Latest news with #LeeChongWei
The Star
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Chong Wei says M'sian shuttlers are no longer just participants but contenders
PETALING JAYA: Badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei believes the national team is on the right track based on their encouraging performance in the first half of the year. While there have been both highs and lows, Chong Wei feels the players have taken valuable lessons from every challenge and their growth is starting to show. One of the most promising signs, he said, is that Malaysian shuttlers are no longer content with just making up the numbers at major tournaments. Instead, they are stepping up as genuine contenders, with several titles already under their belt. "We're halfway through 2025, and I'm really proud of the spirit shown by our national team," said Chong Wei in a social media post. "The first six months brought a mix of big-stage breakthroughs, hard-fought lessons and steady progress and it all points to Malaysian badminton heading in the right direction. "This year, our players have risen to the occasion at major tournaments, challenging top-ranked opponents and reaching the later stages of some of the sport's biggest events. "It's clear they're putting in the hard work, fine-tuning their strategies and proving that Malaysia is not just here to participate, but to compete at the highest level." The men's doubles pairs have led the way this year, with world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik winning three titles, the Asian Championships, Thailand Open and Singapore Open. World No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun have also impressed with victories at the Indonesian Masters and Malaysian Masters. Independent duo Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, now ranked world No. 1, added to the success by clinching the Indian Open crown. In the women's doubles, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah continued to shine with their title win at the Thailand Open and runner-up finishes at both the Indonesian Open and Masters. Looking ahead to the second half of the season, Chong Wei hopes the players will maintain their momentum and called on Malaysians to continue showing their support. "To all fans, keep cheering, whether we win or lose. Your belief makes all the difference. Let's stand united behind the team as they gear up for the next half of the season. Together, let's show the world that Malaysia Boleh!" he added.
Free Malaysia Today
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Malaysian badminton going in right direction, says Chong Wei
Former national shuttler Lee Chong Wei urged fans to keep rallying behind the national team, regardless of the outcomes on court. PETALING JAYA : Former national shuttler Lee Chong Wei has expressed confidence in the direction Malaysian badminton is heading, commending the national team's progress over the first half of the year. In a Facebook post, the three-time Olympic silver medallist said he was very proud of the spirit shown by the national badminton team as they navigated a challenging yet promising start to 2025. 'The first six months have brought a mix of big-stage breakthroughs, tough lessons and steady improvements that tell me Malaysian badminton is moving in the right direction,' he said. Chong Wei noted that national shuttlers had made strides at major tournaments, competing fiercely against top-ranked opponents and advancing to the later rounds of several prestigious events. 'It's clear they're working hard, refining their strategies, and showing that Malaysia is not here just to participate – but to compete at the highest level,' said the Malaysian badminton legend. He also urged fans to keep rallying behind the national team, regardless of the outcomes on court. 'To all fans, keep supporting our team, win or lose. Your cheers and belief make all the difference. Let's stand behind them as they prepare for the next half of the season,' he said. Professional men's doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, who are currently world No 1, and mixed doubles duo Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lai recently pledged their commitment to the Road to Gold (RTG) programme for the 2025 cycle. Youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh said they would receive extensive performance-related support as they aimed to not only qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but also create history for Malaysia in the US. Their fellow RTG participants include world No 2 men's doubles duo Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, top national women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah and national mixed doubles duo Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei.
Malay Mail
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Road to Gold pledges full backing for Sivasangari, Ng Eain Yow and others training overseas, says coordinator
KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 — Road To Gold (RTG) project coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam has given his assurance that the programme will not neglect the welfare of athletes under the project who are currently abroad including national squash players S. Sivasangari and Ng Eain Yow. Stuart said the programme will provide the best support in meeting the needs of the athletes to help them achieve optimal performance levels, regardless of where they are training. 'Support programmes to help athletes travel abroad for training, environment, upskilling and improving their overall programme are available, we see that in Sivasangari and Eain Yow. 'So if athletes need additional assistance like this, I can bring it to a meeting to get the request is suitable for improving someone's performance, 100 per cent support is given,' he said when met recently, here. Stuart said the RTG line-up includes former national top athletes such as Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi and Datuk Nicol Ann David who will help assess support needed by the athletes. World number eight Sivasangari is part of the RTG programme, while world number 13 Eain Yow is included in the Fast Track RTG programme. Apart from Sivasangari, eight badminton players including world number two men's doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and teammates Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, national women's doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah as well as national mixed doubles Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei had been announced to join the RTG. Other athletes joining the programme are weightlifter Mohd Aniq Kasdan and track cyclists Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri and Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom. The national women's recurve archery trio Ariana Nur Dania Mohamad Zairi, Syaqiera Mashayikh, Nurul Azreena Fazil have also agreed to join the Fast Track RTG programme. — Bernama
New Straits Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Magma shares jump nearly 13pct to fresh high on heavy volume
KUALA LUMPUR: Shares of loss-making Magma Group Bhd surged to a new high of 47 sen in early trade, rising 9.30 per cent or four sen, with trading volume hitting a one-month peak. The counter, formerly Impiana Hotels Bhd, opened flat at 43 sen before climbing as much as 12.70 per cent to a morning high of 48.5 sen. By 9.54am, 19.13 million shares had changed hands, its highest single-day volume since May 19. It was the second most actively traded stock in the morning session. Magma has been on a steady uptrend since April, driven by a string of corporate moves including the emergence of national badminton icon Datuk Lee Chong Wei as a substantial shareholder and a strategic tie-up with Chagee Malaysia. Lee acquired a direct interest of 26.5 million shares (1.7 per cent) and an indirect interest in 127 million shares (8.15 per cent). Year-to-date, the stock has more than doubled from 21.5 sen on Jan 2. At 47 sen, the hotel and lifestyle group boasts a market capitalisation of RM790.11 million. The group owns and manages hotel properties under the WOLO Kuala Lumpur and Impiana brands in KLCC, Senai and Ipoh. Following its rebranding in December 2023, Magma has branched into property development, food and beverage, spa and lifestyle ventures. In May, Magma formed a joint venture (JV), Chagee Magma Sdn Bhd, with Chagee Malaysia to expand the premium tea chain's footprint in Malaysia. Chagee holds 60 per cent of the JV, while Magma holds 40 per cent. Meanwhile, the April reshuffle also saw the emergence of Skyfold Express Sdn Bhd as a substantial shareholder with a 7.69 per cent stake, along with Empire Solaris Sdn Bhd, which holds an indirect interest in the same block of shares. For the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, Magma's net loss widened to RM6.95 million from RM4.27 million a year earlier, due mainly to higher corporate-related expenses despite marginal cost improvements in its hotel operations. Revenue for the quarter declined 8.5 per cent to RM6.34 million from RM6.92 million previously, as both its hotel operation and hotel management segments posted slightly weaker numbers. The property development segment contributed no revenue during the quarter. The group said it expects operational stability to improve following recent corporate exercises, with better occupancy rates and tighter cost control potentially supporting future performance.
Hype Malaysia
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Hype Malaysia
Netizens Discuss Viral Photo Of Malaysian Athlete's Physiques Compared To Overseas Athletes
Malaysian athletes are not strangers to the international stage, as prominent figures such as Pandalela Rinong, Lee Chong Wei, and Azizulhasni Awang are inspiring the future of Malaysian sports for our fellow youths. Compared to overseas athletes, some may argue that Malaysians have a sizeable difference when it comes to our physiques, which may be a contributing factor to how we are perceived. A recent viral photo of the Malaysian Beach Volleyball Youth Team at the AVC Pingtan Open in China has become a hot topic of discussion among netizens as they debate the significant size difference between the Chinese team and the Malaysian Youth team. The Malaysian youth team had competed in the open category of the competition to gain important points for the under-21 World Championship qualification that will take place in June. The photo consisted of the country's young pair, Nur Azwa Qariesya Mohammad Noor Aizuddin, 16 years old, and Rachael Goh, who competed in the under-19 category side-by-side with the Chinese opposing team, Xue Chen, 35 years old and a four-time Olympian and 23-year-old rising star, Zeng Jin Jin. Despite their significant difference in experience and size, the young pair had competed fiercely but struggled to provide competition to the opposing team. They lost with a result of 0-2 to China and 0-2 to Japan. The post made on the Malaysian Volley Association (MAVA) page has since been a hot topic of discussion among netizens who note the notable size difference. The comments were divided, with some commenting on the lack of correct nutrients provided to national athletes as the cause of the contrast in physique. Facebook user Amir Tumiran points this out by commenting, 'The country needs to improve the nutritional quality of its people along with the modernisation of the nutrition program of developed countries'. Not all agree with this sentiment, as others defend the status of these young athletes by supporting their achievement of braving their way through the match despite the disparity in experience and age. The MAVA has since released a statement condemning irresponsible media coverage and public harassment of young athletes to curb the issue of cyberattacks. Sources: Asian Volleyball, Facebook Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article
