
Winter Sports See Surge in Popularity
Due to overwhelming interest in ice-skating as a competitive sport, Skate Malaysia extended from a 3-day competition to a 5-day competition with 1,700 programmes for individual, pair, and team events.
Young and seasoned athletes from 20-ice rinks competed for medallist titles. The line-up featured skaters from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Singapore, and the USA.
Participants were evaluated on their knowledge and execution of manoeuvres, dance choreography, musical interpretation, and more; depending on the programme criteria.
Malaysian ice rinks took the top two spots; Sunway Pyramid Ice defended the 1st place title, followed by Blue Ice Skating Rink @ KL East Mall in second. Sub Zero Sukhumvit from Thailand placed third. Oasis Centre Arena and BX Rink from Indonesia, ranked in fourth and fifth place respectively.
Top 5 Best Performances included:
Cassius Leong, Sunway Pyramid Ice (Malaysia)
Chanice Low Xin Yu, Blue Ice Skating Rink, KL East Mall (Malaysia)
Elizabeth Kim Niang Huai, Blue Ice Skating Rink, KL East Mall (Malaysia)
Jenelle Sia Ee Xuenn, Sunway Pyramid Ice (Malaysia)
Maneejan Wilairat, Sub-Zero Ice Skate Club Mega Bangna (Thailand)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Pahang legend Jamal admits decision to withdraw from Super League was inevitable
Bad omen: Pahang's Sergio Aguero is shown the red card during the Malaysia Cup final against Johor Darul Ta'zim on April 26. Pahang went on to lose 2-1. PETALING JAYA: The absence of several once dominant clubs from the Malaysian football scene has raised alarm bells, with the latest blow being the withdrawal of 2004 Super League champions Pahang from the 2025–2026 season. The Malaysian Football League (MFL) yesterday officially confirmed that last season's Malaysian Cup finalists had submitted an official letter dated June 16 to notify the governing body of their decision to withdraw from all competitions for the 2025–26 season. Former Pahang legend Datuk Jamal Nasir admitted the decision was disappointing but believes the management had no choice, especially given the club's past issues with unpaid salaries. He also urged fans not to point fingers at the management, who were forced to make this difficult decision. 'It's certainly a letdown for Pahang football fans. This club used to be among the best in the Super League and even reached the Malaysia Cup final. Now they won't be part of the league next season,' said Jamal. 'I'm saddened too, but I believe there are valid reasons behind the decision. The management may have been left with no alternative. 'I hope the fans will be patient. There may be several matters the club need to resolve first, even though they were granted the national licence. I believe pulling out of the league is the right decision for now. 'So to me, there's nothing wrong with Pahang taking a step back to regroup, make proper preparations and fix what needs to be fixed. ''Hopefully, they'll come back stronger in the future. Whatever it is, I remain positive about the decision,' he added. Speculation over Pahang's withdrawal had been swirling since March and gained further traction when club owner Tengku Abdul Rahman hinted at stepping away from managing the team next season, shortly after the Malaysian Cup final against Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) on April 27. Earlier, Kedah and Perak also had to take the same route, pulling out of the Malaysian League due to worsening financial troubles. Both clubs are still dealing with salary arrears, with many players yet to be paid. With Pahang's withdrawal, only 13 teams have confirmed their participation in the 2025–2026 Malaysian League season. They are Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), Selangor, Penang, Kuching City, Sabah, Terengganu, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Police and DPMM (Brunei), along with two clubs from the AFL A1, Malacca and Immigration.


The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
JDT snap up Harimau Malaya debutant Joao for new season
Joao Figueiredo - Pix credit JDT Southern Tigers PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) have added another heritage player to their lineup for the new Super League season with forward Joao Figueiredo joining the club. JDT announced the signing with the Brazilian-born on Sunday (July 6) and he is set to wear the number 25 shirt when the league kicks off in August. Figueiredo's name is still fresh in the ears of Malaysian football fans after making his debut with the national team against Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup third round qualifiers last month. He made headlines after scoring the opening goal for Harimau Malaya and made an impact in their 4-0 win against Vietnam at Bukit Jalil. "Figueiredo brings with him commitment and determination to JDT," the club's statement said. The 29-year-old will be making JDT his home after spending two years with Turkish club Istanbul Basaksehir, where he made 80 appearances and scored 18 goals. Figueiredo is now the third heritage player to join the Southern Tigers' locker room, joining forces with Dutch-born midfielder Hector Hevel and Spanish-born centreback Jon Irazabal. The three are part of the recent wave of Malaysian heritage players brought into the national set-up, which also includes Argentinian-born Rodrigo Holgado. Apart from them, JDT also have the added strength foreign signings in Spanish defender Antonio Glauder and Brazilian midfielder Jairo Da Silva.


New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Shut out the outside noise, continue your roar
MALAYSIA crushed Vietnam 4-0 last month at a packed National Stadium in Bukit Jalil in a display of dominance, flair and newfound depth. But instead of praise, Harimau Malaya have been pelted with abuse. Social media exploded. Fans from Indonesia and Vietnam accused Malaysia of manipulating the system. Conspiracy theories spread like wildfire. Some even demanded FIFA intervention. And the reason? Not how they played, but who played. That night, nine of Malaysia's starting 11 were naturalised players. Fifteen in total were listed on the team sheet. Six made their international debuts — Facundo Garces, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Hidalgo, Gabriel Palmero and Jon Irazabal. None were born in Malaysia, but all, according to the FA of Malaysia (FAM), are of Malaysian descent and had their documents vetted and approved by FIFA. Still, that didn't stop some quarters from crying foul. Indonesian media outlet Disway ID kicked off the storm, claiming FAM could face a US$2 million fine, the Vietnam result overturned, and even be banned from naturalising players in future if any documents are found to be false. One Indonesian fan site labelled Malaysia's approach "football piracy". But FAM moved swiftly to shut down the noise. "FIFA has checked. We followed the rules and regulations," said FAM president Datuk Joehari Ayub. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) backed that stance, with general-secretary Datuk Seri Windsor Paul confirming that no complaint had been lodged with the regional body and that all player eligibility matters fall under FIFA's jurisdiction. FAM secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman added: "We have not received any letters from FIFA or AFC. We followed all the regulations. We deny all those statements." So far, FIFA has remained silent. No red flags. No warnings. No sanctions. No signs of any wrongdoing. But this uproar isn't just about technicalities. It's about identity, perception, and pride, and a growing unease among fans and regional rivals over how quickly Harimau Malaya are changing. Naturalisation isn't new in this part of the world. Indonesia have long benefited from Dutch-Indonesian dual nationals, a by-product of colonial history. But the move has come good as Indonesia could qualify for next year's World Cup. The Philippines built an entire football programme around American and European-born Filipinos. Singapore experimented with imports in the early 2000s. Even Timor Leste brought in a wave of Brazilian players — but that ended in disaster when it was discovered their documents had been forged, triggering a massive FIFA and AFC probe. The players had no family ties to East Timor, just falsified baptism and birth records. The scandal rocked Asian football. But comparing Timor Leste to Malaysia is lazy and misguided. FAM has done its homework. All the players in question have documented Malaysian roots. FIFA has scrutinised and cleared their files. Everything, on paper and in practice, is in order. The real issue, perhaps, is that Malaysia are finally becoming a threat. Harimau Malaya are no longer just a "potential" side. They're a team with depth, technical ability and physical presence. Players like Figueiredo and Garces are not just passengers, they are game-changers. The victory over Vietnam sent a clear message across Southeast Asia — Malaysia are here to compete and dominate. And that's made some uncomfortable. There's a sense that this isn't about fairness, but fear. A fear that Malaysia's aggressive talent recruitment might tilt the regional balance. And locally, the backlash is mixed. Some fans are proud of the results. Others worry the national identity is being diluted. It's a delicate line. But it's not illegal. Nor is it unethical as long as the ancestry claims are legitimate and the paperwork checks out. International football has always been a reflection of a country's global footprint — migration, diaspora, dual nationality. The world is changing, and football is changing with it. FAM must now hold its ground. Not by shouting down critics, but by calmly reinforcing the facts: FIFA rules were followed. No violations occurred. The team are legitimate. If anything, this backlash is proof that Malaysia are doing something right. They've rattled their rivals. They've changed the conversation. And above all, they're finally winning again. The challenge now is to build trust with their fan base and prove that these new additions are not just "imports", but part of the Harimau Malaya family ready to fight for the badge. The noise may continue. The accusations may resurface. But if Malaysia keep playing the way they did against Vietnam, the football will do the talking. And it might just drown out the rest.