Day: May 22, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, The national sepak takraw squad has achieved its target of qualifying for the finals of the premier division’s regu and doubles events at the 2024 Sepak Takraw World Cup at Titiwangsa Stadium here tonight.

The almost thousand-strong local fans erupted into cheers as doubles pair Aidil Aiman Azwawi and Muhammad Noraizat Mohd Nordin overcame Myanmar’s Zin Min Oo and Shein Wunna Zaw 15-10, 17-16 in a nail-biting semi final match.

‘I’m so grateful for this win, I want to thank the PSM (Persatuan Sepaktakraw Malaysia) president for trusting us to undertake this task in the doubles event, I played for him as well.

‘For the final against Thailand, it will be the same, I think tomorrow it’ll be more challenging to win, but we have done our best and will do better than today, 200 per cent,’ Aidil Aiman told reporters after the match.

Muhammad Noraizat echoed his partner’s sentiments, stating that he was really thankful for the win as it was his best achievement in the doubles event so far.

They wil
l go against defending champions Thailand, who beat Indonesia 15-8, 15-13 in the other semi-final match.

In the regu event, Malaysian trio Farhan Adam (left apit), Mohammad Syahir Mohd Rosdi (tekong), Mohamad Azlan Alias (right apit) beat the Myanmar team of Zin Ko Ko, Min Thant Thu and Phay Nyein Chan Khin Maung Cho 15-3, 15-11, and will face defending champions Thailand, who beat the Philippines easily 15-4, 15-8 in the other semi final match.

‘We have one step left and will play a better game, … our mindset here is to not feel the pressure, so tomorrow will be better, I feel there’ll be a miracle tomorrow,’ Mohamad Azland said.

National sepak takraw head coach Ahmad Jais Baharun was delighted with the squad’s achievement of getting to the finals, and believed that it was not impossible for them to spring a surprise over Thailand in both finals tomorrow.

‘My hope for tomorrow’s matches is that the team will play far better than tonight as we realise what a big challenge Thailand is.

‘But we will not gi
ve up, we will try to show our strong fighting spirit, the best gameplay and hope the players and pull of a surprise tomorrow night, nothing is impossible,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi spent time watching and supporting the national sepak takraw squad here tonight.

The finals of division one tomorrow will see Iran taking on Taiwan in both the regu and doubles events.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Cambodia and China’s Yunnan Province have inked cooperation action plans to mutually promote each other’s marathon running events beyond sports.

President of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) H.E. Dr. Thong Khon signed the deal when joining the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Dali Marathon 2024 on May 19 in Dali city, Yunnan province, China.

Under the cooperation, according to the NOCC president, Cambodia will send marathon athletes and voluntary runners to join Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Dali Marathons and erect Cambodian pavilions to promote Cambodian culture and products and attract tourists.

Similarly, he added, the Yunnan province will send its runners to Cambodia’s Angkor Empire Full Marathons and showcase their culture and products during the events.

This year, Yunnan province will send 100 athletes and 500 voluntary runners to join the Angkor Empire Full Marathon 2024, which will happen in August.

The move will further increase the number of runners during the running event held in Si
em Reap province.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

KUALA LUMPUR, Defensive stalwart Muhammad Najmi Farizal Jazlan scored two goals in one minute to help the national team fight back for a 3-3 draw against hosts Kazakhstan in their second Group B match of the 2024 Men’s Indoor Hockey Asia Cup in Taldykorgan today.

Just when it seemed like the home team were set for victory, Muhammad Najmi turned hero for defending champions Malaysia by scoring two penalty corner goals in the 38th and 39th minute for a share of the spoils.

Malaysia had earlier found themselves trailing after just two minutes when Tashkeyev Yermek netted a field goal before forward Faridzul Afiq Mohd equalised with a penalty corner goal in the 15th minute.

Kazakhstan then made it 2-1 when Tashkeyev sounded the board for his second goal just two minutes later off a penalty corner setpiece before Duisengazy Agymtay stretched their lead to 3-1 courtesy of a field goal in the 34th minute.

However, Kazakhstan’s hopes of a second win after trouncing Indonesia 6-2 yesterday were thwarted, thanks t
o Muhammad Najmi’s two-goal blitz.

National men’s indoor hockey team head coach Mohd Rodzhanizam Mat Radzi heaved a huge sigh of relief after watching his team avoid defeat against Kazakhstan and hopes that his men will use the short break to regroup and be revitalised for their third and final group match against 2023 SEA Games gold medallists Indonesia later tonight.

“Tonight, we will be gunning for a win over Indonesia and we will not take them lightly,’ he said in a statement issued by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC).

Malaysia began their campaign in style when they hammered Oman 10-2 yesterday.

In the second round, the top two teams of each group will be placed in Group C while the remaining teams will be placed in Group D.

The top two teams in Group C will not only qualify for the final but will also automatically qualify for the 2025 World Cup.

Malaysia created history at the 2022 edition in Bangkok, Thailand when they won the inaugural Asia Cup by defeating eight-time champions Iran 3-2
in a penalty shootout after both teams were tied 4-4 in regulation time.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ALOR SETAR, The District Schools Sports Council (MSSD) football tournament in Kubang Pasu turned into an ugly foot-brawl when players from both sides started fighting against each other while a player pushed the match official (referee) during the altercation.

A video clip that went viral on social media showed players from both sides clashing against each other before one of the player, a student, pushing the referee from the back.

The situation became tense when the referee who started chasing the player was attacked and assaulted by team mates of the said player.

The referee was pushed, kicked and punched by the players before a number of individuals who were at the location managed to defuse the situation and calm down the referee.

A check by Bernama in the comments section of the social media revealed that social media users condemned the action of the students for their unruly behaviour.

As students representing their schools in the competition, their action is shameful and cannot be accepted said
social media users when commenting on the incident.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency