The Star

PETALING JAYA: Four foreign clubs are set to participate in the Malaysia Purple League (MPL) when the tournament makes a return this year.

The league would remain an eight-team competition with the four foreign clubs taking part for the first time.

But it remains to be seen if the organisers could roll out the sixth edition of the tournament as planned this May after the second movement control order (MCO) was imposed since early last month to curb the spike in Covid-19 cases.

But MPL chief operating officer Ho Khek Mong is confident of holding the event at some point this year.

“We intend to make things more interesting by inviting several foreign clubs – making it Malaysian clubs going up against the internationals, ” said a buoyed Khek Mong, after receiving RM150,000 in sponsorship from LG Electronics yesterday.

“When we first put forward this proposal, clubs from China, Thailand, Taiwan and Indonesia were interested.

“Some of the clubs we approached have already agreed to participate, but of course we have to put everything on hold following the MCO.

“We will speak to the teams again when we can confirm a date. Also, we’re still awaiting the government’s SOP on organising international tournaments.

Asked if the foreigners’ involvement would deny local professional shuttlers an opportunity to play in the league, Khek Mong said: “We will enforce a rule that makes it compulsory for the clubs to fill up their team roster with a full local line-up, including their professional players. This applies to the foreign teams too, for instance if the club is from Singapore, then they must enter a team made up by all Singaporean players.”

The MPL staged their fifth edition two years ago and gave the 2019-2020 season a miss as most players were involved in the qualification campaign for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

It could not be held last year either due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite the difficulties the MPL organisers made an encouraging comeback by successfully staging the RM100,000 Top Glove Purple League Pro-AM individual championships in December.

Their next focus will be on resuming the Purple League Junior (PLJ), which was suspended in October last year.

They managed to run only the first regional challenge in Port Dickson.

This edition is unique as it is held in four locations with the next three slated in Ipoh, Puchong and Muar. The top four teams in each city will make up the 16-team line-up for the Grand Finals.

男单头次号种子宋浚洋和伊斯干达经过5局苦胜对手，会师紫盟职业赛男单决赛争冠。

世界排名第67的宋浚洋以11比6、11比7、5比11、5比11、11比9 险胜同样是来自蕉赖羽毛球俱乐部的2届前全国冠军（2016和17年）林志咏。

2019年全国冠军的宋浚洋赛后表示，他今天一开始在防守中寻找进攻的机会，在取得两局领先后，林志咏在第三、第四局加强进攻力度，成功扳回两局，庆幸在决胜局及时改变策略，而对手一时反应不过来，所以我才拿下比赛。

他说，两人自13岁开始就一起打球，水平相当，看临场表现来决定胜负。

在新的一年，宋浚洋为自己设下目标，“我希望今年能把世界排名提升至前30名，以便能够参加750、1000的比赛。”

在另一场男单半决赛，2015和18年全国冠军伊斯干达以7比11、11比8、10比11、11比4、11比6战胜世界排名269的莫哈末伊兹祖丁，将和宋浚洋在决赛碰头，争夺1万令吉的冠军奖。

伊斯干达指出，在周日举行的决赛硬碰宋俊洋，大家都是老对手了，熟悉彼此的打法，临场表现将决定胜负。

【紫盟职业赛】半决赛5局苦胜 宋俊洋伊斯争冠

（布城31日讯）2020顶级手套紫盟羽联职业球员赛周四展开引人关注的男单首圈比赛，列头次号种子的前国手宋濬洋和伊斯干达顺利携手晋级8强，而昨晚在混双失意的林志咏也在首圈力挫杨昇宙。

现任全国冠军宋濬洋和两届全国冠军伊斯干达分挫名宿之子米土蓝丹和郑子镒后，今晚将各自迎来祖赫尔米和法伊兹的挑战；另一位两届全国冠军林志咏在8强的对手是陈铭康。

男单首圈的最大的亮点是大马残疾羽球名将谢儮好（前名谢立豪）在首圈领先两局的情况下遭纳英顽抗追平，所幸他最后站稳脚步守住胜果，获得全场掌声，他接下来将对阵以3比2淘汰前国手3/4种子陈加伟的伊兹祖丁。

谢儮好赛后表示：“11分制和陌生的场地让我要额外地专注。决胜局靠的是心态，显然对手比较毛躁，我才幸运地获胜过关。”
谢儮好庆幸能参赛

谢儮好也表示自己是偶然在濬洋的邀请下，抱着尝试的心态报名参加这个比赛：“很幸运我的申请被接受了，由于本身的缺陷，而且这赛事不是残疾比赛，加上参赛高手如云，所以我不知道自己能走多远。”

完成2020年最后一日的比赛，谢儮好希望疫情快点结束，以便他明年能如愿参加东京残奥会圆梦。

在昨晚进行的混双8强赛，原本受看好能晋级的林志咏与何艳美却以0比3不敌两名专攻双打的球员黄天启与林秋仙，而黄天启还是前全国21岁以下男双和混双双料冠军。

https://www.sinchew.com.my/content/content_2402515.html

（布城30日讯）2020顶级手套紫盟专业自由人赛混双项目今天开打，由两名单打名将林志咏与何艳美组成的混双组合轻取对手对手打进八强。

虽然并非种子球员，但备受看好的林志咏与何艳美，在首圈轻松地以3比0拿下朱桀嵚与刘贝儿闯关。林志咏在赛后接受访问时表示，对于空场比赛，他还在适应中。
“和想象的不一样，很安静。”

林志咏也提及了新冠疫情对他带来的巨大影响：“最近比较难，没有比赛，赞助也因为曝光率减少而遭削减。”

林志咏与何艳美将在八强挑战次号种子黄天启与林秋仙，后者在另一场比赛同样以3比0打败黄琪媗与陈溢涵。                              。
另一支晋级八强的组合林志键与颜静儿也轻易地以3比1横扫阿末马兹里与诺哈兹瓦尼，前者亦是头号种子。林志键的尖锐暴扣是制胜武器。他在赛后接受采访时表示今天自己的发挥很好。

“我们比平时训练时更专注，并在两星期前就已为这个比赛做好准备。”

今年20岁，也是2018紫盟羽联青年赛冠军成员的林志键坦言，自己是为冲冠而来，会继续加油。他认为这个赛事办得很好，具备国际赛水平。

其他顺利晋级的还包括3/4种子陈国宣与黄嘉欣及阿里夫与萧皓珊、李建益与吴玥青、纳兹米与黄欣儿、文鑫源与张乐绚。8强赛事将于周三傍晚7时准时开打。

https://www.orientaldaily.com.my/news/sports/2020/12/30/383858

Saingan badminton Top Glove Purple League Pro Am 2020 tampak semakin hangat apabila bergu yang diletakkan sebagai pilihan kejohanan menepati ramalan untuk mara ke peringkat suku akhir.

Lim Tze Jian-Gan Jing Err dan Wong Tien Chi-Lim Chiew Sien mengisi slot lapan terbaik ke peringkat suku akhir selepas menang ke atas lawan masing masing dalam aksi pembukaan yang berlangsung hari ini.

Terdahulu, meskipun turun bukan sebagai status bergu pilihan, Lim Chi Wing-Ho Yen Mei mempamer aksi yang konsisten sekaligus melepasi pusingan pertama selepas menang 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-7) ke atas Choo Kai Qing-Isabel Liau Bei.

Chi Wing juga menjelaskan masih memerlukan masa untuk menyesuaikan diri dengan cara permainan yang terbuka.

“Keadaan tidak seperti yang dibayangkan memandangkan suasana yang sepi,” kata Chi Wing.

Beliau turut menambah pandemik Covid 19 memberi kesan yang mendalam.

“Agak sukar sebelum ini kerana tiada pertandingan dan penajaan telah dikurangkan kerana tiada pertandingan.”

Malah, beliau juga tidak dapat terbang ke Thailand untuk mengambil bahagian dalam pertandingan anjuran Persekutuan Badminton Dunia (BWF) kerana kedudukan ranking yang agak rendah.

Justeru, menerusi penyertaan di Top Glove Purple League Pro Am 2020 dapat memberinya peluang untuk bangkit semula dan memperbaiki kedudukannya.

Chi Wing dan Yen Mei berdepan tugas getir dimana mereka akan berdepan pilihan kedua kejohanan, Wong Tien Chi-Lim Chiew Sien yang melepasi saingan aksi pembukaan selepas menundukkan Tan Yi Han-Ng Qi Xuan straight games 11-8 ,11-5, 11-8.

Lim Tze Jian-Gan Jing Err menepati status sebagai pilihan utama kejohanan apabila mara ke peringkat suku akhir tetapi dipaksa beraksi empat set sebelum mengesahkan kemenangan 3-1 (11-8, 11-8, 3-11, 11-10).

Kekuatan smash menjadi senjata kejayaan Tze Jian-Jing Err untuk memastikan kemenangan memihak mereka.

“Kami lebih fokus berbanding ketika sesi latihan dan sudah mempersiapkan diri sejak dua minggu lagi sebelum turun beraksi,” kata Tze Jian.

Beliau merupakan juara di saingan Purple League Remaja 2018 berazam untuk bertarung habis habisan sekaligus membawa pulang gelaran juara. Beliau turut menambah, saingan Purple League Pro Am ini merupakan pertandingan yang baik.

Lim Tze Jian-Gan Jing Err akan berdepan gandingan Boon Xin Yuan-Teoh Lexuan di perimgkat suku akhir susulan kejayaan menundukkan Leong Jun Kai-Vanessa Chai Voon Ching 3-1(11-9, 11-5, 10-11, 11-8).

KEPUTUSAN

Lim Tze Jian+Gan Jing Err (1)- Ahmad Maziri Mazlan+Noor Hazwani Hazair 11-8 11-8 3-11 11-10

Boon Xin Yuan+Teoh Lexuan – Leong Jun Kai+Vanessa Chai Voon Ching 11-9 11-5 10-11 11-8

Lee Jian Yi+Goh Yea Ching-Chong Ee Jack+Tang Wen Xin 11-5 11-4 11-8

Mohd Arif Abdul Latif+Desiree Siow [3/4] – Micaiah Chai Jien Zheng+Kok Youki 11-5 11-7 6-11 11-2

Tan Kok Xian+Wong Kha Yan [3/4] – Muhammad Syazmil Idham+Nur Syaza Roshidi 11-7 11-7 11-7

Too Ming Yap+Teh Won Quin – Mohamad Najmi Kamarudin+Ng Sin Er 11-10 11-9 4-11 7-11 11-7

Lim Chi Wing+Ho Yen Mei -Choo Kai Qing+Isabel Liau Bei Yi 11-7 11-6 11-7

Wong Tien Ci+Lim Chiew Sien [2] – Tan Yi Han+Ng Qi Xuan 11-8 11-5 11-8

Bergu pilihan mara ke suku akhir Top Glove Purple League Pro Am 2020

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 30 – The competition is heating up as the top seeds in the mixed doubles were all up to their expectations to advance to the quarterfinals of the Top Glove Purple League Pro Am Badminton Championship 2020.

Lim Tze Jian-Gan Jing Err and Wong Tien Chi-Lim Chiew Sien were among the top eight for the quarterfinals of the tourney after overcoming their respective opponents in the opening matched which took place in Putrajaya today.

Even though they were not selected as one of the tournament favourites, Lim Chi Wing-Ho Yen Mei showed plenty of consistency to progress past the first round following their 3-0 win (11-7, 11-6, 11-7) over Choo Kai Qing-Isabel Liau Bei.

However Chi Wing said they were still adjusting to each other.

“The situation is very much different than what we imagined as the atmosphere is very quiet,” said Chi Wing adding that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on everyone.

“It has been very difficult because there were no competition and the sponsorships have also been reduced because of it.”

He said, it was because lacking of competition that has resulted in him being unable to fly to Thailand to participate in the competition organised by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) due to his relatively low-ranking position.

However, his participation in the Top Glove Purple League Pro Am 2020 has given him the opportunity to bounce back and improve his position.

Chi Wing and Yen Mei will have a tough task in the next round where they will face the tournament second seeds, Wong Tien Chi-Lim Chiew Sien who flew by their opening match to beat Tan Yi Han-Ng Qi Xuan in straight games 11-8, 11-5, 11-8.

Meanwhile, top seed Lim Tze Jian-Gan Jing Err were forced to work hard in four sets before confirming a 3-1 victory (11-8, 11-8, 3-11, 11-10).

It was the smashing prowess of Tze Jian-Jing Err that ensured victory to their favour.

“We are more focused now compared to the training sessions where we have been preparing for two more weeks before going into action,” said Tze Jian who was the champion in the Purple League Junior 2018.

“This Top Glove Purple League Pro Am is a good competition and I am determined to fight all the way to bring home the title.”

Tze Jian-Jing Err will face Boon Xin Yuan-Teoh Lexuan in the quarterfinals following their 3-1 win (11-9, 11-5, 10-11, 11-8) over Leong Jun Kai-Vanessa Chai Voon Ching.

RESULTS

Lim Tze Jian/Gan Jing Err (1) bt Ahmad Maziri Mazlan/Noor Hazwani Hazair

11-8 11-8 3-11 11-10

Boon Xin Yuan/Teoh Lexuan bt Leong Jun Kai/Vanessa Chai Voon Ching

11-9 11-5 10-11 11-8

Lee Jian Yi/Goh Yea Ching bt Chong Ee Jack/Tang Wen Xin

11-5 11-4 11-8

Mohd Arif Abdul Latif/Desiree Siow [3/4] bt Micaiah Chai Jien Zheng/Kok Youki

11-5 11-7 6-11 11-2

Tan Kok Xian/Wong Kha Yan [3/4] bt Muhammad Syazmil Idham/Nur Syaza Roshidi

11-7 11-7 11-7

Too Ming Yap/Teh Won Quin bt Mohamad Najmi Kamarudin/Ng Sin Er

11-10 11-9 4-11 7-11 11-7

Lim Chi Wing/Ho Yen Mei bt Choo Kai Qing/Isabel Liau Bei Yi

11-7 11-6 11-7

Wong Tien Ci/Lim Chiew Sien [2] bt Tan Yi Han/Ng Qi Xuan

11-8 11-5 11-8

TOP GLOVE PURPLE LEAGUE 2020: TOP SEEDS ADVANCE TO QUARTERFINALS

（布城28日讯）总奖金10万令吉的2020顶级手套紫盟专业自由人羽球锦标赛，明日将会在布城1区睦邻活动中心挥拍，一众自由人将阔别至少9个月后，再次回到他们熟悉的赛场。

这项赛事云集了许多前国手自由人球员包括刘国伦、宋浚洋、依斯干达等，可說说是今年最有看头与奖金最高的国内比赛。比赛分男单、男双与混双。

肆虐超过一年的疫情导致许多在平日我们忽视的现象都浮出水面，其中包括我国人民所重视的羽坛，疫情导致选手们无法比赛，自由人更是首当其冲，没有了比赛意味着失去了收入的来源。

作为大马极力推动羽毛球运动的私人机构—大马紫盟羽联于是挺身而出主办2020顶级手套紫盟专业自由人赛。

过去六年，大马紫盟羽联常年举办了紫盟职业联赛、紫盟青年赛、紫盟企业赛等顶级赛事，而这次因疫情而诞生的紫盟专业自由人赛，属于另一种性质的比赛，让大马羽坛多一道色彩。

何克望：比赛意义重大

大马紫盟羽联首席执行官何克望表示，在疫情期间，他和董事会收集了许多自由人球员的心声，发现他们非常渴望有比赛可以打。

何克望：“这比赛对于球员无疑是久旱逢甘露，意义重大。希望他们能把握这个机会，提升自己。”
他表示，如果这次成功了，他们不排除把它变成常年赛事 ，给球员们尤其自由人另一个出路。而这个赛事其中一个特点就是很多自由人球员愿意放下身段，去尝试非本身的专攻项目，包括多名单打球员客串双打，相信会给球迷们和球员本身带来不一样的体验。

然而，为了避免人们混淆，主办方强调他们还是会以职业联赛作为主要赛事，而这个专业自由人赛则是个独立赛事，类似于英超联赛和英足总杯的区别。不过，对于今年稍微推迟的紫盟羽联职业赛，这专业自由人比赛也可以说视为它的前奏。希望球员们能尽快找回比赛结构。

大马紫盟羽联也为这个顶级手套紫盟专业自由人赛做好了防疫措施，其中包括限制场内人数，以及所有的球员和工作人员都必须在赛前接受新冠肺炎检测。

比赛明日起至明年1月3日一连六天在布城举办，球迷们可以通过他们的社交媒体YouTube和面子书收看赛事。

（吉隆坡15日讯）  由于国内新冠疫情确诊病例高企不下，紫盟羽联青年赛于过去周末成功主办入选赛第一区赛事后，于周四发布声明，将展延馀下三站入选赛和在布城的总决赛，待疫情好转及球员们的健康没有受到威胁的情况下，才会继续举办赛事。

以下为声明全文：

2020永旺信用紫盟羽联青年赛展延通知

尊敬的媒体同仁：

紫盟羽联在过去周末成功地主办了2020永旺信用紫盟羽联青年赛第一区，为期两天的入选赛事，共有9支队伍参与，其中4队晋级总决赛。

在新冠肺炎疫情期间，为了照顾球员们及所有在场者的健康，主办单位也尽全力做好了防范措施，包括在大门口为每一位入场者测量体温；要求他们保持距离；在多处准备好消毒液；限制体育馆内的人数；并规定除正在比赛的球员外，所有的人必须戴上口罩，工作人员更被要求戴上面罩和手套，同时，一天内还为场地消毒三轮。

这两天的比赛一切顺利，氛围和谐，有参赛球队称这次的赛事空前成功。然而，不管我们多么地努力，还是无法去改变整个大环境。随著这连日全国的新病例陆续上升，屡破纪录，使我们不得不重新探讨是否如期举办接下来的赛事。

紫盟羽联一直都在尽力地为国家培育羽毛球人才，前提是安全第一，健康至上，故此，经过深思熟虑并于大马羽总及赞助商商议后，我们决定展延接下来的赛事包括原订于11月7至8日在麻坡进行的第二区入选赛；10月31日至11月1日在蒲种进行的第三区入选赛；10月24至25日在怡保进行的第四区入选赛以及11月21至22日在布城举行的总决赛。一旦有了最新的比赛日期，我们将马上通知。

紫盟羽联感谢所有媒体及羽毛球爱好者一直对我们的支持与关注。我们保证，只有在疫情好转及球员们的健康没有受到威胁的情况下我们才会继续举办赛事。谢谢。

祝福安好吉祥

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