Shot for lawn bowls as M'sia host World Cup
Not only will the national team be rewarded for their recent triumph at the Asian Championships, but Malaysia are also set to host the World Cup for the first time this November.
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New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysia coach expects podium finish at World Junior meet
KUALA LUMPUR: National coach Herman Terryn wants to see his riders finish on the podium at the World Junior Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, from Aug 20-24. At the last edition of the championships in China, Terryn guided track cyclist Nur Alyssa Farid to the keirin final. However, she crashed after taking the lead in the closing stages of the race. This time, he's banking on Sawda Hasbullah, Nur Umairah Qhaisara Zulfikha Razak, Luqman Haqim Ali Badrun and Yu Jing Liang to deliver a podium finish. The French coach said the preparations for Apeldoorn are in the final stretch, and the riders have shown improvement since the Asian Championships (ACC) in February. "The riders have been showing good progress, especially in July. We had to negotiate with their schools to get more training time. Umairah and Sawda are less fatigued after training now compared to the March-June period," said Terryn. "We are tapering the training towards the competition. We can't work on the riders' physique anymore — the focus now is on fast recovery. We don't want them to be exhausted during the World Championships. "I hope we can return with a medal this time." Sawda, who was the standout performer at the ACC with gold medals in the women's sprint and time trial, as well as silver in the team sprint, will be Malaysia's main medal hope. The Melaka rider set a world record of 1:10.818s in the 1km time trial, but the mark has since been surpassed by Britain's Erin Boothman, who clocked 1:08.092s at the European Junior Championships in Portugal on July 19. "We now know where we stand, and we have high expectations of the riders, especially Sawda and Umairah. It will be tough, but it's not impossible," said Terryn.
New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- New Straits Times
England's Walsh hope Spain can enjoy Euro final after Rubiales controversy
ZURICH: England and former Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh hopes that Spain are able to enjoy the Euro 2025 final on Sunday after the controversy that clouded their 2023 World Cup triumph. Defending champions England meet Spain in Basel on Sunday, two years on from a World Cup final that was overshadowed by then Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales kissing striker Jenni Hermoso on the lips after the game. "There's a lot of respect between both the teams and, I think the most important thing for them as a footballer, is that they can enjoy this final – that there's not the controversy surrounding it," Walsh said from England's base camp on Thursday. "The girls deserve to be there to play incredible football. The way our league jumped after we won the (2022) Euros, if you compare it to Spain it probably wasn't the same and they won the World Cup," said Walsh, who played 64 games for Barcelona before joining Chelsea. "After the final there was a lot of controversy and I don't think, for them, there was enough spotlight on how incredible they played. It was all about the other stuff. "As a professional, that was disappointing to see. I have a lot of friends in that team and I think they probably deserved a little bit more than what they got." Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault for the unsolicited kiss during the World Cup medal ceremony, and fined over 10,000 euros ($12,000). The incident sparked widespread debate about sexism in Spanish society and women's football, fuelling momentum for the "Me Too" movement in the country. --REUTERS
The Star
16 hours ago
- The Star
Rugby-Woodman-Wickliffe off to third World Cup with Black Ferns, Tui omitted
FILE PHOTO: Paris 2024 Olympics - Rugby Sevens - Women's Pool A - New Zealand vs Canada - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - July 28, 2024. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe of New Zealand in action with Carissa Norsten of Canada REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/File Photo WELLINGTON (Reuters) -Portia Woodman-Wickliffe was selected by New Zealand for her third women's World Cup on Friday, headlining an experienced Black Ferns squad packed with players who won the last edition of the global showpiece. The prolific try-scoring winger, who came out of retirement in April for a tilt at a third-straight world title, will be joined in England by centres Theresa Setefano and Stacey Waaka, who were also part of the triumphant 2017 and 2022 squads. Kelly Brazier, who was part of the champion 2010 and 2017 squads but missed out on the 2022 triumph, won a recall at the age of 35 for her fourth World Cup as a backup to flyhalf Ruahei Demant. Demant will co-captain the squad with loose forward Kennedy Tukuafu, who was included despite missing two matches this month because of a knee injury. There was no place in the 32-woman squad for Ruby Tui, however, despite the winger having been the face of the 2022 tournament on home soil. Woodman-Wickliffe, teenage sensation Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Ayesha Leti-I'iga and fullback Renee Holmes were instead selected as the outside backs. "I'd like to acknowledge the players who have missed out. Their contribution to the black jersey and to our team this year has been immense," said head coach Allan Bunting. "The level of depth and internal competition we have seen from our wider squad made the selection process very difficult, however this speaks to the growth and exciting future of women's rugby in Aotearoa." Braxton Sorensen-McGee and Katelyn Vahaakolo are among 14 players who will be playing in their first World Cup. Setefano and Waaka were among seven players from New Zealand's sevens programme who made themselves available for the World Cup in March with scrumhalf Risi Pouri-Lane and flanker Jorja Miller, the others who made the cut. The Black Ferns, ranked third in the world behind hosts England and Canada, kick off their bid for a sixth world title against Spain in York on August 24 and also play Ireland and Japan in Pool C. Squad: Forwards - Kate Henwood, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Chryss Viliko, Atlanta Lolohea, Vici-Rose Green, Georgia Ponsonby, Tanya Kalounivale, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, Amy Rule, Laura Bayfield, Alana Bremner, Chelsea Bremner, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Jorja Miller, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Layla Sae, Kennedy Tukuafu Backs - Iritana Hohaia, Maia Joseph, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane, Kelly Brazier, Ruahei Demant, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai'i Sylvia Brunt, Amy du Plessis, Theresa Setefano, Stacey Waaka, Renee Holmes, Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe Non-travelling reserve: Krystal Murray (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by Jamie Freed)
