Latest news with #WorldTourSuper500
The Star
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Li's ‘liberation' – Shifeng says his historic win feels like a good release
KUALA LUMPUR: Li Shifeng (pic) is overjoyed after becoming the first Chinese men's singles player to capture the Malaysian Masters title. World No. 4 Shifeng was in his element when he only needed 36 minutes to beat India's surprise finalist K. Srikanth 21-11, 21-9 at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil yesterday. It was a historic victory for the 25-year-old as he became the first shuttler from China to win the men's singles title since the tournament's inception in 2009. Shifeng also celebrated his first title since winning the Japan Masters last November. 'I didn't expect to be the first at this event, because I hadn't really paid attention to who won it before,' said Shifeng. 'It's a very good start for me. I have reached the semi-finals a few times last year but lost. 'And this time, to break through and win the championship, I feel it's an affirmation and encouragement for myself. 'The moment I won, I felt quite a release. Because it's indeed been a long time since I won a championship, or even reached a final. 'So, being able to win this championship, I think it's a release, a kind of liberation.'' Shifeng believes he still has some way to go before he can become one of the top players in the world and is keen to use the World Tour Super 500 title win as a springboard for success in bigger events. 'There's still a big gap with the top-tier players, and I haven't won major titles yet,' said Shifeng. 'So, I still hope that through this 500-level championship, I can further improve and strengthen myself. 'Opponents at higher-level tournaments will definitely be stronger. So, after winning this championship, it's in the past. 'I think, the next one starts again, one tournament after another, it's a new challenge. I hope I can continue to make progress,' added Shifeng. It was a great day for China when Wang Zhiyi (women's singles), Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning (women's doubles) and Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping (mixed doubles) also emerged victorious in all-Chinese finals. World No. 2 Zhiyi fought hard to beat world No. 3 Han Yue 13-21, 21-13, 21-18 while Shengshu-Tan Ning defeated Jia Yifan-Zhang Shuxian 21-17, 21-18. Yanzhe-Dongping also proved better on the day than Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin, coming out on top 21-17, 14-21, 21-16 in 63 minutes.
The Star
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Nova says Aidil's steady rise in form is good but he must improve stamina
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin's encouraging progress is timely as Malaysia continue to struggle in the men's singles this year. With national No. 1 Lee Zii Jia still missing from the scene due to an ankle injury and No. 2 Leong Jun Hao searching for consistency, the country badly need someone to step up in the event. Aidil, who reached a career high No. 48 in the world rankings recently, showed good improvement in the Thailand Open where he made it into the second round before going down fighting 21-18, 16-21, 14-21 to China's world No. 14 Lu Guangzu in Bangkok on Thursday. Despite missing out on the biggest win in his career, it was the 25-year-old's best finish in a World Tour Super 500 tourney. Good outing: Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin gave an impressive display despite losing in the second round of the Thailand Open. Aidil's progress is remarkable considering that he was ranked as low as No. 135 when he was dropped by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in 2023. The Selangor player has found a new lease of life under Indonesian coach Nova Armada, who also guides national No. 1 women's singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei and two-time Paralympic champion Cheah Liek Hou. Nova was happy with Aidil's performance in Bangkok and wants his charge to keep pushing himself to reach a higher level. 'Aidil's performance was quite good in Thailand. My target was for him to get past the qualifying rounds first and he surpassed that,' said Nova. 'His fitness is getting better and he has gained in confidence. He is very hardworking and is adapting well to my training programme. 'He still has areas to improve though like his stamina which needs to be even better and he needs to add more variety in his game. 'Against Guangzu, I just told him to not overthink and give him a tough fight. In the second game, he could have won if he pushed himself a bit more. 'He needs to keep working hard and try to break into the world's top 32 rankings by the end of this year,' added Nova. Aidil was the only Malaysian in the men's singles to reach the second round in Bangkok. He is now close to overtaking current national No. 3 Justin Hoh in the rankings with the latter lying at 45. Aidil has another opportunity to prove himself when he competes in the Malaysian Masters starting on Tuesday at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil. He will open his campaign against Taiwan's world No. 65 Huang Yu-kai in the first qualifying round.
The Star
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Justin faces test to justify new role at Thailand Open
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Justin Hoh (pic) will assume a new role in the Thailand Open as the top ranked men's singles shuttler for Malaysia. In the absence of world No. 10 Lee Zii Jia and world No. 24 Leong Jun Hao, who are recovering from ankle and hand injuries respectively, all eyes will be on Justin to defy the odds in the World Tour Super 500 event. With world No. 45 Justin's improved showing in recent times, singles coach Kenneth Jonassen believes he will be able to shoulder the burden as the country's highest ranked player in the meet starting today in Bangkok. The 21-year-old has struggled to raise his game early this year but showed encouraging signs when he made it into the last eight in the Taiwan Open last week. Justin impressively took down defending champion and world No. 17 homester Lin Chun-yi in straight games in the second round. The win has given Justin the confidence ahead of a tougher assignment in Bangkok where he will have to navigate two qualifying rounds to reach the main draw. Justin will open his campaign against Belgium's world No. 51 Julien Carraggi before a possible meeting against India's Ayush Shetty (No. 44). Said Jonassen: 'A very quick turnaround is always needed between tournaments when you reach the last eight and it has been the same for Justin. 'The draw is tricky. First of all, potentially two matches within a few hours is always tough. ''First round against Caraggi is a match which needs our full attention as he can be a dangerous opponent. 'If he overcomes this, then second round is possibly against Shetty who is really moving up the ranks. 'Both players are a great test for Justin but we need to focus on one match at a time.' Justin will be joined by his seniors Ng Tze Yong and Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin but both are currently ranked lower than him in the world standing. Tze Yong, who is still finding his feet after returning from a back injury last month, will take on China's world No. 16 Weng Hongyang in the first round while Aidil will play India's K. Satish Kumar in the qualifying round.
