Maybank Championship spotlight falls on elite LPGA stars

Liyana Durisic knocks her ball onto the 18th green in the first round of the Maybank Championship on Thursday to finish the day in a tie for fourth and as the top Malaysian on the leaderboard. — Bernama

AS one of Malaysia’s premier sporting events, the Maybank Championship has rapidly established itself as a standout fixture on the LPGA Tour calendar, attracting the world’s best players while providing a valuable platform for the nation’s top golfing talent to compete against the game’s elite.

Returning to the West Course at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club this week, the US$3mil tournament brings together an exceptional international field featuring some of the highest-ranked players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

The championship has become one of South-East Asia’s most prestigious golf events, combining world-class competition with fan engagement, entertainment, hospitality experiences and unique opportunities for Malaysian golfers to measure themselves against the very best in the sport.

This year, local interest is stronger than ever, with five Malaysian players earning places in the field. 

Included in the line-up is Mirabel Ting, currently Malaysia’s highest-ranked player at No. 239 in the Rolex Ranking.s

She is joined by LPGA rookie Natasha Oon, in-form Liyana Durisic, who was tied for fourth place after the first round on Thursday, former LPGA Tour regular Kelly Tan, and Genevieve Ling, giving home fans plenty to cheer throughout the week.

For many, the greater interest will centre on Mirabel and how she fares. Her rise has been one of Malaysian golf’s biggest success stories in 2026.

The Sarawakian secured LPGA Tour status for next season after a breakthrough campaign on the Epson Tour, where she won twice and consistently featured among the circuit’s top performers.

Her achievements culminated in finishing atop the Epson Tour season standings, a feat that earned promotion to the LPGA Tour while cementing her reputation as one of Asia’s brightest emerging talents.

The Maybank Championship therefore serves as something of a dress rehearsal for the 21-year-old as she prepares to take on the world’s best full-time next season.

Competing against a field packed with LPGA winners and major champions offers an ideal opportunity to test her game ahead of golf’s biggest stage.

Natasha also gained valuable LPGA Tour experience this year, including a tied-31st finish at the CPKC Women’s Open.

Meanwhile, Liyana, who arrive with momentum following several domestic victories and a win in Australia, and Kelly and Genevieve add further depth to a strong Malaysian contingent.

Beyond the local storylines, fans will be enjoying a festival atmosphere around one of the LPGA Tour’s showcase events. With global stars competing for one of the largest purses in women’s golf, championship hospitality, family-friendly activities and entertainment throughout tournament week, the Maybank Championship continues to elevate Malaysia’s standing as a destination for world-class sporting events.

For one week in the year, Kuala Lumpur becomes the focal point of women’s golf, showcasing not only the sport’s biggest names but also the next generation of Malaysian players hoping to leave their mark on the international stage.

SOURCE LINK: https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/golf/2026/11/01/maybank-championship-spotlight-falls-on-elite-lpga-stars

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Maybank Championship KLGCC - Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, Bukit Kiara

AI-assisted stroke survivor storyteller

Road to recovery: Foo with his caregiver Hasmah, who became an important pillar of support, helping him on his journey towards independence. — LEONG WAI YEE/The Star

AI-assisted content helps entrepreneur inspire others with his recovery journey

PETALING JAYA: When entrepreneur Allan Foo Kit Seng suddenly found the words on his mobile phone becoming blurry back in May 2021, he thought there was something wrong with the screen.

Moments later, the then 49-year-old Bandar Sri Daman­sara resident realised the problem was not his phone but himself. He had suffered a stroke.

Today, at 54, Foo has transformed that life-changing ordeal into a mission to inspire others, becoming an online sensation through artificial intelligence-assisted content and his abc123podcast on a popular online video platform while proving that stroke survivors can still embrace new opportunities.

“I don’t want people to see stroke survivors as limited. Physically, I may not be what I used to be, but I can still create, entertain, teach and inspire,” he said in an interview.

His latest AI-assisted comedy videos have attracted millions of views, with one Instagram reel from his account, abc123makeitsimple, garnering 1.8 million views in just four days.

By learning how to use AI to script and edit videos, Foo has discovered a new way to connect with audiences while showing that physical limitations should not stop anyone from acquiring new skills. Yet behind the humour lies a deeper purpose.

“I’ve already gone through the worst. Now I ask myself, what’s next? If I can’t work like before, what else can I do? I can show people they don’t have to stay inside the box,” he said.

Foo said his family was his greatest motivation during recovery – especially his son, Alex Randall Sy, who was still in primary school when the stroke struck and is now 16.

His elder son, Anthony Renzo Sy Foo, 19, also stood by him throughout his recovery while caregiver Hasmah Hassan, 53, became an important pillar of support, helping him through daily routines, rehabilitation and his journey towards independence.

“I told myself I had to be strong and face it head on because my children were still growing up.

“As a father, I couldn’t give up,” he said.

Foo recalled experiencing blurred vision and weakness before collapsing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Friends rushed him to hospital, where doctors stressed the importance of receiving treatment within the “golden hour”, saying the quick response likely saved his life.

Recovery, however, was a long and difficult journey.

He spent more than two years in a wheelchair and underwent intensive physiotherapy, acupuncture and stem cell treatment before his mind gradually became clearer.

The former student of Victoria Institution and the school’s Cadet Corps Band drum major likened surviving a stroke to returning home after a robbery.

“A stroke is like someone breaking into your house and making a mess of everything. You can sit there crying over what happened, or you can start cleaning up your house.

“Nobody else can clean it for you. You have to rebuild your life, one step at a time,” he said.

That mindset inspired Foo to document his recovery.

Encouraged by friends, he began sharing his journey online in September 2023, initially to help fellow stroke survivors and their caregivers navigate the physical, emotional and mental challenges after a stroke.

Today, his content blends humour with practical advice while his podcast simplifies stroke recovery through three principles – Awareness, Balance and Control – to help survivors and caregivers better understand the recovery journey.

Beyond entertaining audiences, Foo hopes his story will encourage stroke survivors to keep moving forward, no matter how long recovery takes.

“Nothing is easy, but you have to keep going. Recovery is a lifelong journey. I don’t want to be remembered as a stroke victim. I want people to see that I’m a stroke survivor.

“If my journey gives even one person hope and the courage to keep fighting, then everything I’ve gone through has been worth it,” he added.

Source link: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/28/from-stroke-survivor-to-storyteller