Rhine-ruhr: Women’s singles shuttler Wong Ling Ching’s bid for a finals spot ended with a semi-final exit at the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games (WUG) at the Westenergie Sporthalle here, early Saturday Malaysian time. However, Ling Ching ensured the badminton squad did not return empty-handed, sharing the bronze medal with Ella Lin of the United States following both players’ semi-final appearances.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, in the last-four clash, the 21-year-old lost 16-14, 5-15, 13-15 to Thailand’s Tidapron Kleebyeesun. Ling Ching mentioned that the first set went according to plan, but in the subsequent sets, her opponent changed her playing style, leading to a dip in her confidence and patience. Despite not setting high expectations initially, Ling Ching believed she had a chance at a medal after the draw, though she expressed disappointment at not reaching the final.

Earlier, the Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah student had defeated India’s Devika Sihag 17-15, 15-11 in the quarter-finals. The medal presentation for the women’s singles event is scheduled early Sunday (Malaysian time). Ling Ching’s bronze is the second medal for the Malaysian contingent at WUG 2025, after national swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean’s silver in the men’s 400-metre freestyle.

Meanwhile, men’s singles shuttler Eogene Ewe missed the chance to add to the medal tally after going down 13-15, 14-16 to Ting Yen Chen of Taiwan in the quarter-finals. Eogene admitted to feeling disappointed, especially after leading 14-10 in the second set and appearing poised to force a decider. He noted that his nervousness and lack of composure affected his performance.

In athletics, Wan Muhammad Fazri Wan Zahari advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s 800 metres after clocking 1 minute 49.53 seconds to finish fifth in Heat 4 at the Lohrheidestadion in Bochum. However, Muhammad Naufa Shahrul Afzam (men’s pole vault), Muhammad Izzul Haniff Mohd Raffi (men’s triple jump), and Ng Jing Xuan (women’s javelin) were all eliminated in the qualifying and first-round stages.