LYFE LYFE TUESDAY | MAR 5, 2024 22 /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE Malaysian Paper Bali (below), a picture-perfect paradise with cultural embrace. – INSTAGRAM/ @THELOSTTWO oBookmark your favourite romantic destinations in Asia WHETHER you are sneaking away from the daily grind for a few days or planning a blissful weekend, there is no denying the perks of a romantic retreat. Take a break, build bonds and create lasting memories together. Well, this is just for the young and new couples – moms and dads, it is your turn to leave the parenting duties behind and indulge in high-energy adventures, tropical beaches, and romantic spa pampering. Join us as we highlight the top romantic short-haul breaks across Asia. Love is in the air, and it is time to take flight. Bali, Indonesia Adorned with enchanting meadows, vibrant surroundings, breathtaking landscapes, and pristine beaches, Bali invites exploration into its rich cultures. The allure lies in uncovering unique attractions and traditions alongside those with whom we share strong connections. A journey to this “Land of Gods” in Indonesia ensures a memorable experience. Bali boasts iconic temples, vibrant art and craft markets, thrilling scuba diving, treks to stunning volcanoes and picturesque lush green valleys, not to mention incredible surfing spots. When it comes to culinary delights, Bali offers a feast for the taste buds. From fish head soup to nasi ayam, lawar, tipat cantok, nasi goreng, gado gado and the iconic sate lilit, not to forget the famous nasi campur, the island guarantees a delightful gastronomic adventure. Da Lat, Vietnam Astonishingly, Vietnam emerges as a thoroughly romantic escape for couples, with a spotlight on the enchanting city of Da Lat. Known as the “Valley of Love” or “Le Petit Paris”, it undeniably stands out as one of Asia’s most romantic destinations. Sprinkled with a variety of flowers, picturesque landscapes and a warm ambience, Da Lat boasts a delightful climate that welcomes visitors yearround. The entire valley is a canvas of stunning scenery and natural beauty. Renowned for its countryside allure and romantic parks, this hidden gem in the central highlands captivates couples, especially those who love the outdoors. The lakes in and around Da Lat serve as idyllic backdrops, and its temperate climate makes it a year-round destination for romance. Vietnam is also well-known for its Bao Dai Summer Palace, the quirky Langkawi is truly a paradise for those seeking diverse and thrilling experiences. –FOURSEASONS █ BYTHASHINE SELVAKUMARAN Escape to romance Crazy House, breathtaking waterfalls, Da Lat Market, expansive lakes and vibrant gardens. Also, do not miss out on tantalising tastes such as bread shumai, da lat pizza, grilled corn and sweet potatoes, beef noodles, grilled chicken with bamboo-cooked rice, can cake and char siu rice – these dishes are a definite must-try. Maldives Renowned as one of the most enchanting romantic destinations in Asia, the Maldives has a unique charm that captivates people. Whether seeking a peaceful getaway or celebrating a special occasion, the Maldives effortlessly stands out as the top choice. In this heavenly and romantic destination, overwater bungalows grace crystal-clear turquoise waters, creating an authentic paradise. Dive into unparalleled underwater experiences, with top-notch water activities such as snorkelling, diving, submarine rides, exhilarating surfing and captivating wreck diving. Additionally, savour breathtaking sunset cruises, be enchanted by bioluminescent beaches, explore unique undersea rooms and restaurants, embark on thrilling whale and dolphin watching and experience the excitement of surfing against the stunning backdrop of this stunning location. Phuket, Thailand No list would be comprehensive without the inclusion of the beautiful island of Phuket, often referred to as the “Pearl of the Andaman”. Holding the title of Thailand’s largest island, Phuket is a renowned destination in Asia celebrated for its vibrant culture, numerous islands, stunning beaches, highly sought-after spa experiences and lively nightlife. With its dreamy hideaways, Phuket beckons you to repeatedly include it in your romantic travel plans. And of course, in a destination blessed with stunning beaches, the activities are naturally focused on the water, including beach outings, scuba diving, snorkelling, bungee jumping, and water rafting. Moreover, Phuket offers world-class wellness spas, theme parks, captivating dolphin shows and serene Buddhist temples for exploration. When in Thailand, indulging in their renowned Thai cuisine is a must. Savour dishes such as pad Thai, tom yum goong, kuay tiew, som tam, kao phad, massaman curry and khao man gai – are all considered among the best culinary delights in Phuket. Langkawi, Malaysia Malaysia, with its abundance of islands, is blessed with one of its treasures – Langkawi. Nestled amid lush mangrove forests, pristine waterfalls and captivating beaches, Langkawi emerges as Malaysia’s most stunning island and one of the most romantic destinations in Asia. Part of the administrative district of Kedah in Malaysia, Langkawi is a captivating archipelagic island situated approximately 30km off the northwestern mainland coast of Malaysia. It is part of a cluster of over 99 islands in the Strait of Malacca, Phuket is a must-go for an amazing couple getaway experience. –VISITPHUKET The pristine beaches of the Maldives, the island of love, are ideal for a romantic getaway. –NALADHU Da Lat has emerged as a thoroughly romantic destination for couples. – DANANG CAR boasting stunning features such as white waterfalls, lush mangrove forests and exquisite tropical beaches, perfect destinations for a sweet romantic getaway. There is a plethora of activities to enjoy in Langkawi, ranging from visiting the iconic Langkawi Sky Bridge and taking a ride on the Langkawi Skybridge Cable Car to exploring Underwater World. The adventure continues with watersports at Cenang Beach, ziplining, snorkelling, exploring night markets and wildlife parks, lounging on pristine beaches, embarking on island-hopping tours, experiencing parasailing, joining relaxing sunset cruises and so much more.
LYFE LYFE TUESDAY | MAR 5, 2024 23 Proper budgeting is essential for the perfect romantic holiday. - 123RF I F the cover story has whetted your appetite for a romantic getaway, do check out the list below. These are just some essentials, along with a plethora of helpful tips to make the most of your quality time with your loved one. A romantic getaway should be fun, chilled and completely stress-free. Plan forward so that you can focus all your attention on your loved one as you seek to set the flames of romance alight. Budget accordingly Holidays are not free of charge; hence, it would be helpful if you had a budget in mind. It will help you determine your destination and the sort of digs you can stay in. You will want to avoid backpackertype dormitories unless you and your partner find sweaty shared hostels to be conducive to romance. Keep in mind that a romantic getaway is for couples to spend quality time with each other. It need not be expensive or in famed romantic destinations like Paris. Domestic destinations will help save on costs and reduce travel time. Nothing is less romantic than being stuck in a soulless, neon-lit airport or at endless highway rest stops. Off-peak travel Planning a holiday during the offpeak season can also help tremendously with a budget. Not only that, visiting destinations during less popular times probably means fewer crowds at the hotel or resort, allowing for a quiet and intimate time with your loved one. However, the downside to off-peak holidays is that many activities or attractions may not be available. If you plan to stay behind locked doors anyway, then it should matter little as long as there is room service. Staycation option Staycations offer couples with hectic schedules the chance for a quick getaway, with destinations closer to home. For many, the opportunity to just escape the children and the daily grind of chores and work stress is enough. Just breaking the cycle of monotony is sometimes all one needs to spark the flames of romance, given how many couples are bogged down with work and chores, leaving them little quality time with each other. You can surprise your significant other with a weekend escape to a posh hotel in the city centre. A nice A well-planned romantic holiday will allow couples to fully enjoy each other’s company. - PEXELS oEssentials for your dream romantic escape █ BYR BALA Turn off mobile devices to focus on your partner during the romantic getaway - PEXELS meal and some premium shopping could just be the antidote to rekindle the embers of romance. Right activities Romantic getaways need not be packed to the brim with non-stop activities. The main purpose of the trip is for partners to reconnect and enjoy each other’s company. The itinerary should contain things that both partners like to do or activities that bring back fond memories. However, do not include activities that are no longer suitable for you and your partner due to age or other factors. For instance, your partner and you may have once had a wonderful time whitewater rafting in your younger years, but it may not be the best idea if your stamina is not up to the task. Research local events and attractions and consider the flow of your days. Be mindful not to tire your partner out with too many things to do. Try to achieve a laidback, chilled vibe instead of harried and hurried, because the latter is not too far removed from everyday life. A staycation at a nearby hotel can help couples reconnect by removing the chores from the routine. - GUINNESS BUSINESS CENTRE Add a touch of class by having your partner’s favourite tipple chilled and ready upon arrival at the hotel room. - TRIP ADVISOR Personalised touch This is where you can show your loved one the thought, energy and creativity that went into planning the romantic getaway. It could be something as simple as having your partner’s favourite tipple chilled and ready to serve when arriving at the hotel room. A quick call to the hotel’s concierge should do it. A hotelier shared online that a guest on such a romantic vacation asked the chef to prepare a mini wedding cake featuring his wife’s favourite ingredients to commemorate their anniversary. It was a gesture that brought tears to the wife’s eyes. Unplug to reconnect Believe it or not, mobile devices are a leading cause of communication breakdown among couples. So there is little point in planning a romantic getaway if either or both partners cannot peel away from their electronic devices. Learn to unplug and unwind in each other’s presence, rediscovering the art of conversation as opposed to text messaging. Unplugging electronic devices while on a romantic holiday will also ensure the trip is not interrupted or spoiled by constant work messages distracting either party from the main focus — each other. Follow the simple tips above and book a romantic getaway that will add extra sparks to your love life. Journey to romance
LYFE LYFE TUESDAY | MAR 5, 2024 24 Oscars 2024 FROM a mainstream perspective, 2023 was a relatively weak year for big, blockbuster films, but a great battleground for huge, visionary films that were either available globally or had limited releases in certain countries. Out of the eight superhero films sent out to die in 2023, only two crawled out of the trenches alive. On top of the battered, bruised bodies of The Marvels and The Flash, films like The Zone of Interest and Killers of the Flower Moon have planted their domineering flags into the skulls of fallen, generic films like Blue Beetle. The upcoming 96th Academy Awards will celebrate these films on Wednesday from 7am onwards. Despite the odd exclusion of certain individuals, the announced nominees are relatively straightforward and in most cases, the winner for most of the categories is quite obvious. For instance, despite the hype and blockbuster success around the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, Oppenheimer will sweep this Oscar season clean, as it has more nominations than Barbie does and in categories where it has a straight chance of winning, such as Best Cinematography. Here are the nominees and theSun’s predictions for both the predicted winner in each category and each category’s potential dark horse winner: Best Picture 0 American Fiction 0 Anatomy of a Fall Oppenheimer has the highest number of nominations at 13 compared to its contenders. - UNIVERSAL PICTURES oNominations, predictions and dark horse contenders █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR Films like The Zone of Interest are still only screening in certain countries and have yet to have a wider release. - A24 Barbie’s director Greta Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie did not receive nominations in two major categories. - WARNER BROS PICTURES Godzilla: Minus One still has not screened in Malaysia, so theSun is predicting it as a Visual Effects dark horse winner. - TOHO Unlike its superhero peers, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse did not flounder at the box office. - SONY PICTURES 0 Barbie 0 The Holdovers 0 Killers of the Flower Moon (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) 0 Maestro 0 Oppenheimer (Predicted Winner) 0 Past Lives 0 Poor Things 0 The Zone of Interest Best Director 0 Jonathan Glazer - The Zone of Interest 0 Yorgos Lanthimos - Poor Things 0 Christopher Nolan - Oppenheimer (Predicted Winner) 0 Martin Scorsese - Killers of the Flower Moon (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) 0 Justine Triet - Anatomy of a Fall Best Actor in a Leading Role 0 Bradley Cooper - Maestro 0 Colman Domingo - Rustin 0 Paul Giamatti - The Holdovers 0 Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer (Predicted Winner) 0 Jeffrey Wright - American Fiction (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) Best Actress in a Leading Role 0 Annette Bening - Nyad 0 Lily Gladstone - Killers of the Flower Moon (Predicted Winner) 0 Sandra Hüller - Anatomy of a Fall 0 Carey Mulligan - Maestro 0 Emma Stone - Poor Things (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) Best Actor in a Supporting Role 0 Sterling K. Brown - American Fiction 0 Robert DeNiro - Killers of the Flower Moon (Predicted Winner) 0 Robert Downey Jr - Oppenheimer (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) 0 Ryan Gosling - Barbie 0 Mark Ruffalo - Poor Things Best Actress in a Supporting Role 0 Emily Blunt - Oppenheimer 0 Danielle Brooks - The Color Purple (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) 0 America Ferrera - Barbie 0 Jodie Foster - Nyad 0 Da’Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers (Predicted Winner) Best Original Screenplay 0 Anatomy of a Fall (Predicted Winner) 0 The Holdovers 0 Maestro 0 May December 0 Past Lives (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) Best Adapted Screenplay 0 American Fiction (Predicted Winner) 0 Barbie (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) 0 Oppenheimer 0 Poor Things 0 The Zone of Interest Best Animated Feature 0 The Boy and the Heron (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) 0 Elemental 0 Nimona 0 Robot Dreams 0 Spider-Man: Across the SpiderVerse (Predicted Winner) Best Production Design 0 Barbie (Predicted Winner) 0 Killers of a Flower Moon 0 Napoleon 0 Oppenheimer 0 Poor Things (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) Best Cinematography 0 El Conde 0 Killers of the Flower Moon 0 Maestro 0 Oppenheimer (Predicted Winner) 0 Poor Things (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) Costume Design 0 Barbie (Predicted Winner) 0 Killers of a Flower Moon 0 Napoleon 0 Oppenheimer 0 Poor Things (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) Best Film Editing 0 Anatomy of a Fall 0 The Holdovers 0 Killers of a Flower Moon (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) 0 Oppenheimer (Predicted Winner) 0 Poor Things Best Makeup and Hairstyling 0 Golda 0 Maestro (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) 0 Oppenheimer 0 Poor Things (Predicted Winner) 0 Society of the Snow Best Sound 0 The Creator 0 Maestro (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) 0 Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One 0 Oppenheimer (Predicted Winner) 0 The Zone of Interest Best Visual Effects 0 The Creator (Predicted Winner) 0 Godzilla: Minus One (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) 0 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 0 Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One 0 Napoleon Best Original Score 0 American Fiction 0 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny 0 Killers of the Flower Moon (Predicted Dark Horse Winner) 0 Oppenheimer (Predicted Winner) 0 Poor Things Best Original Song 0 American Symphony - “It Never Went Away” 0 Barbie - “I’m Just Ken” 0 Barbie - “What Was I Made For?” (Predicted Winner) 0 Flamin’ Hot - “The Fire Inside” 0 Killers of the Flower Moon - “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” (Predicted Dark Horse Winner)
LYFE LYFE TUESDAY | MAR 5, 2024 25 CHAOS ensued during the promotional event for the upcoming film Bade Miyan Chote Miyan at Ghantaghar, Lucknow, as a massive crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of lead actors Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff. Despite the excitement, the atmosphere turned volatile as the crowd grew restless, hurling slippers and stones towards the stage for reasons unknown. In a viral video capturing the pandemonium, police were seen attempting to regain control while Akshay’s voice could be heard urging the crowd to remain calm. The event was temporarily halted to ensure the safety of all present but was later resumed under tightened security measures. The action-packed movie, which also features South Indian star Prithviraj Sukumaran, is highly anticipated for release during the month of Ramadan. As the promotion continues amid the unexpected chaos, fans eagerly await the film’s premiere, hopeful for a thrilling cinematic experience. –BY S. TAMARAI CHELVI Actress Taapsee to marry Slippers hurled at Akshay and Tiger A speculation swirls around the impending nuptials of acclaimed actress Taapsee Pannu and her longtime beau, Danish badminton star Mathias Boe. After a decade-long relationship, the couple is reportedly preparing to tie the knot in a grand ceremony set to take place in Udaipur next month. Their wedding plans include a fusion of Sikhism and Christian rituals, reflecting both their cultural backgrounds. Meanwhile, Taapsee, who made her debut in 2010 with a Telegu film, is not only a celebrated actress but also the proud owner of the badminton franchise Pune 7 Aces, competing in the esteemed Premiere Badminton League. Amid the buzz surrounding their personal lives, Taapsee continues to receive acclaim for her recent work alongside Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan in the film Dunki, further cementing her status as a versatile and talented performer. –BY S. TAMARAI CHELVI Tiger (left) and Akshay posed for a photo before heading to Lucknow. – INSTAGRAM/@ASHYAKUMAR Taapsee owns a badminton franchise that plays in the Premiere Badminton League. – INSTAGRAM / @TAPSEE Back from the dead TWO years ago, Timothee Chalamet was given sage career advice by his Don’t Look Up co-star Leonardo DiCaprio, which was “no hard drugs and no superhero movies”. In the years since, Chalamet seemingly followed the advice, but in a recent interview with The New York Times, the actor revealed that he is keeping the door open to starring in a superhero movie. “Well, Leo said to me: ‘No superhero movies, no hard drugs.’ Which I thought was very good,” Chalamet said. “I follow them both. But the movie that made me want to act is a superhero movie, The Dark Knight. If the script was great, if the director was great, I’d have to consider it.” Accepting the best actor prize for Call Me by Your Name at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards back in 2018, Chalamet spoke about how Christopher Nolan’s landmark superhero film changed his life. “When I was 12 years old, after attending one of my sisters’ ballet performances, I petitioned my mom and grandma to see The Dark Knight with me. “We went to AMC Empire 25 in Times Square for a 7.30 screening. I left that theatre a changed man and I’m serious about that. Heath Ledger‘s performance in that film was visceral and viral to me, and it gave me the acting bug.” Chalamet said. For an in-demand young actor like Chalamet, it is relatively uncommon that he has not been attached to a comic book film, especially as his other co-stars in the upcoming Dune: Part Two are all currently or have been attached to projects involving superheroes. –BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR Chalamet open to cape and spandex films A leading Hollywood star, Chalamet is not averse to dipping his toes in a superhero movies. – WARNER BROS PICTURES O’Barr’s The Crow comics written as a coping mechanism after his fiancee was killed by a drunk driver. – LIONSGATE FILMS oNew version of The Crow will be a modern re-imagining of the 1994 classic █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR AFTER 14 years of being stuck in development hell, the next The Crow film is set to perch on the rooftops of cinemas this June 7. The fifth installment in The Crow film series, the upcoming film will see Eric Draven (Bill Skarsgard) return from the dead to avenge the deaths of himself and his fiancee Shelly Webster (FKA Twigs). A modern reimagining of James O’Barr’s limited gothic comic book series, The Crow is being directed by Rupert Sanders. “What drew me to The Crow was the opportunity to make a dark romance, something that dealt with loss, grief and the ethereal veil between life and death and reaching through that,” Sanders recently told Vanity Fair. “I grew up listening to Joy Division and the Cure and this movie is a bit like a Cure song — the beauty of melancholy.” The previous adaptations of the films have been marred with different issues, with the most prominent being the 1994 version of the film that starred Brandon Lee. Son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, Brandon was accidentally killed during filming when a firearm malfunctioned, fatally wounding him. Chad Stahelski, the director of the John Wick films had to complete the remaining scenes as Brandon’s body double, with the martial artist’s face digitally superimposed on Stahelski’s face. After the current film entered production in 2008, it went through multiple versions that saw various directors, writers and cast members walk in and out of the film’s revolving door. Prior to Skarsgard’s casting, Bradley Cooper, Luke Evans and Jason Momoa were all attached to star as Draven.
LYFE LYFE TUESDAY | MAR 5, 2024 26 /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM Malaysian Paper A monumental moment in space exploration history unfolded as a spacecraft named Odysseus achieved a historic touchdown on the moon’s surface. This landmark event, which occurred on Feb 22, marked the first time a privately funded spacecraft had accomplished such a feat, while also standing as the first American landing on the moon since 1972. Spearheaded by SpaceX, the lunar lander embarked on its mission, carrying a time capsule filled with an array of diverse and culturally significant artifacts, including a treasure trove of music recordings. At the heart of this groundbreaking endeavour is a vision to preserve and showcase humanity’s rich cultural heritage for future generations, even in the face of potential catastrophes. Michael P Nash, the renowned filmmaker and curator of the time capsule, underscored the significance of this initiative by emphasising its role as a testament to human history, safeguarded on the lunar surface. In a poignant statement to Billboard, Nash articulated the purpose behind the time capsule, envisioning it as a lasting legacy that transcends the limitations of time and space. The contents of the time capsule form a captivating mosaic of human creativity and expression, spanning millennia of artistic endeavours. Among the artefacts nestled within its protective casing is a fragment of Sumerian cuneiform notation, a testament to the ancient origins of music as an art form. Furthermore, the capsule houses an eclectic selection of musical recordings from iconic artistes such as Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Timbaland and many others. These recordings, spanning genres and eras, serve as a sonic tapestry that encapsulates the diversity and richness of human musical heritage. In addition to timeless classics and celebrated hits, the time capsule also contains a treasure trove of unreleased songs, previously unheard by the world. Dallas Santana, the visionary behind the concept of sending artistes’ works to the moon, expressed excitement over the inclusion of these exclusive tracks, envisioning a future where they would be discovered and appreciated by generations to come. He emphasised the significance of this musical collection as a cultural legacy, transcending earthly confines to inspire and resonate with audiences across the cosmos. Santana’s deliberate selection of music from the pivotal year of 1969, along with artistes who graced the stage at Woodstock, adds a layer of historical resonance to the time capsule. This choice serves as a poignant reminder of humanity’s first steps on the moon, juxtaposed with the spirit of peace and togetherness embodied by the iconic music festival. Santana hopes that this curated selection of music will not only endure the test of time but also evoke a sense of unity and harmony among future listeners, regardless of their origins or celestial location. Despite initial concerns raised by some musicians regarding Elon Musk’s involvement in the project, Santana reassured them that the curation of the archive was conducted independently of SpaceX’s founder. He emphasised the private nature of the payload, affirming the autonomy of the team in selecting and preserving the cultural artefacts destined for lunar immortality. This meticulous approach underscores the commitment to ensuring the integrity and authenticity of the time capsule’s contents, preserving them as a lasting tribute to human creativity and ingenuity. Alexander 23 Live in KL AMERICAN singer-songwriter Alexander Glantz, known professionally as Alexander 23, is set to perform in several Asian countries, including Malaysia, as part of his “American Boy in Asia” tour. The Asia tour will make stops at five major cities, beginning with Hong Kong, followed by Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Taipei. The Chicago native is scheduled to grace the stage in Kuala Lumpur on June 13, at The Bee, Publika. This comes after his performance at Manila’s Podium Hall on June 11. Alexander made his debut in March 2019 with Dirty AF1s, which quickly rose to the top of the DSP charts. His critically acclaimed debut EP, I’m Sorry I Love You, followed in the fall of 2019, and he spent the year touring with Alec Benjamin and Omar Apollo. In 2020, he sold out headline s h o w s , released t h e platinum-certified track IDK You Yet and earned a Grammy nomination for coproducing Olivia Rodrigo’s Good 4 U in 2021. The debut album Aftershock, co-produced with Dan Nigro, arrived in the summer of 2022 after supporting John Mayer on the Sob Rock tour. He embarked on his first world tour in the fall of 2022 and supported Lauv on the sold-out “Between Albums Tour” across Asia in 2023. Members of Live Nation are granted primary access to tickets through a pre-sale that takes place on Monday, March 11, from 11.00am to 11.59pm. To register for pre-sale access and obtain details, visit livenation.my. Tickets for the public in Kuala Lumpur will be available for p u r c h a s e starting Tuesday, March 12, from 11am onwards on golive-asia.com. IDK You Yet singer Alexander 23, set to perform in Kuala Lumpur. – SPOTIFY Hendrix is among the artistes to featured in the time capsule – DAVIDREDFERN/REDFERNS The time capsule was sent to the moon via a spacecraft named Odysseues. – BRUNOSCRAMGNON/PEXElS oMusic’s journey to the moon Beyond the stars █ BYHAZIQUE ZAIRILL █ BYHAZIQUE ZAIRILL
SPORTS SPORTS TUESDAY | MAR 5, 2024 28 Future of Spanish tennis in good hands, says former world No. 1 RAFA NADAL said one good thing about nearing the end of his career is that he will not have to face Carlos Alcaraz too many times after the 37- year-old Spaniard lost to his compatriot in an exhibition match in Las Vegas yesterday. Nadal, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, added that the future of Spanish tennis was in good hands with the 20-year-old. Alcaraz has already won majors at the US. Open and Wimbledon and is ranked No. 2 in the world behind Novak Djokovic. “It’s a good thing that as a player I will not face him many times,” said Nadal, who expects to retire in 2024 after a series of injuries limited his appearances on the circuit. “As a fan, I will enjoy watching him for many years hopefully. In Spain, we should be very, very happy about having someone like Carlos coming. “He’s an amazing player. He’s only 20-years-old and he’s already won two Grand Slams and a couple of important tournaments.” Nadal, who spent almost a year on the sidelines with a hip flexor injury before suffering a muscle injury at the start of this season, said he felt “much better than expected” during the exhibition match. Nadal and Alcaraz are next in action at the Masters tournament at Indian Wells, where Nadal hopes to avoid any injury setbacks so he can be fully fit for the upcoming claycourt season. “For me, the priority is to try to get out of Indian Wells unscathed,” Nadal was quoted as saying on Eurosport. “Whatever has to be left, leave it in the clay season, which may or may not be the last, I have not decided 100%. At the moment things are going that way. “I’m not saying goodbye because then I’d say I’m not playing anymore. This is an important point and I don’t want to say it because I’m not 100% clear about it. “In the last two years, I haven’t been able to play. Life is showing you the path.” Nadal is a three-time Indian Wells champion and plays his first round match on Thursday. He has previously said his goal was to play the French Open and the Paris Olympics this year. “How did I imagine my farewell? At first, I didn’t imagine it because when you start to imagine something, it means that the closer you are to it,” he said. “It wasn’t something I had in mind. I would like to say goodbye well, being competitive and enjoying myself on the court. Whether that can be or not, time will tell.” – Reuters Niemann captures LIV Jeddah by four strokes JOAQUIN NIEMANN captured his second LIV Golf title in three outings on Sunday after cruising to a four-stroke victory at LIV Golf Jeddah Invitational in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. Niemann carded a 4-under 66 and finished at 17-under 193 at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club. For his efforts, the 25-year-old Chilean earned US$4 million (RM19m), boosting his season total after three events to US$8m (RM38m). “I’m more than happy about the way I’m playing,” Niemann said. “I just want to keep on the same path. I’m pretty proud of the way I played all week.” Niemann has posted three wins in his last three months. He emerged victorious at the Australian Open in December as well the LIV season opener at Mayakoba in February. He also notched a third-place finish in the Asian Tour event the previous week. “We’ve got another week to come,” Niemann said. “I told myself I can win these three weeks I’m playing. So next week and see what happens.” South Africans Louis Oosthuizen (67 on Sunday) and Charl Schwartzel (68) finished in a tie for second place at 13-under. “Yeah. It was nice to play well. I was very happy that I drove it better,” Schwartzel said. “Joaco played really good today, and I didn’t have enough good chances, but I was very happy the way I drove it. That’s a big improvement.” Bryson DeChambeau rode a blistering 62 on Sunday into a fourth-place finish at 12- under, followed by first-round co-leader Jon Rahm (68) of Spain at 11-under. – Field Level Media JOS VERSTAPPEN’S call for the sacking of Red Bull Formula One boss Christian Horner has raised questions about his son Max’s future just as the team and their triple world champion celebrate a truly crushing win in Bahrain. Saturday’s season-opening race at the Gulf kingdom’s Sakhir circuit offered fewer twists and turns, and considerably less drama, than the apparent power play being acted out in the paddock. What started with misconduct allegations against Horner by a female employee, that he denied and an independent investigation dismissed, has exposed divisions within the sport’s most dominant team. The energy drink brand’s majority owner, Thai billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya, was public in his support of Horner in Bahrain but reports have suggested the Austrian side of the company is less enthusiastic. Verstappen senior’s comments to the Daily Mail, saying Red Bull would “explode” if Horner stayed, left questions hanging in the air as the circus heads to Saudi Arabia for Saturday’s race in Jeddah. The Daily Telegraph said Verstappen senior was understood to have told friends his son would leave Red Bull if he had to. Horner, 50, had insisted in Bahrain that the team was more united than ever. That line was repeated on Sunday, although Verstappen senior is not officially a member of the team. The overnight outburst, after a widely reported row between Jos and Horner shortly after Friday’s qualifying, meanwhile accelerated around the world. “There is tension here while he remains in position. The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode,” the Dutchman told the Daily Mail. “He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.” The BBC said Jos Verstappen had confirmed he spoke out after a row with Horner. His son was aware of the comments and had not said anything. The face-off took place a day after an email, purporting to contain evidence submitted to the misconduct probe into Horner, was sent anonymously to journalists and key figures in the sport. Verstappen senior, who was also on the list of recipients, denied being behind it. Horner, speaking to reporters after the race, would not comment on the motives behind the email. The question now is whether the tensions, simmering away under the surface for some time, have pushed the team to breaking point and how Max Verstappen, 26, will react. – Reuters Red Bull in disarray BRIEFS Boulter beats Kostyuk in San Diego BRITAIN’S Katie Boulter won the biggest title of her career yesterday, beating Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 to claim the WTA San Diego Open title. The 27-year-old, whose only previous WTA crown came at Nottingham last June, moves into the world rankings top 30 for the first time in her career. Boulter had upset third seed Emma Navarro of the United States in the semifinals. Kostyuk, ranked 34th, had beaten top-seeded Jessica Pegula to reach the final but struggled after winning the first set against the big-hitting Briton. “I really didn’t think I would be standing here with a trophy right now, I really didn’t,” said Boulter, who was cheered on by her Australian boyfriend Alex de Minaur, who had flown in after winning the ATP title in Acapulco on Saturday. Late birdie joy for Green AUSTRALIA’S Hannah Green pipped Celine Boutier of France to the 2024 HSBC Women’s World Championship title by one shot after draining a stunning 30-feet birdie at the last hole on Sunday. The US$1.8m (RM8.5m) LPGA tournament appeared to be headed for a playoff between Green and Boutier after Boutier had earlier closed with a 5-under 67. However, after already making two birdies on 16 and 17, Green ensured there would not be any extra-time as her long birdie putt on 18 sunk into the hole to see her finish with a winning four-day total of 13- under 275. Canada’s Brooke Henderson, meanwhile, secured her third top-10 finish in four starts since the LPGA’s seasonopening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions by carding a 68 to share third place with South Korea’s Lee Mi-hyang as well as Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and Yuna Nishimura on 279 total. Golf’s unification inevitable: Pelley IT IS a matter of time before the rival tours in professional golf come together to form a unified entity, outgoing DP World Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley said yesterday as the PGA Tour and LIV Golf continue working on plans to join forces. Pelley, who will be replaced by the current European Tour deputy CEO and executive director Guy Kinnings on April 2, has been advocating for a deal between the PGA Tour and LIV, backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). He told The Times newspaper that he remains “convinced the game will be unified”. “Whether it be in six months, a year, two years or 10 years, I think people are coming to the realisation that a collective product is in the best interest of global golf,” Pelley said. “It is the only way growth and prize funds continue at this level. It is inevitable.” Kim ‘very encouraged’ despite last-place finish ANTHONY KIM opted to take an optimistic view following his three-day performance at the LIV Golf Jeddah Invitational in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. Sure, Kim found himself in last place after following up a pair of rounds in which he carded a 6-over 76 with a 4-over 74 on Sunday. There’s more to consider, however. For starters, the 38-year-old admittedly was dealing with significant rust in his game as he made his return to professional golf this week after a nearly 12-year retirement. “I’m very encouraged. I’m excited about what’s coming,” Kim said, as he turns his attention to LIV Golf Hong Kong. “My game is starting to shape up. I’m doing things that I used to do before. I’m just looking forward to a great year.” Nadal hails ‘amazing’ Alcaraz Carlos Alcaraz poses with the trophy at The Netflix Slam. – AFPPIX
SPORTS SPORTS TUESDAY | MAR 5, 2024 29 Lost opportunity Slumping Girona, limp Barcelona fail to exploit Real slip PRESENTED with a chance to gain ground on Liga leaders Real Madrid, both Girona and then Barcelona tamely surrendered points yesterday. After Real Madrid drew in Valencia the night before, surprising title challengers Girona had a chance to reverse their recent slump and regain some ground. But they continued to subside as they lost 1-0 at Mallorca. That gave giant Catalan rivals Barcelona a chance to take second, but they drew 0-0 in Bilbao in the late game. Girona remained second, seven points behind Real with Barcelona another point behind. Atletico Madrid tightened their grip on fourth as they beat Betis 2-1. On Saturday, Real Madrid drew 2-2 at Valencia in a game that ended in controversy as Jude Bellingham, who thought he had just scored the winner, was sent off for protesting after his strike was ruled out because the referee had blown the final whistle. In Palma yesterday, Mallorca, fresh from reaching the Copa del Rey final, scored the only goal after 33 minutes. Following a corner, the ball rebounded off Mallorca’s Cyle Larin and fell to Jose-Manuel Copete in space less than 10 metres out. The defender smashed a shot in off the underside of the bar. Girona enjoyed a slight edge in possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances as they failed to score for the third time in five games. “I am disappointed with the result but not with the team’s attitude,” said Girona coach Michel Sanchez. The victory pulled Mallorca up to 15th, eight points clear of the relegation places. Barcelona ended their visit to Bilbao playing out an uneventful goalless draw at walking pace. “We didn’t play a good game, we didn’t attack well,” said coach Xavi. “We didn’t play our best. The match required more from us. It’s a missed opportunity. The team could have done more.” Barcelona also suffered potentially costly injuries to Frenkie de Jong and Pedri, who went off in tears. Bilbao, who also reached the Spanish Cup final in midweek, stayed fifth, five points behind Atletico Madrid, the only team that stated the weekend in the top half of the table to win. Atletico took the lead against Betis after eight minutes with help from the visitors. Memphis Depay drove a cross toward Alvaro Morata, lurking at the far post, but the ball never reached the Spain striker as three Betis players combined to put the ball into their own net. Hector Bellerin scuffed the ball onto teammate German Pezzella who deflected it toward the line where goalkeeper Rui Silva could only parry it into his own goal. Rui Silva brought down Morata to concede a 27th minute penalty but the goalkeeper saved the spot kick and two follow-up attempts by Morata. Morata found the target in the 43rd minute, nodding in a rebound from close range after Rui Silva saved a shot by Rodrigo de Paul. “It was a deserved victory,” said Atletico coach Diego Simeone. “We needed it.” William Carvalho pulled one back for Betis with a long-range blast after 62 minutes. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak pushed a shot from Guido Rodriguez onto the post as Atletico absorbed late Betis pressure. – AFP Bayern’s Lazio clash offers outgoing Tuchel lifeline BAYERN MUNICH’S home clash with Lazio in the Champions League tomorrow (4am Malaysian time) offers coach Thomas Tuchel a chance to help salvage his reputation as he makes his way out of the club. Mired in mid-table in Serie A, Lazio – who had three players sent off in Friday’s loss to Milan – are also under pressure, but take a 1-0 first-leg lead in the last 16 tie to the Allianz Arena. Hired two-thirds of the way through last season after Bayern surprisingly fired Julian Nagelsmann, Tuchel is on his way out, having struggled to keep Bayern on track for the Bundesliga title with Leverkusen comfortably in pole position. Two early German Cup exits, and elimination at the hands of eventual champions Manchester City in Europe last season, means that Tuchel’s only trophy was last year’s Bundesliga, somewhat gifted on goal difference by Borussia Dortmund’s final-day collapse. Nagelsmann lost just 10 of 84 games in charge of Bayern. With largely the same squad, plus England captain Harry Kane and South Korea defender Kim Min-jae, Tuchel has already lost 11 of his 45 matches. Friday’s 2-2 draw with Freiburg and Leverkusen’s 2-0 win at Cologne on Sunday mean Bayern are 10 points behind with 10 league games remaining in the Bundesliga title chase. Despite Tuchel’s side winning just one of their past five games, the Bayern hierarchy promised the coach will see out the season. After Friday’s game, Tuchel said his side were not lacking “desire” but rather “discipline”, saying “we played completely without structure” while criticising his team’s “body language”. “We did things we’ve never trained, that we’ve never even spoken about. From the beginning, we played like it was the 85th minute and we were a goal down.” Bayern veteran Thomas Muller, a two-time Champions League winner, said Sunday: “The excitement is palpable for everyone, whether fans or players. There’s a buzz in the air.” – AFP GIACOMO RASPADORI struck late to give Napoli a 2-1 win over unfortunate Juventus yesterday, while Bologna’s Champions League dream continues after beating topfour rivals Atalanta. Italy attacker Raspadori rammed home the winner on the rebound in the 88th minute after Wojciech Szczesny saved Victor Osimhen’s penalty, as Napoli showed glimpses that a dreadful season as Italian champions might be turning in the right direction. Napoli looked like having to accept a draw from their lively display in the 81st minute when Federico Chiesa cancelled out Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s volleyed opener with a rifled finish of his own. Instead Francesco Calzona’s team moved up to seventh, three points behind sixth-placed Atalanta who sit in the Europa Conference League spot following their loss in an earlier match. Champions League football is still a big ask as Napoli are eight points away from the fourth position held by Bologna, but there has been a clear improvement under Calzona, who replaced Walter Mazzarri last month. Renewed confidence at Napoli and, in particular, of star forward Kvaratskhelia also bodes well for the trip to Barcelona later in March when a spot in the Champions League quarterfinals will be up for grabs. Defeat was harsh for Juve who not only fought back from going a goal down but had a host of chances, Dusan Vlahovic hitting the post and then wasting another great opportunity on the stroke of halftime with his team trailing. “The boys played well today, in the first half we had good chances and you have to take them… above all in these big matches,” said Allegri to DAZN. “You have to do better in those situations, it’s part of maturing as a player.” Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee celebrated his first Netherlands callup by levelling Ademola Lookman’s first-half opener with a penalty in the 57th minute, before Lewis Ferguson ensured a 2-1 win with his beautiful volley four minutes later. A sixth straight win put daylight between Thiago Motta’s Bologna and the rest of Italy’s bidders for next season’s revamped version of Europe’s top club competition. Surprising Bologna are four points ahead of fellow in-form outfit Roma who are fifth following their 4-1 thumping of Monza on Saturday. “I looked up at the ball as it came past Joshua and the only thing I thought was ‘shoot’,” said Ferguson to DAZN of his fine winner. – AFP Raspadori fires Napoli past Juve SIDENETTING Leverkusen extend Bundesliga lead BAYER LEVERKUSEN tightened their grip at the top of the Bundesliga with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Cologne to pull 10 points clear of Bayern Munich. Xabi Alonso’s side were handed the opportunity to stretch their lead over Bayern after the serial champions faltered again, only managing a 2-2 draw at Freiburg on Friday night. “Ten points is a lot,” said Leverkusen’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka. “But it’s not over yet. There are still many, many more points to play for and as long as it’s not decided mathematically, we cannot say that it’s done. We have to keep working and pick up a few more points as a team.” The game’s opener was crafted in the 38th minute by Alejandro Grimaldo. His low cross from the left was flicked on by Patrik Schick and stabbed in from close range by Jeremie Frimpong, for his eighth league goal of the season. Grimaldo locked up the points in the 73rd minute, squeezing the ball in at the near post after fine work by impact substitute Amine Adli. ‘Sancho too expensive to keep’ JADON SANCHO is unlikely to stay at Borussia Dortmund beyond the end of the season, because “it would take a lot of money” to keep the Manchester United loanee, said club sporting director Sebastian Kehl. Sancho returned to Dortmund on loan in January after struggling at Old Trafford following a big-money move in 2021. He had been frozen out of the first team following a public falling-out with United head coach Erik ten Hag. “In the end, it will take money, a lot of money. Definitely more than we have at the moment,” Kehl told German TV channel Sport1. “We got over €80m for Jadon. Manchester United will, of course, have an interest in either taking him back in the summer or selling him again in a deal that makes sense for them. Whether that also makes sense for us will be the next topic.” Nice miss chance as Brest secure second spot NICE missed the chance to go third in Ligue 1 as hosts Toulouse came from a goal down to win 2-1 yesterday, while Brest moved a little closer to Paris Saint-Germain with a 1-0 home win over Le Havre. Terem Moffi gave Nice the early advantage in Toulouse when he fired past Guillaume Restes after eight minute. Toulouse created the better chances in the second half and hit two goals in quick succession. In the 65th minute, Warren Kamanzi crossed for Thijs Dallinga to head his ninth goal of the season and his fourth in the last five matches. Four minutes later, the 23-year-old Dutch striker turned supplier. He teed the ball up for Yann Gboho who swivelled round Pablo Rosario before crashing the ball past Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, who could only get his fingertips on it, and into the roof of the net. “We need to wake up,” said Nice coach Francesco Farioli, after his team failed to win for a fifth consecutive league match. Athletic Bilbao’s Gorka Guruzeta (right) and Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi vie for the ball during their La Liga match. – AFPPIX
SPORTS SPORTS TUESDAY | MAR 5, 2024 30 @thesundaily FOLLOW ON TWITTER Malaysian Paper ‘Reckless’ tackles irk Ten Hag Man Utd suffer two new injury blows in Man City loss MANCHESTER UNITED manager Erik ten Hag confirmed Jonny Evans and Marcus Rashford are fresh injury concerns after yesterday’s 3-1 defeat against Manchester City. Ten Hag, booked at the Etihad Stadium, also blasted challenges from Kyle Walker and Ederson in the build-up to City’s first two goals. Rashford spectacularly opened the scoring with his sixth career goal against City, firing a first-touch effort past Ederson from range to stun the hosts. But Pep Guardiola’s side’s class prevailed in the second half as Phil Foden’s brace and Erling Haaland’s late finish completed a Premier League derby double. Foden’s 56th-minute equaliser didn’t come without controversy, though. Ten Hag was booked for a furious reaction after Rashford believed Kyle Walker fouled him on the break moments before the goal at the other end. After full-time, Ten Hag, while admitting it would’ve been a soft foul, doubled down on his frustrations. “No, let’s say this. It was very debatable. I think there was contact, and it was a defining moment in the game,” Ten Hag told Sky Sports. “It was soft, but when you are in a full sprint and you get a little touch, you lose the rhythm. And that’s why he (Rashford) went down.” He later added in his press conference: “I will not say it was a tackle from Walker. They ran, and Rashy confirmed to me there was contact. “I saw it back. It was very soft. When you are on a full-speed run and get a touch, you are out of control, and I think that happened.” Ten Hag also focused attention towards a challenge from Ederson on Alejandro Garnacho as the A r g e n t i n e t e e n a g e r chas e d a through ball. Ederson slid in for a strong challenge with his feet, and the Dutchman believes it was a “reckless” tackle that, again, led to a City goal. “It was also at 2-1 when there was a reckless action of the City goalkeeper. Then, in the counter-attack, they scored for 2-1.” United’s 11th Premier League defeat of the season has left the club’s hopes of Champions League qualification hanging by a thread. And Ten Hag’s admission that Rashford and Evans were taken off with knocks won’t inspire confidence ahead of Saturday’s clash against Everton. He said: “I had to take them both off. They fought to be part of this game, but after 60-70 minutes, we had to take them off. It was not to our advantage. Jonny was playing brilliantly. Rashy was a threat.” The coach dismissed suggestions his side’s latest defeat to City was another reminder of the gulf that now exists between the sides. “Football is not only about possession,” said Ten Hag. “You see we have many problems now in injuries and still we had an opportunity. “By a really small margin we could have scored the second goal. You have to remember, City is in this moment the best team in the world.” – Express Newspapers/ The Independent United legend Neville can’t be bothered to rant anymore GARY NEVILLE admitted he’s “tired” of ranting about Manchester United after their derby day defeat. The Red Devils suffered their 11th Premier League loss of the season at the Etihad yesterday, falling 3-1 to their noisy neighbours City having taken the lead through Marcus Rashford’s stunning early strike. United failed to make the most of that advantage and rarely threatened thereafter, with Phil Foden breaking their resolve to equalise and then complete the comeback, before Erling Haaland added a stoppage-time third. Neville returned to the Sky Sports studio after being on co-commentary for the match, with host Kelly Cates asking: “There’s always that question at Manchester United of where has the money been spent? Why are we not seeing it on the pitch?” A resigned Neville replied: “Yeah, we’ve obviously talked about this night and day it feels like, for much of our lives. We’re just tired! We’ve just had enough!” The United legend chuckled away with fellow pundits Roy Keane and Micah Richards, who joked: “It’s drained him, he’s like Manchester United in the second half!” While he’s analysed his old club’s struggles to death in recent years, Neville did have another crack as he said: “There’s the Pep and Klopp factors of these two unbelievable managers who just completely get the best out of their teams. “And there’s an element of when they’re still here you feel like you can’t compete against them. I come back to the fact that I always think ‘are we on the right journey? Are we going in the right direction?’ “It’s that idea of ‘can you see a style of play, a performance level where there’s something building’. Last season I think was really good. “In terms of getting to the Champions League, winning a trophy, getting to an FA Cup final. No one expected them to win the League this season, but we didn’t expect them to be sixth so far off.” – Express Newspapers ANDONI IRAOLA does not believe Bournemouth are safe yet despite ending a seven-game winless Premier League run with a 2-0 victory over Burnley. The Clarets and Sheffield United are cut adrift at the bottom and the Cherries are now sitting in 13th place, 11 points clear of Luton in 18th. “I’m satisfied with the situation that we have a gap of 11 points, it’s very good, it’s important,” said the Bournemouth boss. “But we still need more wins, we still need more points. I feel that Luton, they have very good spirit, they fight every game and they can make a good run.” Burnley dominated possession and chances but the two moments of real quality came from Bournemouth, with Justin Kluivert opening the scoring in the 13th minute and Antoine Semenyo making sure of the win two minutes from time. Iraola was left with mixed feelings, saying: “Obviously I’m happy because we needed this win. For sure we played worse than the last games we’ve played, but we’ll take the win. “I was disappointed with the performance in the first half. We made adjustments and the second half was much better from our side.” Burnley manager Vincent Kompany felt yesterday’s performance was a substantial improvement on the previous weekend’s 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace, saying: “I did think we put in the energy that we needed. “We created I think more shots and chances than in any of the games we’ve played in the Premier League so far this season. And even after conceding the goal, we carried on. “But the frustration is something that has to substitute into the next game. What we can’t drop is the energy levels we had today.” Kompany bemoaned the consistency of officiating after Josh Cullen had a second-half effort ruled out for a foul by Jacob Bruun Larsen. “In the context of this game, you can allow or disallow this goal and have kind of a 50-50 divide,” he said. “But, if you zoom out a little bit and put this goal against the goal we conceded against Luton, impeding a player while you’re not making contact with the ball, it’s exactly what happened in reverse. “So in that moment you don’t give a foul and in this moment you do. That side of it is difficult to handle this season.” – The Independent Iraola won’t relax despite Bournemouth win ‘Haaland’s reaction to miss a sign of greatness’ PEP GUARDIOLA said Erling Haaland’s response to an awful miss in the first half of Manchester City’s 3- 1 win over Manchester United yesterday showed the mental strength of a sporting great. The Norwegian somehow managed to spoon the ball over the bar with the goal gaping from Phil Foden’s header across goal when United still led through Marcus Rashford’s stunning strike. Foden spared his teammate’s blushes by scoring twice to turn the match around before Haaland made amends by scoring his 28th goal of the season in stoppage time. Haaland seemed to have hit top form when he scored five times in a 6-2 FA Cup rout at Luton in midweek. Guardiola’s ashen-faced reaction to his miss was in keeping with a collective screech of disbelief around the Etihad. “That might be the worst miss I’ve ever seen at this level,” former England striker Gary Lineker posted on X. “@ErlingHaaland has to head it. Incredible.” But Guardiola said Haaland’s reaction was in keeping with what he has seen from top sports stars. “The great players I met have this incredible ability to forget in an instant,“ said Guardiola. “It’s painful, yes, but (he) had to forget it as quick as possible. “The best basketball players, golfers, tennis players, they miss, everyone misses. Ok, smile, positive and go for the next and that defines the great players.” Victory kept City on the tail of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League, just one point behind the Reds ahead of a clash between the two at Anfield this weekend. – Express Newspapers Manchester City’s Ederson (bottom) tackles Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho during their Premier League match. – AFPPIX
SPORTS SPORTS TUESDAY | MAR 5, 2024 31 NEWLY appointed National hockey coach Sarjit Singh is ready to throw a lifeline to senior players by providing them an opportunity to come back and prove themselves and be selected to play for the Speedy Tigers. The former international, who was at the helm of the men’s national squad from 2006 to 2008 and who was recently appointed to replace A. Arul Selvaraj, believes age is not a barrier to stop any veteran player to produce a good performance that can help the hockey squad excel. Sarjit said coaches look for players with a high level of discipline and commitment before being roped into the national squad because these are vital elements needed in the squad. “Firstly I will be carrying out an assessment of the players and the team, because it is important. The league is still going on and we want to given them (veterans) an opportunity, I want players who can add value to the team. “We will also look at the performances of the players. If we have a player who has played 300 matches for the country and still can play, why not? Now, we will open the door to everyone, a blend of seniors and new players will be good,” he told reporters during a press conference held by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday. Sarjit also said he would require between 14 to 18 months to produce a formidable team that can play at the highest level. Meanwhile, MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said he would also be given the task to handle the junior squad and must look at the overall ecosystem of hockey in the country. “Sarjit has been given time to set up his coaching staff and one of them would take charge of the junior squad,” he said. – Bernama THE Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) hockey team is nearing a “treble” triumph as they advanced to the semifinals of the TNB Cup. This follows TNB’s sensational performance earlier this year when they clinched the Charity Shield in early February, before ending a 21-year drought to win the MHL 2024 championship on Feb 27. In the match that took place at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium (SNBJ) yesterday night, TNB were in a class of their own, thrashing Kuala Lumpur City (KL) 17-1 in the second quarterfinal leg. Nor Saiful Zaini’s squad had already amassed a comfortable aggregate advantage when they defeated KL 7-0 in the first quarterfinal which took place on March 1. TNB is scheduled to meet UiTM HA-KPT (UiTM) who beat Nurinsafi Sporting (NI) 3-1. In the first leg on Friday, UiTM edged out NI, 2-1. The defending champions, Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) also advanced to the semifinals after beating Liaoning Men’s Hockey Team (LMHT) 4-0 in another quarterfinal action. Awaiting THT in the semifinals are Maybank, who drubbed the TNB Thunderbolts 7-2 yesterday. Maybank had defeated TNB Thunderbolts 7-1 in the first quarterfinal leg. – Bernama Lifeline for veterans Sarjit opens door for senior players to play for Speedy Tigers TNB nears treble triumph THE Malaysian Karate Federation (Makaf) has pledged monthly allowances to any of its exponents who secure a top-five world ranking starting this year. Makaf president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad said this initiative is taken by the governing body to provide additional motivation for athletes to strive harder and achieve outstanding performances in the future. “We have decided to provide a monthly allowance to athletes in the top five world rankings. Currently, C. Shahmalarani is ranked 20th, and Muhammad Arif Afifuddin Ab Malik is in 40th position. “This allowance, funded by Mskaf, will be given every month as long as the athlete maintains their positions, as a token of appreciation for their performance,” he said after the Makaf 2004 Annual General Meeting yesterday. Earlier, Nur Azmi also presented incentives totaling RM20,000 from Makaf to five athletes who successfully contributed medals for the country in 2023 and early 2024. The five are kumite exponents Muhammad Arif, Shahmalarani, Lovelly Ann Roberth, Niathalia Sherawinnie Yampil and Naccy Elly Evvaferra Rojin. Muhammad Arif won gold in the men’s individual kumite 84kg category at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, while Shahmalarani took gold at the World Karate Federation (WKF) Karate 1 Series A Championship in Larnaca, Cyprus, in the women’s under 50kg category in January. Lovelly Ann contributed a silver medal in the women’s kata event at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games and won a silver medal in the team kata event with Niathalia and Naccy. – Bernama Monthly allowance for karate exponents ranked world top 5 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Burnley 0 Bournemouth 2 (Kluivert 13, Semenyo 88), Manchester City 3 (Foden 56, 80, Haaland 90+1) Manchester United 1 (Rashford 8). P W D L F A Pts Liverpool 27 19 6 2 64 25 63 Man City 26 18 5 3 59 26 59 Arsenal 26 18 4 4 62 23 58 Aston Villa 27 17 4 6 59 37 55 Tottenham 26 15 5 6 55 39 50 Man Utd 26 14 2 10 36 36 44 West Ham 27 12 6 9 43 47 42 Newcastle 27 12 4 11 57 45 40 Brighton 27 10 9 8 49 44 39 Wolves 27 11 5 11 40 43 38 Chelsea 26 10 6 10 44 43 36 Fulham 27 10 5 12 39 42 35 Bournemouth 26 8 7 11 35 47 31 Crystal Palace 27 7 7 13 32 47 28 Brentford 27 7 5 15 39 50 26 Everton 27 8 7 12 29 37 25 Nottm Forest 27 6 6 15 34 49 24 Luton 26 5 5 16 37 54 20 Burnley 27 3 4 20 25 60 13 Sheff Utd 26 3 4 19 22 66 13 La Liga: Villarreal 5 (Sorloth 7, 19, 66, Capoue 32, Guedes 47) Granada 1 (Corbeanu 90+1), Atletico Madrid 2 (Rui Silva 8-og, Morata 44) Real Betis 1 (William 62), Mallorca 1 (Copete 33) Girona 0, Athletic Bilbao 0 Barcelona 0. TOP 6 P W D L F A PTS Real Madrid 27 20 6 1 56 18 66 Girona 27 18 5 4 57 33 59 Barcelona 27 17 7 3 56 34 58 Atletico 27 17 4 6 54 29 55 Bilbao 27 14 8 5 46 26 50 Real Betis 27 10 12 5 32 28 42 SERIE A: Atalanta 1 (Lookman 28) Bologna 2 (Zirkzee 57-pen, Ferguson 61), Empoli 0 Cagliari 1 (Jankto 69), Frosinone 1 (Cheddira 45+2) Lecce 1 (Cerofolini 61-og), Napoli 2 (Kvaratskhelia 42, Raspadori 88) Juventus 1 (Chiesa 81), Verona 1 (Swiderski 79) Sassuolo 0. TOP 6 P W D L F A PTS Inter Milan 26 22 3 1 67 12 69 Juventus 27 17 6 4 42 21 57 AC Milan 27 17 5 5 51 32 56 Bologna 27 14 9 4 41 24 51 Roma 27 14 5 8 52 33 47 Atalanta 27 14 4 9 49 30 46 BUNDESLIGA: Cologne 0 Bayer Leverkusen 2, Hoffenheim 2 Werder Bremen 1. TOP 6 P W D L F A PTS Leverkusen 24 20 4 0 61 16 64 B. Munich 24 17 3 4 65 28 54 Stuttgart 24 16 2 6 55 31 50 Dortmund 24 12 8 4 48 30 44 RB Leipzig 24 13 4 7 53 31 43 E. Frankfurt 24 9 10 5 38 31 37 FRENCH LIGUE 1: Lyon 0 Lens 3, Rennes 1 Lorient 2, Brest 1 Le Havre 0, Montpellier 2 Strasbourg 2, Nantes 0 Metz 2, Toulouse 2 Nice 1. TOP 6 P W D L F A PTS Paris SG 24 16 7 1 54 19 55 Brest 24 13 7 4 35 18 46 Monaco 24 12 6 6 44 34 42 Lille 24 11 8 5 34 20 41 Nice 24 11 7 6 23 17 40 Lens 24 11 6 7 33 24 39 RESULTS & STANDINGS SHORTS KBS awaiting full report from Pesaka: Adam Adli THE Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) is awaiting a full report from the Malaysian National Silat Federation (Pesaka) regarding the incident that led to the death of Terengganu silat exponent Wan Muhammad Haikal Wan Hussin during the pre-selection competition for the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Sikamat, Negeri Sembilan, last Saturday. Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Adam Adli Abdul Halim said the report from Pesaka was crucial to determine whether the organisers complied with standard operating procedures for the competition or otherwise. “I extend my condolences to the family for the loss of the athlete. We need to respect the feelings of the family and refrain from accusing anyone. “Sports should be a space that we continue to nurture and ensure safety from all angles,” he said. Yesterday, the Pesaka secretarygeneral Bibi Aishah Golbal Shah, said that in the 5pm incident on Saturday, Wan Muhammad Haikal collapsed during the competition held at the Taman Coral Heights Community Hall in Sikamat. Following the incident, Pesaka cancelled all championships involving athletes from the 12 states out of respect for the deceased. Bertrand-Enrique finishes ninth in Montreal NATIONAL diver duo Bertrand Rhodict Lises-Enrique Maccartney Harold failed to deliver in the men’s 10m synchronised platform finals, coming in ninth place at the inaugural series of the Diving World Cup 2024 in Montreal yesterday. Bertrand-Enrique collected 353.67 points after six rounds of dives while Yang Hao-Lian Junjie of China were crowned as champions with 457.23 points during the event held at Parc Olympique. Mexican duo Kevin Berlin ReyesRandal Willards Valdez took silver with 428.97 points and British pair, Noah Williams-Tom Daley amassed 417.93 points to settle for bronze. After Montreal, it will move to Berlin from March 21-24 followed by the super final in Xi’an from April 19- 21. MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal (right) together with Malaysian Hockey head coach Sarjit Singh at a press conference at the Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium yesterday. – BERNAMAPIX
theSun is published and printed by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd (221220-K) of Lot 6, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7784 6688 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2625 Email: [email protected] • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Email: [email protected] SCAN ME TUESDAY | MAR 5, 2024 or download app from the App Store or Google PlayTM . www.thesun.my Free access to iPaper PDF Download SCAN ME Malaysian Paper Read iPaper at Malaysian Paper Malaysian Paper MANCHESTER CITY captain Kyle Walker lauded “sniper” Phil Foden after his brace helped secure a 3-1 come-frombehind victory over Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium. Foden cancelled out Marcus Rashford’s brilliant first-half opener with a fine strike of his own 11 minutes after the break. And the Stockport-born playmaker added another finish in the 80th minute before Erling Haaland wrapped up a Manchester derby victory in stoppage time. Walker, asked about Foden’s stunning equaliser, told Sky Sports: “You know when he comes in on his left foot… we call him the sniper, because he likes to shoot. “He likes a shot, so when he comes in on that left foot, you know he has the quality and the calmness and composure to pick his spot and I thought he took his goal fantastically well.” Foden then switched over to the left side, from where he scored his second and earned City a big victory in their Premier League title challenge. Walker added: “The second, probably coming off the left-hand side, you don’t really see Phil in that position but for him to find the corner as he has done, I think that just shows his flexibility. “He’s even been trusted down the middle as well this year, which I think is a big part of the responsibility he has taken on. We lean on him and we need important players like him. “He loves a shot, he practices, he puts in the work and he’s always doing extra shooting. His goals are coming, he’s reaping the rewards and he needs to keep these standards up. “I think this season he’s been nothing short of first class. That’s the standard he sets for himself, that’s the standard we set for him, the manager (Pep Guardiola) and that’s the standard he has to keep up now.” Foden, who now has 18 goals in all competitions for City this season, said: “That’s my aim, to turn up in the big games. “That’s what I want to do and I think this season I’m proving that. I just need to keep working hard on the training pitch and keep putting performances like that in, keep working hard. “I understand what it means for the fans, a derby at the Etihad, it means everything for me. To score as well is even better, but overall to get the win was the most important thing today.” United protested in vain that Rashford had been fouled by Walker moments before F o d e n ’s first goal, with manager Erik ten Hag booked for his reaction on the touchline. Asked about that incident, Walker said: “I haven’t looked back at it so I don’t know – I didn’t feel there was much in it. “Probably I did what I normally do and got my arm across people. But the referee has seen it, he’s checked it on the VAR, and they just have to take it as that and we’ve gone up the other end and it’s kind of sod’s law, isn’t it?” Guardiola described Foden as “world class” and the player of the season after the winger’s matchwinning double. “Winning games is when you become a world-class player. Everyone can play good but you have to win games and he wins games. What can I say? “He loves football. He lives to play. There are people who like to play. He loves to play football. He will already be a legendary player because in a short age, the games played, the minutes, the goals scored, the titles won and he is from the home and that is why the connection with the fans is unbelievable. “He always scores goals but now he scores goals to win games. When you do this, you reach another level as a player. “He is the player of the season, with all the respect for incredible players but no one has been so decisive for us as him this season.” – The Independent World-class hitman Foden lives up to ‘sniper’ nickname after Manchester derby heroics -Story on page 28 Nadal Hails ‘amazing’ Alcaraz -Story on page 2 ‘Reckless’ tackles irk Ten Hag Man City’s Phil Foden applauds fans after being substituted during the English Premier League match against Man United at the Etihad Stadium yesterday. – REUTERSPIX Story on page 30