Latest news with #ThomasCup
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Sunil Gavaskar explains why he would choose to watch badminton over cricket on any day: ‘That's my favourite sport'
India legend Sunil Gavaskar said that he was a huge fan of badminton and he would prefer to watch badminton over cricket any time. He also said that it was his favourite sport and compared the 2022 Thomas cup win by India to the iconic 1983 World Cup win. 'I would play badminton. That's my favourite sport. You ask me to watch cricket and badminton, I'll go for badminton any time. It's just a fabulous sport and I think India is doing so well in recent times. Winning the Thomas Cup a couple of years ago is almost like India winning the World Cup in 83. So there's a lot of progress and we've had great champions. I love watching the sport,' he said in a video shared by Sony Sports on X. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐠𝐨! Sunny G offers Pujara a spot in his Pickleball team 🤝🤣 #SonySportsNetwork #GroundTumharaJeetHamari #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings — Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 26, 2025 In recent times, some of the rallies, they go on for a couple of minutes. I saw one which was like a 100 shots. It was a doubles match and doubles are more likely to have these rallies. It's amazing, their reflexes and everything,' Gavaskar added. In 2022, India defeated the 14-time champions Indonesia to win the Thomas Cup for the first time. India were off to a perfect start as Lakshya Sen defeated Anthony Ginting by 8-21, 21-17, 21-16 in a thrilling tie. India's doubles pair Satwik and Chirag defeated Ahsan-Sukamuljo! 18-21, 23-21, 21-19, the most sensational victory of their career, to give India a 2-0 lead. In the third game, Kidambi Srikanth defeated Jonatan Christie 21-15, 23-21 to make it 3-0. They have done it without losing a match in the final. On Saturday, however, India's top doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty bowed out of the China Open Super 1000 badminton tournament after suffering a straight-game defeat to Malaysian second seeds Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the semifinals. The Asian Games champions once again found themselves on the losing side against the world No. 2 Malaysian duo, who have proven to be a persistent hurdle in their path. Satwik and Chirag went down 13-21 17-21 to 2022 World champions and two-time Olympic bronze medallists Aaron and Soh.
The Star
18-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Xaverian spirit soars as illustrious alumni meet at PJ reunion
Some of the old boys and girls of SXI who turned up at the high-tea gathering held in Petaling Jaya. THE Xaverian spirit was riding high during a get-together in Petaling Jaya attended by many old boys and girls of St Xavier's Institution (SXI) of Penang. The gathering was organised by the Xaverian Club of Kuala Lumpur (XCKL) which caters mainly for the alumni who reside in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Besides the annual dinner, XCKL holds regular events to ensure the ex-students stay in touch and share their latest experiences through life's journey. There are no formalities when the gatherings are held, with many of the alumni having had long and illustrious careers, both in the public and private sectors. The most recent get-together, held at a hotel in Petaling Jaya, saw the likes of ex-Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Kamaruzzaman Shariff, ex-Bank Rakyat chairman Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dr Syed Jalaluddin Syed Salim, ex-OCBC Bank (Malaysia) board chairman Datuk Ooi Sang Kuang, former arts, culture and heritage deputy minister Datuk Wong Kam Hoong, former senior executive in the telecommunications industry CY Chin, CH Williams, Talhar and Wong ex-managing director Datuk John Loh Soong Chew and 1967 Thomas Cup winning squad member Datuk Yew Cheng Hoe attending. Also at the merry event were XCKL president Kevin Yew Chia Ein, and past presidents Ho Chee Kit, Jason Ong, Lim Hock Thiam, Anthony Chuah and Tan Kar Aun. Ong, who was from the Class of 1969, said he was touched to see so many personalities setting aside time to meet up with old schoolmates and club members. 'I was determined to be a part of this reunion, and I would like to say a big thank you to all who made the effort. 'Some, despite their advancing age, remained strong in spirit and will, which is the hallmark of Xaverians. 'They certainly matched words with deeds,' added Ong, who came with his brother-in-law Tan Hun Peng, who is also an SXI old boy. XCKL was registered in 1986 by ex-students residing in the Klang Valley. Its objectives are to promote the Xaverian ideal of brotherhood, forge close links with their alma mater and maintain an interest in its advancement, promote fellowship among the alumni and cultivate closer links with other Lasallian chapters under the banner of the Malaysian Federation of Lasallian Alumni Associations.
New Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
#NST180years: The conscience of Malaysian sport
FOR 180 years, the New Straits Times has not only reported on Malaysia's sporting triumphs, but also helped shape its national conversation. As a watchdog, it has held sporting bodies accountable, given athletes a platform and ensured that the true story of Malaysian sport is told. The NST was there to capture the glory of Malaya's Thomas Cup win in the very first tournament in 1949, and it did the same in 2022, when Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik won the country' first badminton world title. It followed Datuk Lee Chong Wei's Olympic heartbreaks, Pandelela Rinong's breakthrough bronze and Cheong Jun Hoong's world title win. It gave prominence to Datuk Nicol David's eight world squash titles and her record 108 months as world No.1. On the football front, NST honoured legends like Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, Datuk Ghani Minhat, Datuk Soh Chin Ann and Datuk Santokh Singh, while covering the national team's qualification for the 1972 and 1980 Olympics. The NST was there for the 2010 Asean Football Federation Cup victory and Amri Yahyah's brace against Manchester United in 2009 — never missing a beat. And it also asked tough questions on athlete treatment, selection controversies and sports governance. Issues of mismanagement were highlighted not out of malice, but to serve the long-term good of Malaysian sport. Backed by respected editors like Norman Siebel and Datuk Lazarus Rokk, and journalists such as the late Jugjet Singh and Dan Guen Chin, the NST has stood firm in reporting the truth, celebrating the best and exposing the rest. As it turns 180 today, NST remains more than a newspaper, it's the conscience of Malaysian sport.
New Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
NST tells the great sport stories — from Malaya to Malaysia
THE New Straits Times (NST) turns 180 tomorrow, a landmark rarely seen in journalism. Amid its rich heritage, NST's legacy is etched deeply into the story of Malaysian sports. For generations, NST has gone beyond match results and medal counts. It has captured the passion, personalities and turning points that have defined Malaysian sporting identity — on and off the field. When Malaya lifted the Thomas Cup in 1949 for the first time, NST documented every smash and cheer, marking the dawn of Malaysia's badminton dominance. In 1992, it captured the drama as Cheah Soon Kit-Soo Beng Kiang sealed Malaysia's last Thomas Cup triumph, beating Indonesia 3-2 in front of a packed Stadium Negara, a team built around the famed Sidek brothers. In 1975, Malaysia's national hockey team stunned the world by finishing fourth at the World Cup in Kuala Lumpur. NST was in the thick of it, reporting every goal, tackle and standing ovation. Football, too, has been a constant presence on NST's back pages. From the 1950s onward, the paper told the stories of some of the greatest footballers to ever wear the Malaysia jersey — Datuk Abdul Ghani Minhat, Edwin Dutton, Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, Datuk Reduan Abdullah, Datuk Soh Chin Ann, Datuk Santokh Singh, Datuk Hassan Sani, Datuk James Wong, Chow Chee Keong, Datuk R. Arumugam, Datuk Isa Bakar, Datuk M. Chandran, Wong Choon Wah, Nasir Yusof, Datuk Dollah Salleh, Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan and Azman Adnan. NST brought their brilliance and battles to life, with words and images that made them household names. Among Malaysia's proudest football feats was qualifying for the 1972 Munich Olympics, where the national team famously beat the United States 3-0. NST's coverage captured the pride of that campaign. In 1980, the team again qualified for the Moscow Olympics, but never made it due to the boycott. NST reported the heartbreak, giving voice to players who had earned the right to shine on the world stage. Fast forward to the modern era, Datuk K. Rajagobal's class of 2009 revived the nation's football spirit with a stunning SEA Games gold medal in Laos, Malaysia's first in two decades. A year later, they delivered the ultimate prize — the 2010 AFF Cup, Malaysia's first title in the region's top football tournament. NST's front pages roared with national pride as Safiq Rahim, Safee Sali, Amri Yahyah, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat and S. Kunanlan lifted the trophy. Amri's heroics extended beyond regional football. His two goals against former English Premier League champions Manchester United in a 2009 friendly at Bukit Jalil remain one of the most iconic performances by a Malaysian footballer, highlighted in the NST. NST has also tracked Malaysia's rise on the Olympic stage. Datuk Razif Sidek and Datuk Seri Jalani Sidek bagged the country's first Olympic medal — a men's doubles bronze in Barcelona 1992. Four years later, Datuk Rashid Sidek won Malaysia's first Olympic medal in men's singles — a bronze — in Atlanta. Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Malaysia's badminton icon, delivered three Olympic silvers — in Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016. NST followed his every step, from centre court tension to teary finishes, telling the story of a champion who carried a nation's hopes. And in 2022, Malaysia finally secured its first badminton world title through Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in Tokyo. NST gave the achievement the front-page treatment it deserved — an overdue moment of glory for the doubles discipline. NST also documented the rise of Datuk Azizulhasni Awang, the Pocket Rocketman. From bronze in London, to silver in Rio, to a world keirin title, his story of power, speed, and heart was told with the detail and energy it deserved. Pandelela Rinong made waves with her bronze at the London Olympics — the country's first Olympic medal in diving, a sport Malaysia had only taken seriously in mid-1990s. Then came Cheong Jun Hoong's stunning 10m platform gold at the 2017 World Championships, beating China's best. NST captured it all, from the podium to the pool deck. Then there's Datuk Nicol David — Malaysia's greatest individual athlete. With eight world squash titles and a record 108 consecutive months as world No.1, her consistency, class and humility made her a national treasure. NST told her story from teenage prodigy to squash queen, treating every title like it mattered because it did. NST's sports journalism was shaped by some of the best minds in the business. Legendary sports editor Norman Siebel, Datuk Lazarus Rokk, Vijesh Rai and Chan Wai Kong brought leadership, insight and authority to the desk. Today, Ajitpal Singh continues the tradition, ensuring that NST remains the gold standard in Malaysian sports coverage. Among its best writers were the late Dan Guen Chin, known for his methodical accuracy, and the late Jugjet Singh, whose sharp hockey columns became must-reads. Former senior journalist Devinder Singh stood out as one of NST's finest all-rounders, covering everything from youth competitions to world championships with clarity and confidence. NST's dedication hasn't just been to stars. For decades, it has covered school tournaments, state meets and junior leagues, giving young athletes their first taste of the limelight. Many national players saw their names in NST long before wearing the Jalur Gemilang. The paper has also held power to account, reporting on selection controversies, governance missteps and funding gaps, all in the name of a better Malaysian sports system. Now, as NST celebrates 180 years, its connection to sport remains as strong as ever. In an age of noise and novelty, NST still values the things that matter — truth, storytelling, and the spirit of competition. Here's to the memories it has captured, the legends it has honoured, and the dreams it has helped carry. And here's to many more pages of Malaysian sporting greatness still to be written.
The Star
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Old Kit on the new block - Thomas Cupper joins England
File photo of Morten Frost (left) and Cheah Soon Kit. - The Star KAMARUL ARIFFIN PETALING JAYA: Former great Cheah Soon Kit joins England as a coach in lead up to the World Championships in Paris in August. On Friday (July 11), the Badminton England announced that they had hired Soon Kit, who was a member of Malaysia's 1992 Thomas Cup winning team, as their guest coach. "We are thrilled to welcome another vastly experienced former badminton star to the hallowed courts at the National Badminton Centre as Cheah Soon Kit joins the Badminton England coaching ranks as a guest coach," read the statement. "The former Malaysian men's doubles hero is set to enrich our coaching provision in lead up to the World Championships in August." In 1994, Soon Kit and partner Soo Beng Kiang defeated English pair Simon Archer-Chris Hunt to win the Commonwealth Games gold. And in 1996, Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock won the silver medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games. Soon Kit moved into a coaching role at the end of his playing days, becoming the national women's coach for Malaysia and guided Wong Pei Tty-Chin Ee Hui to a gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. He headed the men's doubles department in 2017 and had an influence on the burgeoning careers of two-time All-England finalists Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.
