Latest news with #RoyKing
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Hard work and friendship fuel Roy King-Arif's bid for consistency
National men's doubles shuttlers Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi in action against Japan's Hiroki Midorikawa-Kyohei Yamashita during the first round of Malaysia Masters at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil on Tuesday. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star PETALING JAYA: What do badminton, window shopping, and wagyu beef have in common? For national men's doubles shuttlers Yap Roy King and Wan Arif Wan Junaidi, they're all part of a growing bond – one that's helping them build chemistry both on and off the court. While their partnership is still a work in progress, one thing is clear - their friendship is the glue holding it together. 'To take our minds off badminton, we enjoy going shopping but we don't buy anything! We just find a nice spot to chill,' said Roy King with a laugh. That easygoing camaraderie is slowly translating into better understanding during matches, as the world No. 23 duo seek more stability and consistency on the World Tour. So far, their highlight of the year has been a semi-final run at the Orleans Masters, but now they're eyeing a bigger breakthrough at next week's Japan Open in Tokyo. Their journey, however, starts with a tricky internal clash with a first-round match against fellow Malaysians Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun. The winners will face either Thailand's Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh or China's Huang Di-Liu Yang in the second round. Despite the tough draw, Roy King is optimistic. Under the guidance of coach Herry Iman Pierngadi, he and Arif have been sharpening their game. 'Coach Herry pays a lot of attention to small details. His tactical knowledge is solid, but more importantly, he teaches us how to enjoy the game,' said Roy King. 'Both Arif and I still struggle with confidence at times, but we're learning to communicate better. Our aim is to get some upsets against top-10 pairs and hopefully finish on the podium.' And if they do go far in Tokyo? Roy King knows exactly how he'll reward himself. 'Wagyu beef. That's my favourite.'
The Star
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Doubles duty: Roy King sticks to men's game for now
PETALING JAYA: National shuttler Yap Roy King will now focus solely on men's doubles after coaches couldn't find a replacement partner in mixed doubles following Valeree Siow's injury. Valeree's recurring left knee injury has flared up again, and she is now preparing to undergo surgery. She had been on a long recovery break and only managed to play in two tournaments with Roy King this year, competing at the Asian Championships and Thailand Open. She was forced to withdraw just two days before the Malaysian Masters in May due to the same issue, and it is understood that she will be heading abroad for surgery and rehabilitation. National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky believes Roy King has strong potential in mixed doubles, having reached as high as No. 43 in the world with Valeree. But following discussions, Roy King has chosen to focus solely on men's doubles with Wan Arif Wan Junaidi while Valeree recovers from a knee injury. 'We don't want it to seem like we're discarding someone when they're no longer useful. With Valeree's current condition, continuing to push Roy King in mixed doubles would only drain his energy unnecessarily,' said Rexy. 'Even Herry Ip (Iman Pierngadi) suggested that Roy King should focus on men's doubles for now, though his potential in mixed doubles is undeniable. 'I spoke with Roy King, and he said that as long as he remains paired with Valeree, he would rather focus fully on men's doubles for the time being. As for his long-term future, I'll leave that to mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto to discuss with Herry and decide what's best.' Rexy also pointed out that the lack of depth among the women's players makes it hard to find Roy King a suitable replacement partner. He believes pairing him with junior players would be counterproductive due to the significant gap in ranking and playing level. 'If he has to continue playing in the mixed doubles, it might just be for a few tournaments to collect ranking points. 'But if he is paired with someone far below his level, it could create more problems. Just imagine Roy King playing in a Super 750 event, then having to travel to Europe for an International Challenge with a different partner. 'That kind of schedule isn't practical and would be far too exhausting,' he added. Roy King-Wan Arif are currently preparing for the Japan Open, which starts on July 15, where they are set to face compatriots Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in the first round.
Associated Press
11-06-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
Amid Math Crisis, Seattle Nonprofit Helps 6.5M Students Beat the Math Slide
SEATTLE, WA, UNITED STATES, June 11, 2025 / / -- As our nation faces challenges with math scores and student anxiety, one small nonprofit in West Seattle is quietly making a remarkable impact around the globe. During the 2024–25 school year alone, XtraMath —a daily fluency practice program—has reached over 6.1 million students and 650,000 teachers, helping learners develop vital math skills and confidence through just 10 minutes a day. • 132 million student days • 12.4 million trophies earned • 3.3 million fluency certificates awarded • Used in 5 languages, across 5 continents While national assessments like the NAEP reveal some historic lows in basic math performance, the data from XtraMath paints a more uplifting story—one of growth, equity, and daily progress. The Math Crisis, By the Numbers 40% of 4th graders and 33% of 8th graders now score below the basic level in math \\ Source → NAEP 2024 60% of U.S. adults report that math makes them feel 'challenged' or 'confused' \\ Source → Gallup 2024 'Educators and Families are desperate for help to reverse the slide, with the focus on expensive AI tutors and just sitting kids in front of random games,' said Roy King, Executive Director of XtraMath. 'A simple, ten-minute daily habit helped millions of kids develop math fact fluency this year.' Real Impact, Real Growth This year, teachers assigned over 3.7 million fluency programs, with 88% of students achieving mastery. In case studies like East End Prep in Nashville, low-performing students soared double-digit percentile jumps on the Spring MAP test after just one semester of consistent XtraMath use. 'The difference across our math classrooms was palpable.' — K. Williams, Dean of STEM, East End Prep, TN. The secret? XtraMath combines research-based fluency practice with built-in motivation and minimal teacher lift—making it easy to implement and impactful to use.' 2024–25 Highlights & Innovations This year, XtraMath has rolled out a series of platform upgrades and partnerships, making the program more inclusive, customizable, and effective than ever: • WCAG 2.1 Accessibility compliance to support learners with disabilities • Clever SecureSync for effortless rostering and classroom setup • Advanced school-level reporting for administrators • Assessment-Only Program to identify fluency gaps • Awakening Game Mode, powered by Legends of Learning partnership, for curriculum-aligned fun • National Math Stars partnership to celebrate student achievement • Educator Endorsements Recent survey results confirm that the platform isn't just effective—it's cherished: • 93% of educators agree XtraMath helps students meet grade-level standards • 87% say it builds confidence and eases math anxiety • Net Promoter Score: 73 — indicating high educator satisfaction and strong word-of-mouth trust Looking Ahead As XtraMath looks to the 2025–26 school year, the mission remains clear: ensure every learner, regardless of background or ability, builds a strong foundation in math through consistent, accessible practice. 'Every minute a student doesn't spend counting on their fingers is a minute they can apply to learning fractions, data science, or even coding,' said Roy King, Executive Director of XtraMath. 'We're scaling evidence-based fluency practice to every classroom that wants it—no ads, no cost.' With national trends showing persistent learning gaps, the urgency is real—but so is the solution. The path forward isn't hidden behind expensive programs or flashy tech. It's found in daily habits that reinforce essential skills, empower teachers, and unlock student potential—one 10-minute session at a time. Learn more or bring XtraMath to your school: [email protected] Roy King XtraMath +1 805-619-8720 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
The Star
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Home setback as Pang Ron- Su Yin, Roy King-Valeree pull out due to injuries
Misfortune: For Roy King's mixed doubles partner Valeree, the situation is especially worrying as she had only recently returned from a long injury layoff. PETALING JAYA: It was a blow for the Malaysian badminton camp as two mixed doubles pairs, Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin and Yap Roy King-Valeree Siow were forced to withdraw at the last minute from the Malaysian Masters. Both pairs were scheduled to play in the first round at Axiata Arena today, with eighth seeds Pang Ron-Su Yin originally drawn to face India's Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto. Meanwhile, Roy King and Valeree were supposed to take on India's S. Karunakaran-Aaya Variyath. Following their withdrawal, the vacant slots were filled by Indonesians Adnan Maulana-Indah Cahya Sari Jamil and Verrell Yustin Mulia-Lisa Ayu Kusumawati. National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky confirmed that both pairs had to pull out due to injuries to Su Yin and Valeree. 'Su Yin sustained an ankle injury, and according to the doctor's report, she needs two weeks of rest. 'As for Valeree, her knee injury has flared up again. We only found out about it two days before the managers' meeting on Monday,' said Rexy when contacted. The setback also means Pang Ron-Su Yin will not feature in next week's Singapore Open. For Valeree, the situation is especially worrying as she had only recently returned from a long injury layoff. She has managed to play in just two tournaments this year which is at the Asian Championships in Ningbo in early April and the Thailand Open last week. The Perak-born shuttler had been sidelined since sustaining a knee injury at the Arctic Open in October last year. Despite the absence of the two pairs, Malaysia can still count on five other representatives to carry the country's challenge in the tournament, with defending champions Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie set to take on Denmark's Mads Vestergaard-Christine Busch. Chen Tang Jie-Chan Wen Tse will face seventh seeds Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi, while Toh Ee Wei-Loo Bing Kung will go up against Taiwan's Lu Ming-che-Hung En-tzu. Independent duo Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien will clash with Thailand's Supak Jomkoh-Ornnicha Jonsathapornparn, while Too Ming Yap-Lee Yu Shan, who came through the qualifiers yesterday, will face Nattamon Laisuan-Tidapron Kleebyeesun of Thailand.
