Axelsen puts his health above accomplishments

PETALING JAYA: For Denmark’s world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen (pic), nothing is more important than his health. The 29-year-old Axelsen has been dealing with lower leg and left foot injuries since the Denmark Open last month. These injuries have led to him conceding a walkover to Malaysia’s world No. 11 Lee Zii Jia in the last 16...

Aaron-Wooi Yik on track to qualify for World Tour Finals

PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron-Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are out to end the year on a high by sealing their World Tour Finals berth after regaining their No. 2 spot in the world. Aaron-Wooi Yik had ended their long wait for a World Tour title at the Denmark Open last month and the victory in Odense...

Improve yourselves to be reinstated, says Chong Wei

PETALING JAYA: Don’t lose heart. This is the message from badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei (pic) for professional mixed doubles pairs Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing after they were dropped from the Road to Gold (RTG) programme yesterday due to poor form. The writing’s had been on the wall for...

Soccer-Messi wins record eighth Ballon d’Or for best player in the world

PARIS (Reuters) -Argentina captain Lionel Messi won a record eighth Ballon d'Or for the best player in the world on Monday, beating Norway's UEFA player of the year and treble winner Erling Haaland of Manchester City to the prestigious prize. Inter Miami's Messi, who last won the award in 2021, played a pivotal role in guiding...

Lesser known pair Hang Yee-Eng Cheong slowly but surely making their presence felt

PETALING JAYA: Low Hang Yee made a bold decision to quit Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in December last year and the move is paying off. The professional player has been reaping the benefits of his sacrifice with his partner Ng Eng Cheong over the last 10 months. There have not been much fanfare for the duo...

Tze Yong can learn a thing or two about confidence from Jonatan

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Ng Tze Yong can get tips from Jonatan Christie (pic) of Indonesia who had overcome a confidence crisis to win the French Open in Rennes on Sunday. Tze Yong lost in the semi-finals to Li Shifeng of China in the same tournament, mainly due to nervousness, which often stems from lack of confidence. It...

After tough last-eight fight, Liek Hou strolls into final

SHUTTLER Cheah Liek Hou was back to his swaggering best as he stormed into the final of the men’s singles SU5 (upper body impairment) final in the Asian Para Games. Liek Hou claimed a dominant 21-7, 21-9 win over Taiwan’s Fang Jen-yu in the last four at the Binjiang Gymnasium in Hangzhou yesterday. A day earlier, the...

Lee’s Achilles heel

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Lee Zii Jia managed to beat one Chinese but could not get past another in the men’s singles competition in the French Open. Zii Jia went down fighting 21-17, 11-21, 12-21 to Hangzhou Asian Games champion Li Shifeng in the second round at the Glaz Arena in Rennes yesterday. The independent player had exacted...

Not missing a beat

FORMER great Datuk Misbun Sidek will reveal his new ‘’home’’ as a coach when the time is right but while the negotiation process is going on quietly, he is keeping himself busy and cooking up some plans. What have you been doing while waiting to decide on the offers you have received to coach abroad? I’ve been...

Nova issues last-four challenge to Tang Jie and Ee Wei

PETALING JAYA: National mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto has set top pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei a semi-final target in the French Open. Nova wants world No. 9 Tang Jie-Ee Wei to bounce back after the duo exited last week’s Denmark Open in the second round after going down 15-21, 12-21 to Thailand’s 2021 world...