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New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Shuttlers Justin, Letshanaa urged to conquer pressure
KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttlers Justin Hoh (men's singles) and K. Letshanaa (women's singles) must start believing in themselves and learn to handle pressure if they want to make an impact on the World Tour. National coach K. Yogendran said both shuttlers are putting in the work at training, but it isn't translating into results during tournaments. The frailties were evident at recent World Tour events. World No. 48 Justin crashed out in the second round of the US Open and suffered a first-round exit at the Canada Open despite aiming for the quarter-finals or better. World No. 40 Letshanaa, Malaysia's top-ranked women's singles player, pulled off a shock win over Japan's 2017 world champion Nozomi Okuhara (No. 47) in the US Open first round en route to the quarter-finals. But a week later, she bowed out in round two of the Canada Open. Both were Super 300-level tournaments. "Justin and Letshanaa are training very hard, and we expected something special at the US and Canada Opens," said Yogendran. "Justin really wanted to prove himself. He placed a lot of pressure on himself and that became a burden. "Letshanaa, meanwhile, started feeling pressure after beating Nozomi. But it's still a breakthrough for her. It will boost her belief that she can beat top players." Yogendran said it's normal for young players to struggle with consistency and confidence but insisted progress would come if they trusted the process. The coach also pointed out that Justin, 21, is still working his way back after surgery for a torn Achilles tendon last year — an injury that sidelined him for almost a year. He believes the guidance of national coaching director Kenneth Jonassen, who helped shape Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen and world No. 2 Anders Antonsen, could prove crucial. "Justin is going through a thorny phase in his career after missing a year to injury," said Yogendran. "Both players are now competing in tougher Super 300 tournaments. Previously, they were mostly playing International Challenge, Series and Super 100 events. "Jonassen has seen it all — he's worked with top players who faced similar struggles early on. We're also trying to simulate pressure-filled situations in training to help the players better adapt to real match conditions." Justin and Letshanaa will be aiming for redemption at the Super 300 Macau Open from July 29-Aug 3, using the lessons learnt in the US and Canada.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Shuttler Jacky survives scare as Malaysia open WUG campaign in style
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia kicked off their World University Games (WUG) badminton campaign with a convincing 4-1 win over Canada in a Group D mixed team tie at Westenergie Sporthalle in Germany today. Men's doubles Fazriq Razif-Bryan Jeremy Goonting set the tone with a swift 15-10, 15-5 win over Nathan Mills-Harold Tan. Wong Ling Ching followed with a solid 15-10, 15-8 triumph in the women's singles against Alena Yu. Jacky Kok sealed the winning point for Malaysia in the men's singles, overcoming a slow start to edge Victor Lai 6-15, 15-8, 15-12. "It was not an easy match. Victor did well at the recent Canada Open, but I was motivated not to disappoint my team," said Jacky. Women's doubles Lee Xin Jie-Low Yeen Yuan earned Malaysia's fourth points, defeating Sophia Nong-Eliana Zhang 15-3, 15-10. However, mixed doubles Liew Xun-Vannee Gobi fell short against Timothy Lock-Chloe Hoang, losing 15-11, 15-9. With Canada as their only group opponents, Malaysia now await the round of 16 draw. "The players are still adjusting, but I expect better performances ahead," said coach Datuk Rashid Sidek. Meanwhile, swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean continued his impressive run, qualifying for the men's 200m freestyle semi-finals in Berlin. Fresh from his 400m freestyle silver, Hoe Yean clocked 1:48.68s in Heat Three, finishing third. Compatriot Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal also advanced, placing sixth in Heat Eight with 1:49.66s. - Bernama
The Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Malaysia dominates Canada in WUG 2025 badminton opener, Hoe Yean advances
MALAYSIA kicked off their 2025 World University Games (WUG) badminton campaign with a convincing win over Canada in the Group D mixed team event at Westenergie Sporthalle. The national squad secured victory in four out of five matches, showcasing strong performances across disciplines. The men's doubles pair Muhammad Fazriq Mohamad Razif and Bryan Jeremy Goonting set the tone with a swift 15-10, 15-5 win over Nathan Mills and Harold Tan. Wong Ling Ching followed with a solid 15-10, 15-8 triumph in the women's singles against Alena Yu. Jacky Kok Jing Hong sealed the winning point for Malaysia in the men's singles, overcoming a slow start to defeat Victor Lai 6-15, 15-8, 15-12. 'My opponent wasn't easy—he caused upsets at the Canada Open—but I stayed motivated,' Kok said. The women's doubles duo Lee Xin Jie and Low Yeen Yuan added another win, defeating Sophia Nong and Eliana Zhang 15-3, 15-10. However, the mixed doubles pair Liew Xun and Vannee Gobi fell short against Timothy Lock and Chloe Hoang, losing 11-15, 9-15. With Canada as their only group opponent, Malaysia now awaits the round of 16 draw. 'As group winners, we'll face runners-up from other groups,' said head coach Datuk Rashid Sidek. 'The players are still adjusting, but I expect better performances ahead.' Meanwhile, swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean continued his impressive run, qualifying for the men's 200m freestyle semi-finals in Berlin. Fresh from his 400m freestyle silver, Hoe Yean clocked 1:48.68s in Heat Three, finishing third. Teammate Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal also advanced, placing sixth in Heat Eight with 1:49.66s. The semi-finals for swimming will take place tonight (early Saturday morning Malaysian time). - Bernama
Barnama
5 days ago
- Sport
- Barnama
WUG 2025: M'sia Thrash Canada In Badminton Group Opener, Hoe Yean Advances To 200m Freestyle Semis
From Ahmas Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif MULHEIM AN DER RUHR (Germany), July 18 (Bernama) -- As expected, Malaysia had no trouble defeating Canada in the Group D mixed team badminton match at the 2025 World University Games (WUG) at the Westenergie Sporthalle here today. Malaysia's first point came from the men's doubles pair Muhammad Fazriq Mohamad Razif-Bryan Jeremy Goonting, who beat Nathan Mills-Harold Tan 15-10, 15-5 in just 16 minutes. bootstrap slideshow The winning momentum continued with women's singles shuttler Wong Ling Ching, who outplayed Alena Yu 15-10, 15-8. Men's singles player Jacky Kok Jing Hong delivered the winning point for the national squad, but had to work hard before coming back to edge Victor Lai 6-15, 15-8, 15-12. 'I'm grateful to the coach for giving me the opportunity to play. My opponent wasn't an easy one today — he caused some upsets at the recent Canada Open (earlier this month) — but I still felt motivated to compete. 'Overall, all the players gave their best. You could see that those off court gave great support while those on court played their hearts out,' Kok said when met after the match. Also in action today were women's doubles pair Lee Xin Jie-Low Yeen Yuan, who defeated Sophia Nong-Eliana Zhang 15-3, 15-10. In the mixed doubles, however, Liew Xun-Vannee Gobi lost to Timothy Lock-Chloe Hoang 11-15, 9-15. Malaysia were drawn only with Canada in the group stage.
New Straits Times
16-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Triple joy for Malaysia in Japan Open mixed doubles
KUALA LUMPUR: It was a bright day for Malaysia's mixed doubles, with all three pairs storming into the second round of the Japan Open on Wednesday. World No. 4 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and No. 6 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai breezed through their openers, while No. 13 Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin were made to work hard for their win. Pang Ron-Su Yin were pushed to the limit before edging world No. 29 Americans Presley Smith-Jenny Gai 21-19, 12-21, 21-16 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. They now face a tough second-round clash against China's world No. 2 Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin. Earlier, Tang Jie-Ee Wei needed just 29 minutes to brush aside Canada's world No. 144 Kevin Lee-Josephine Wu 21-15, 21-19. The Malaysian pair will take on either Indonesia's Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu or China's Guo Xin Wa-Cheng Fang Hui next. Meanwhile, husband-and-wife pair Soon Huat-Shevon looked in top form as they downed newly crowned Canada Open champions Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat of Thailand 21-15, 21-10. The world No. 15 Thais had no answers for a fully fit Soon Huat-Shevon, succumbing in just 30 minutes. The independent Malaysian pair will next face either Singapore's Terry Hee-Jin Yu Jia or Denmark's Mads Vestergaard-Christine Busch in the second round.
