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KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 -- National men’s doubles pair, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, will miss two upcoming Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour tournaments, namely the Singapore Open starting tomorrow and the Indonesia Open on June 2. Head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi said the decision was made as Wei Chong has yet to fully recover from a knee injury. “Wei Chong’s leg has not fully healed, and he is still recuperating. “For the time being, he is not ready for tournaments, so they will skip the Singapore and Indonesia Opens,” he said recently. Herry added that he and the player are expected to meet a doctor soon to obtain a clearer assessment of the injury. Last week, Wei Chong-Kai Wun also withdrew from the Malaysia Masters due to Wei Chong’s knee problem. -- BERNAMA

Wei Chong-Kai Wun Out Of Singapore, Indonesia Opens, Head Coach Confirms

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 — National men’s doubles pair, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, will miss two upcoming Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour tournaments, namely the Singapore Open starting .... read more

KOTA BHARU, May 25 -- Kelantan Red Warrior FC (KRW FC) are ready to step up to next season’s Super League after finishing fourth in this season’s A1 Semi-Pro League. Its president Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said it is certainly the dream of any team competing in the A1 Semi-Pro League to play in the Super League, which offers a different level of challenge. “It is not easy to secure a slot in the Super League when competing in the A1 Semi-Pro League, and now we have the opportunity. “We are still waiting for an official announcement from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the Malaysian Football League (MFL) on whether we qualify and will be allowed to compete in next season’s Super League,” he told reporters after the KRW FC dinner event here last night. In the A1 Semi-Pro League campaign, KRW FC finished in fourth place, thus qualifying on merit to compete in the Super League. Muhamad Zaki also acknowledged that competing in the Super League would not be easy for the management, as the club would have to face various challenges, particularly in terms of finances. “We have already begun early preparations for next season’s Super League campaign and hope the Kelantanese, especially the business community, will be willing to support us. “At this initial stage, we need to focus on financial planning because we do not want salary arrears issues to arise when competing in the Super League,” he said. He also did not rule out the possibility of a squad overhaul ahead of next season’s Super League campaign, although the matter would be left entirely to the team’s coaching staff. “As for the players, I leave it to head coach Irfan Bakti Abu Salim and the management to determine which players are suitable to strengthen the team,” he said. -- BERNAMA

KRW FC Eyes Super League Spot, Financial Planning Begins

KOTA BHARU, May 25 — Kelantan Red Warrior FC (KRW FC) are ready to step up to next season’s Super League after finishing fourth in this season’s A1 Semi-Pro League. .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 — Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has congratulated national men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani for emerging as runners-up at the Malaysia Masters 2026, yesterday. Zahid said although the championship title did not go Malaysia’s way this time, the fighting spirit and impressive performances displayed by the duo throughout the tournament had made all Malaysians proud. He encouraged the pair to continue striving for greater success and to use the experience as motivation to rise stronger and achieve more accomplishments on the world stage. “Keep it up, guys! Malaysians will always stand firmly behind you,” he said in a statement. The achievement further strengthened Malaysia’s reputation in international badminton and reflected the determination and resilience of the national players in competing at the highest level. -- MINUTESMY -- SOURCE: FB ZAHID HAMIDI

Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi Congratulates Sze Fei-Izzuddin On Malaysia Masters 2026 Runner-Up Finish

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 — Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has congratulated national men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani for emerging as runners-up at the .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 -- Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today congratulated the national team following their remarkable achievement on the world stage, describing the victory as a proud moment for Malaysia’s sports arena. He said the success not only brought honour to the country but also demonstrated that fighting spirit, discipline and strong unity are key factors in elevating Malaysia to world champion status. According to Anwar, the historic triumph is a meaningful gift to all Malaysians and clear proof that the nation’s athletes possess extraordinary capability, endurance and determination in facing challenges while carrying the country’s name internationally. He also expressed appreciation to the national heroes for their dedication and sacrifices, urging them to continue striving for excellence for the sake of beloved Malaysia. -- MINUTESMY -- SOURCE: FB: ANWAR IBRAHIM

PM Anwar Ibrahim Congratulates National Heroes on World Championship Victory

KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today congratulated the national team following their remarkable achievement on the world stage, describing the victory as a proud moment for .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 -- Sensational Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi has expressed gratitude after returning to action following a six-month layoff due to a serious injury. Arif Aiman, who made his competitive return in the 2025-2026 Malaysia Cup final against Kuching City last night, admitted the recovery process had not been easy. The national player said he had to endure a demanding daily training and rehabilitation routine to ensure he regained full fitness to return to the pitch. “First of all, Alhamdulillah, I am grateful after being out of action for about six months. I really struggled to make my comeback. Spending every day in the gym was boring, but I had to go through it because this was the worst injury of my football career. “I took it as motivation. After the injury, I gave myself time to rest, did not put pressure on myself and took the time to recover because I believed that one day I would make a comeback like today,” he said at the post-match press conference after the final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil here. SPORTS-FOOTBALL (ARIF AIMAN) 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR Arif Aiman suffered a hamstring injury during the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying match between Malaysia and Nepal here on Nov 18 last year. In last night’s match, Arif Aiman delighted Southern Tigers supporters when he came on in the 65th minute before scoring his team’s second goal in the 90th minute to help JDT defeat Kuching City 2-0 and retain the Malaysia Cup title for a fourth consecutive season. The 24-year-old was also named Player of the Match. Meanwhile, Arif Aiman confirmed that he will soon tie the knot, with media reports previously stating that his wedding to fiancée Nurul Aliah Natasha Md Hairushahri is scheduled to take place in Johor Bahru tomorrow (May 25). “Alhamdulillah. This is the most meaningful gift after six months out of action. So, I will begin a new phase in my life,” said the four-time consecutive National Football Awards Most Valuable Player. -- BERNAMA

Arif Aiman Grateful For Comeback After Tough Recovery

KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — Sensational Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi has expressed gratitude after returning to action following a six-month layoff due to a serious .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22-- National women's singles shuttler K. Letshanaa saw her impressive run at the Malaysia Masters 2026 come to an end after crashing out in the quarter-finals against Japan's Hina Akechi here today. Letshanaa made a promising start and appeared on course to take the opening game comfortably after racing to a 20-11 lead in the match at the Unifi Arena, Bukit Jalil. However, the world No. 32 momentarily lost her focus, allowing world No. 24 Akechi to reel off eight consecutive points before the Malaysian eventually secured the first game 21-19. The momentum shift proved decisive as the 21-year-old Akechi raised her level to claim the next two games 21-12, 21-10 and seal a semi-final berth after a 57-minute contest. Letshanaa admitted she paid the price for trying to finish off the opening game too quickly. "I wanted to finish the opening set faster and that was why I started to lose focus. However, the Japanese player also played quite well, was consistent and kept changing her game plan," she told reporters after the match. Despite the disappointment, the 22-year-old remained upbeat and believes her breakthrough moment at higher-level tournaments will come sooner rather than later. The quarter-final appearance nevertheless continued Letshanaa's encouraging progress this season, having reached the semi-finals of the Indonesia Masters 2026 in January, her best achievement so far at a Super 500 tournament. She will now turn her attention to the Singapore Open next week, where a daunting opening-round clash against China's world No. 4 Chen Yu Fei awaits. Letshanaa's exit also means Malaysia's wait for a women's singles semi-finalist at the Malaysia Masters continues after professional shuttler Goh Jin Wei was the last local player to feature in the last four before falling 16-21, 16-21 to eventual champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in the 2019 edition. Meanwhile, a mammoth task awaits Akechi tomorrow as she will face top seed Yu Fei, who defeated Thailand's Pitchamon Opatniputh 21-19, 21-9. The Malaysia Masters, a Super 500 tournament, runs until May 24 and offers a total prize purse of USD500,000 (RM1.98 million). -- BERNAMA

Malaysia Masters: Akechi Ends Letshanaa’s Semi-final Dream

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 — National women’s singles shuttler K. Letshanaa saw her impressive run at the Malaysia Masters 2026 come to an end after crashing out in the quarter-finals .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR: May 22, Malaysia emerged as Group B champions of the 2026 quarter-finals, World Cup team event after recording a stylish 3-0 victory over Myanmar in the final group match at the Titiwangsa Stadium, here, yesterday. The victory completed the national squad's unbeaten run at the group stage, as well as making up for the disappointment following the defeat to Myanmar in the previous group stage event. Despite having already confirmed their place in the quarter-finals earlier, Ahmad Jais Baharun's men still put in an energetic performance when the first squad, consisting of Zulkifli Abd Razak, Muhammad Afifuddin Mohd Razali and Aidil Aiman ​​Azwawi, easily overcame their opponents 15-7, 15-9. The country's winning momentum continued in the second set through the pairing of Mohammad Syahir Mohd Rosdi, Farhan Adam and Mohamad Azlan Alias ​​who displayed a neat game to secure a 15-11, 15-6 victory. The country's third squad, represented by Haziq Hairul Nizam, Muhammad Noraizat Mohd Nordin and Amirul Zazwan Amir as well as Hafizul Hayazi Adnan, also gave Myanmar no chance before winning comfortably 15-13, 15-5. Malaysia is scheduled to face Japan in the quarter-finals tomorrow in an effort to continue their pursuit of the championship title. Meanwhile, the country's top killer, Mohamad Azlan, said the disappointment of failing to advance to the team final was the main factor in his team rising to win in style in their mission to advance to the quarter-finals. He said that he and his teammates had discussed and reassessed the weaknesses in the previous squad's actions to streamline the team's play. "Winning or losing, we hope this team can do better. We forget about the squad and focus on giving the best performance for the team and the country. "We are disappointed, but we can't think too much about it because we need to focus on the next game," he told reporters after the match here tonight. -- BERNAMA

Malaysia advances to quarter-finals, wins 3-0 in style over Myanmar

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 — Malaysia emerged as Group B champions of the 2026 quarter-finals, World Cup team event after recording a stylish 3-0 victory over Myanmar in the final .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 -- Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM) has become the first institution of higher education to organise a national-level e-Sports tournament fully managed by students through the kick-off event of ACS Edu Tour Season 5 yesterday. UPTM’s Secretariat and Corporate Communications Unit said that the programme adopts a “knowledge transfer” approach, with guidance from lecturers and industry players, thus providing students with direct experience in managing a national-level tournament campaign. The organisation of the event involved students from the Faculty of Business and Accounting, Faculty of Computing and Multimedia, as well as the Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Humanities. ACS Edu Tour S5, which focuses on the amateur player segment, features the game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang with a total prize pool of RM200,000. “The seven-month programme is expected to involve 111 universities, colleges and polytechnics nationwide, with participation from 1,552 teams and more than 6,200 participants. Of that number, 32 teams are representatives from UPTM students,” the university said in a statement today. The tournament, jointly organised with CRIT e-Sport Malaysia, provides opportunities for higher education students across the country not only to compete but also to explore their potential in various branches of the e-Sports industry. The university said ACS Edu Tour also serves as a holistic development platform through collaboration between UPTM and CRIT, which also implements the Students Influencer Programme, Student Entrepreneurship Programme and Students Ambassadors Programme, giving students opportunities to build personal branding, explore entrepreneurship and engage directly with industry brands. “Students will also have the opportunity to try various roles in the e-Sports industry, including as entrepreneurs, e-Sports commentators (casters) and organisers, which will have an impact on expanding graduate employability in the digital and creative industries,” UPTM said. At the same time, inclusivity was also emphasised as participation is open to women and persons with disabilities (PwD), in line with efforts to expand access and participation in the national e-Sports industry. The programme is a continuation of the collaboration between the UPTM e-Sports Club and CRIT, which has been implemented since 2023 with support from strategic partners such as Tune Talk, Vico, Maggi Hot Cup and the “Kuasa Orang Muda” programme by Impact Integrated. -- BERNAMA

UPTM Students Organise National-level e-Sports Tournament

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM) has become the first institution of higher education to organise a national-level e-Sports tournament fully managed by students through the kick-off .... read more

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 -- National men’s singles players have been urged to ‘look into the mirror’ and confront the reality of their declining standards after another disappointing outing at the Malaysia Masters 2026. The national men’s singles department suffered a complete wipeout in the opening round for the second consecutive year after national number one Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh were both eliminated at the Unifi Arena, Bukit Jalil, here, yesterday. World No. 25 Jun Hao went down 19-21, 21-23 to China’s world No. 69 Hu Zhe An, while Justin was eliminated by experienced Indonesian shuttler Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, 16-21, 14-21. The latest setback has further heightened concerns over their alarming inconsistency and inability to compete on court, prompting national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen to deliver a brutally honest assessment of the current situation. Jonassen said the issue was not a lack of talent or technical ability, but rather the players’ mentality, discipline and unwillingness to adapt to the demands of modern badminton. “I don’t feel we’re losing because of a lack of skill. No. We’re losing because of a lack of discipline to execute and stick to a game plan, and to stay composed even when things become uncomfortable. “You must be disciplined in all aspects. Discipline to be intrigued about how to play when it’s uncomfortable,” he told reporters at the Malaysia Masters 2026 here. Jonassen said both players were still too focused on producing winners and spectacular attacking shots instead of learning how to build pressure patiently through consistency and tactical awareness. “In today’s badminton, you cannot rely on attacking shots all the time. The game has changed. Consistency and the ability to make your opponent uncomfortable are far more important now,” he said. The Dane also admitted confidence within the camp had dropped significantly following Malaysia’s underwhelming Thomas Cup campaign earlier this month, which saw the team crash out in the quarter-finals after a 0-3 defeat to defending champions China. In the meantime, Jonassen said lasting improvement would only happen if players themselves were willing to change their daily habits, mindset and training intensity. “Training is not just training (for the sake) of training. It is always preparation for the next tournament. That must be the mindset. It’s not something I just come in and do. “If I hit the gym, I’m there to get stronger. If I hit the court, I’m there with a specific plan, not just to get through the two hours. I need targets. Any player who comes in must have that mindset: ‘How do I want to become better today?’ If we get that quality, we have a chance,” he said. Despite his criticism, the 51-year-old insisted he still believed in the current crop of players, including Leong Jun Hao, but stressed that their future would depend entirely on their willingness to change. “I strongly believe in second chances or even last chances, but it all comes down to the willingness to change, adapt and learn new things on a day-to-day basis,” he said. In contrast, Jonassen pointed to the women’s singles department as an example of players embracing a long-term development process despite facing setbacks and difficult situations. He said the girls are reaching the point where they accept that things can get very uncomfortable out there, and when things go wrong, they do not look elsewhere but at themselves in the mirror. -- BERNAMA

Jonassen Demands Self-reflection From Men’s Singles

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — National men’s singles players have been urged to ‘look into the mirror’ and confront the reality of their declining standards after another disappointing outing at .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 -- A decision on whether Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, will compete in the Singapore Open is expected to be made this Saturday. Women’s doubles head coach Rosman Razak said the decision would be made based on daily assessments of Pearly’s fitness level as she recovers from a back injury. He said that based on yesterday’s assessment, the country’s top pair had about a 90 per cent chance of competing in Singapore, although the player’s condition could still change over the next few days. “As of yesterday, I could say 90 per cent, but I do not know the condition tomorrow or the day after because it can change. “I may make the decision at the last minute, perhaps on Saturday,” he told the media when met yesterday. Previously, the media reported that the world number two pair had to withdraw from the Masters tournament after Pearly was confirmed to have not yet fully recovered her fitness. Rosman added that although Pearly has shown very positive recovery progress and has resumed on-court training over the past two weeks, the player’s psychological condition and confidence level would also be taken into consideration before a final decision is made. Players returning from injury, he said, usually still face trauma about competing again at high intensity in competitive tournaments. “There are other factors that need to be considered, not just the injury, including psychological aspects and confidence. “In training, we can anticipate things, but the competition environment is different. That is why we are taking it day by day,” he said. Rosman said Pearly and Thinaah are still registered for the Singapore Open and the Indonesia Open, but their participation could still be withdrawn if the pair are not fully fit. He added that the decision is important to avoid the risk of recurring injuries while ensuring the pair’s long-term planning is not affected. -- BERNAMA

Pearly-Thinaah’s Singapore Open Participation To Be Decided This Saturday – Rosman

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — A decision on whether Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, will compete in the Singapore Open is expected to be made .... read more

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