Malaysia's FIFA Ranking is Expected to Improve

Malaysia's national football team Harimau Malaya are on course to reach their highest FIFA ranking in two decades following back-to-back victories in this month’s international friendlies. 

According to Sinar Daily on Wednesday, based on unofficial calculations, the national squad under Peter Cklamovski are set to move up five places to 120th in the world, an improvement from their previous position at 125th. 

The progress comes after Malaysia collected 9.75 points from their two matches on home turf.

On September 08, world No. 125 Malaysia secured a 1-0 victory over No. 98 Palestine in an international friendly at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri in Johor, Malaysia, thanks to an early strike from Joao Figueiredo in the second minute. 

Interestingly, national team coach Peter Cklamovski handed starts to Shahrul Saad, Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar and Dominic Tan, who all put in strong performances to thwart Palestine's attacks alongside Quentin Cheng. 

Two days earlier, they won 2-1 against Singapore at Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. Cklamovski fielded heritage players Dion Cools, Jon Irazabal, Facundo Garges and La'Vere Corbin-Ong in defence. 

Both times, Malaysia played well. A good omen.

Women's pair Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan cruised into the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open today.

The world No. 2 and defending champions defeated compatriots, world No. 20 Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing 21-12, 21-15 in 31 minutes in what was their first ever encounter.