Latest news with #WorldJuniorChampionships
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Helenius Shows Promise In First Season With Rochester
The Buffalo Sabres were fortunate at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas after trading down three slots with the San Jose Sharks the day before the draft to garner an extra second-round pick. At #11, the Sharks selected London defenseman Sam Dickinson, who had a 91-point season with the OHL Knights, and Minnesota chose blueliner Zeev Buium, who won gold with Team USA at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships. Both are excellent prospects, but are also left-handed defensemen, which the Sabres have in ample quantity. At #14, the Sabres selected Finnish center Konsta Helenius, who many draft analysts labeled as the most pro-ready forward next to top pick Macklin Celebrini after playing last season in the Finnish SM-Liiga, and for Finland at the Under-18's, World Junior Championships and World Championships. The 19-year-old chose to come and play in the American Hockey League and finished with 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 65 games with Rochester, but stepped up his level of performance in the Calder Cup Playoffs, with six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in eight playoff games. Although it would be unwise to rush Helenius to the NHL, it is encouraging that he was able to adjust to the North American game so quickly. Other Sabres Stories Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday? Sabres Summer Dilemmas - Bowen Byram Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of Change Here is an update on other players selected in 2024: Adam Kleber – D – 42nd overall The Minnesota native in his freshman season with Minnesota-Duluth has five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 33 games and was part of Team USA's gold medal-winning squad at the WJC in Ottawa. A Konsta Helenius shorty to finish off the night😮💨@AmerksHockey | #LAVvsROC | #CalderCup — American Hockey League (@TheAHL) May 24, 2025 Brodie Ziemer – RW – 71st overall A product of the US National Development Program, Ziemer made his mark at the World Juniors in Ottawa, scoring seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in seven games for the victorious US squad. As a freshman at the University of Minnesota impressed with 12 goals in 38 games, but the 19-year-old winger's NCAA season ended abruptly, as the Golden Gophers lost 5-4 in overtime to UMass at the NCAA regional in Fargo, ND. Luke Osburn – D – 108th overall The 6'1', 183 lb. blueliner is committed to play for the University of Wisconsin next season and is playing his second season for the Youngstown Phantoms. In 55 games, the 18-year-old blueliner had 41 points (10 goals, 31 assists) and was named the USHL's Defenseman of the Year. Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Thai badminton star Kunlavut Vitidsarn has a bright ‘View' for the future
Thai badminton star Kunlavut Vitidsarn after winning against Denmark's Anders Antonsen at the Thailand Open in Bangkok, on May 18. PHOTO: AFP SINGAPORE – Known for his tenacity and toughness in rallies, Thai badminton star Kunlavut Vitidsarn's famed defensive skills are rooted in an act of rebellion. Laughing as he recounted the story, the men's singles world No. 2 told The Straits Times: 'When I was young, my coach told me to always attack. But I thought I would use up a lot of my power and tire easily if I keep attacking; if I could defend well and counter attack, that would save me energy. 'This was my own understanding, and it worked for some time.' Nicknamed View by his parents, things could have worked out differently for him as he was a sickly child who never envisioned he would become the badminton world champion and Olympic medallist he is today. He said: 'When I was young, I didn't look too much into the future because my father would take me to the hospital almost every day because of allergies. 'I was told to play sports to strengthen my body, and that was enough for me. 'When I was around seven years' old, my uncle took me to play golf, while my father, who is a badminton coach, taught me to play badminton. In the end, I chose badminton because I felt standing and swinging at golf balls was not as fun as running around and jumping to hit shuttlecocks.' His appetite for success was whetted when he won his first medal in a local junior badminton competition at eight. 'That was when I started to think more about my future and I wanted to try everything to become better in badminton,' said Kunlavut. When he saw Ratchanok Intanon, then 18, create history in 2013 by becoming Thailand's first badminton world champion and the youngest singles world champion, he decided to join the Banthongyord Badminton School where she had trained at. Incredibly, Kunlavut managed to follow in her footsteps when he became the first Thai to win the World Junior Championships boys' singles title three times from 2017 to 2019 – Ratchanok had achieved the same feat in the girls' singles from 2009 to 2011. He continued to excel at the senior level, although he insisted it was not that straightforward as he faced 'older, more experienced, and much better players'. He said: 'If something didn't work during the tournament, or if I wasn't good enough in some areas, I would go back to training and keep trying even harder. But it was also very difficult to train then (during the transition to senior level) during the Covid-19 pandemic.' In 2022, he became the SEA Games champion and won silver at the world championships, before upgrading it to a gold in 2023. But after becoming world champion, he realised he had to evolve and vary his game to do well at the Olympics. He said: 'Many players understand better how I play, which makes it very difficult and stressful to play my usual defensive game. I had to become more attacking and smash more to be better than I used to be, and it worked again.' Already nicknamed the Marathon Man and Three-Game God for his clutch performance in deciders – he has won nine of 10 three-game encounters in 2025 – Kunlavut has become more clinical in his attacks. At just 24, his CV includes a silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics and the Asian title in 2025. Following the high-profile results, he has earned more than US$500,000 (S$645,000) in prize money, and his image is plastered on billboards across Bangkok for sponsors such as Visa and Toyota. At the ongoing KFF Singapore Open, he beat China's 33rd-ranked Wang Zhengxing 21-8, 21-17 to advance to the quarter-finals, where he will meet Malaysia's 25th-ranked Leong Jun Hao at the Indoor Stadium. When asked about his future goals, Kunlavut drew on his rebellious past – he wants to break his stubborn losing streak at the prestigious All England Open. He said: 'Since young, I had three dreams -– to be world champion, Olympic champion and All England Open champion. World No. 1, not at all. If I get it, okay. But if not, it's okay. 'Somehow the All England is way more difficult to win than the world championships or Olympics. From 2020, I have lost in the first or second round every year. I hope to change that soon. 'Also, badminton is still not as famous in Thailand as other sports like football, volleyball and muay thai. I hope through the success of Thai players, we will see more people in Thailand start to play badminton, and more juniors develop into top players.' 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.
New Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Birthday boy Harith claims Auckland Open title
KUALA LUMPUR: Squash player Harith Danial scored the best birthday present he could hope for after beating compatriot Low Wa Sern in the final of the Auckland Open PSA Challenger in New Zealand today (May 25). Harith, who turned 19 yesterday (May 24), was forced to dig deep before securing a 11-5, 2-11, 16-14, 10-12, 11-6 win over Wa Sern (world No. 598) in 68 minutes. For Harith, who is the world No. 473, it was his second title this month after winning the UWE X Ace PSA Satellite in Bristol a fortnight ago. Harith, who has been based in Bristol since last year, said: "Wa Sern gave me a real tough fight in the final so I am glad to win." "Winning the title here is the best birthday present for me, especially since it is my first challenger title. It means a lot to me. "I am truly grateful to those who have supported me on and off the court. There is a long way to go but I will definitely treasure this moment. Hopefully more to come in the future." Harith, who won bronze in the World Junior Championships in Houston last year, came back from a game down to stun world No. 196 Benjamin Ratcliffe of New Zealand 8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 in the semi-finals yesterday. Wa Sern had also done well to upset world No. 276 Jooyoung Na of South Korea 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 in the semi-finals. SRAM director of coaching Andrew Cross said it was a great week for Harith and Wa Sern who were seeded 12th and 13th in the tournament but defied the odds to reach the final. "I am proud of their efforts," said Cross.
New Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Duncan denied in Aussie final but duo advance in Auckland
KUALA LUMPUR: Duncan Lee's hopes of winning his sixth title went up in smoke after losing to top seed Muhammad Ashab Irfan of Pakistan in the men's final at the South Australian Open today (May 24). Duncan, ranked No. 142 in the world, went down 11-8, 12-10, 11-9 in 43 minutes to Ashab (No. 62) in Adelaide. Reaching the final was nevertheless a positive achievement for the eighth seed. The Sabahan, 22, had earlier beaten Andes Ling of Hong Kong 11-9, 11-9, 11-3 in the semi-finals. Meanwhile at the Auckland Open, world No. 576 Low Wa Sern upset world No. 276 Jooyoung Na of South Korea 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 to reach the final. Jooyoung was a silver medallist at last year's World Junior Championships. Wa Sern, 18, will face compatriot Harith Danial (No. 473) for the title tomorrow. Harith, seeded 12th, came from a game down to upset New Zealand's Benjamin Ratcliffe (No. 196) 8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 in 47th minutes to book his spot in the decider. National coach Ajaz Azmat said he was impressed by the Malaysian duo's performances "It is a big boost for Wa Sern to upset Jooyoung in preparation ahead of the World Junior Championships in Cairo, Egypt (July 21-26)," said the Pakistani coach.
The Star
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Dhuha hopes to add mileage to long-distance swims before world juniors
PETALING JAYA: Teen swimmer Mohd Dhuha Zulfikry (pic) is hoping he can get more out of himself before competing at the World Junior Championships in August. The 17-year-old, who was named the Malaysian School Sports Council's (MSSM) Best Male Athlete, said he was satisfied with his performance at the recently concluded Malaysian Open in Bukit Jalil.
