logo
Badminton legend Lee Chong Wei receives Datuk Seri honour

Badminton legend Lee Chong Wei receives Datuk Seri honour

The Sun3 days ago
FORMER world number one and national badminton legend Lee Chong Wei was awarded the Darjah Gemilang Pangkuan Negeri (DGPN) on Wednesday, earning him the title of Datuk Seri.
The three-day ceremony was held as part of celebrations marking the 84th birthday of Penang's Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Ramli Ngah Talib, according to Stadium Astro.
Lee Chong Wei dominated world badminton for 349 weeks at the top ranking, including an unbroken 199-week streak from 2008 to 2012.
The Penang native won three Olympic silver medals — at the Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016 Games — making him the only Malaysian athlete to reach the Olympic podium three times in a row and the country's most decorated Olympian.
Badminton Association of Malaysia president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz received the Darjah Panglima Pangkuan Negeri (DPPN), also carrying the Datuk Seri title.
Sports Commissioner Suhardi Alias was among those receiving the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN), which grants the Datuk title.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Jefferson-Wooden, Bednarek blaze to 100m titles at US trials
Jefferson-Wooden, Bednarek blaze to 100m titles at US trials

New Straits Times

timean hour ago

  • New Straits Times

Jefferson-Wooden, Bednarek blaze to 100m titles at US trials

EUGENE, OREGON: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek blazed to victories in the 100m at the US Championships in Oregon on Friday, punching their tickets to Tokyo's World Championships in blistering fashion. Rising US star Jefferson-Wooden produced a scintillating display of controlled sprinting in the women's 100m at Eugene's Hayward Field, scorching over the line in a world-leading 10.65sec. Jefferson-Wooden's time puts her into elite company, tied alongside Marion Jones, Shericka Jackson and reigning 100m world champion Sha'Carri Richardson as the fifth-fastest women ever. The 24-year-old from South Carolina now looks the firm favorite for the World Championships in Japan, where she will be chasing her first major title following a 100m bronze medal at the Paris Olympics last season. "I've been dreaming of days like this, and it's finally starting to come true," Jefferson-Wooden told reporters, adding that she was still pinching herself at vaulting up the all-time 100m list. "It's surreal. It doesn't actually sound real. You look at all these races, all these amazing women who have accomplished these things – me being part of that list is actually kind of crazy." In the men's race meanwhile, two-time Olympic 200m silver medallist Bednarek dominated the field to win in 9.79secs, ahead of Courtney Lindsey, who was second in 9.82sec. T'Mars McCallum was third in 9.83sec while Trayvon Bromell was fourth in 9.84sec. "I'm happy with the time, happy with the performance," Bednarek said. "I definitely have way more in the tank. "I already knew I was in this kind of shape – I just needed to let one rip, and I did." Bednarek revealed though that his race had nearly unraveled after he began cramping mid-race. Bednarek said he had scarcely had time to react to the problem before powering home. "When something like that happens, you say 'Screw it, 'm going,'" Bednarek said. "You just gotta keep going." But there was disappointment for 2019 world champion Christian Coleman, who finished fifth and out of the Tokyo qualification places. Coleman qualified for Friday's final just hours after news emerged he had been allegedly assaulted by girlfriend Sha'Carri Richardson at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Sunday. Elsewhere on Friday, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone hinted she is ready to carry her dominance of the 400m hurdles into the 400m flat with an imperious victory in the opening heats. The 25-year-old has been unbeaten over the 400m hurdles since 2019, winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals as well as a 2022 World Championship gold. However McLaughlin-Levrone is focusing on the 400m at the US championships, apparently opting to skip the 400m hurdles at the Tokyo World Championships. McLaughlin-Levrone was always in control on Friday, finishing first in her semi-final heat in a time of 49.59sec, several meters clear of second-placed Lynna Irby-Jackson in 50.59sec. While McLaughlin-Levrone is looking forward to Saturday's final with confidence, her 2021 Olympic 4x400m relay team-mate Athing Mu-Nikolayev was heading home. Mu-Nikolayev, who won Olympic 800m gold in Tokyo and followed it up with a world title a year later, was eliminated in her 800m semi-finals. The 23-year-old looked comfortable in the opening round on Thursday, qualifying second fastest, but could do no better than fourth on Friday in a time of 1min 59.79sec. Despite the setback, which ended her hopes of qualifying for the World Championships, Mu-Nikolayev is optimistic she can compete at the highest level again.

Justin powers into Macau Open final after gritty win
Justin powers into Macau Open final after gritty win

The Star

timean hour ago

  • The Star

Justin powers into Macau Open final after gritty win

PETALING JAYA: Men's singles shuttler Justin Hoh battled his way into the Macau Open final after a hard-fought 19-21, 21-16, 21-16 win against India's Tharun Manepalli on Saturday (Aug 2). He will now face either Indonesia's Alwi Farhan or India's Lakshya Sen in the title match on Sunday (Aug 2). Playing at the Macau East Asian Games Dome, Justin carried high hopes of reaching his first final of the year after a string of inconsistent performances in previous tournaments and he finally did it. Justin, ranked 45th in the world and just two spots above Tharun, did not have it easy though as the Indian played aggressively to take the opening game. However, the Malaysian regrouped in the second game to force a decider, and after a gruelling 81-minute battle, Justin emerged victorious with a 19-21, 21-16, 21-16 win.

Marathon man Wellbrock eyes 1,500 gold, Meilutyte fastest in 50 breaststroke
Marathon man Wellbrock eyes 1,500 gold, Meilutyte fastest in 50 breaststroke

New Straits Times

timean hour ago

  • New Straits Times

Marathon man Wellbrock eyes 1,500 gold, Meilutyte fastest in 50 breaststroke

SINGAPORE: German iron man Florian Wellbrock will look to add to his bumper haul of gold medals from the world championships in Singapore after qualifying fastest for the 1,500 metres freestyle final on Saturday. The 27-year-old swept all before him in the open water programme last month, becoming the first swimmer to win all three individual events while helping Germany claim the team gold at Sentosa Island. Having moved to the pool, Wellbrock posted a time of 14:44.81 in the 1,500 to top a quality field including Tunisia's 800 champion Ahmed Jaouadi, who was 0.14 seconds behind. Bobby Finke, the American back-to-back Olympic champion, and Australian Sam Short will also be medal threats in a mouth-watering final on the final day of competition on Sunday. Defending champion Daniel Wiffen, Ireland's first male world medallist in swimming, was forced to withdraw from the event due to ongoing effects of appendicitis he suffered in June. In the women's 50 breaststroke, world record holder Ruta Meilutyte is eyeing back-to-back titles after finishing fastest in the heats. Thirteen years after winning the Olympic 100 gold at the London Games aged 15, the Lithuanian showed she is still a force in the shorter distance with a time of 29.82, the only sub-30 swim at the World Aquatics Championships Arena. Eastern Europe was well represented in the 50-metres events in the morning session, with Russian short course world record-holder Kliment Kolesnikov, competing as a neutral athlete, fastest in the backstroke heats with a time of 24.08. Russian athletes are allowed to take part in World Aquatics events under a neutral banner on condition they have not publicly supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine and have no affiliation to the Russian military. South African Pieter Coetze, who was second quickest in 24.36, is bidding for a third backstroke medal of the meet after winning the 100 and taking silver in the 200. Paris Olympics silver medallist Meg Harris of Australia qualified fastest for the women's 50 freestyle semi-finals in a time of 24.32, 0.07 seconds ahead of Dutch sprinter Milou Van Wijk. Dutchwoman Marrit Steenbergen, who upset Mollie O'Callaghan on Friday to successfully defend her 100 freestyle title, also eased through. The U.S. qualified fastest (3:21.48) for the final of the non-Olympic mixed 4x100 freestyle relay ahead of France and the Netherlands. Australia were bundled out in the heats, though, in a shock for the swimming powerhouse which holds the world record and finished runner-up to China last year with a second-string team. Later on Saturday, American great Katie Ledecky and Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh will battle for the women's 800 freestyle gold in one of six titles on offer on the penultimate day of the meet.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store