Take the Khiew for more
Malaysia hope Hoe Yean's silver at Games will inspire medal shows in badminton, athletics
PETALING JAYA: One medal down and six to go. Swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean set the pace with a milestone silver medal in the men's 400m freestyle final at the World University Games (WUG) and the focus will shift to the badminton court and athletics arena in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, over the next few days.
It will be tough going to add to the medal count for the swimming team given they are up against quality opposition unless Hoe Yean can spring a surprise in his final event - the men's 200m backstroke - next week.
Hoe Yean missed out on the men's 200m freestyle final after finishing 13th fastest in the semi-finals (1:48.91s). Another Malaysian swimmer Arvin Shaun Singh placed 16th in the semi-finals (1:49.64s).
Only the top eight swimmers advance to the final.
Andrew Goh also missed the semi-finals after finishing 24th fastest in the men's 200m breaststroke (2:17.84s).
In badminton, the Malaysian team led by Malaysia Games (Sukma) gold medallist Wong Ling Ching stayed on course for a medal in the mixed team event. Malaysia overcame France 3-0 yesterday to march into the quarter-finals.
The national team will take on India next and a win will guarantee a medal together with a place in the semis.
Malaysia are likely to face champions Japan or Taiwan if they enter the last four.
The badminton team, made up largely of national shuttlers, hope to improve on the two bronze medals they picked up at the last Games in Chengdu, China, two years ago.
Malaysia's chef de mission Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Hafiz Yusoff said Hoe Yean's silver medal added value to the contingent as it came at the expense of the athlete setting a new national record (3:47.38s).
'It's a perfect boost to our contingent on the first day of the Games and will generate momentum as other sports get underway.
'We hope our badminton team can enter the final (on Sunday) and after that we also have the track and field events next week. We have top national athletes like sprinter Mohd Azeem Fahmi and Umar Osman competing who will carry our main medal hopes,' he said.
The national contingent comprising 64 athletes are targeting to bring home a total of seven medals regardless of colour.
Malaysia are taking part in six out of 19 sports - gymnastics, badminton, archery, athletics, swimming and taekwondo.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
No room for slow starts as Aaron-Wooi Yik eye China Open final
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik believe they are getting back on track at just the right time after marching into the China Open semi-finals on Friday. The Malaysians looked sharp as they dispatched world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun 21-16, 21-16 in just 33 minutes in their all-Malaysian quarter-final clash at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium. Aaron-Wooi Yik, who suffered a shock first-round exit to independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi at last week's Japan Open, were back to their best, showing the kind of form that has won them three titles this season. "We're getting back on track at the right time, and we'll give our best shot tomorrow (Saturday)," said Aaron. "We used to train together, so it really came down to making the right changes at crucial stages." Yew Sin-Ee Yi had threatened to set up an all-Malaysian semi-final, but those hopes were dashed by world No. 12 and reigning Asian Games champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty. The Indian pair won 21-18, 21-14 in 40 minutes to book a meeting with Aaron-Wooi Yik. Wooi Yik said they must avoid the lapses in concentration that saw them fall 9-4 behind in the opening game against Wei Chong-Kai Wun. "It was a tight game, but we didn't overthink it. We just focused on our gameplay and rhythm," said Wooi Yik. "At the start, we lost concentration and allowed them to take a big lead. That's something we need to work on." Despite the defeat, Wei Chong gave credit to Aaron-Wooi Yik. "Their game plan was effective, and they were very clear about what they needed to execute. We couldn't break their rhythm." Kai Wun admitted that Aaron-Wooi Yik raised their level in Changzhou to improve their head-to-head record to 4-3. "Our service returns and defensive retrieving didn't work today," said Kai Wun. "That made it difficult, and we ended up making more mistakes. Even though we know each other's game, the pair who controlled the drift and shuttle flight had the edge." Aaron-Wooi Yik's commanding 10-3 head-to-head record against Satwik-Chirag should give them confidence heading into Saturday's semi-final of the Super 1000 tournament. In the other semi-final, China's world No. 6 Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang face Indonesia's scratch pair Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Aaron-Wooi Yik, Pearly-Thinaah storm into China Open semis
KUALA LUMPUR: The national men's doubles pair, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, advanced to the semi-finals of the 2025 China Open Badminton Championships in Changzhou after defeating another Malaysian pair in the quarter-finals today. The second seeds put on an energetic display to down Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun 21-16, 21-16 at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, improving their head-to-head record to 4-3. Aaron-Wooi Yik are set to face the Indian duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, who had earlier ousted Malaysia's Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi 21-18, 21-14. Also making it to the last four are national women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who put on a consistent showing to defeat Japan's Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto 21-16, 21-12. They are set to face the host pair Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian, against whom they have won only once in four previous encounters. - Bernama
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
No medals, all out: Badminton squad flop at Asian Juniors
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's challenge in the individual competition at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships (BAJC) came to an end on Friday after all remaining players were knocked out in the quarter-finals in Solo, Indonesia. High hopes had been placed on girls' doubles pair Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu — silver medallists at the last World Junior Championships — but they fell 21-19, 21-12 to China's Cao Zi Han-Chen Fan Shu Tian in 42 minutes. There was also disappointment in the mixed doubles as both Malaysian pairs crashed out. Loh Ziheng-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan lost 21-18, 21-12 to Indonesia's Ikhsan Lintang Pramudya-Rinjani Kwinara Nastine, while Datu Anif Isaac Datu Asrah-Dania Sofea were beaten 21-23, 21-7, 21-13 by China's Chen Jun Ting-Cao Zi Han. Malaysia had also exited in the mixed team quarter-finals earlier in the tournament, meaning they end their campaign without a medal. — BERNAMA
