Andrew aims to use two world meets as benchmarks for SEA Games
The United States-based 21-year-old, who made a big splash at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) last year, is looking forward to participating in two major competitions in the next few weeks as preparation for the Thailand SEA Games in December.
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Full access to Web and App.
RM 13.90/month
RM 9.73 /month
Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.
RM 12.39/month
RM 8.63 /month
Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Jiu-Jitsu exponents target breakthrough gold at Thailand SEA Games
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's national Jiu-Jitsu team are determined to end their gold medal drought at the Thailand SEA Games ON Dec 9-20. The upcoming edition will offer 18 gold medals across three disciplines — Newaza (ground), Fighting and Duo Classic. Malaysia have yet to win a SEA Games gold since the sport's debut at the 2019 Manila Games, but recent results offer hope. At last week's SEA Regionals in the Philippines, Malaysia bagged eight medals in Newaza — two gold, two silver and four bronze. Veterans Adam Akasyah and Cassandra Poyong struck gold in the men's under-77kg and women's under-57kg categories respectively, while 15-year-old Akil Mikail Farrisadikin topped the boys' under-16 under-56kg event. Silver medals went to Damon Soo (men's under-69kg) and Joelle Wong (women's under-57kg), while bronze came from Cheah Wen Khyn (men's under-77kg), Jic Chia Ho Yee (men's under-69kg) and Alexander Paramanathan (men's under-21 under-62kg). Despite the promising showing, Malaysia Jiu-Jitsu Federation (MJJF) president and national assistant coach Lim Fang Han insists Malaysia remain underdogs to hosts Thailand. "It was a strong outing and our athletes showed what they're capable of," said Fang Han. "But the SEA Games will be a different level. Thailand are the favourites. "We also managed to scout some of our opponents, but many top seeds weren't there — the teams were only showing about 75 per cent of their strength." Malaysia's SEA Games record includes a silver and two bronzes from 2019 — Cassandra (silver, women's under-55kg), Lee Ai Jin (bronze, women's under-45kg) and Adam (bronze, men's - under 69kg). At the 2021 Vietnam Games, Adam secured the men's under-69kg silver, while Bless Khoon Yin Yeap earned bronze in the women's under-48kg. At the 2023 Cambodia Games, Adam again settled for bronze in the same category.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Azriyn-Wee Kiong steal show from Sze Fei-Izzuddin at Japan Open
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani made a smooth start to their Japan Open title defence, but it was fellow independents Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong who stole the spotlight in Tokyo on Tuesday. World No. 26 Azriyn-Wee Kiong pulled off a gritty comeback to upset France's 18th-ranked Christo and Toma Junior Popov 13-21, 21-17, 21-19 in 58 minutes at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. The win was a rare highlight in what has been a tough season for the Malaysian pair, who have only reached the second round in five of their 13 outings this year. Their reward is a likely second-round clash against Denmark's world No. 4 pair Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in the Super 750 tournament. Meanwhile, top seeds Sze Fei-Izzuddin, last year's champions and now flying the independent flag, cruised past Canada's Kevin Lee-Ty Alexander 21-13, 21-15 in just 23 minutes. Since parting ways with the BA of Malaysia (BAM), the pair have bagged three more titles, reached the World Tour Finals final last December, and climbed to No. 1 in the world. However, they've not added to their silverware since winning the India Open in January, and their top ranking is under threat from world No. 2 compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik. Sze Fei-Izzuddin will next face either Japan's Hiroki Midorikawa-Kyohei Yamashita or Taiwan's Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi Lin in the second round. In women's doubles, world No. 42 Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee put up a decent fight against Japan's world No. 6 Rin Iwanaga-Kei Nakanishi before falling 17-21, 21-8, 21-8.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Sze Fei-Izzuddin seek China Open momentum for Paris Worlds
KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani will be aiming to defend their China Open crown and build winning momentum ahead of next month's World Championships in Paris. In the draw released on Tuesday, the world No. 1 return to Changzhou as top seeds and open their campaign against South Korea's Kang Min Hyuk-Ki Dong Ju. But the path only gets tougher, with a potential quarter-final clash against China's Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang, followed by a projected semi-final against world No. 3 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea. Hot on their heels are world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who face Denmark's Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard in their opener. The Popov brothers, Christo and Toma Junior of France, await in the second round, with a possible all-Malaysian quarter-final clash against Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun should the latter progress. Malaysia will field a total of seven men's doubles pairs in the Super 1000 tournament. Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri are up against Indonesia's Fajar Alfian-Shobihul Fikri, while Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi take on China's Ren Xiang Yu-Sun Wen Jun. Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong will meet Taiwan's Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen, while Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King face compatriots Wei Chong-Kai Wun in an all-Malaysian first-round clash. In men's singles, Leong Jun Hao will shoulder Malaysia's hopes following the withdrawal of Lee Zii Jia due to injury. Jun Hao has been drawn to face Japan's Kenta Nishimoto in the opening round — a player he has a 2-2 head-to-head record. A possible last-16 showdown against world No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand awaits should he progress. In women's doubles, world No. 3 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are expected to cruise past compatriots Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee in the first round. Their real test is likely to come in the quarter-finals against Japan's Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto, with world No. 2 Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida likely lying in wait in the semis. Another national pair, Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing, take on Poland's Paulina Hankiewicz-Kornelia Marczak in the first round. In mixed doubles, world No. 4 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei begin against Presley Smith-Jennie Gai of the United States, with the possibility of meeting compatriots Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin in the last 16. However, Pang Ron-Su Yin face a difficult opener against China's Gao Jia Xuan-Wu Meng Ying. Tang Jie-Ee Wei are drawn in the same half as Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran, whom they could meet in the quarter-finals, and world No. 1 Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping in the semi-finals. Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, seeded sixth, face a tricky opening match against Indonesia's Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu.
