Latest news with #MalaysiaMasters
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Ayush Shetty wins US Open for India's first title of 2025
NEW DELHI: Ayush Shetty has been able to achieve what no other Indian shuttler has managed so far — win a BWF World Tour title in 2025. PV Sindhu has been far from winning one. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty only managed to reach the semis. Former world No.1 Kidambi Srikanth came the closest when he made the Malaysia Masters final in May. (Yves Lacroix/Badmintonphoto) The deadlock ended when the 20-year-old Shetty stood on the top step of the podium in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Sunday after winning the $240,000 US Open men's singles crown. The second highest ranked Indian shuttler after Lakshya Sen (world No.20), the world No.34 took just 47 minutes to beat third seed Brian Yang 21-18, 21-13 in the final which earned him his third straight victory over the Canadian and the first title of his young senior career. 'He has been showing progress this year. If you look at his performances at the Orleans Masters and Taipei Open (he reached both the semis), he did well. In fact, he has beaten some top-level players like (former world champion) Low Kean Yew and Rasmus Gemke. He has been hitting some good form against top players,' Shetty's coach U Vimal Kumar told HT from Bengaluru. 'But at the US Open, beating (world No.6) Chou Tien Chen, especially in the semi-finals, was very creditable. He could have won in two games because he was up 19-14 in the first game. From there, he lost 23-21. He came back well where I really liked the way he attacked.' Playing in the USA has proved lucky for the lanky Shetty. It was in the US two years back that Shetty first made the headlines when he clinched bronze at the 2023 World Junior Championships. He also made the finals of the Odisha Masters and Bahrain International (both in 2023). Last year, having fully made his move to the senior level, Shetty decided to take part in only lower tier events, making the quarter-finals and semi-finals regularly, and eventually the final at the 2024 Dutch Open. But this year Shetty started playing higher tier events on the BWF World Tour, having the belief of not just challenging but also surprising some of the higher ranked players. 'He is 6'4'. So, he has very, very steep smashes. That unsettles many players. That is one of his strengths. He is also quite good at the net. His defence has improved in the last three or four months as he has consciously been working on it,' added Vimal, who is also a national selector. 'He has really shown some good improvement. I am quite pleased with the way he is playing now. He is making a mark with the title at the world stage. I am quite happy for him.' A product of the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA) in Bengaluru, Shetty trains with Sen, Kiran George and Manraj Singh, among others. After clinching the Super 300 title, he will next take part in this week's $240,000 Canada Open in Markham, also a Super 300 event, where he is seeded fifth and faces compatriot S Sankar Muthusamy in the opener. 'I told him that it is not finished, that he has to try and win the Canada Open too, asking him to remain focused. He has got five more matches to go. I hope he can continue to perform well in the next event as well. The target we have given him is to come into the top 25 by the end of the year,' added Vimal. Tanvi loses in final It was end of the road for 16-year-old Tanvi Sharma, who delivered standout performances the entire week before losing in the women's singles final to top seed and local favourite Beiwen Zhang. India's world No.66 lost 11-21, 21-16, 10-21 in 46 minutes, ending a run that featured some fearless performances as she beat players ranked Nos.23, 40, 50 and 58 en route to the final.
Barnama
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Barnama
BAM Appoint Ex-National Shuttler Iskandar Zainuddin As Singles Coach
KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 (Bernama) -- Former national men's singles player Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin has returned to the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), this time as a singles coach. The appointment of the 33-year-old Iskandar Zulkarnain was announced by BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz at a press conference at Akademi Badminton Malaysia here today. 'Iskandar Zulkarnain will begin his duties on Oct 1. Negotiations were ongoing and finally last week we managed to finalise and he will be coming back from Ireland,' he said. bootstrap slideshow Previously, the media reported that BAM had offered Iskandar Zulkarnain a spot in the national coaching set-up. The matter was confirmed by Iskandar Zulkarnain himself, although he had not yet known the position he would be taking up. For the record, Iskandar Zulkarnain, who was runner-up at the 2016 Malaysia Masters, began serving as a full-time coach for Ireland's badminton squad in 2022 and successfully guided men's singles player Nhat Nguyen to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Prior to that, he had been a training partner to Nguyen in preparation for major tournaments. Meanwhile, BAM Singles Coaching Director Kenneth Jonassen expressed confidence in Iskandar's ability to steer the development of women's singles. 'We are pleased to welcome Iskandar back to BAM in this important role. His international coaching stint, combined with his background as a national player, brings a valuable blend of experience and perspective.
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Iskandar returns to BAM in a different role
KUALA LUMPUR: Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin has been entrusted by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to take charge of the national women's singles squad. The former world No. 23, who has been coaching with Badminton Ireland, has been appointed as head coach of the department and will begin his duties on Oct 1 at the Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara. "It feels great to return to BAM — not as a player this time, but as a coach ready to give back," said the 34-year-old. "It means a lot to be able to contribute to the sport I love, in the place where it all began for me," he added. "My journey in Ireland taught me so much, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to apply those lessons here. I see potential in our women's singles players, and my focus will be on building their confidence, sharpening their tactical and physical awareness, and supporting them to break through at the international level." As the head of Ireland's national singles programme since 2021, Iskandar was instrumental in helping the country qualify two singles players — Nhat Nguyen and Rachael Darragh — for the Paris 2024 Olympics. It was a breakthrough achievement for the European nation. His return marks a significant move by BAM to rejuvenate its women's singles department, which has seen limited success in recent years. Currently, only K. Letshanaa and Wong Ling Ching are competing regularly on the World Tour, albeit mainly at lower-tier events. It remains to be seen if Iskandar can weave his magic, but his blend of international coaching experience and homegrown roots is seen as a positive addition to the national setup. BAM's singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen believes Iskandar's appointment comes at the right time. "Our women's singles squad is in a crucial phase of transition, and we believe Iskandar is the right person to guide the players, helping them build belief and resilience while pushing for consistent performances on the world stage," said Kenneth. As a player, Iskandar was runner-up at the 2016 Malaysia Masters, helped Malaysia win bronze at the 2016 Thomas Cup and the 2014 Asian Games, and was crowned Asian Junior champion in 2009. He also clinched double silver — in the boys' singles and mixed team events — at the same year's World Junior Championships.
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Tze Yong to seek treatment at famed Doha hospital
KUALA LUMPUR: Ng Tze Yong will go to a famous hospital in Doha in a bid to save his badminton career. The national men's singles will undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery at the renowned Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in Doha as soon as possible. BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh said the National Sports Institute (NSI) had recommended Aspetar, and Tze Yong had agreed. Even world famous footballers like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and other top athletes are said to have received treatment or rehabilitation at Aspetar. "NSI is in contact with Aspetar and we are working on confirming the dates for Tze Yong's surgery," said Kenny. Tze Yong returned from a 14-month layoff after two back surgeries in April, but ruptured his right ACL — an injury which is the bane of athletes — in the Malaysia Masters first round against Hong Kong's Angus Ng last month.
The Sun
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Ex-national shuttler Iskandar Zulkarnain returns to BAM as singles coach
FORMER national player Iskandar Zulkarnain rejoins BAM as singles coach, bringing experience from Ireland. Starts duties on Oct 1. The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has appointed former national men's singles player Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin as a singles coach. The 33-year-old will officially begin his role on October 1. BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz confirmed the appointment during a press conference at Akademi Badminton Malaysia. 'Negotiations were ongoing, and finally last week we managed to finalise. He will be coming back from Ireland,' he said. Reports had previously surfaced that BAM offered Iskandar Zulkarnain a coaching position, which the shuttler himself acknowledged, though he was unsure of the exact role. Iskandar Zulkarnain, a 2016 Malaysia Masters runner-up, has been coaching Ireland's badminton squad since 2022. Under his guidance, men's singles player Nhat Nguyen secured a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Before his full-time coaching stint, he served as Nguyen's training partner for major tournaments.
