Day: May 6, 2024

CHENGDU, Five years ago, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) unveiled ‘Project 24’ which aimed among others to secure a gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games and a Thomas Cup 2024 final slot.

Fast forward today, what unfolded at Chengdu High-Tech Zone Sports Centre here have seen disappointment in one of the objectives of ‘Project 24’.

On Saturday, Malaysia’s bid to end the 32-year drought of lifting the Thomas Cup ended in tatters after going down 1-3 to hosts China in the semi-finals.

The setback has raised questions whether ‘Project 24’ is capable of creating a formidable team that has the ability to be a world beater, as that was also one of its primary objectives.

While some may view that making the first semi-finals in Thomas Cup after eight years as a positive outcome, it is undeniable that Malaysia perhaps would be able to clinch Thomas Cup with a squad boasting more top-notch shuttlers.

One of the glaring weaknesses in the current squad is the lack of depth among men’s singles players as it
takes more than one player to win Thomas Cup.

Academy Badminton Malaysia coaching director Rexy Mainaky even stated that it needs more than professional men’s singles shuttler, Lee Zii Jia, to beat China in the last four.

Zii Jia lost tamely to current world number two player, Shi Yu Qi, 19-21, 5-21.

Taking China’s squad as example, all of their men’s singles – Shi Yu Qi, Li Shi Feng and Lu Guang Zu – have equal strength while there is still gap between Zii Jia and other players fielded like Leong Jun Hao, Cheam June Wei and Justin Hoh.

Even more worrying is that, Zii Jia is the only local shuttler with top 10 world ranking while Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) current top player, Ng Tze Yong, who was absence due to back injury ranked 18th followed by Jun Hao (37th), June Wei (63rd) and Justin (233rd).

As such, men’s singles players especially those under BAM need to buck-up if they aim to win more titles and help the country win the Thomas Cup.

As for Zii Jia, the question remained on whether h
e justified the ‘investment’ made by BAM given that the national body need to pay him every time he played here due to ‘image rights’.

The world number 10 had won three and lost two throughout the world’s most prestigious badminton team tournament here.

However, all three victories that the Kedahan recorded were against lower-ranked players while he was still struggling to overcome higher-ranked players including a straight set loss to world number one from Denmark Viktor Axelsen 16-21, 22-24, during the final Group D match.

His form in Chengdu would surely raise some doubts about his ability to secure a gold medal in 2024 Olympic Games.

In the meantime, there is still a room for improvement for two doubles – Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani – following their show in Thomas Cup 2024.

Although capable of fighting against world’s top 10 pair, Aaron-Wooi Yik, ranked fifth, still need to be more consistent ahead of Paris 2024 while Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin must know to deal with conve
rting crucial points to win the match.

Besides team performance, the team spirit was remarkable as they kept cheering loudly inside the venue to inspire their teammates until the last drop of sweat in the court.

Though Zii Jia opted not to join the the national team’s one-week training camp at Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara before the Thomas Cup, but his commitment towards his teammates here was commendable and praised by Rexy.

In fact, Rexy said the 26-year-old was also the first to show up during the meeting session with psychologist Frederick Tan post semi-finals tie last Saturday.

Though it came as no surprise that the national women’s team crashed out early again from Uber Cup, but the manner in which some of national players performed was disappointing.

While It’s true that the mental strength is required to perform well but where’s the fighting spirit? Why did some players drop their head and threw in their towels so fast?

Ergo, BAM needs to adopt a radical approach in a bid to improve
the standard of national women’s camp.

This should include a strategic long-term plan to enhance the Malaysian women’s badminton, putting more effort to unearth new talents nationwide and nurturing them to reduce the gap between other world-class players.

Meanwhile, the hosts, China, unquestionably asserted their dominance in both the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2024.

China bagged their 11th Thomas Cup title by defeating Indonesia 3-1 and claimed their 16th Uber Cup title with 3-0 victory over Indonesia too on Sunday.

If this year’s results are any indication, it’s worth noting that China could conquer the 2024 Olympic Games and other players especially from Malaysians need to elevate their game to fend off strong challenge from them.

One of the tournament’s highlights was indeed the rise of Taiwan men’s squad as they smashed their way to the semi-finals for the first time by upsetting 2016 champions led by Axelsen, 3-1, in the quarter-finals.

In another development, former two-time men’s singles world c
hampion, Kento Momota of Japan made a low-key exit from the international scene without hitting a shuttlecock following his country’s 1-3 defeat to Malaysia, in the last eight.

Momota, who had harboured hopes of lifting his second Thomas Cup with Japan, decided to retire from international competition after a challenging period following a car crash on the Maju Expressway in Malaysia in early 2020.

Now that Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2024 have concluded, BAM can count on their shuttlers to pursue 2024 Olympic Games gold in Paris, which kicks off from July 26-Aug 11, ensuring that ‘Project 24’ is not deemed a failure.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

IPOH, The national men’s hockey team fought back from a goal down to thrash Canada 6-2 in the 30th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup match at the Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium here tonight.

The Speedy Tigers, who suffered a 4-5 reversal at the hands of Pakistan yesterday, were stunned by a 12th-minute Devohn Noronha-Teixeira goal today but swiftly hit back with the equaliser through Mohammad Fitri Saari’s reverse stick hit a minute later.

World number 13 Malaysia then on the power to score two more goals through Muhammad Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal (14th minute) and Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin (19th minute) for a 3-1 lead at half-time.

Malaysia stretched their lead to 4-1 in the 31st minute through a Nik Muhammad Aiman Nik Rozemi field goal before world number 19 Canada reduced the deficit Avjot Buttar’s field goal in the 42nd minute.

Then, in the final quarter, coach Sarjit Singh’s men clicked into gear again and scored two quick goals, with Syed Syafiq Syed Cholan netting goal number five from a penalty corner in the 48th m
inute before Faizal Saari wrapped up the proceedings with a fantastic reverse stick hit to clinch the Man of the Match award.

Sarjit said his new-look team still need time to improve although they did well in certain aspects en route to victory over Canada.

‘Overall, the players showed good commitment and performed well, that’s what we want. We are still not satisfied because we let in two goals…

‘We need to strengthen our defence because, at times, we tend to crack even when there is a little pressure. But it is a long process. We scored six goals but the percentage was not enough from the chances we created,’ he said at the post-match press conference.

Sarjit also praised 19-year-old young striker Azimuddin Syakir, who scored his first international goal in his second match for Malaysia.

‘I am very happy for him. And for Faizal, what a goal he scored, only he can do this. He has been playing well, supporting the team and I am also very happy with the senior players (Faizal, Fitri and captain Muhammad
Marhan Mohd Jalil) for guiding the other players,’ he added.

Earlier, Japan stunned New Zealand 4-1 while Pakistan outplayed South Korea 4-0 in the battle between two former three-time champions.

On Tuesday (May 7), Malaysia will take on New Zealand, the highest-ranked team in the invitational tournament while the two unbeaten teams, so far, Japan and Pakistan will slug it out in the top-of-the-table clash as South Korea and Canada, both winless after two matches, will square off in the third match of the day.

Tomorrow (May 6) is a rest day.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, Sabah FC emerged as champions of the 2024 SMJ Cup after beating Kuala Lumpur (KL) City FC 1-0 in the final match at the Likas Stadium here tonight.

The game’s only goal came in the 63rd minute through a spot kick taken by Ramon Machado after the Brazilian striker was brought down in the penalty box.

Sabah head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee said winning the SMJ Cup was a morale boost for the players, however, there was still a lot that needed to be improved ahead of the first Super League match on May 12 against Penang FC.

“It was a fierce match, high intensity, and this is important for us to take to the (Super League) match next week. We learned a lot about our weaknesses, strengths, and injuries,” he told reporters here tonight.

He said it was still too early to determine the main line-up and strategy for the first match of the Super League, but the input from the 2024 SMJ Cup would be useful.

KL City head coach Miroslav Kuljanac said he was happy with the players’ performance in the SMJ Cup
and gained valuable information for the team to face the first Super League game on May 12 against Kuching City FC.

“The players played well, tactically okay. First eleven for the first Super League Game, we still haven’t decided. We have ideas for tactics, strategy and formation, but we will evaluate things first,” he said.

Kuching City FC finished third after defeating Hougang United FC 2-0 in the third place playoff at the same stadium this evening with goals from Mohd Alauddin Farid (18th minute) and Jordan Mintah (43rd minute).

As winners, Sabah took home RM15,000 in cash along with the SMJ Cup, while runners-up KL City took home RM10,000, Kuching City (RM5,000), and Hougang United (RM3,000).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, National women’s road race cyclist Nur Aisyah Mohamad Zubir will be taking part in about 20 competitions in Belgium and the Netherlands as her final preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) deputy president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill said because of this, the 27-year-old rider will skip the Road Race Cycling Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan from June 5 to 12.

‘I have already discussed this with (women’s road race cycling coach) Amir (Mustafa Rusli). She will be in Belgium beginning May 25 and stay there until she participates in the Olympics.

‘She will take part in about 20 championships in Belgium and the Netherlands. So I think she has a full schedule,’ he told reporters recently.

Asked if other cyclists would be accompanying Nur Aisyah on the trip, Amarjit said MNCF is trying to make arrangements to bring some reserve riders as a contingency plan.

Nur Aisyah will be Malaysia’s first representative in Olympics women’s road racing while for t
rack events the country will have three representatives in Paris – Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang, Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri.

Meanwhile, Amarjit said the chances of Malaysia’s women’s sprint trio participating in the Paris Olympics are slim although the team is on the first reserve list.

‘We are the first emergency reserve but a team will rarely withdraw unless something horrible happens to them.

‘But it’s good to know that our riders are on that emergency reserve list. I feel we should not just look at Paris but beyond into the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028,’ he added.

Amarjit was commenting on a statement by National Sports Council deputy director-general (Sports Development) Jefri Ngadirin that according to national cycling technical director John Beasley, the women’s sprint team, ranked ninth for the Olympics and 11th in the world, is the first reserve for Paris.

The women’s sprint team comprises Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri, Nurul Aliana Syafika Azizan and Anis Amira
Rosidi.

He said Nurul Izzah Izzati will be getting new bikes, including the W-XR model used by Mohd Azizulhasni and Muhammad Shah Firdaus, in about two weeks.

‘We have ordered the bikes for her, and she will be getting the bikes very soon for her to do her training and also to ride in the Olympics,’ he said.

The Olympics will be held from July 26 to Aug 11.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency