Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 29 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badaw i said the government always gives emphasis on cultivating a strong sporting culture in achieving excellence at the international level. As such, the Prime Minister said, it was important to scout for young talents in sports. "I observe that the Malaysia Games (Sukma) has become one of the important platforms to do so. "In this arena, the potentials and skills of the youngsters can be identified for development so that they can achieve greater success in sports," he said in his message in the souvenir book of the 12th Sukma from May 31 until June 9. Abdullah said he was aware that competition in sports was very keen and challenging but this did not mean that Malaysian athletes were incapable of competing at the international level. "The fact is that we have all the characteristics required to be excellent. We must inculcate a strong fighting spirit so that we don't easily surrender,

A view of the new 50,000-seat Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak, Kuala Terengganu. The stadium will be ready in time for the Malaysia Games (Sukma) athletics competition beginning June 4 to 7. Pix: Bernama Not Right To Ignore FAM, Says Azalina SHAH ALAM, May (Bernama) -- Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who was Youth and Sports Minister previously, said Thursday it was not right that the organisers of the Champions Youth Cup (CYC) football competition had neglected the FA of Malaysia (FAM). The second edition of the tournament organised by Gifted Group Limited (GGL) at a cost of RM17 million and scheduled to be held from Aug 5 to 16 had to be called off after it did not get the sanction of the FAM, who are the football governing body in the country. Azalina, who was on an official visit to Selangor in her capacity as Tourism Minister, said this to reporters here when asked to comment on the debacle. She said that when she was the Youth an

KIEN Keat (kiri) dan Boon Keong akan menggalas cabaran pada Terbuka Singapura. All Eyes On Koo-Tan By Dan Guen Chin JOHOR BAHARU, May 28 (Bernama)-- Koo Kim Keat and Tan Boon Heong carry the hopes of the nation at the Beijing Olympics in three months time but until then there are other obstacles to clear. Like the US$200,000 (RM650,000) Aviva Singapore Open starting at the city-state's Indoor Stadium on June 10 where the Malaysian pair are the No 3 seeds. There is no denying that Malaysian Badminton Association (BAM) coaching staff are looking at them to provide a heartwarming performance before the big one in Beijing. And the luck of the draw, which was conducted at the Badminton World Federation office in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday evening, has given them the opening to do so. The duo will play Singapore's Mohd Azlan Latib and Terry Yeo in the opening round and a possible showdown against China's Guo Zhangdong and Xie Xongbo the No 6 seeds in the quarter-