Latest news with #WorldTourFinals
New Straits Times
18 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Jonassen can't comment for now on Tze Yong's situation
KUALA LUMPUR: Will Ng Tze Yong have to put away his racquet and go under the knife again? As badminton fans discuss Tze Yong's situation, national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen has not spoken much as to whether the shuttler requires surgery for his knee injury. The 25-year-old sustained the injury during the first round of the Malaysia Masters two weeks ago. It was only his fourth tournament since returning from a 14-month layoff after two operations for a back injury. His latest injury could be more serious than initially thought, potentially sidelining him for another extended period. "I can't comment until we have gathered all the facts. We will update the public on his progress in due course," said Jonassen today. Meanwhile, professional Lee Zii Jia is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained at the World Tour Finals in December.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Soon Huat-Shevon bounce back from Malaysia Masters heartbreak
KUALA LUMPUR: After the heartbreak of last week in Malaysia, the husband and wife team of Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai are finding it happier in Singapore. The defending champions at the Malaysia Masters, they exited in the very first round. But on Thursday, they reached the Singapore Open mixed doubles quarter-finals. The world No. 5 beat China's scratch pair Feng Yan Zhe-Wei Ya Xin 21-11, 21-19 in the second round. "Credit to my partner who just got back from injury. He worked really hard to get back on court," said Shevon. "There was uncertainty before we went into the match today because our performance last week wasn't as stable as we wanted it to be. "Today, we both did our parts well. Although there were some unforced errors, we managed to bounce back." Except for the Malaysia Masters setback, Soon Huat-Shevon have now reached the last eight or beyond in seven of their eight tournaments since the World Tour Finals in China in December. They will next play world No. 8 Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran whom they have a 3-3 head-to-head record. The Thais ousted China's world No. 12 Cheng Xing-Zhng Chi 21-19, 21-18.
New Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'It's almost impossible to emulate their feat' [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: China's world No. 1 mixed doubles Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin have admitted that their legendary former teammates Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong are irreplaceable. Although Zhen Bang-Ya Xin feel that the current Chinese pairs are still ahead of their rivals, emulating 2024 Olympic champions Si Wei-Ya Qiong, who retired after winning the World Tour Finals in December, appears almost impossible. Zhen Bang-Yai Xin will meet world No. 2 Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping in an all-China final at the Axiata Arena tomorrow. Zhen Bang-Ya Xin defeated their 11th-ranked compatriots Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi 15-21, 22-20, 21-19 in the last four while Yan Zhe-Dong Ping thrashed Taiwan's world No. 23 Ye Hong Wei-Nicole Gonzalez Chan 21-10, 21-7. "Si Wei-Ya Qiong have set the bar so high that it is almost impossible to emulate their feat," said Ya Xin. "We (Chinese pairs) are currently ahead of our rivals but I don't think we can match Si Wei-Ya Qiong as they are the best ever in mixed doubles."
Barnama
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Barnama
World No. 1 Mixed Doubles Pair Zheng Bang-Ya Xin Still On Learning Curve
KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 (Bernama) -- They may be perched atop the Badminton World Federation (BWF) world rankings in mixed doubles, but for China's Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin, it's clear that heavy is the head that wears the crown as their journey is only just beginning. Ya Xin, 25, believes they are still some distance away from reaching the elite standard set by their seniors Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong, who retired after winning the World Tour Finals last December. Three-time world champions and Paris 2024 gold medallists Si Wei and Ya Qiong are regarded as one of the most dominant and iconic pairs in badminton history. 'They definitely represent the highest level in mixed doubles. I mean their entire mixed doubles record is glorious and I think we're always trying to catch up to them... actually, there's still a big gap between us and them. 'Whether it's maturity and understanding or communication... perhaps, their strongest point is that when they face difficulties, they trust each other even more,' Ya Xin told reporters after their hard-fought 15-21, 22-20, 21-19 mixed doubles semi-final win over their seventh-seeded compatriots Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi in the ongoing Malaysia Masters Badminton Championships at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, today. Ya Xin also believes the internal competition among China's mixed doubles pairs has proven to be healthy as they are constantly learning from one another. 'For instance, with us, sister (2020 Tokyo Olympics mixed doubles gold medallist) Huang Dong Ping will also come and teach us. I think we have a very good, healthy and competitive relationship,' she said. Tomorrow's Malaysia Masters mixed doubles final will be an all-China affair, with world number one Zhen Bang-Ya Xin taking on world number two Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping. Judging by their head-to-head record, things do not look good for Zhen Bang-Ya Xin as they have lost nine out of 11 matches against Yan Zhe-Dong Ping, who cruised to a 21-10, 21-7 victory over Taiwan's Ye Hong Wei-Nicole Gonzales Chan in the other semi-final.
NDTV
23-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
France's Caroline Garcia Set To Retire From Tennis With French Open Being Her Last
France's former world number four Caroline Garcia said on Friday she will retire from tennis, with the French Open starting this weekend her last time at Roland Garros. An 11-time title winner on the WTA tour and former French Open women's doubles champion, Garcia wrote on social media that she has "a few tournaments left" and will then call it quits. "Dear tennis, it's time to say goodbye," the 31-year-old said. "After 15 years competing at the highest level, and more than 25 years putting pretty much every second of my life into it, I feel ready to start a new chapter." Garcia has earned nearly $19 million in prize money and won the season-ending 2022 World Tour Finals, seen as the next rung down from Grand Slams. That same year she won the French Open doubles title for the second time with compatriot Kristina Mladenovic. Her best run in singles at a major was the semi-finals of the US Open, also in 2022. She reached a career-high four in the world but is now ranked 145th. "My tennis journey hasn't always been easy. Since my early days, tennis has been much more than just winning or losing. It's been love or hate. Happiness or anger," she wrote. "But now it's time for something else. My body and my personal goals need it. "Still, this is not over -- not just yet. I have a few tournaments left," she said. The first will be at Roland Garros when the tournament starts on Sunday.
