LYFE LYFE THURSDAY | JAN 11, 2024 26 THE Culinary Global Challenge Malaysia Association (GCCM) recently announced the launch of the Third Global Culinary Challenge Malaysia, a biennial culinary competition for East Asian and Chinese cuisine. During the announcement, GCCM also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Comexposium, the organiser of Food and Drinks Malaysia by SIAL. The third GCCM will be the first time the event is held outside its home grounds in Negri Sembilan and will take place on July 2 to 4 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) in Kuala Lumpur. The competition will be colocated with the food and beverage trade exhibition Food and Drinks Malaysia by SIAL during this period. GCCM competition chairman Datuk Seri Dr King Lim Chin Fui said that due to the cultural diversity of the various ethnicities in Malaysia, the culinary environment encourages local chefs to boldly experiment and create new dishes that are not found anywhere else in the world. “This competition is a platform for chefs to showcase their creativity in blending their ideas and cultural elements to create unique Malaysian flavours, inspire new creations and elevate Malaysian Chinese and East Asian cuisine to the next level.” To further promote East Asian and Chinese culinary arts to a global audience, GCCM and Comexposium signed an MoU on collaborating and co-organising next year’s GCCM. “By co-organising the upcoming Global Culinary Challenge Malaysia, Food and Drinks Malaysia shall be the platform to narrate the tradition of Chinese and East Asian culinary heritage and inspire the region’s food industry through cultural exchange,” said the Southeast Asia and SIAL Network of Comexposium Exhibition Director, Henri Tan. The competition will feature several categories, such as the team challenge, the individual challenge, carving displays, artistic displays and the M-Flavourful Culinary Individual Challenge. Co-located with the competition is the Food and Drinks Malaysia by SIAL trade exhibition, which will be in its second edition in July 2024. First launched in 2023, the upand-coming food trade exhibition is expected to host around 500 exhibitors and 15,000 importers, buyers and trade professionals across the three-day event. The third GCCM is also coorganised by the association of Negri Sembilan restaurant operators and cooks and supported by the Tourism Board of Malaysia. The competition is also sponsored by FnB Facilities and Piau Kee Marine. Other supporting organisations include the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS), Malaysia Association of Hotels (MAH), Professional Culinaire Association of Malaysia, New Era Institute of Vocational and Continuing Education, Chef Eddie Choong Bake and Culinary Centre, Chef Siew Cake Art and Culinary, Penang Chinese Cooks Association, Hong Kong International Culinary Art Association, Society of Chinese Cuisine Chefs (Singapore), Best Chef and the Chef Club of Singapore. Competition to promote East Asian, Chinese culinary arts (From left) New Era Institute of Vocational and Continuing Education Professor Mok Soon Chong, Piau Kee Marine managing director Alan Cheah, Mitec general manager Winnee Lim, GCCM legal advisor Datuk David WL Yoong, Tan, Negri Sembilan restaurants operators and cooks association president Chong Foot Heng, Lim, event deputy chairman Master Chef Choo Sam Chai, WACS observer Master Chef Yau Kok Keong, GCCM general secretary Master Chef Yee Chee Loun, MAH treasurer Maggie Ong, Master Chef advisor Master Chef Chern Chee Hong and Society Of Chinese Cuisine Chefs (Singapore) president Master Chef Teo Ah Chye. Travis Van Winkle, B K Cannon, Arturo Castro, Dominique Columbus, Beau Knapp and Bob Menery. As Gyllenhaal continues to evolve professionally, the Road House remake stands poised as a thrilling and transformative chapter in his illustrious filmography, promising audiences an exhilarating cinematic experience and solidifying Gyllenhaal’s position as a versatile and compelling actor. The anticipation surrounding the film extends beyond Gyllenhaal’s individual performance, with the ensemble cast adding depth and excitement to the project. The production, set against the picturesque backdrop of the Dominican Republic, offers a visually stunning setting for the intense and action-packed scenes. Gyllenhaal’s commitment to his role is evident not only in his physical transformation but also in his active participation in UFC events, showcasing the dedication required for authenticity. The collaboration between Gyllenhaal and Liman brings together two forces known for their creativity and ability to captivate audiences. Liman’s track record with successful films makes him a fitting choice to breathe new life into the beloved Road House legacy. The promise of an exhilarating cinematic experience is heightened by Gyllenhaal’s onscreen charisma and Liman’s directorial prowess. As the film industry continues to evolve, Gyllenhaal’s choice to take on iconic roles and contribute to the remake of a beloved classic demonstrates a commitment to both his craft and the art of storytelling. The Road House remake holds the potential not only to entertain but also to leave a lasting impact on audiences, adding a thrilling chapter to Gyllenhaal’s already impressive filmography. J AKE GYLLENHAAL, in celebrating his 43rd birthday, expressed gratitude for well wishes in an Instagram post, providing followers with a sneak peek into his upcoming film. Donned in a Patrick Swayze shirt, a tribute to the original John Dalton in the 1989 film Road House, Gyllenhaal hinted at the excitement surrounding his role in the upcoming remake. In the Instagram snapshot, Gyllenhaal was seated at a dinner table with a partially consumed birthday cake before him, accompanied by a candle and beverages. The actor’s joyous smile mirrored the celebration and his anticipation for the cinematic endeavour that lies ahead. The reimagined Road House casts Gyllenhaal as a former UFC fighter turned bouncer at a tumultuous roadhouse in the Florida Keys. Prime Video recently treated fans to a glimpse of Gyllenhaal’s transformation, showcasing his chiselled physique in a shirtless street brawl scene. The clips offered viewers a tantalising peek into the intense action and physicality that the film promises. Filming for the movie began in the Dominican Republic in 2022, with Gyllenhaal making a memorable appearance at a UFC event in March, held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. A clip shared online depicted Gyllenhaal entering the stadium for a weigh-in, flexing his muscles and interacting with UFC president Dana White, setting the stage for the on-screen drama. During the event, UFC star Conor McGregor enthusiastically highlighted the significance of the scene, encouraging the crowd to participate in the film capturing the epic face-off between Gyllenhaal’s character, Elwood Dalton and MMA world champion Jay Hieron’s character, Jack Harris. Director Doug Liman, known for films like Mr and Mrs Smith and The Bourne Identity, expressed his enthusiasm for putting his spin on the cherished Road House legacy. Liman, alongside Gyllenhaal, aims to captivate audiences with their take on this iconic role, promising an exhilarating cinematic experience. The star-studded cast includes Billy Magnussen, Daniela Melchior, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Lukas Gage, Hannah Love Lanier, Celebrating in style oGyllenhaal’s Instagram tease and the Road House revival Gyllenhaal buffs up for his role in the remake of Road House. – PIC COURTESY OF JAKE GYLLENHAAL /INSTAGRAM █ BY YASMIN ZULRAEZ
SPORTS SPORTS THURSDAY | JAN 11, 2024 29 Invincible Serb Djokovic poised to scale Grand Slam peak at favourite stomping ground NOVAK DJOKOVIC resumes his quest for Grand Slam supremacy at the Australian Open, where the seemingly invincible Serb will be the firm favourite to claim his 25th major singles title and eclipse a record that has stood for half a century. The 36-year-old enjoyed one of the most dominant seasons of his career in 2023, winning a recordextending 10th crown at the Melbourne major before triumphs at the French and US Opens to go level with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam singles titles. Australian Court won the last of those trophies in 1973 and Djokovic is poised to go past her on his happiest hunting ground, where 12 months ago he braved a political row involving his father and battled through a torn hamstring to prevail. Barring a blip in a thrilling Wimbledon final against Carlos Alcaraz and a couple of late-season defeats by another youngster in Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1 was virtually unbeatable last year with little to suggest he will slow down in 2024. “You’re not really meant to play tennis like that at 36,” Djokovic’s former coach Boris Becker said in a recent Eurosport podcast. “When does the guy get tired, or when does he run out of motivation?” Djokovic has not got off to the best of starts in the new season, suffering his first defeat in Australia in six years at the United Cup mixed team tournament after being hampered by a right wrist issue against Alex de Minaur. “I think I’ll be okay,” Djokovic said. “It did have quite an impact, particularly on the forehand and serve. I have plenty of time, I think enough time to get myself in the right shape for the Australian Open.” With his 43-match winning run in Australia ended, Djokovic will be fired up to get a head start in his quest for the Golden Slam – winning all four majors and the gold medal at the Olympic Games – to match Steffi Graf’s rare feat in 1988. “I’ve have always the highest ambitions and goals. That’s not going to be different (in 2024), that’s for sure,” Djokovic said after outclassing Alcaraz and Sinner in back-to-back matches to secure the year-end top spot at the ATP Finals in November. “The drive that I have is still there. My body has been serving me well, listening to me well. I have a great team of people around me. “The motivation, especially for the biggest tournaments in the sport, is still present. It still inspires me to keep going.” – Reuters Alcaraz has sights set on Djoker and No. 1 spot CARLOS ALCARAZ is raring to go at the Australian Open where he will seek to dethrone holder Novak Djokovic and secure a third Grand Slam triumph that would see him reclaim the world No. 1 spot. The 20-year-old Spaniard will hope to bury memories of an injury-plagued start to last year when he missed the Australian Open, which Djokovic won to climb back to the rankings summit. The bull-like Alcaraz, who has taken the tennis world by storm since becoming the youngest men’s world No. 1 after his US Open triumph in 2022, hit back by capturing his second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon following an epic five-set final victory over Djokovic. However, after winning the 2023 US Open in September, the 36-year-old Serb beat his young rival at the ATP Finals and claimed a recordextending eighth year-end No. 1 spot. Their rivalry could be set for another epic showdown and once again the world No. 1 spot is within reach for Alcaraz. While Alcaraz may not need any extra motivation, a statement win would cement his standing in the sport and leave little doubt that he is leading a changing of the guard in men’s tennis. “Learning from (Djokovic) is amazing. It’s incredible to share the court with him,” Alcaraz said after beating Djokovic in an exhibition match in Saudi Arabia in late December. “I grew up watching him winning all the big tournaments and you know, you always dream about this moment, playing against him face-toface and I’m really, really happy to be able to do that.” – Reuters ITALIAN Jannik Sinner’s climb towards the top of men’s tennis could hardly be described as sluggish unless of course a direct comparison is made with Spanish phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz. While 20-year-old Alcaraz has exploded on to the scene in astonishing fashion and already has two Grand Slam titles under his belt, Sinner’s progress has been less spectacular. In the 16 Grand Slams the 22-year-old Sinner has contested, his best run was at last year’s Wimbledon when he reached the semifinals and was defeated by Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz then defeated Djokovic in the final – a result that offered further proof that the Spaniard could reign supreme over the next generation for years. Sinner is now making people question that logic. The back end of 2023 appears to have been a pivotal moment for Sinner whose game elevated to a new level. A title run in Beijing in September included wins over Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev and he then beat Russian Medvedev again to win the Vienna title. He then beat Djokovic in the round-robin stage of the ATP Finals in Turin and again a week later as he led Italy to the Davis Cup title in Malaga. The clean-hitting Sinner was, without doubt, the hottest player on Tour in the final weeks of 2023, ending the year at a career high ranking of four in the world and something in his d e m e a n o u r suggests he is now ready to take Melbourne by storm when the Australian Open begins next week. While Sinner’s ferocious ballstriking from the baseline has never been in doubt, his serve is now a much more potent weapon and his willingness to mix up rallies and volley has added another dynamic to his game. “There are some players that you won’t beat if you don’t have something different,” Eurosport analyst Alex Corretja said in the build-up to the Australian Open. “You need something special to win majors. And I think Jannik, he’s been working on that and it’s paying off. “He’s ready and I think he will be ready to win a major. In 2024? Why not?” – Reuters Is Sinner primed for breakthrough? Medvedev motivated after falling short in 2023 IF there is one player who simply thrives on hardcourts, it is Daniil Medvedev and 2024 promises to be an eventful year for the world No. 3, who will hope he can overcome the final hurdle at the Australian Open at long last. Medvedev reached the final at Melbourne Park in 2021 and 2022 but fell to two of the “Big Three”, first losing in straight sets to Novak Djokovic before Rafa Nadal overcame overwhelming odds and triumphed from two sets down. The Russian took a long time to recover from the body blow of Nadal’s stunning comeback, losing his way in a topsy-turvy 2022 season while a third round loss in Melbourne last year saw him drop out of the top 10. While such a decline would have knocked down most seasoned pros, it was all the motivation Medvedev needed to spring back to his feet and return to his best. He rediscovered his magic touch and suddenly turned things around as he embarked on an explosive run, winning 25 of his next 26 matches to claim four titles in five tournaments. Although he was denied a Sunshine Double when Carlos Alcaraz beat him in the Indian Wells final, Medvedev did not stop there as he even found success in Rome where he won his first title on clay – the surface he despises the most. By then he had made third spot in the rankings his own, capping the season off with a semifinal run at Wimbledon and another summit clash at the US Open, where it was a case of deja vu as he fell to an unstoppable Djokovic yet again. Nevertheless, Medvedev finished 2023 with 66 victories – more than any player on the ATP Tour – with 49 wins coming on hardcourts. And the 27-year-old, who has reached five Grand Slam finals on hardcourts, is a man on a mission in 2024. “I have just the biggest motivation ever to just continue finding my limits, to just go for more. Try to be even more professional, try to fight harder, be better on the court,” he told The National. “I have big motivation to be even stronger physically to manage the season until the end. And hopefully I can have a lot of great tournaments.” – Reuters Jannik Sinner. – AFPPIX Djokovic. – REUTERSPIX
SPORTS SPORTS THURSDAY | JAN 11, 2024 30 5744/2024 10/01/2024 (WED) 0190 2400 0205 2811 3817 5698 1762 1882 7211 3068 0804 8518 7493 1586 5497 3134 0189 4526 4924 6432 1657 0097 4108 6,253,174.82 0190 0190 0190 0205 0205 2400 0205 0205 2400 2400 0190 2400 318,726.54 0190 2400 0205 DOG 73146 06056 6056 056 35875 5 6 1 1 206811 06811 6811 811 20681 2068 206 2 0 5,207,484.28 2,848,200.05 41 5 9 22 49 330,339.03 217 36 41 48 53 14 21 33 34 41 45 20,923,374.16 17 294 613 + RABBIT 534 906 + TIGER 252 274 + DOG Draw Date: 10/01/24 (Wed) Draw No: 5691/24 Venue: PERAK TURF CLUB 4613 4906 2274 5820 + 5406 2249 + 3909 2503 + 0170 7114 + 5063 0161 + 8177 7304 + 5343 8600 + 1435 9891 + 0786 5259 + 2321 0718 + 6043 RM4,798,142.80 4613 + 4906 4906 + 4613 4613 + 2274 2274 + 4613 4906 + 2274 2274 + 4906 RM201,401.40 RM170,000.00 RM2,216,817.00 RM334,861.00 265 820 675 406 902 249 933 909 502 503 910 170 427 114 295 063 470 161 398 177 837 304 715 343 988 600 251 435 709 891 530 786 325 259 902 321 330 718 526 043 613 906 274 RM746,388.00 613 + 906 + 274 906 + 274 + 613 613 + 274 + 906 274 + 613 + 906 906 + 613 + 274 274 + 906 + 613 Fortune Ang Pow now available at all Da Ma Cai outlets! All eyes on Atlas Lions Morocco under pressure to repeat World Cup heroics at AFCON MOROCCO set new standards for African football just over 12 months ago at the Qatar World Cup but the pressure is now on to improve a dismal record in the Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off on Saturday. The Atlas Lions became the first Arab and African country to reach a World Cup semifinal in their thrilling run that captivated the continent but they are now expected to take that form into the Cup of Nations and expunge a record of consistent failure. Morocco are one of 12 countries in the 24-team field who have had previous success in the continental championship but their only past triumph came almost a half century ago in 1976. They have a long history since of crashing out unexpectedly when having been cast as favourites. “It’s true the last World Cup finals has given us the experience of the big competitions but for us the reality is that the Cup of Nations is always a complicated tournament,” coach Walid Regragui said in the build-up. “This is not the first time Morocco will arrive as favourite and a potential winner but, unfortunately, we have not managed to be regularly among the last four. It shows that despite the experience of the competitions, it is not a major factor to assure us of victory.” There will many teams eager to scythe them down, particularly a strong challenge from hosts Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and holders Senegal. Sadio Mane, who took last weekend off to get married, a g a i n headlines a Senegal side that, like M o r o c c o, h a d s u c c e s s over Brazil in a friendly last year and is b r i s t l i n g w i t h experience and talent. They were deserved winners of the last Cup of Nations in Cameroon, albeit needing postmatch penalties to overcome Egypt in the final. The Ivorians will also be expected to go deep into the tournament, although often the burden of expectation from home supporters can weigh too heavily. Egypt in 2006 were the last hosts to win the Cup of Nations, ironically on spot kicks over the Ivory Coast. The Ivorians kick off proceedings in Saturday’s opening match in Group A against Guinea Bissau (Sun 4am Malaysian time). Egypt, with Mohamed Salah again their talisman, and 2019 winners Algeria join Morocco in heading the challenge from Arabic-speaking north Africa, along with Tunisia who are making a recordextending 16th straight appearance at the finals. Other past winners in this year’s field are Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa and Zambia, all of whom have potential to be spoilers. – Reuters Fiorentina reach Italian Cup semis FIORENTINA beat Serie A rivals Bologna 5-4 on penalties to advance to the Coppa Italia semifinals yestersday after their last-eight clash finished goalless after extratime. Bologna defender Stefan Posch fired their fifth penalty over the bar before Fiorentina midfielder Maxime Lopez converted to send last year’s finalists through. Bologna, who knocked out holders Inter Milan in the last 16, had more possession but were unable to break the deadlock. The visitors went close in the 34th minute when striker Joshua Zirkzee hit the bar from close range before winger Riccardo Orsolini struck the post after the break. But Fiorentina held firm in defence before reaching the semifinals for the third straight year for the first time. ‘PSG best club for Mbappe’ PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said yestersday that he wants Kylian Mbappe to stay in the French capital, claiming PSG is “the best club for him”. Mbappe’s contract with the Ligue 1 champions runs out at the end of June and he is free to sign an agreement to join a new club for next season. “I’m not going to hide that I want Kylian to stay,” Nasser told broadcaster RMC. “The best player in the world is Kylian and the best club for him is Paris.” Mbappe has been heavily linked with a possible move to 14-time European champions Real Madrid. “He has the best training centre in the world, the best coach in the world (Luis Enrique),” added Nasser. “Every year he’s sure of playing in the Champions League, we’re in the last 16 at least, quarterfinals, even semifinals or final, we’re there with the big clubs.” My world will not be the same without Franz: Klopp LIVERPOOL’S German manager Jurgen Klopp paid tribute to Franz Beckenbauer yesterday, saying he was inspired by his country’s World Cup-winning player and coach throughout his career. Beckenbauer, who captained the team to World Cup victory in 1974 and won the tournament again as manager in 1990, died on Sunday aged 78, his family said on Monday. “I don’t want to sound like a broken record but the world will be really a different place without him, at least for me,” Klopp told the club website. “I got the privilege to get to know him a little bit better around the World Cup 2006 and already in 2005 (with) the Confederations Cup. The way he did it, light-hearted, friendly, laughing, serious in the right moments, this was really inspirational. He never pretended to be better than he was, he knew always that he needed help, especially as a manager. He taught me that you can be famous and still be yourself.” Alexander-Arnold hit by knee injury LIVERPOOL have suffered a blow after England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold was ruled out for several weeks with a knee injury suffered in last weekend’s FA Cup win at Arsenal. The influential England rightback’s absence is a significant setback for Premier League leaders Liverpool, who are also chasing silverware in the Europa League as well as the two domestic cups. “First of all, some not-that-good news, Trent hyper-extended his knee during the last game,” Reds assistant manager Pep Lijnders said. “So he has a little tear in the lateral ligament of his knee and he will need time to recover. He had a scan and he will be out for a few weeks, so let’s see after that. He will get some rest and then hopefully he can come back to where he was.” Mane SHORTS
SPORTS SPORTS THURSDAY | JAN 11, 2024 31 Guang Zu in the first round of the 2024 Malaysia Open badminton championships at the Axiata Arena yesterday. World No. 11 Zii Jia also said that his coach, Wong Tat Meng, saw the presence of Chong King and Shun Yang as beneficial for his training sessions. In a statement late last month, Team LZJ confirmed that Daren will be parting ways with Zii Jia, after almost two years serving as his assistant coach. On Tuesday, the unseeded Zii Jia only had himself to blame as he squandered a bright start in the first game and allowed world No. 19 Guang Zu to stage a fightback and take the match into a rubber game. Rattled, Zii Jia made numerous mistakes in the final game as Guang Zu remained composed to silence the home crowd and book his place in the second round. This was Zii Jia’s third straight early exit in the Malaysia Open – having lost 19-21, 21-19, 16-21 to Indonesia’s Shisar Hiren Rhustavito in the second round in 2022 and 21-13, 17-21, 19-21 to Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in the opening round last year. Zii Jia had also made an early exit in the Malaysia Open in 2019, going down 17-21, 21-19, 15-21 to Thailand’s Suppanyu Avihingsanon in the first round. Zii Jia admitted that Guang Zu performed All jackpot amounts stated above are for this Draw. Subject to T&Cs of the Scheme. Please visit to www.magnum4d.my for more info. THE BIGGER PLAY IS TO PLAY RESPONSIBLY 980/24 10/01/2024 3240 2236 7097 4694 1633 0232 8668 1740 7124 3473 2066 7388 7062 8392 3174 8715 8209 4176 4989 4822 1853 5690 2525 RM5,411,817.97 RM263,892.99 3240 + 2236 2236 + 3240 7097 + 3240 3240 + 7097 2236 + 7097 7097 + 2236 12 13 17 22 26 28 31 35 16 27 RM4,256,507.51 RM100,000.00 4 0 3 6 9 7 4 0 3 6 9 0 3 6 9 7 4 0 3 6 3 6 9 7 4 0 3 6 9 7 4 0 9 7 3 6 0 2 Zii Jia okay with Daren’s exit Assistant coach leaves after two years withTeam LZJ AS HARD as it may be, Malaysia’s professional men’s singles shuttler, Lee Zii Jia, said he respected the decision made by former assistant coach, Liew Daren, to leave Team LZJ. Nevertheless, Zii Jia said he believed that the presence of his four sparring partners, including two former national shuttlers, Lim Chong King and Lee Shun Yang, could fill the void left by Daren. “The sparring sessions remain the same. We recently added Chong King and Shun Yang to help me,” he said after being shown another early exit after losing 21-16, 19-21, 15-21 to China’s Lu much better than him, especially in defensive play throughout the third game. “I did whatever the coach taught me, just that I wasn’t consistent enough. However, many more tournaments are coming up and I just have to keep trying harder,” he said. The 25-year-old, however, believes in his abilities and is confident that he will win on home soil one day. “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I hate having to answer if I can come back stronger after a defeat, tired of repeating the same thing, but I need to be patient. Don’t know when I can stand up there as a winner… hopefully, one day,” he said. – Bernama Tzu Ying surprised by rousing support IT WAS the first match of the day and 2020 Olympic Games women’s singles silver medallist Tai Tzu Ying was taken aback by thunderous cheers from local fans during the opening round of Malaysia Open 2024 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. The Taiwanese ace, who has always been one of home fans favourites, expressed her delight at the overwhelming support in Axiata Arena, considering the fact that this could be her last appearance in Malaysia Open. “I always received fantastic support everytime I play here. Even though I played early in the morning, I was shocked to hear loud cheers from the energetic home fans,” she told reporters when met at the mixed zone. The two-time Malaysia Open champion in 2018 and 2019 had earlier survived an intense battle against American shuttler, Beiwen Zhang, 23-21, 21-19, to book a place in the second round. The fourth seed will meet Thai player, Busanan Ongbamruphan, who came from behind to beat Gao Fang Jie of China, 17-21, 22-20, 21-10. Meanwhile, Tzu Ying said it is crucial for her to stay injury free throughout this year as she aims to build the momentum ahead of what would be her last Olympics in Paris, this July. “My performance in second half of last year was not that great, I sustained injuries and had to make do with tight schedule which had affected my body condition. As for this year, I just want to stay in the best shape,” she said. The world No. 4 also said the women’s singles event is getting more competitive and wide open with each passing year. As such, the 29-year-old vowed to put in extra effort so as to cement her status as one of the world’s best before bidding aidieu to badminton. Last April, Tzu Ying announced that she will retire at the end of next year, indicating a desire to take a break after spending over two decades on the court. – Bernama Hoki-Kobayashi look to end Japan's Olympic medal drought WORLD NO. 7 badminton men’s doubles pair Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi are looking to end Japan’s long wait for an Olympic medal in the men’s event at the 2024 Paris Olympics to be held from July 26 to Aug 11. “With a few more months left for the Olympics, we are targeting a medal since Japan have never won a medal in this event before,” Hoki said when met at the Axiata Arena here. Yesterday, 2021 world champions HokiKobayashi kicked off their 2024 season by eliminating Tokyo Olympic champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin of Taiwan 21-16, 21-15 in the first round of the Malaysia Open. – Bernama CARABAO CUP (Semifinal, 1st leg): Middlesbrough 1 (Hackney 37) Chelsea 0. ITALIAN CUP (Quarterfinals): Fiorentina 0 Bologna 0 (Fiorentina win 5-4 on pen) RESULTS Aaron-Wooi YiK stage fightback to down Danes, Tze Yong retires injured TOP national men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik fought back from a game down to overcome Denmark’s Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard 20-22, 21-13, 21-13 in the first round of the 2024 Malaysia Open badminton championships last night. With both pairs crossing swords for the first time, it was the Danes who silenced the home fans at the Axiata Arena by taking the first game in nail-biting fashion. The Malaysian world No. 4 pair regained their composure to win the second game and force a decider. Both pairs slugged it out neck-and-neck until 10-10 before Aaron-Wooi Yik turned on the power to dispose of Kjaer-Sogaard, who had stunned world No. 1 pair Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang of China twice in succession at the French Open and Denmark Open last October. The win sees Aaron-Wooi Yik setting up an all-Malaysian second-round clash against Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, who had earlier disposed of Thais Supak Jomkoh-Kittinupong Kedren 21-17, 22-20. “In the first game, we were not comfortable with the game but, luckily, we slowly but surely got back our rhythm to emerge victorious,” said Aaron. “For the next match (against teammates Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin), it won’t be easy as we train together and know each other’s game very well,” he added. Meanwhile, world No. 9 Chen Tan JieToh Ee Wei needed 47 minutes to oust French pair Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue 21-17, 21-18 in the mixed doubles event. “Today, we were more confident and braver on the court and our fans are simply the best in the world. Our two-week preparations also helped us start the year on a winning note,” Tan Jie said. Tan Jie-Ee Wei will next take on the winners of the match between Americans Vinson Chiu-Jennie Gai and Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito. Malaysia’s interest in men’s singles came to an end after Ng Tze Yong was forced to concede a walkover when trailing 8-12 to Japan’s Koki Watanabe in the first game of their first-round match. Tze Yong suffered a suspected back injury when, with the score level at 7-all, he leapt to execute a smash to make it 8-7. He admitted that he was in so much pain before conceding a walkover and suspects that he may have sustained a back injury. “Yes, (suffered a) back injury when executing the smash. I felt stiff and could not move. Didn’t feel anything before the match, but it is so painful even now,” he said. Meanwhile, second seeds Baek Ha NaLee So Hee of South Korea proved too strong for Anna Ching Yik Cheong-Teoh Mei Xing as the Malaysians went down 14-21, 13-21 in women’s doubles. – Bernama National mixed doubles pair Cheng Tang Jie (left) and Toh Ee Wei celebrate after beating Thom Gicque and Delphine Delrue from France 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 Fax: 03-7783 7435 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2624/5 Email: [email protected] • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: [email protected] THURSDAY | JAN 11, 2024 SCAN ME 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 -Story on page 2 -Story on page 2 Caraboo Cup Blues -Story on page 28 Swiatek target AO glory McIlroy’s ‘dream scenario’ for world tour MAURICIO POCHETTINO said he could “understand” the anger of the Chelsea fans after his players were booed off the pitch by the travelling supporters at the Riverside following a dismal 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semifinal first leg. Sections of the Chelsea away end were furious at full-time and Pochettino’s team were jeered as they attempted to make their way to applaud them after the final whistle. Thiago Silva was involved in heated discussions with some fans, although the veteran defender was mostly applauded by the Chelsea supporters after he was only one of three players – along with Levi Colwill and Armando Broja – who stayed to show their appreciation. It came at the end of a woeful night for Pochettino and his players as Hayden Hackney handed Championship side Middlesbrough a first-leg lead to take to Stamford Bridge in two-week time. Cole Palmer missed a hattrick of firsthalf chances for the Blues, who failed to create any further opportunities after the break despite dominating possession against Michael Carrick’s team. The result was Chelsea’s 21st away defeat in all competitions since the start of last season – no other team has lost more among Premier League sides – and Pochettino, who has only been in charge since the start of the season, said he could appreciate why the Chelsea supporters were so frustrated at full time Pochettino, who said he did not hear the booing at full-time, told Sky Sports: “I can’t say anything about (the boos) but of course we can understand why our fans will feel disappointed but there’s still 90 minutes to play.” On Chelsea’s performance, the Argentine said: “Today, the approach was good. We can’t say anything about the attitude but we made mistakes in the first half and gave chances for them to score. “They were aggressive and played on the transition. It was hard to break down this block. We had too many chances to score and that’s football. “It’s only the first half of the tie and we have another 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge so we have to be positive. “We made some mistakes and we were punished for that. We have to keep pushing as if we assess the performance, overall we were the better side, created clear chances. “We weren’t clinical and that’s happened a lot in the six months across many games. “We have 15 days (before the second leg) so we can recover some players. We’re now thinking about Fulham and we will move on.” Former Chelsea man Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink criticised midfielder Moises C a i c e d o defensive effort that lead to the only goal of the game. C a i c e d o could be seen sprinting back with Hackney but then s u d d e n l y stopped. “The finish was brilliant, was really well taken with his weaker foot. “He opens up his body and sliced it in. The goalkeeper had no chance whatsoever,” Hasselbaink said via dailymail.com. “But we can’t forget Caicedo.” “If you have determination, you don’t lose your one-on-one. It’s a simple one. And you just keep on running with your man, and you make sure that you stay with him. “And until the last moment you give him a little nudge so that he cannot put the ball in (the back of the net). He just stopped.” Boro boss Carrick said: “I thought the lads were exceptional, outstanding – effort, spirit was just off the scale. “The way they stuck together was very special and makes me proud to see that... It was an incredible night. “Football’s about dreaming, things happen in cup competitions. “Tonight shouldn’t probably have happened and we found a way to make it happen – the boys were incredible. “We’ll go down there with our eyes wide open and know what to expect but it doesn’t stop us from trying.” – The Independent/ Agencies Story on page 27 -Story on page 2 Zii Jia okay with Darren’s exit Story on page 29 Story on page 31 Pochettino can understand fans’ anger after Boro defeat Invincible Serb Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney (left) celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with a teammate during yesterday’s Carabao Cup semifinal, first leg match against Chelsea at the Riverside Stadium. – REUTERSPIX