KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Dec – The year 2019 belonged to World No 1 Kento Momota who ended the season with a bang as he clinched his record 11th title by taking the season-ending BWF Tour Finals in Guangzhou, China earlier this month.

Former Malaysian ace and World No1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei won 10 titles in 2010.

Now the 25-year-old Momota wants to start the new season with a ‘bang’ too when he competes in the season opener in the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 500 the USD400,000 Perodua Malaysia Masters Badminton Championship 2020 presented by DAIHATSU which will be held at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil from Jan 7-12.

Momota is the top seed and hot favorite to win the Malaysia Masters but the Japanese ace, however, humbly says he is “not a legend yet” like China’s five-time world champion and two-time Olympics gold medallist Lin Dan and his idol, Chong Wei.

While Lin Dan is still playing competitive badminton on the world tour, Chong Wei is now retired due to health issues after being diagnosed with nose cancer.

Dubbed a “complete player” for his exploits on the court, Momota wants to kickstart the new season on winning mode to embark on his personal mission – next year’s Tokyo Olympics in August.

Momota wants to wipe out the “pain” he underwent in 2016 when the Nippon Badminton Association slapped him with an indefinite ban after he was found guilty of gross indiscipline for gambling at illegal casinos in Japan.

It was a painful episode that saw him miss the Rio Olympics where he was touted as a medal prospect. The ban was lifted in May 2017.

The undisputed “shuttle king” wrote himself into the record books by winning his 11th title in 2019 when he came back from a game down to beat Indonesia’s World No 7 Anthony Ginting 17-21, 21-17, 21-14 in a pulsating 87-minute encounter in the World Tour Finals in Guangzhou.

It made up for his defeat to China Shi Yuqi in the World Tour Finals in 2018.

The win in Guangzhou was the icing on the cake for Momota who a day earlier was named the BWF Player of the Year for 2019. He retained the world and Asian titles apart from winning the prestigious All-England title.

Momota, however, is “not satisfied yet” and boldly added that “I’m aiming higher and higher” which makes him the star attraction at Malaysia Masters at the Axiata Arena.

The Japanese ace will open his season’s campaign against India’s former Commonwealth Games champion P. Kashyap. A win will pit him against compatriot Kanta Tsuneyama (ranked No 16) or India’s No 26 ranked H.S. Prannoy for a place in the quarter-finals.

 KUALA LUMPUR, 30 Dis – Kejuaraan Superbike Malaysia (MSBK) bagi musim 2020 bakal membuka tirainya pada April depan.

Kejuaraan kebangsaan itu yang merangkumi lima pusingan, akan dilangsungkan secara eksklusif di Litar  Sepang.

Ia akan bermula dengan aksi bagi  Pusingan 1 yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada 3 hingga 5 April diikuti Pusingan 2 pada 7 hingga 9 Ogos.

Saingan Pusingan 2 ini akan  berlangsung serentak dengan kejuaraan Asia Talent Cup.

Pusingan 3 pula hanya akan menyenaraikan perlumbaan bagi kelas MSBK250 kerana persamaan tarikh dengan Kejuaraan Motosikal Asia (ARRC).

Justeru, ia bakal menjadi sebahagian daripada perlumbaan pada saingan Pusingan 6 ARRC 2020 nanti.

Aksi penutup tirai bagi edisi 2020 bakal menyaksikan dua pusingan diangsungkan serentak iaitu Pusingan 4 dan 5.

Ia dijadualkan berlangsung pada 16 hingga 18 Oktober nanti.

KALENDAR KEJUARAAN SUPERBIKE MALAYSIA 2020

Pusingan 1        3-5 April

Pusingan 2           7-9 Ogos

Pusingan 3           25-27 September

Pusingan 4 & 5     16-18 Oktober

(*NOTA: Semua perlumbaan dilangsungkan di Litar Sepang)

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 Dec – After taking a “very positive break” before the training camp in Ehime, Japan, Malaysia’s No 1 shuttler Lee Zii Jia will be ready for a fresh start for the next season’s opening – the Perodua Malaysia Masters Badminton Championship 2020 presented by DAIHATSU.

The USD400,000 HSBC BWF World Tour event will be held at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil from Jan 7-12 and has attracted a strong international field as the Tokyo Olympics qualifying rounds hit the home stretch.

Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) coaching director Wong Choong Hann said the time has come for Zii Jia, who ended the year on a high note by winning the men’s singles gold in the recent SEA Games in the Philippines, to stand up and be counted.

The 21-year-old Zii Jiahas a tough opener against third seed and World No 4 Anders Antonsen of Denmark. The Dane has beaten the Malaysian in both the previous two meetings this year and both were achieved in Indonesia.

Zii Jia lost 13-21, 13-21 in the Daihatsu Indonesia Masters and 16-21, 11-21 in the Blibli Indonesia Open.

“He faces a very good opponent but I am looking forward to a good start by Zii Jia after winning the gold in the SEA Games. It is a boost to help him prepare how to pace and handle expectations,” said Choong Hann.

“Zii Jia should learn to understand and grow himself to a bigger stage. The time has come for Zii Jia to show his potential what more when he will have the home support in the stands.”

The Malaysian who is currently ranked No 14, returned to his hometown AlorSetar to take a break from badminton and indulge himself in basketball. His parents -dad Lee Chee Hin and mum Leow Siet Peng – teachers and former basketball internationals.

Zii Jia says the break from badminton has left him “refreshed and energised “for the new badminton season and is termed as Malaysia’s next big name in badminton after former World No 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei who has now retired due to ill-health.

The Kedahan won the men’s singles gold in Manila in the 30th Philippines SEA Games with a 21-18, 21-18 win over Singapore’s Malaysian-born Loh Kean Yew in the final. He also helped Malaysia win the silver medal in the men’s team event in the biennial games in the Philippines.

Zii Jia, currently ranked No 14, (his highest was No 11), took up the game at the age of six when his father took him to a badminton club in his hometown.

Bitten by the shuttle bug, Zii Jia moved up to better things in the game and won the bronze medal in the 2016 World Junior Championships when he lost to Indonesia’s Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo in the semi-finals.

The same year he reached the final in the India International Series but failed to win the title after losing to India’s Lakshya Sen.

A year later he won his first senior international title when he defeated compatriot Soong Joo Ven 21-17, 21-16 in the Polish International men’s singles final.

In 2018, Zii Jia achieved a “breakthrough” in his badminton career when he won the Chinese Taipei Open (Super 300). After knocking out home favorite Chou Tien Chen in the semi-finals the young Malaysian defeated Japan’s Riichi Takeshita 21-17, 16-21, 21-11 for his first BWF World Tour title.

This year, Zii Jia reached the quarter-finals in the Malaysian Masters, the Indonesia Masters, and German Open and reached the semi-finals in the Thailand Open.

In the World Championships in Basel, Switzerland in August, Zii Jia reached the quarter-finals but was shown the exit by eventual champion Kento Momota of Japan.

When Zii Jia helped Malaysia win the bronze medal in the Badminton Asia Team  Championships in Alor Setar in 2018 former world No 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei hailed him as the next big name in Malaysian badminton.

Zii Jia has taken the scalps of some of the big names in world badminton, including reigning Olympic champion Chen Long of China and former world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark.

However, Zii Jia’s inconsistency is a disturbing factor but the Badminton Association of Malaysian (BAM) coaching director Wong Choong Hann is confident that Zii Jia will be able to make a breakthrough in his badminton career once some nagging personal issues are cleared up.

The national team is currently training in Ehime, Japan since last Sunday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 – Debutants Pearly Tan Koong Le-M Thinaah are bent on making impact in the upcoming PERODUA Malaysia Masters Badminton Championship 2020 presented by DAIHATSU at Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur Sports City from 7-12 January.

The national women doubles pair have been drawn against Danish pair Alexandra Boje-Mette Poulsen in the opening qualifying rounds and will square off against either compatriot Anna Ching Yik Cheong-Lim Chiew Sen or Indonesia’s Anggia Shitta Awanda-Pia Zebadiah Bernadet in the next round.

The newly-formed pair hope to continue their winning momentum after their recent international victories and will be relying on effective on-court communication to get the better of their opponent at Axiata Arena.

“Next year we will be taking things one at a time to build our confidence, help us win points and improve our current rankings,” said Thinaah.

Partner Pearly Tan, the 2018 World Youth Championships runners-up, will be relying on their coaches to guide them and chart out the most effective strategy in their bid to go beyond the qualifying rounds and make it to the main draw.

“We’re still new as a pair and need more tournaments to build our confidence and experience.  Winning two titles in the International Challenge and International Series this year were simply great. Moving forward into the new decade, we hope to be given the chance to compete in more high-level tournaments such as the Super 100,” said the 19 year-old Pearly.

On the upcoming Perodua Malaysia Masters 2020, Pearly hopes to secure a spot in the main draw but will not be pressured by the target.

The presence of world-class pairs including  Greysia Polii–Apriyani Rahayu of Indonesia and Mayu Matsumoto – Wakana Nagahara provide great opportunity for young pairs to learn from the best in Kuala Lumpur.

Pearly-Thinaah tasted their first victory as a pair after winning the Victor Malaysia International Series in Ipoh in June before finishing as runner-up in the Sydney International 2019 in September.

The pair continue to show promise after clinching the winners’ title in the Infosys Foundation – India International Challenge 2019 in November before ending their 2019 campaign on a high after winning the Yonex Sunrise Bangladesh International Challenge 2019 this month.

Perodua Malaysia Masters 2020, BWF’s Super 500 tournament, will take place from 7 -12 January and offers a total prize money of USD400,000.

Perodua Malaysia Masters 2020 carries great significance for players who will be going all out to secure valuable points for qualification towards 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Fans will be given a “free treat” to watch the tournament on 7 January 2020 as the Badminton Association Malaysia (BAM) has confirmed that there will be no ticket charges on that particular day.

Tickets will only be charged for matches from 8 to 12 January. Tickets purchased from now until 25 December are entitled for a 10 percent discount.

Tickets ranging from RM49 to RM289 according to categories (upper, lower, premium) are now on sale. Tickets ranging from RM13 to RM74 are also on sale now for students aged 4-18 and those born between 2001 to 2017.

Season passes are also available for the tournament.

For further information and enquiries, log on to http://www.myticket.asia/

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Dis –  Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia PETRONAS akan terus mengukuhkan kerjasama dengan kerajaan negeri serta para pemegang hak dalam usaha untuk mewujudkan lebih banyak kemudahan litar lumba kekal untuk melancarkan penganjuran kejuaraan nasional itu.

Setakat ini, tiga pusingan untuk musim 2020 nanti  bakal dilangsungkan di litar lumba kekal dan ini adalah seiring dengan objektif utama pihak penganjur untuk membantu kemudahan sedia ada, selain menuntut lebih banyak fasiliti perlumbaan diwujudkan pada masa akan datang.

“Tiga puluh peratus daripada kejuaraan ini bakal diadakan di litar kekal dan ia merupakan satu permulaan yang baik. Sejujurnya, Cub Prix mahukan lebih banyak pusingan diadakan di litar tetap yang serba lengkap, sekali gus menepati standard yang dituntut dalam kejuaraan kompetitif seperti ini.

“Buat masa ini, kami sedang bekerjasama dengan beberapa tuan rumah bagi venue kejuaraan yang telah menunjukkan minat untuk mengubah litar jalanan kepada litar lumba kekal. Justeru, kami berharap usaha ini akan menjadi berita gembira untuk dikongsi pada pertengahan musim 2020 nanti,” jelas Pengarah Safe Aim Mutual Sdn Bhd, Ron Hogg.

Daripada 10 pusingan yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada musim 2020 nanti, tiga pusingan akan diadakan di litar lumba kekal iaitu di Litar Lumba Tangkak, Johor, Litar Permotoran Kompleks Sukan Negeri Terengganu di Kuala Terengganu dan pusingan penutup musim di Litar Antarabangsa Sepang.

Kalendar Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia PETRONAS musim 2020 akan bermula pada bulan Mac depan dengan Litar Lumba Tangka bakal menjadi venue untuk pusingan pembuka tirai.

Pusingan kedua akan berlangsung di Batu Kawan, Pulau Pinang diikuti Pusingan 3 di Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

Selepas aksi di Kota Bharu, kejuaraan berprestij ini akan berehat seketika bagi menghormati bulan Ramadan dan Syawal, dan selepas itu akan diteruskan dengan aksi Pusingan 4 yang akan berlangsung di Pontian, Johor.

Pontian kembali menjadi tuan rumah pada musim 2020 nanti selepas membuat penampilan pertama pada musim 2019 sebagai hos untuk Pusingan 4.

Teluk Intan akan menjadi hos untuk Pusingan 5 diikuti Kangar yang bakal menjadi venue untuk saingan Pusingan 6.

Litar Permotoran Kompleks Sukan Negeri Terengganu yang membuat kemunculan sulung sebagai hos pada musim 2019 akan menjadi tuan rumah untuk Pusingan 7 pada bulan September.

Venue untuk Pusingan 8 masih belum diputuskan buat ketika ini dan ia akan diumumkan kemudian.

Seperti baisa, Jempol, Negeri Sembilan kekal sebagai hos untuk Pusingan 9 diikuti aksi penutup musim di Litar Antarabangsa Sepang pada bulan November nanti.

Berikut kalendar Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia PETRONAS untuk musim 2020:

Pusingan 1 – Litar Lumba Tangkak, Johor (14-15 Mac)

Pusingan 2 – Batu Kawan, Pulau Pinang (28-29 Mac)

Pusingan 3 – Kota Bharu, Kelantan (17-18 April)

Pusingan 4 – Pontian, Johor (13-14 Jun)

Pusingan 5 – Teluk Intan, Perak (11-12 Julai)

Pusingan 6 – Kangar, Perlis (29-30 Ogos)

Pusingan 7 – Kuala Terengganu (11-12 September)

Pusingan 8 – AKAN DITENTUKAN KEMUDIAN (10-11 Oktober)

Pusingan 9 – Jempol, Negeri Sembilan (7-8 November)

Pusingan 10 – Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (21-22 November)

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Dis –  Lapan pasukan lelaki dan enam pasukan wanita bakal berentap pada Liga Hoki Malaysia TNB 2020 yang akan membuka tirai secara rasmi pada 10 Januari depan.

Liga tersebut akan bermula dengan perlawanan bagi merebut Piala Sumbangsih yang akan menemukan finalis tahun lalu, Universiti Kuala Lumpu (UniKL) dan Terengganu Hockey Team (THT).

Ia akan berlangsung di Stadium Hoki Nasional Bukit Jalil.

Saingan bagi musim 2020 bakal menyaksikan penyertaan daripada tujuh pasukan lelaki musim lalu iaitu Terengganu Hockey Team (THT), Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), TNB Thunderbolts, Maybank, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UITM) dan Nurinsafi manalala pasukan baharu adalah Hockademy KL.

Kategori wanita pula bakal menyaksikan Terengganu Ladies Hockey Team (TLHT), Blue Warriors (PDRM), PKS Uniten, Mutiara Impian-MSSPP-PSHA serta dua pasukan baharu iaitu Hockademy KL dan Sabah.

Hari ini, berlangsung satu mesyuarat bersama pengurus-pengurus pasukan yang dipengerusikan oleh Datuk Seri Dr Anil Jeet Singh dan dalam mesyuarat tersebut, Konfederasi Hoki Malaysia (KHM) turut memaklumkan mengenai hasrat beberapa pemain antarabangsa yang berminat untuk beraksi di Liga Hoki Malaysia TNB musim depan.

Satu senarai pemain telah diberikan kepada pengurus-pengurus pasukan yang hadir dan antara pemain yang menyuarakan hasrat untuk beraksi adalah Tim Deavon dan Aaron Kleinschmidt (Australia), Martijn Havenga, Tom Hiebendaal dan Roel Bovendeert (Belanda) serta Jasjit Singh Kular dan Pardeep Singh Mor (India).

Dalam pada itu, THT terus meletakkan sasaran untuk cuba mempertahankan kejuaraan Piala Sumbangsih musim depan.

Pemain THT, Mohd Fitri Saari menjelaskan, mereka masih mengekalkan sebahagian besar pemain musim lalu dalam pasukan selain mengurangkan enam pemain import kepada empat pemain untuk musim.

“Pasukan THT mengekalkan pemain tempatan yang sama seperti tahun lalu dan dengan peraturan baharu yang membenarkan pasukan mengambil empat pemain import, mungkin ia agak menjejaskan misi kami.

“Bagi perlawanan Piala Sumbangsih, kami akan berusaha untuk memenangi perlawanan tersebut kerana kami juga mahu mengejar mata, namun saya tidak menafikan lawan kami merupakan pasukan yang kuat, jadi kami tidak boleh memandang rendah kepada barisan pencabar kami,” ujar Fitri.

Sementara itu, Setiausaha Persatuan Hoki Terengganu, Mohd Rashidi Hashim pula mengesahkan THT akan mempertaruhkan dua pemain import dari Korea Selatan yang cukup sinonim bersama pasukan THT.

Selain itu katanya, THT yang akan dikendalikan oleh jurulatih, Muhammad Dharmaraj Abdullah, turut membawa masuk dua pemain dari Pakistan iaitu Ammad Shakeel Butt dan juga Muhammad Umar Bhutta.

“Dua pemain import dari Korea Selatan yang pernah bersama kami musim lalu adalah Jang Jonghyun serta Jung Manjae.

“THT meletakkan sasaran untuk mengekalkan kejuaraan Piala TNB dan cuba untuk merampas kejuaraan liga. Kehadiran pengendali baharu untuk pasukan kami musim 2020 nanti, diharap dapat memperkemaskan lagi perisiapan pasukan, sekali gus mampu menampilkan rentak permainan yang lebih bertenaga,” jelas Rashidi.