Nova believes Jin Wei will be better prepared next year due to more rigorous training

PETALING JAYA: A more rigorous training schedule could be the key to turning women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei’s form around next year. Jin Wei had a difficult year where she had suffered first-round exits in 14 out of her 21 tournaments. The 23-year-old though remains Malaysia’s best bet in the women’s singles to qualify for...

Yu-jen raises eyebrows with stunner over Nishimoto in Syed Modi final

PETALING JAYA: Taiwanese shuttler Chi Yu-jen (pic) has crowned his great run with the Syed Modi International title. The world No. 48 stunned Japan’s world No. 12 Kenta Nishimoto 20-22, 21-12, 21-17 in a thrilling men’s singles final in Lucknow yesterday. Nishimoto started as the overwhelming favourite but the little known Yu-jen battled brilliantly to upstage...

Soong slams Syed Modi organisers for chaotic journey that disrupted his focus

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Soong Joo Ven slammed the organisers of the Syed Modi International in Lucknow after going through a chaotic journey from his hotel to the tournament venue for his men’s singles quarter-final match. Independent player Joo Ven opened up about the difficulties he was forced to face before facing Frenchman Alex Lanier in...

Zii Jia can breathe easier after getting back to where he belongs

PETALING JAYA: It’s a relief to Lee Zii Jia (pic) as he is back in the top 10 in the latest world rankings yesterday following a drastic improvement in his performance in several Badminton World Federation (BWF) tournaments since the Asian Games in Hangzhou. The independent shuttler moved one spot from world No. 11 to...

Coach wants Chen-Toh to do their best to reach Tour Finals semis

PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto has challenged top pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei to at least reach the last four of the World Tour Finals from Dec 13-17 in Hangzhou. Tang Jie-Ee Wei had made the cut for the prestigious season ending Finals for the first time after clinching the eighth and...

Pearly-Thinaah need proper scheduling to avoid injuries

PETALING JAYA: Managing shuttler Pearly Tan’s physical condition and tournament schedule will be women’s doubles coach Hoon Thien How’s main priority leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Pearly faces a defining year along with M. Thinaah as the pair seek to qualify for their maiden Olympics. Thien How believes that the national No. 1 pair...

Naraoka nails biggest title so far

PETALING JAYA: Japan’s Kodai Naraoka captured his biggest title so far in the men’s singles in the China Masters. Surprisingly, World Championships silver medallist Naraoka’s only World Tour title before this had been the Super 100 Vietnam Open last year. The world No. 5 Japanese rose to the occasion to out-play teammate and world No. 13...

Zii Jia heads for short holiday to recharge for next year’s Malaysian Open

PETALING JAYA: Professional shuttler Lee Zii Jia’s inability to break through Kenta Nishimoto’s brick-like defence cost him dearly in the men’s singles quarter-finals of the China Masters. World No. 11 Zii Jia fell to a disappointing 11-21, 12-21 defeat at the hands of world No. 13 Nishimoto at the Shenzhen Bay Gymnasium yesterday. Zii Jia struggled...

Rexy downplays communication issue between Pearly and Thinaah

PETALING JAYA: National coaching director Rexy Mainaky has played down the lack of communication between women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah in the China Masters. Something seemed amiss between Pearly and Thinaah in their first-round match against South Korea’s Jeong Na-eun-Kim Hye-jeong where the duo barely spoke to each other. Pearly-Thinaah went on to lose narrowly...

Player-turned-coach Meng Yean bids adieu to BAM

PETALING JAYA: Lee Meng Yean (pic) has parted ways with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) after being attached to the national set-up as a player and a coach for the last 16 years. Playing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 with Chow Mei Kuan was the highest point of Meng Yean’s career and she...