Latest news with #SyedModiInternational
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Aaron calls for inclusion of rising pairs in SEA Games squad
KUALA LUMPUR: National men's doubles player Aaron Chia has urged the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to consider sending two up-and-coming pairs to the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand. Aaron said the inclusion of Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King and Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri would benefit the team. "I think BAM should send elite back-up pairs like Arif-Roy King and Hon Jian-Haikal. This is their chance (to bring home SEA Games medals)," he said recently. BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh said late last year that the national badminton body was expected to send its best players to the SEA Games in December. Malaysia last won a gold medal at the 2021 SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, but only managed two silvers and four bronzes at the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh. Aaron, who pairs with Soh Wooi Yik, previously won the men's doubles gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines. Last week, world No. 22 Arif-Roy King clinched their first BWF World Tour title at the Macau Open. They stunned top seeds Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani of Indonesia, 22-20, 21-18. World No. 43 Hon Jian-Haikal have been plagued by injuries this season but have won three titles. These were the 2023 Syed Modi International and Guwahati Masters in India, and the Orleans Masters in France last year. The 2025 SEA Games will be held in three provinces — Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla — from Dec 9-20. – BERNAMA
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Still swinging strong as Mei Xing fights against time
PETALING JAYA: Women's doubles shuttler Teoh Mei Xing (pic) is the epitome of perseverance. After nearly 17 months together with Go Pei Kee, the world No. 18 pair are now just one step away from matching or even surpassing the highest world ranking of Mei Xing's career. She previously hit a career-high of world No. 17 with Anna Cheong, a partnership that delivered two titles – the Syed Modi International and the Czech Open in 2021 before it ended when Anna suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and later left the national team in September last year. Mei Xing had to start from scratch with Pei Kee, and she admits the climb this time has been far tougher than her earlier rise with Anna. 'I was fortunate as my ranking with Anna went up during the Covid-19 period when not many players were competing, so it was much easier compared to now,' said Mei Xing. 'But my current rise in the rankings came after the Paris Olympics, when there were scratch pairings, some players had stopped competing and others were just returning to the game. So it's not as easy as people might think, nor is it too difficult, but it is still challenging. 'I had to start all over again. Many people had told me to give up badminton, but I thought it over and decided to just do my job and give my best,' said Mei Xing. One of the challenges Mei Xing has faced is the perception that, at 28, she has been in the national team far too long. She silenced some of those critics last month with a strong showing at the Japan Open, ousting world No. 9 pair Kie Nakanishi-Rin Iwanaga of Japan to reach the quarter-finals. 'Some told me to stop because of my age. There were those who said I was old and questioned when I would leave the national team. 'There have been plenty of such voices, but I feel that as long as I can play, I want to keep going, especially since I don't have any serious injuries. 'More importantly, I know myself better because I'm the one stepping onto the court, not those voices,' added Mei Xing. Mei Xing-Pei Kee will join world No. 2 pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah at the World Championships in Paris later this month, and are eagerly awaiting the draw scheduled for next Wednesday.
New Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Eogene hits new high, Ling Ching cruises into Canada Open quarters
KUALA LUMPUR: Eogene Ewe reached a career milestone at the Canada Open on Thursday, while Wong Ling Ching also continued her fine form to join him in the quarter-finals of the Super 300 tournament in Markham, Ontario. World No. 98 Eogene fought back from a game down to beat Germany's world No. 81 Matthias Kicklitz 13-21, 21-14, 21-18 in 54 minutes, marking his best-ever run at a Super 300 tournament. The 20-year-old previously reached the quarter-finals of the Vietnam Open last year, but that was at the Super 100 level. He will face Victor Lai of Canada in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Ling Ching kept her dream run alive by outclassing Spain's Clara Azurmendi 21-17, 21-7 in the women's singles. The 22-year-old world No. 87, who stunned fourth seed Line Christophersen of Denmark in the opening round, will now attempt to go one step further than her previous best at this level - a quarter-final finish at the 2023 Syed Modi International in India. Ling Ching faces a tough test next against Vietnam's Nguyen Thuy Linh, the second seed and world No. 22. However, it was the end of the road for K. Letshanaa. The 21-year-old, who reached a career-high world No. 45 this week, fell 21-15, 21-14 to India's Shriyanshi Valishetty - a player she had comfortably beaten in straight games at the Thailand International last year. It is a setback for Letshanaa, who was aiming to reach her second successive quarter-final after last week's strong showing at the US Open.
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Despite recent setbacks, Sindhu confident of turning the corner on the tour
She hasn't won a title in nine outings since the Syed Modi International in November last year, not reached the last four, in fact, but P.V. Sindhu remains optimistic about the future. Training with Indonesian coach Irwansyah since the beginning of this year, Sindhu has come close on a couple of occasions but fallen short, specially in matches that stretched into the decider. 'The women's singles game has changed. Earlier it was more of attack and fast rallies but now it's much more defensive with long rallies and long matches, the game has slowed down. 'I need to change my training schedule accordingly. I need to do my physical fitness and endurance. We have been working on that, especially in terms of being more patient to continue the rallies and keep the shuttle in play for 30-40 strokes,' the double Olympic medalist told select mediapersons at the SAI Centre here on Thursday. Sindhu, who was visiting to test her strength and endurance at the SAI Bengaluru's state-of-the-art Sports Science Centre, insisted there were no concerns but admitted training and recovery modules have to adapt with age. 'Fitness and training wise everything is going well. We have two more weeks to prepare before we start off with Japan and China. It is important to be 100 percent fit physically and mentally otherwise it will be difficult to come back from injuries. 'We used to play multiple consecutive events in our 20s. But now you have to make sure your body condition is good, you can't just go out there and play 5-6 tournaments in a row and not be fit, risk injury and make it worse. You need to make sure how the body is feeling after every tournament,' she said. Questions about her recent results were inevitable and Sindhu admitted they were a concern but added that things were moving in the right direction. 'I know people might say you have won everything, there's no pressure. But it is important to make sure I maintain it. Recent results definitely bother me. I have been working on changing my mindset after losses. Sometimes you just get sad but it's important to bounce back. Earlier I was losing easily but recently there have been some tough matches with top athletes. The difference is little but hopefully in China and Japan you will see the results,' she signed off.
New Straits Times
26-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Letshanaa stuns ex-world champ Okuhara as Malaysians shine at US Open
KUALA LUMPUR: National men's singles shuttler Justin Hoh enjoyed a flawless start at the US Open, but it was women's singles duo K. Letshanaa and Wong Ling Ching, who truly stole the show in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Wednesday. World No. 43 Justin needed just 27 minutes to dispatch Belgium's Julien Carraggi 21-10, 21-10 in the Super 300 tournament's opening round, but all eyes quickly turned to Letshanaa and Ling Ching after their shock wins over seeded opponents. World No. 50 Letshanaa turned on the style to beat Japan's eighth seed and 2017 world champion Nozomi Okuhara 21-8, 21-19. While Okuhara, 30, is no longer the force she once was - having also reached world No. 1 and won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics - the victory remains a big feather in Letshanaa's cap. Ling Ching, meanwhile, pulled off an even bigger upset by edging world No. 30 and fourth seed Hsu Wen Chi of Taiwan 21-17, 19-21, 22-20 in a 66-minute battle. It marked one of the most significant wins of the world No. 96's career. Letshanaa will next face world No. 49 Aakarshi Kashyap of India for a place in the quarter-finals, while Ling Ching aims to build on her momentum against Bulgaria's Kaloyana Nalbantova, ranked No. 75. The last time Ling Ching made it to a Super 300 quarter-final was at the 2023 Syed Modi International in India. Letshanaa, meanwhile, will be eyeing her second last-eight appearance of the season after reaching the same stage at the Taiwan Open last month. Justin, too, will be looking to maintain his strong form when he takes on Taiwan's world No. 76 Liao Jhuo Fu in the second round.
