then. But once that ended, I got back to working on the book.' Asked why he decided to write it, Rajagobal said: 'I want to share my journey – the challenges I faced, my struggles, my hardships. I also want the younger generation to realise that anything can be achieved if we are mentally strong. Just focus on hard work, and you won't be easily defeated. You'll fall many times, but you'll get up.' 'I also hope this book inspires, motivates, and encourages Malaysians to be patriotic. The younger generation is our future.' 'I would love to see other legends and future players from various sports document their journeys and achievements. It allows others to learn from different experiences and become better individuals.' Priced at RM49, Inilah Saya is available at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair. Rajagobal will hold a meet-and-greet session at the fair tomorrow (May 29) from 11am to 1.30pm. The book is also available online at Karangkraf Mall.
Barnama
4 days ago
- Sport
- Barnama
NSA Has Duty To Find Additional Funding And Not Just Rely On Allocation From NSC
KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Bernama) -- The National Sports Council (MSN) has approved an allocation of RM334,020 for the women's rugby team in their preparation for the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand this December. The NSC announced today that the allocation comprise a full-time central training package at the Petaling Jaya Cobra Club, allowances for players and coaches, purchase of equipment and participation in overseas tournaments. The NSC therefore, refuted the claim by rugby team manager that the allocation channelled to his team was insufficient and viewed his statement implying the meagre funding was inappropriate. bootstrap slideshow 'The amount of allocation provided is in line with the performance assessment of the current sports. Currently, the NSC is managing the programme for preparation of athletes towards the SEA Games,' it said in a statement. The Thailand SEA Games involves 40 types of sports that need full-time training and also phased training. 'Therefore, it is certain that the NSC will have to focus more on sports with medal prospects, especially gold medals at the 2025 SEA Games,' added the statement. The NSC issued the statement in response to an allegation by team manager Tan Thiam Jin that his team's preparations were at a worrying level, following the fact that the NSC-approved funds only covered training in phases for 14 days and one match over a nine-month period, which was published by a local media organisation yesterday. The council informed that National Sports Associations (NSA) also have the responsibility to find additional funds if there are other costs required by the national squad without pointing fingers at the NSC. -- BERNAMA
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Loh Kean Yew aims to be a good father as he juggles both new and old responsibilities
With the help of his wife, Singapore's top badminton player Loh Kean Yew has adapted well to life as a father and touring pro. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Loh Kean Yew aims to be a good father as he juggles both new and old responsibilities SINGAPORE – His main goals have not changed – become an Olympic champion and rise to world No. 1 – but the responsibilities have. The past 12 months have seen several key changes to Loh Kean Yew's life as the Singapore badminton star became a father in July and had a coaching change in January. So, at the start of 2025, the 27-year-old wrote down new targets on top of doing well at the May 27-June 1 KFF Singapore Open, world championships and SEA Games: 'Earn money, be a good dad and spend more time with family.' Not losing sight of his dream of winning an Olympic gold and becoming the top-ranked player to inspire the younger generation, Loh is now very much motivated by his own son and wife these days. He shared that as he juggles changing nappies and retrieving smashes from the world's best players, he is able to continue being a touring badminton pro, thanks to his wife's support. Loh told The Straits Times on May 26: 'I've been more of a badminton player than a father. I also want to spend more time with my son and my wife. This is why, whenever I can, I'll try my best to be with them, and do whatever I can – change his diapers, play with him, feed him, nap with him, put him to bed – to let my wife rest. 'She has been very understanding... There's not much I can do to help her at home when I'm not around, so I need to do my part, which is play the best I can. 'After having a baby, there are many things I don't see as important any more. I just want to focus on my badminton and be a good role model for my son.' In an Instagram post on Mother's Day, Singapore badminton star Loh Kean Yew thanks his wife for taking care of their baby son as he focuses on his playing career. PHOTO: LOHKEANYEW/INSTAGRAM Consistency has often been a challenge for Loh. After reaching the quarter-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he lost to Denmark's eventual champion Viktor Axelsen, he won just five out of his next 15 matches, was knocked out in the first round at six out of nine events, and slipped out of the top 10. 'There are a lot of tournaments we must play on tour, so I had no choice but to be there and try my best, even though I needed to rest after the Olympics,' he explained, adding that the six years of preparation for the Tokyo and Paris Games in 2021 and 2024 respectively had been very taxing. Beneath his smiley exterior, losing hurts. Loh said he has daily psychological battles within himself. 'Like whether I'll be able to perform, whether I will lose today? How will I play, what can I do to win today? It sounds like simple stuff... but it is actually a very tough battle that nobody knows,' he added. After spending some time with his family, Loh started soaring again. In 2025, he reached the German Open final and All England quarter-finals, before winning the Taipei Open in between semi-final appearances at the Badminton Asia Championships and Thailand Open, to take his prize money for the year past $70,000. His fine run has coincided with his tutelage under singles head coach Kim Ji-hyun, who was hired in January, though he also credited former coach Kelvin Ho for 'making me very strong as a player'. The world No. 10 added: 'Coach Kim has given me much more confidence in certain things she asks me to do and try out... I can feel the difference when I'm playing on the court.' Loh hopes to make an impact at the Indoor Stadium, with the US$1 million (S$1.28 million) KFF Singapore Open offering significant prize money and ranking points. In the first round of the Super 750 event on May 27, he takes on the ninth-ranked Alex Lanier, while 22nd-ranked compatriot Jason Teh will meet China's world No. 1 and defending champion Shi Yuqi. Women's singles world No. 12 Yeo Jia Min will face Thailand's 10th-ranked Busanan Ongbamrungphan, while the 28th-ranked Terry Hee and Jin Yujia play Indonesia's Rehan Kusharjanto and Gloria Widjaja in the mixed doubles on May 28. Loh said eighth seed Lanier is a 'buddy off court and we are going to 'kill' each other on court'. 'He's a tough opponent and a very good player who just won the European Championship, so he's definitely a strong challenger, and I look forward to playing with him. But he is seeded higher, so he should be the one who has the pressure,' added Loh, who is unseeded. While the Frenchman won their only previous encounter on tour – the 2024 Denmark Open quarter-final – by edging out the rubber game 24-22, Loh seems to have found a mental breakthrough lately, winning his last six three-game matches. These include extended affairs against Shi in the Asia Championships quarter-final and Taiwanese world No. 7 Chou Tien-chen in the Taipei Open final. But he recognises that more work needs to be done, saying: 'My goal is not to do well in just these few months. I want to be more and more consistent throughout the year and throughout multiple years.' David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
