Latest news with #all-Malaysian
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Golden shuttlers win silver in China teams event
(From Left) Ong, Chua, Neoh, Chan, Tan, Chong, Dr Goh and Kong all smiles after taking the silver in the men's doubles at WCBF Team Championship in China. A GROUP of Malaysian senior shuttlers rose to the occasion amid fierce competition to take home silver at the 14th World Chinese Badminton Federation (WCBF) Team Championship. The event in XinChang, ZheJiang province, saw eight-member all-Malaysian Team NZPAL place second in the men's doubles team event in the 70-74 age category. NZPAL, headed by Stephen Tan, managed to upset the Chinese home team in the semi-finals, heading to the finals against Team NZ70+ with players from Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. The championship had attracted 692 teams, with more than 4,500 players in various age categories ranging from 18 to 70+ years. NZPAL, comprising seasoned campaigner Chan Wan Seong as well as Chua Koh Keong, Ricky Kong, Chong Yew Chzon, Neoh Cheong Kooi, Ong Sin Oong and Dr Goh Kim Chuan, qualified through the group stages after playing three matches. In the elimination stage, the team had to play three 31-point men's doubles knockout matches to advance to the final. The semi-finals saw NZPAL facing a strong team from China but they managed a 2-1 win. Kong and Neoh lost the first match while Chan and Chua, the reigning 2024 WCBF men's doubles 70-74 Champions, won the second to tie the score. 'We played under tremendous mental and physical pressure, neck-and-neck with the opposing pair, with the lead changing hands and no more than three or four points separating us. 'At the halfway stage, the China pair was leading 16-12. 'We fought to tie at 25-25 and we managed to power ahead to win 31-27 after a tense and thrilling contest,' Chan said. In the deciding third match, underdogs Chong and Dr Goh defended superbly against their opponents' constant attack, winning 31-24. In the finals played 15 minutes after the semi-finals, Tan said the team unfortunately was a spent force after playing five matches on the same day. They faced Team NZ70+, favourites to win, and lost 0-3. Tan said the Malaysian team played with courage and gave their all in making it to the final to take silver. 'It is not easy to find Malaysian players in the 70-74 years category who are still playing competitively,' he said. 'Most of the players had not partnered with each other regularly, forming scratch pairs to participate in this tournament.' Participating in the 3P220 event, a three-shuttler team event with an aggregate age of 220 years, Tan topped the category alongside teammates Hartono and Fritz Manaiky from Indonesia. He won another gold as a member of the NZ75 men's doubles team event, consisting of shuttlers from other countries. Just a week prior to the WCBF Team Championships, 71-year-old Chan participated in the All-England Senior Badminton Championships held in Hatfield, the United Kingdom. In his quarter-final match, Chan lost to seeded Cheddi Liljestrom from Sweden who is also the reigning Men's Singles 65-69 years Bronze medallist in the 2023 BWF World Senior Championships.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Revenge for Aaron-Wooi Yik, regret for world No. 1 Sze Fei-Izzuddin
KUALA LUMPUR: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik exacted sweet revenge on compatriots Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun to book a spot in the Singapore Open semi-finals on Friday. The world No. 3, beaten by Wei Chong-Kai Wun in last week's Malaysia Masters final, needed just 33 minutes to settle the score with a 22-20, 21-17 win in the quarter-finals. However, hopes of an all-Malaysian semi-final were dashed after world No. 1 Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani suffered a shock 21-17, 21-15 defeat to India's world No. 27 and reigning Asian Games champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty. Aaron-Wooi Yik are now the last Malaysians standing and will face the Indian pair for a place in Sunday's final. It will be their fourth consecutive semi-final, having won the Badminton Asia Championships last month and the Thailand Open two weeks ago. "We're more mature now, and we've improved, but there's still room for growth," said Wooi Yik. "We know Wei Chong-Kai Wun well, so it was about executing better today, and we did." Aaron credited their resurgence to the guidance of national coach Herry IP. "Herry has been excellent for us. It's still a work in progress, but we're hoping for more," said Aaron. "The first game was crucial. We were lucky to take it, and after that, we stayed calm and composed." Aaron-Wooi Yik will start as favourites against Satwiksairaj-Chirag, having won nine of their 12 meetings, including their last clash at the Paris Olympics last year. "Satwiksairaj-Chirag haven't played much since Paris due to injuries, so we're not sure about their current form," said Wooi Yik. "But we'll give it our best and see how it goes." Meanwhile, women's doubles hopes ended after world No. 4 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah fell 14-21, 24-22, 21-14 to China's world No. 11 Jia Yi Fan-Zheng Shu Xian in the quarter-finals.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Aaron-Wooi Yik strike back to reach Singapore Open semis
KUALA LUMPUR: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik gained sweet revenge by beating compatriots Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun to reach the Singapore Open semi-finals on Friday. The world No. 3 edged Wei Chong-Kai Wun 22-20, 21-17 in a tightly contested all-Malaysian quarter-final. The victory avenged their painful loss to the same pair in last week's Malaysia Masters final. However, hopes of an all-Malaysian semi-final were dashed after world No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani crashed out, losing 21-17, 21-15 to India's world No. 27 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty.
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Aaron-Soh game for Masters rematch with Man-Tee after slaying bogey pair
National men's doubles shuttlers Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in action against compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in the final match of Malaysian Masters at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil on Sunday. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star PETALING JAYA: No matter the outcome of today's Singapore Open quarter-final, Malaysia is assured of at least one semi-final spot as top men's doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik prepare to face compatriots Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun. This encounter is a replay of last Sunday's Malaysian Masters final, which was won by Wei Chong-Kai Wun. However, for Aaron-Wooi Yik, reaching the quarter-finals represents more than just progression. They have conquered a long-standing mental hurdle by overcoming their main rivals, Japan's Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi, in yesterday's second-round clash. Even sweeter was the chance to avenge the painful defeat they suffered at the Sudirman Cup group stage in Xiamen earlier this month. Malaysia finished second in their group and faced China in the knockout round, where they were eliminated. Reflecting on yesterday's match, Aaron-Wooi Yik admitted that the situation almost replayed the same script from Xiamen, despite being close to victory. Thankfully, they followed the advice of coach Herry Iman Pierngadi to stay patient, and their perseverance paid off with a 21-18, 24-26, 21-12 win. 'To be honest, it's a huge relief. I think all of us still remember the loss to them (Hoki-Kobayashi) at the Sudirman Cup, especially after we had such a big lead. Today, the second game felt similar, and it brought back those tough memories. 'But being able to beat them now really gives us a boost in confidence and belief in ourselves. You could see in the second game, once we got a little confused, they started picking up points quickly. It wasn't easy, but we managed to overcome it in the third game, and we're satisfied with the win,' said Wooi Yik in a post match with BWF. Despite riding high on morale and motivation, the Asian champions are keeping their feet firmly on the ground ahead of their all-Malaysian quarter-final clash against Wei Chong-Kai Wun. Wei Chong-Kai Wun echoed similar sentiments, saying that whichever pair plays better on the day deserves to move forward. For both sides, the main focus is ensuring Malaysia's continued progress in the tournament. 'This is our first time reaching the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open, and I have to admit the wind conditions here are quite strong. But we managed to handle it well, and that gave us a confidence boost,' said Wei Chong. The world No. 7 pair booked their spot in the last eight after defeating China's Huan Di and Liu Yang 21-16, 21-16 in the second round. Meanwhile, another Malaysian men's doubles pair in action today is world No. 1 duo Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, who secured their place in the quarter-finals after brushing aside compatriots Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi 21-13, 21-11. They will next face India's top pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Malaysia assured of semi-final ticket in Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shuttlers are assured of a semi-final berth at the Singapore Open. Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will meet Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in an all-Malaysian quarter-finals after beating Japan's Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi 21-18, 24-26, 21-12 in the second round today.
