Badminton: Pearly-Thinaah start strong at China Masters

PETALING JAYA: Women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah started off strong at the China Masters as they advanced to the second round on Wednesday (Nov 20). The world No. 6 duo took down China’s new women’s doubles pair Ding Keyun-Wang Yiduo 21-16, 21-14 in the opening round at the Shenzhen Gymnasium. Pearly-Thinaah could face Taiwan’s Hsu Yin-hui-Lin...

Jun Hao shows how tough he can be with comeback win over Lakshya

PETALING JAYA: Men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao showcased his grit on court after coming back from a game down to defeat higher-ranked Lakshya Sen of India at the Japan Masters yesterday. World No. 31 Jun Hao upset No. 17 Lakhsya 20-22, 21-17, 21-16 in Kumamoto to advance into the second round. The win was the 25-year-old’s...

Zii Jia in Japan Masters q-finals after come-from-behind win

PETALING JAYA: Men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia fought back after trailing his Taiwanese opponent Su Li-yang to enter the Japan Masters quarter-finals. The world No. 7 took an hour and two minutes to win his second round fixture 19-21, 21-8, 21-16 against the No. 34 player in Kumamoto on Thursday (Nov 14). Zii Jia will face...

Pearly-Thinaah stumbles at Japan Master, Sze Fei-Izzudin goes through

PETALING JAYA: Women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah have narrowly lost to newly formed pair Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto in the first round of the Japan Masters. Pearly-Thinaah were leading 19-15 in the third game but could not capitalise on their advantage and lost 9-21, 21-14, 21-23 in an hour in Kumamoto, Japan on Tuesday (Nov 12). The...

Viktor, Aaron, Wooi Yik give thumbs up to unique US1mil tourney

PETALING JAYA: Imagine Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen (pic), Malaysia’s Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie playing in a three-on-three badminton game. Well, that’s exactly will take place when these world-class players lock horns in an exciting invitational tournament – Bdmntn-XL Invitational starting today in Jakarta that offers a whopping US$1mil (RM4,340,000) for the winning team. Bdmntn-XL...

Nova’s another mixed pair shaping up well for LA2028

PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin have the potential to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Pang Ron-Su Yin, who were combined last year, have started to find their feet after initially struggling in World Tour competitions. The duo recently reached a career high No. 24 in the world and mixed doubles...

Double the plus points

PETALING JAYA: Women’s doubles shuttler M. Thinaah believes that coach Rosman Razak’s qualities could help elevate her and Pearly Tan’s game. Pearly-Thinaah are set to be reunited with Rosman – who first paired them up during their days in the back-up squad – after the latter was re-appointed by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) as...

Shuttler Qi Xuan shares photos of dislocated knee after fall in Malaysia Super 100

PETALING JAYA: Fresh off her agonising defeat due to a dislocated knee in the semi-finals of the women’s doubles final in the Malaysia Super 100, independent shuttler Ng Qi Xuan took to social media to show the extent of the damage. The 24-year-old, who came within a point of reaching the final, posted photos of her...

Pearly-Thinaah thank coach Hoon for his guidance but it’s time to move on

PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah have scored few milestones under coach Hoon Thien How but they know it is time to move on. The world No. 5 Pearly-Thinaah will be competing in the back-to-back Europe tournaments – the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland starting tomorrow and the Denmark Open in Odense from Oct 15-20 without...

Promising Faiq-Hong Quan proving to be an able pair to support No. 1 in worlds

PETALING JAYA: The emergence of shuttlers Mohd Faiq Masawi-Lok Hong Quan have strengthened Malaysia’s options in the boys’ doubles in the World Junior Championships. While Asian Junior Championships silver medallists Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing remain Malaysia’s best bet to end the six-year title drought in the world junior meet, they will be ably supported by Faiq-Hong...