Day: May 20, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, National men’s hockey head coach Sarjit Singh has included five newcomers in the 20-man team for the 2024 Nations Cup in Gniezno, Poland from May 31-June 9.

National team management committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Najmi Abdul Razak said today that the five are midfielder Syawal Abd Razak, defenders Muhamad Kamarulzaman Kamaruddin and Muhammad Arif Syafie Ishak and forwards Naaveennash Panicker Thevendran and Nur Rahull Hrsikesa Thaitchana Muruthi.

As in previous editions, each team will be allowed to take 20 players to the tournament but only 18 players can be registered while the other two will be placed on standby in case of injuries.

Ahmad Najmi also hopes that the 20 players will do their best and not be afraid of the challenge awaiting them in Gniezno.

“This tournament will give them a more challenging experience, especially the five debutants.

“What want to see from the players is the boldness to fight and play well,’ he said in a statement issued by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation
(MHC).

Malaysia, drawn in Group B with France, Pakistan and Canada, finished fourth in the inaugural edition in 2022.

Following is the list of 20 players for the 2024 Nations Cup in Gniezno, Poland:

NAME

POSITION

MUHAMMAD HAFIZUDDIN OTHMAN

GOALKEEPER

MUHAMAD ZAIMI MAT DERIS

GOALKEEPER

MUHAMMAD MARHAN JALIL (CAPT)

DEFENDER

SYED MOHAMAD SYAFIQ SYED CHOLAN

DEFENDER

MUHAMMAD AMIRUL HAMIZAN AZHAR

DEFENDER

MUHAMMAD NAJIB ABU HASSAN

DEFENDER

MUHAMAD FARIS HARIZAN

DEFENDER

MUHAMAD KAMARULZAMAN KAMARUDDIN

DEFENDER

MUHAMMAD ARIF SYAFIE ISHAK

DEFENDER

MOHD FITRI SAARI

MIDFIELDER

NIK MUHAMMAD AIMAN NIK ROZEMI

MIDFIELDER

SHELLO SILVERIUS

MIDFIELDER

AZIMUDDIN SYAKIR KAMARUDDIN

MIDFIELDER

SYAWAL ABD RAZAK

MIDFIELDER

FAIZAL SAARI

FORWARD

MUHAMMAD AZRAI AIZAD ABU KAMAL

FORWARD

MOHAMAD AKHIMULLAH ANUAR ESOOK

FORWARD

MUHAJIR ABDU RAUF

FORWARD

NAAVEENNASH PANICKER THEVENDRAN

FORWARD

NUR RAHULL HRSIKESA THAITCHANA MURUTHI

FORWARD

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, National men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are optimistic about ending the country’s seven-year title drought at the 2024 Malaysia Masters badminton tournament, set to begin tomorrow at the Axiata Arena here.

Being the tournament’s favourites in the absence of several top men’s doubles pairs, the 2022 world champions represent Malaysia’s best chance to win a title since Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing clinched the mixed doubles title in 2017.

Aaron, however, stressed that though they had a good chance to win here, their plan is to peak at the upcoming 2024 Olympics Games in Paris, scheduled from July 26 to August 11.

‘We are progressing well and hope to be consistent with this performance until the Olympics. We don’t feel the pressure as the top seeds in this event, (because) for World Tour tournaments, it is not about seeding but focusing on our own preparations,’ he told reporters after official training here today.

Meanwhile, Wooi Yik said their preparations have been good, espe
cially with a lot of analysis after the Thomas Cup to enhance their performance.

‘We take this tournament as a trial before the bigger tournament. We are focused on our game and maintain our condition, of course we will do our best to be champions at the Malaysia Masters,’ he said.

Aaron and Wooi Yik are still waiting for their first-round opponents from the qualification round, before facing the winner between China’s Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi and Bjarne Geiss-Jan Colin Voelker of Germany in the last 16.

After the Super 500 Malaysia Masters, the world number four Aaron-Wooi Yik will play in the Singapore Open from May 28 to June 2 and the Indonesia Open from June 4 to 8, before fully focusing on their Olympic preparations.

Other Malaysians in the men’s doubles field are 2023 finalists Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri, Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong, Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King and Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA TINGGI, Octogenarian Yee Sze Mun is proof that age is just a number even for an extreme sport like Ironman.

The 86-year-old said he first competed in the Ironman competition in Kona, Hawaii when he was 58 and the last one was in Langkawi last year.

“I have competed in 21 Ironman events worldwide and completed 16 of them. If I had not been involved in an accident while cycling last year, I would have competed in this Ironman,’ he told Bernama when met at a booth selling books in conjunction with the Ironman 70.3 Desaru Coast here today.

Yee, fondly nicknamed ‘Cina Ah Pek among the extreme sports fraternity, said he has achieved six podium finishes – three as champion, twice as runners-up and once in third place.

“At first, I wasn’t keen on such extreme sports, but after being advised by the doctor to be active in sports following some health issues, I got stuck in and slowly ‘fell in love’ with it.

“Although I started late and many were not convinced of my capability, I was determined to succeed. Ho
pefully, this will inspire youngsters keen on trying their hands at this extreme sport,’ he said.

In addition to the Ironman competition, Yee of Sentul, Kuala Lumpur said he has also competed in 41 running events, completing 37 of them en route to achieving 10 podium finishes.

In fact, the veteran Ironman has also competed in over 200 Olympic distance triathlon events.

Commenting on the two books written based on his experience in competing in various extreme sports at such an old age, Yee hopes they will be used as a guide for fans of the sport.

“I have many fond memories throughout my involvement in Ironman and that led me to produce these two books – ‘The Bumble Bee in Me’ and ‘The Unexpected Finisher’ – for general reading,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Indonesia can breathe easy after fighting back from a set down to beat the Philippines 2-1 and advance to the quarter-finals of the doubles event in the premier division of the 2024 Sepak Takraw World Cup as Group C runners-up today.

In the group’s last match at the Titiwangsa Stadium here, there were some anxious moments in the Indonesian camp when they lost the first set before the trio of Rusdi, Muhammad Hardiansyah Muliang and Diky Apriyadi found their rhythm to win the next two.

The Indonesians, gold medallists in the doubles event gold medal at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, scored a dramatic 7-15, 15-7, 17-16 win over Filipinos Jason Huerte, Rhejey Ortouste and Fritz Gerald Garsola.

Rusdi, who has been representing Indonesia since the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam, told reporters he was relieved to have defeated the Philippines and secured their place in the last eight.

“Glad we made it although it was close in the third set. We only focused on taking it one point at a time until victor
y was secured.

“We came here to win and make our country proud… whoever we meet (in the knockout round), we are prepared,’ said the 24-year-old Rusdi, who hails from Makassar.

Meanwhile, the defeat to Indonesia saw the Philippines missing the cut as they fell to the bottom of the standings in the group without a win, having also lost to Myanmar on Saturday (May 18).

Myanmar emerged as Group C champions with two wins, including over Indonesia yesterday.

Myanmar will next take on the Group B runners-up while Indonesia will face the Group B champions.

The Group B champions and runners-up will be decided later tonight when Vietnam and India square off as both teams had beaten China earlier.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency