Day: March 3, 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) — A wax figure of national badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong will be exhibited at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong from March 18.

The wax figure, which was completed in October last year, was on display at Madame Tussauds Singapore and arrived in Malaysia today before it will be permanently moved to Hong Kong tomorrow.

At a ceremony introducing the wax figure here today, Chong Wei seemed touched as he thanked the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), which has helped him achieve various successes during his 19-year stint there.

“19 years in BAM, they were with me (when) I’m nothing and after I have something, I admit my career was like a roller coaster.

“The thing that sticks with me was when I faced my doping case while qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics, my ranking fell to 182 but with everyone’s support, especially BAM, I returned as world number one in 11 months,” he said.

Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, who was present at the ceremony, said the success Chong Wei gained became the country’s pride, and is something that current young athletes should strive for.

“I am very happy that Madame Tussauds Hong Kong will display this wax figure of Lee Chong Wei, who is our national pride. My ministry is very committed in highlighting our country’s sporting potential,” she said.

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim and Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president, who is also BAM president, Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria were also present.

The wax figure of Chong Wei is dressed in the blue national jersey and shorts, as well as blue-green shoes, holding a racket he used at the 2016 Olympics.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) — Reigning men’s doubles world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik have set the 2023 All England as their priority out of the three badminton championships they will be contesting in Europe this month.

Although they did not reveal their actual target, Aaron, however, hopes to reach at least the semi-finals of the German Open (March 8-13), All-England (March 14-19) and Swiss Open (March 21-26).

He said they plan to use the German Open, where they are the top seeds, to gear up for a smashing performance in the All England, which is also the world’s oldest badminton tournament

“So far, we are well prepared physically and mentally. Although we are the top seeds in the German Open, we hope not to put unnecessary pressure on ourselves and we’ll try to do our best,” he told reporters after a training session, here, today.

In the German Open, the world number two pair received a first-round bye and should meet either compatriots Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun or Japan’s Akira Koga-Taichi Saito in the second round.

2020 Olympic Games bronze medallists Aaron-Wooi Yik will begin their 2023 All England campaign against Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando-Daniel Marthin while home pair Arthur Boudier-Minh Quang Pham await them in the opening round of the Swiss Open in Switzerland.

On the challenge posed by Leo-Daniel in the All England, Aaron said they would have to tread with caution against the rising Indonesian pair although they (Aaron-Wooi Yik) have yet to lose to them since they first crossed paths at the Thailand Open in 2021.

“We know it won’t be easy to play against them. Although we have met before, we intend to give it our all and be 100 per cent prepared,” he said.

Commenting on the latest challengers in men’s doubles, he admitted that all the top 30 pairs are almost on equal par.

The 26-year-old Aaron hoped that he and Wooi Yik can maintain their consistency to remain in the top eight world ranking before the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics qualifiers in May.

Meanwhile, Aaron advised the three new national combinations – Muhammad Haikal Nazri-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Goh Sze Fei-Choong Hon Jian and Wan Muhammad Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King – to stay focused on their partnerships and not to forget about previous break-ups.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) recently revamped their men’s doubles department by breaking up three pairs after Nur Izzuddin decided to split up with his doubles partner, Sze Fei.

That saw the Muhammad Haikal-Wan Muhammad Arif partnership forged since 2019 being broken up to pave the way for Nur Izzuddin to pair up with the former.

Wan Muhammad Arif, meanwhile, has been partnered with Roy King, who also plays mixed doubles with Valeree Siow, and Sze Fei teamed up with Hon Jian.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEPANG, March 3 (Bernama) — Malaysia’s sole representative in the World Motorcycle Championship, Syarifuddin Azman needs more time to make a name for himself in the Moto3 class this season, said national Moto2 ace Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman.

He believes that Syarifuddin or better known as Damok can scale greater heights if all parties give the MTHelmets-MSI team rider ample space to prove his mettle in his first full season this year.

“To me, Damok has very high potential to become a world-class rider. He just needs to be given sufficient time to feel comfortable and be in his element in the championship.

“Damok will surely succeed if he can just hang in there in the Moto3 class,” Azlan told reporters after the launch of the 2023 Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) here.

Syarifudin made his maiden appearance in Moto3 in 2021 on a wildcard ticket when representing PETRONAS Sprinta Racing and finished in 13th spot at the Aragon Grand Prix (GP) in Alcaniz, Spain.

He then made four more appearances, also on a wildcard ticket, the following season by racing in the Portugal, Spain, Catalunya and Malaysia GPs.

The 2023 World Motorcycle Championship will rev off at the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal on March 24-26.

Meanwhile, Azlan said he is ready to give it his best as he seeks to emerge as the overall champion in the 2023 Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) after he could only finish seventh last season with 82 points.

The ARRC comprises six rounds, with Round One to be held at the Chang International Circuit Buriram in Thailand from March 24-26; Round Two at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) from May 12-14; Round Three at the Sportsland Sugo International Circuit in Japan from June 23-25; Round Four (venue to be confirmed) from Aug 11-13; Round Five at the Zhuhai International Circuit in China from Oct 6-8 and Round Six at the Chang International Circuit Buriram from Dec 1-3.

On the MSF, Azlan feels that it is a very important event on the country’s motorsports calendar as it gives amateur riders the chance to compete against the professionals.

A total of five race categories will be contested, namely Malaysian SuperMoto Championship, Malaysia Saga Cup Championship, MSF Touge Hill Climb Series, MSF SuperTurismo and MSF Superbikes in the MSF, which will be held from March 5 to Nov 5 at several locations, including at the SIC.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

LABUAN, March 3 (Bernama) — Former Labuan UMNO youth chief, Mohd Rafi Ali Hassan, won the party’s Labuan Division chief post after the incumbent, Datuk Bashir Alias, decided not to defend the post in the party election.

Mohd Rafi’s victory (after nominations were closed on Feb 26) was secured after the Labuan UMNO leaders paved the way for him to lead the division, with his vast experience in local and national politics.

He has also announced to contest the UMNO supreme council election for the 2023-2026 term.

Mohd Rafi, 45, former political secretary to former Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, also said that he would use his experience as a former youth leader to contribute to, and strengthen the party.

“I will use my experience at the grassroots level since 2008 to forge a strong leadership line-up, to manage the party and serve the community on this island,” he told Bernama when contacted today.

Bashir is now the division deputy chief, while Datuk Khalid Abd Ghani is vice chief.

Khalid said that a total of 43 candidates from several branches were vying for 20 division committee member posts.

Division secretary, Mohd Dzulfaizal Ab Manan, confirmed that Niswati Tarji has retained the wanita chief post unopposed.

UMNO elections began on Feb 1 and will run until March 18, with the branch polls for the committees, Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings from Feb 1 to 26.

The divisional elections for the Wanita, Youth and Puteri committees will be held simultaneously nationwide on March 11.

The UMNO divisional delegates meetings and elections, along with the election of Umno Supreme Council members, will be held simultaneously throughout the country on March 18.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency