Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

A proposed move of the Asian Football Confederation's headquarters from the east to the western fringe of the region is polarizing opinion in the diverse continent. The AFC has been based in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur since 1965, but on July 29 the region's top official, Mohamed Bin Hammam, invited bids from member associations interested in becoming home to the governing body. So far, only Qatar — Bin Hammam's home nation — and the United Arab Emirates have expressed definite interest in challenging Malaysia as host. With some members of the confederation already uneasy about the perceived growing power of West Asia in continental football politics, debate in the next months is set to intensify. Former AFC general secretary Peter Velappan, a veteran Malaysian administrator, criticized the move in an open letter sent to the AFC's annual congress in Shanghai, China this month. He had earlier called any move "foolish." "I would respectfull

SIN LI JANE SINGAPORE'S Remy Ong-Jazreel Tan turned on the heat in the sixth game to deny Malaysia's Muhd Nur Aiman-Sin Li Jane the mixed doubles gold medal at the 4th Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championships at the Dundonald International Ice Bowl in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Wednesday. Malaysia's second pair of Syafiq Ridhwan-Nur Syakirah Yeoh made a late surge to take the bronze. Muhd Nur-Li Jane, who bowled in Squad A, fired a 2,766 on long oil conditions to set a benchmark for Squad B. Muhd Nur sizzled with lines of 232, 259, 205, 216, 290, 227 for a 1,429 total. Li Jane, 16, was equally impressive, posting 173, 222, 244, 243, 234, 221 for a 1,337 total. In Squad B, Remy set a blistering pace with back-to-back 257s to put Singapore on the right course. His partner Jazreel responded with 200 and 238 in the opening two games. However, the Singapore pair fell off slightly with a poor combined score of 390 in the third game, but pulled themse

MOHAMMAD NIZAR (kanan) bersalaman dengan seorang pemain Perak pada majlis menandatangani kontrak di Ipoh semalam. "SAYA mempunyai komitmen yang tinggi terhadap tugas saya." Demikian penjelasan anggota exco kerajaan Perak, Jamaluddin Mohd. Radzi yang menolak pelantikan sebagai pengurus pasukan Perak. Jamaluddin merupakan Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pembangunan Usahawan, Koperasi, Pertanian dan Perladangan Perak berkata, beliau menolak pelantikan tersebut kerana mahu menumpukan perhatian kepada tugas rasminya. "Saya berharap Menteri Besar Perak (Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin) dapat mencari mana-mana individu yang sesuai bagi mengisi kekosongan tersebut," katanya kepada pemberita selepas majlis menandatangani kontrak pemain-pemain Perak bagi musim 2009 di Bangunan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri di Ipoh semalam. Bagaimanapun Jamaluddin bersetuju untuk menjadi anggota majlis Persatuan Bola Sepak Perak (Pafa). Sementara itu, Mohammad Nizar yang juga Presiden Pafa ber

Oleh MN NORZASRUDIN SKUAD hoki wanita negara giat berlatih di Stadium Hoki Nasional, Bukit Jalil menjelang Piala Asia Wanita Remaja V yang bermula 13 Disember ini. BUKAN satu tugas mudah buat skuad wanita negara menempah tiket ke Kejohanan Hoki Piala Dunia Wanita Remaja 2009 di Boston, Amerika Syarikat. Namun berdasarkan prestasi semasa, tidak mustahil bagi anak buah Yahaya Atan merealisasikan impian itu, sekali gus mencipta sejarah layak buat kali pertama pada kejohanan tersebut. Sebelum mengimpikan tiket ke Boston, skuad negara ada misi yang lebih besar perlu dilaksanakan terlebih dahulu. Menamatkan saingan dalam kelompok tiga pasukan terbaik menjadi sasaran mereka pada Kejohanan Piala Asia Wanita Remaja V yang bermula 13 hingga 21 Disember ini di Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. "Seperti biasa, kami meletakkan sasaran untuk melayakkan diri ke peringkat separuh akhir pada Kejohanan Piala Asia Wanita Remaja V bulan depan. "Kemudiannya, baru kami memberi tumpuan untuk menam

Oleh RADIAH SAORI PEI TTY (depan) dan Eei Hui mara ke pusingan suku akhir Terbuka Hong Kong semalam. BEREGU wanita No. 1 negara, Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui terus mengharumkan nama negara. Selepas mencipta kejayaan sulung pada Kejohanan Badminton Terbuka Denmark bulan lepas, Pei Tty-Eei Hui kini mencipta satu lagi sejarah apabila muncul beregu wanita pertama negara yang berjaya menghuni ranking No. 2 dunia. Dalam senarai ranking terbaru Persekutuan Badminton Dunia (BWF) semalam, Pei Tty-Eei Hui melonjak tiga kedudukan daripada ranking No. 5 dunia minggu lepas. Pei Tty-Eei Hui yang memulakan musim ini dengan menduduki ranking ke-11 dunia, mengumpul 63,829 mata berbanding beregu No. 1 dunia dari China, Du Jing-Yu Yang yang memperoleh 79,710 mata. Kejayaan Pei Tty-Eei Hui menduduki ranking kedua dunia itu merupakan hasil kejayaan mereka mara dalam dua perlawanan akhir berturut-turut iaitu pada Terbuka Perancis dan China bulan ini. "Ini merupakan ranking terbaik kami dan s

Oleh YASMIN RAMAN RATU skuasy negara, Datuk Nicol Ann David yakin rakan sepasukannya mampu memikul tanggungjawab besar apabila tampil pada Kejohanan Berpasukan Wanita Dunia yang akan membuka tirainya di Kaherah Ahad ini. Selain Nicol yang juga pemain No. 1 dunia, cabaran negara pada kejohanan tersebut akan turut digalas Sharon Wee (24), Delia Arnold (34) dan Low Wee Wern (46). Selepas sekadar menduduki tempat ketiga pada kejohanan yang sama di Kanada dua tahun lalu, Nicol berazam membantu skuad negara mencapai keputusan yang lebih positif kali ini. "Selepas menang kali ke-10 kejuaraan Jelajah Wispa, saya berazam melakukan yang terbaik untuk pasukan Malaysia dalam kejohanan ini," katanya. "Dua tahun lalu, kami hanya meraih tempat ketiga. Jadi sudah tentu tahun ini saya dan rakan sepasukan yang lain mahu berusaha memperbaiki kedudukan itu. "Apa yang saya lihat, skuad negara kali ini dilihat lebih mantap dan saya yakin kami dapat bekerjasama dengan baik demi m

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian contingent, comprising 400 athletes and 98 officials, will be the largest team to participate in the Asean Universities Games (AUG) 2008. The games will be held at 22 venues in Klang Valley, between Dec 11 and 21. Malaysian Universities Games Council's promotion and sponsorship committee secretary Nur Ekmal Buhary said Thailand would be the second largest team with a 306-member contingent, followed by Singapore (277), Indonesia (264), the Philippines (163), Vietnam (125), Brunei (90), Timor Leste (61), Laos (26) and Cambodia (10). "Myanmar could not participate at the AUG 2008 due to its domestic problems," he told Bernama here Thursday. He said that throughout the games, the contingents would stay at 10 hotels in the Klang Valley. On the preparation of the Malaysian athletes, he said they would start the final round of training today, until Dec 6, at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Nur Ekmal said, apart from nur

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- World number 1 Datuk Nicol David is banking on her team-mates to deliver at the 16th Women's World Team Championship in Cairo, Egypt on Sunday. "This time, the team line-up has quality players and enjoy a strong sense of rapport among themselves, which is paramount to deliver the desired results," she said. Nicol, who completed her 10th Wispa Tour titles this year after clinching the Hong Kong Open title recently, said that besides team captain Sharon Wee who is ranked 24th, Delia Arnold (ranked 34th) and Low Wee Wern (ranked 46th) have performed well in the World Open and British Open, two prestigious titles in squash, this year. For the record, the 25-year-old Penangite has won the World Open and British Open titles thrice in 2005, 2006 and this year. "In the team event championship, we will rely on each other for support," she said after a flag handing-over ceremony at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil here Thursd

By ERIC SAMUEL KUALA LUMPUR: There were arguments, debates, differences in opinions and even time for a light-moment when an official dozed off and snored during the FA of Malaysia’s (FAM) brainstorming session at the National Sports Council (NSC) Complex in Bukit Jalil yesterday. Perhaps, it was because of the same old issues being raised and thrashed out over and over again from the previous sessions — on foreign players, the format of the Malaysian League, the financial status of teams, clubs participation, salary scale of players, early kick-off times and fixtures. In fact, there is nothing much to look forward in a five-year comprehensive domestic calendar (2010-2014), which the FAM have planned to bring about positive results in Malaysian football. The issue of foreign players was again discussed at length. It was the opinion of many that the FAM should review their decision on not allowing teams to hire foreigners after the 2009 season. Then, there was the arg

HOSTS Malaysia are aiming for their best medal haul at the 14th Asean University Games on Dec 11-21 even if they have had to become more frugal in their spending in preparation for the biennial event. Malaysian Universities Sports Council (Masum) chairman Prof Dr Omar Osman said a budget of RM28 million allocated by the Higher Education Ministry is all they have to work with in preparing athletes, venues and other organisational requirements. "Although the amount seems high, the better part of the budget has gone to meet organisations costs such as for venues, medics, equipment and other items. We have managed to stay within the budget and we are confident of emerging as overall champions," said Dr Omar after a main committee meeting at Universiti Putra Malaysia in Serdang on Monday. Malaysia are looking at an ambitious return of 80 gold medals with the guaranteed participation of a number of national athletes after only returning from the 2006 Games in Vietnam w

MUHD Nur Aiman (right) turned hero again when his double 'turkey' helped him and partner Syafiq Ridhwan take the men's doubles bronze medal at the 4th Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championships at the Dundonald International Ice Bowl in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Tuesday. After clinching the singles gold medal on Monday, Muhd Nur left it late in the sixth game to show his true form to salvage a medal in the doubles. Mohd Nur and Syafiq started on a promising note by posting a combined first-game score of 447 to take up third position. However, the duo failed to maintain their momentum and posted 424 and 434 in the second and third games respectively and subsequently dropped one rung. The duo then blazed the lanes with a good effort of 500 in the fourth to trail Singapore by only 20 pins with England, dropping to second, just 10 pins adrift. The gold medal was within reach but a 379 in the fifth game ended their hopes. Muhd Nur and Syafiq were

TENGKU ABDULLAH THE Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) executive committee which met in Shanghai yesterday, has given Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah the mandate to discuss with the Malaysian government and present AFC's stand on the move of AFC House from Kuala Lumpur. It is reliably learnt that AFC president Mohammed Hammam is still keen to keep AFC House in the Malaysian capital. "The mandate has been given to me by the AFC exco to go back and discuss with the government and sports ministry AFC's requests for the AFC House. I will be back tomorrow (today) and I will seek an appointment with the AFC president and its secretary to discuss the areas that AFC is requesting for development," said Tengku Abdullah by phone from Shanghai after yesterday's meeting. "I have been given until Jan 15, 2009 to have discussions with government officials, and then I have to make the presentation to the president," added Tengku Abdullah

IMPIAN menebus kecewa tidak kesampaian. Semuanya gara-gara kecederaan dan ia juga bermakna cabaran negara dalam acara perseorangan lelaki pada Kejohanan Badminton Terbuka Hong Kong turut berakhir, lapor RADIAH SAORI. Menarik diri dan itulah keputusan yang diambil oleh pemain No. 1 dunia, Datuk Lee Chong Wei semalam. Ketika mahu memulakan aksi pada pusingan pertama, Chong Wei terpaksa membuat keputusan tersebut pada saat-saat akhir selepas mengalami kekejangan otot kaki. Impiannya untuk membalas dendam ke atas pemain China, Lin Dan juga musnah. Kedua-dua pemain ini dikatakan bakal bertembung sekali lagi pada perlawanan akhir jika berjaya melepasi halangan pada peringkat awal. Namun nasib nampaknya tidak menyebelahi Chong Wei. Dia dijadual menentang pemain kurang ternama dari Jerman, Marc Zwiebler pada pusingan pertama semalam namun terpaksa menarik diri selepas mendapat nasihat daripada ahli fisioterapi serta jurulatihnya, Datuk Misbun Sidek. Menurut Misbun yang tidak bersama

Oleh MUSTAPA LAKAWA mustapa@kosmo.com.my PENGURUS Besar Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM), Aminuddin Nasir mahu semua pihak menerima secara positif peletakan jawatannya dalam badan sukan olahraga negara itu. Sambil menyifatkan ia sebagai keputusan terbaik demi masa depan sukan tersebut, Aminuddin bagaimanapun enggan menyalahkan mana-mana pihak di sebalik keputusan mengejut yang dibuatnya itu. "Dalam sukan, apa-apa boleh berlaku dan mungkin rezeki saya tiada di sini (KOAM)," jelas Aminuddin kepada Kosmo! semalam. "Secara jujurnya, biarlah saya tinggalkan kesatuan ini dengan cara baik tanpa mahu menimbulkan sebarang masalah kepada pihak lain. "Mungkin juga dengan keputusan ini, pertelagahan yang sering berlaku dalam KOAM akan menjadi semakin kurang." Aminuddin dilantik sebagai Pengurus Besar KOAM bagi menggantikan Lt. Kol (B) Hamid Barkat pada Januari 2007. Menurutnya lagi, surat peletakan jawatan telah dihantar kepada Presiden KOAM, Datuk Seri Sha

By Hilary Sebastian KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Nov (Bernama) -- The Malaysian team comprising two top senior and two top junior national players is the right balance to squash the competition in the semi-final stage at the 16th Women's Team Championship in Cairo, beginning Sunday. National No 2 player Sharon Wee, who is the most senior among the four players, expressed confidence over the team which consists of world number one player Datuk Nicol David, Delia Arnold (ranked 34th) and Low Wee Wern (ranked 46th). She said it was capable of doing better than its third placing win at the 2006 Championship in Edmonton, Canada. At the 2006 Women's Championship, the Malaysian team was the third seed beating the Netherlands 2-1 in the play-off match, in which Sharon lost to Annelize Naude 3-1 in the first match, but Nicol leveled the scoreline after beating Vanessa Atkinson 3-0, and then Tricia Chuah beat Orla Noon 3-0 to seal the Malaysian team's third place win. England emerged champi

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is closely watching developments following the riots in Thailand which is scheduled to host the Asian Football Confederation's (AFF) Suzuki Cup beginning Saturday. Thailand will host the Group B, which will also comprise Malaysia, Vietnam and Laos with the matches to be played at the Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, while Group A matches will be played at the Senayan Stadium, in Jakarta, involving Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar and Cambodia. "I personally contacted Football Association of Thailand (FAT) president Worawi Makudi yesterday to find out the actual situation in the country," FAM secretary-general Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad told reporters, here Wednesday. He said Worawi confirmed that the situation was safe and under control currently for the tournament to be carried out according to schedule. Yesterday, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri advised Malaysians intending to go to Thaila

KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- As expected, SEA Games yachting athlete, Nurul Ain Md Isa, emerged as champion at the Malaysian Monsoon Cup Qualifying round at Pulau Duyong, near here which ended Wednesday. The victory enabled the sole female yachtsman at the three-day championship to compete in the Monsoon Cup Yachting Race from Dec 3 to 7. Representing the Perak Yachting Team, the 23-year-old yachtsman, however, was given a tough fight by Razman Mat Ali, from the KFC-Malaysian Yachting Association, at the final stage before winning 2-1. In third place was Mohamad Razali Mansor, from the Navy 1 team, who beat Mohd Masyuri Rahmat 2-1, from the Navy 2 team. When met by reporters, Nurul Ain said she did not expect to win and qualify for the Monsoon Cup in her first appearance in the championship. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- Although she has yet to receive the offer letter of sponsorship from the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), the national woman pole-vaulter, Roslinda Samsu has already prepared for the Asean Universities Games (AUG) to be held here next month. The IAAF's sponsorship will enable Roslinda to have a training stint at the high performance training centre (HPTC) in Formia, Italy. "So far, I haven't received any official letter or news pertaining to the matter. So, right now I just continue with the usual training and my study in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). "At the same time, I'm also looking for the opportunity to participate in any athletics meet in Europe, especially those to be held in June or July next year," she told reporters at the Pole-Vaulter Talents Camp, organised by the Scout Division of the National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil, here Wednesday. Roslinda, however, said that she would onl

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- World No 1 men's singles shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei withdrew unexpectedly while his beau, top national women's singles Wong Mew Choo was shown the exit in the first round of the Hong Kong Super Series Wednesday. Chong Wei, the tournament's first seed and Beijing Olympic silver medalist, who lost tamely to Lin Dan of China in the China Open Super Series last Sunday, gave a walkover to his unpopular opponent, Marc Zwiebler of Germany, who will play Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana in tomorrow's second round at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. The championship also saw two other Malaysian men singles players beaten by their opponents. Wong Choong Hann was outclassed by Hong Ji Hoon of South Korea 21-12, 10-21 and 15-21, while Indonesian Taufik Hidayat outplayed Chong Wei Feng 21-9, 21-15. Meanwhile, world No 2 Lin Dan defeated Alistair Casey of Scotland 21-10, 21-10 to advance to a second round clash with Indonesian Andre Kurniawan Tedjono.

FOR a sport that produces little by way of success, Malaysian athletics sure knows how to manoeuvre itself into the spotlight. Be it personality clashes, power struggles or cries for funding, the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union's (MAAU) propensity for conflict and controversy never cease to amaze sports watchers. In more recent times MAAU has found itself embroiled with the Armed Forces AAA in its drive to be registered as a sports body and regain membership of the national body. MAAU deputy president Karim Ibrahim has also seen his bitter personal feud with IAAF High Performance Training Centre Asia director Musa Mohd Noor burst out into the open. And MAAU's secretive sponsorship deal announced recently has left many scratching their heads as to how, when and to whom the money will be disbursed. Let's not even mention grassroots development. The turn out, or rather lack of it, at this year's National Championships in Bukit Jalil is ample proof that t

KARATHU (kanan) dan Raja Azlan Shah akan mengemudi Perak bagi menghadapi kempen Liga Malaysia musim depan. "SAYA perlu kerja keras." Itu antara ungkapan awal M. Karathu selepas diumumkan sebagai ketua jurulatih Perak yang baru bagi menggantikan Steve Darby. Karathu mengakui, dia terpaksa bekerja keras bagi membentuk sebuah pasukan yang mantap selepas kehilangan ramai pemain berpengalaman. Antara pemain utama Perak yang berpindah termasuklah Hamsani Ahmad, Nasril Nourdin, Chan Wing Hong, K. Nanthakumar, Azlan Zainal, Hardi Jaafar, Khalid Jamlus dan Shahrulnizam Mustafa. Manakala ketua pasukan, Ahmad Shahrul Azhar pula dikatakan mengambil keputusan untuk bersara daripada arena bola sepak kerana faktor usia. "Saya hanya mempunyai tiga pemain berpengalaman dan selebihnya merupakan pemain-pemain muda yang beraksi dalam Piala Presiden musim lalu," jelas Karathu ketika ditemui semalam. Selain itu, bekas penjaga gol Selangor, Megat Amir Faisal serta dua pemain Perak

CHONG WEI sekali lagi terpaksa akur dengan kehebatan Lin Dan. HAJAT jaguh negara, Lee Chong Wei untuk membalas dendam terhadap seteru utamanya, Lin Dan dari China tidak kesampaian. Selepas tiga bulan menunggu, akhirnya Chong Wei kembali 'disatukan' dengan Lin Dan. Bagaimanapun Chong Wei sekali lagi terpaksa akur dengan kehebatan Lin Dan apabila tewas 18-21, 9-21 pada perlawanan akhir Kejohanan Badminton Terbuka China di Gimnasium Yuen Shen, Shanghai semalam. Terdahulu, Chong Wei turun dengan misi membalas dendam selepas dia tewas kepada jaguh China itu pada perlawanan akhir Sukan Olimpik di Beijing Ogos lalu. Pada aksi semalam, Chong Wei yang dilihat mampu memberi tekanan kepada Lin Dan khususnya di set pertama terpaksa tunduk dalam pertarungan yang memakan masa 39 minit. Berbekalkan sokongan padu ira-kira 20,000 penyokong sendiri, Lin Dan ternyata sekali lagi berada dalam kelas tersendiri bagi menjinakkan Chong Wei yang juga pemain No. 1 dunia. Sebelum itu, harapan unt

World No 1s Nicol David (right) and Amr Shabana pose with their trophies after winning the Hong Kong Open women’s and men’s titles respectively. JUST like former Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, squash queen Nicol David has her own perfect 10 to savour after completing a remarkable season by winning the Hong Kong Open title yesterday. Nicol needed to pull out all stops in what was her in sternest challenge yet in the tournament before subduing Australia's Rachael Grinham 14-12, 11-13, 11-8, 11-8 in the 53-minute final. The win allowed the Malaysian World No 1 to end her 2008 Wispa Tour season undefeated in all 10 tournaments she played while extending her unbeaten run since her last defeat at the 2007 World Open to 53 matches. But Nicol, who only dropped one game before the final, was far from assured of completing a hat-trick of Hong Kong Open titles as a determined Rachael kept the crowd gathered at the glass court at Victoria Harbour on tenterhooks. The Austral

Oleh Ahmad Khawari Isa ahmadkhawari@bharian.com.my IBARAT sudah tercipta 'kelebihan psikologi' milik jaguh China, Lin Dan, yang mudah menewaskan pemain utama negara, Lee Chong Wei (gambar) pada final badminton Siri Super Terbuka China, semalam. Lin Dan hanya perlukan 39 minit untuk menamatkan pertentangan kemuncak itu, terutama menerusi kemenangan mudah pada set kedua selepas diberi tentangan seketika pada set pertama. Kemenangan 21-18, 21-9 itu adalah yang kedua berturut-turut oleh Lin Dan terhadap Chong Wei selepas jaguh China itu memusnahkan musuh utamanya itu pada final Sukan Olimpik Beijing, Ogos lalu. Ia juga memanjangkan usaha Chong Wei mencari gelaran yang belum mahu jadi miliknya semenjak melonjak ke status pemain nombor satu dunia sebaik tamat temasya Olimpik lalu. Kelmarin, pemain utama negara itu menewaskan pemain Korea Selatan, Park Sung-hawn 17-21, 21-8, 21-7 dalam saingan separuh akh

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 (Bernama) -- World number one Datuk Nicol David completed a hat-trick of Hong Kong Squash Open titles after outlasting Racheal Grinham of Australia in four thrilling games at the Hong Kong Culture Centre Piazza, Sunday. The 25-year-old Penang lass needed 53 minutes to subdue the Aussie third seed who had managed to level the score at one game each, before wrapping up the next two games for a 14-12, 11-13, 11-8, 11-8 win and clinch her third consecutive Hong Kong Open. The win saw Nicol, the top seed, stretch her unbeaten run to 53 matches in the WISPA Tour while the win ensured her 10th title of the year on the Wispa Tour. The other titles are Marsh Apawamis Open, CIMB KL Open, Dunlop British Open (Liverpool), Seoul Women's Squash Open, CIMB Malaysian Open, CIMB Singapore Women's Squash Masters, Forexx Dutch Open, Hi-Tec Open and Qatar Classic. Meanwhile, in the men's singles, Amr Shabana of Egypt beat second seeded Gregory Gaultier of France 10-7,13

From a tender age, students at Bukit Jalil Sports School are groomed to become world-class athletes and the sports trailblazers of tomorrow. Warming up exercises are essential to avoid injury. WHAT separates Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) students from their counterparts in other schools is not the lack of academic proficiency but rather, the shift of emphasis. BJSS students balance rigorous physical training and academia in a tight schedule, in their quest to achieve excellence in the sports arena. It’s an issue that is given top priority in the national agenda. While older folks may reminisce on the glory days of sports in yesteryears, BJSS students are fired up with only one passion — to leap to fame and glory, much in the footsteps of the Thomas Cup class of 1992 or more recently, world squash champion Datuk Nicol David. The right leadership BJSS is administered by the Education Ministry’s Physical Education and Sports Division. Located in the National Sports Complex com

PETALING JAYA - Presiden Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM), Sultan Ahmad Shah (gambar) meminta persatuan negeri memantapkan pengurusan kewangan masing-masing bagi mengelak pemain terlibat dalam gejala rasuah bola sepak yang pernah menggemparkan negara pada pertengahan 1990-an , lapor SAYED HESHAM IDRIS. Baginda bertitah, kelemahan pengurusan persatuan bola sepak negeri sehingga berlaku masalah gaji dan tidak mencarum dalam Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) dibimbangi beliau yang akhirnya akan mengheret pemain terlibat dalam gejala negatif seperti mana isu rasuah dalam bola sepak tempatan pada 1994 dan 1995. ''Persatuan negeri yang dibelenggu masalah pembayaran gaji yang lewat dan tidak konsisten membayar caruman KWSP, bahkan ada yang tidak langsung membuat caruman harus diberi perhatian serius dan sentiasa dipantau. ''Pengurusan kewangan persatuan harus dikendalikan secara teratur, jujur dan telus bagi mengelak sebarang masalah terutama dengan agensi-agensi

Ismail Sabri Yaakob (tengah) bersama pasukan Go-Kart Malaysia bersorak 'Malaysia Boleh!' selepas penyerahan Jalur Gemilang di Putrajaya, semalam. PUTRAJAYA - Malaysia menyasarkan sekurang-kurangnya kedudukan kelima dalam Kejohanan Go-Kart Rotax Max Challenge di Litar La Conca, Muro Leccese, Itali dari 27 hingga 30 November ini, lapor THOMAS CHONG. Ketua kontijen Malaysia, Sayed Alfeizal Sayed Ahmad berkata, harapan pasukan negara disandarkan kepada juara Go-Kart Siri Asia, Muhammad Nabil yang akan beraksi dalam kategori Junior Max. ''Selain itu, enam lagi peserta yang akan mewakili negara dalam Junior Max, Senior Max dan DD2 juga dipercayai mampu memberi saingan sengit kepada pasukan negara lain. ''Mereka ialah Ryan Ritchie dalam kategori Junior Max, James Lee, Mikko Nassi dan M. Afiq Ikhwan dalam kategori Senior Max serta John King dan Ooi Fei Hoong dalam kategori DD2," katanya. Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita pada majlis penyerahan Jalur

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Julia Wong and seasoned campaigner Wong Choong Hann stole the thunder on the second day of action in the China Open in Shanghai yesterday. Both of them eliminated Danish star shuttlers. Julia made it to her first-ever quarter-finals of a Super Series event by dumping the world number two Tine Rasmussen 22-20, 10-21, 21-10 in a 49-minute second-round match. It was her second win over Rasmussen after the Philippines Open last year. Malaysia are now left with Julia in the women’s singles challenge following the tame exit of defending champion Wong Mew Choo, who has been constantly bugged by injuries. The Malaysian number one was beaten 11-21, 14-21 by China’s Zhu Jingjing. Julia, who is ranked 26th in the world, will take on China’s Wang Lin today and Malaysian hopes are on her to do a repeat of Mew Choo’s stunning efforts last year. “I am so happy to reach my first Super Series quarter-finals. My strategy was to make Tine run all over the court and f

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are one step away from taking all four places in the semi-finals of the Malaysia International Challenge men’s singles competition at the Likas Sports Complex in Kota Kinabalu. Yesterday, four players won their third-round matches. And only Kuan Beng Hong breezed into the last eight, taking 35 minutes to beat Indonesia’s Bandar Sigit Pamungkas 21-17, 21-11 to set up a match against South Korean Shon Wan-ho. Three others — Tan Chun Seang, Chong Wei Feng and Mohd Arif Abdul Latif — had to go to the distance to advance to matches against Andreas Adityawarman of Indonesia, South Koreans Park Wan-ho and Rho Ye-wook respectively. It will be a first for Malaysia if all four make it to the semi-finals and much will depend on whether Chun Seang could pull it off. Team manager How Kim Tho said that Andreas, who beat three Malaysians (Kuan Kam Chung, Loo Yik Xiang and Chong Li Qun) to get into the quarter-finals would be the main threat. “Youngster Andreas is t

Lee Chong Wei RANGKULAN terhadap gelaran dimenangi tahun lalu terpaksa dileraikan Wong Mew Choo yang kecundang di tangan pemain muda tuan rumah pada pusingan kedua Siri Super Terbuka China di Shanghai, semalam. Namun berita gembira dijelmakan pemain wanita nombor dua negara, Julia Wong Pei Xian dan tonggak veteran, Wong Choong Hann, yang masing-masing melakar kejutan untuk mara ke suku akhir. Turut sama melangkah ialah pemain utama, Lee Chong Wei (gambar), yang mudah membenam tentangan pemain veteran Hong Kong, Ng Wei, 21-13, 21-14. Mew Choo tampak berdepan kesukaran sejak awal pertemuan pusingan kedua dengan Zhu Jingjing apabila tewas mudah 11-21 pada set pertama. Biarpun cuba bangkit melawan, dia tidak terdaya mengelak kekalahan 14-21 pada set kedua. Julia pula mempamer ketenangan pada detik genting set pertama 19-20, untuk menang 22-20 dan biarpun kalah set kedua 10-21, bangkit dengan aksi bertenaga untuk membenam pilihan ketiga dari Denmark, Tine Rasmu

Tundukkan bintang tuan rumah saingan Terbuka Hong Kong RATU skuasy negara, Nicol David, meneruskan penguasaannya dalam kejohanan Terbuka Hong Kong apabila menundukkan pemain tempatan, Rebecca Chiu 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 11-2, semalam. Pemain nombor satu dunia berusia 25 tahun itu yang memburu gelaran ketiga berturut-turut di Terbuka Hong Kong, mengambil masa 34 minit untuk menumbangkan Rebecca - selaku pilihan ke-13 kejohanan, yang mendapat sokongan padu daripada penyokong tempatan. "Ia menjadi perlawanan yang hebat untuk disaksikan oleh penonton di sini, Mereka benar-benar memberikan sokongan padu kepada Rebecca dan menyuntik semangatnya untuk memberi tentangan sengit kepada saya. "Saya sedar pada set keempat saya perlu kembali saya tidak tergelincir dan memaksa Rebecca terpaksa mengikut rentak permainan saya," kata Nicol. Bagi Rebecca pula, tahun ini dia tetap berasa gembira dapat memberikan tentangan sengit terhadap Nicol berbanding permainannya pada tahun lalu yang menyak

KEKALAHAN 4-1 skuad kebangsaan di tangan Myanmar pada separuh akhir Piala Grand Royal Challenge pada 18 November lalu, turut mendapat perhatian Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Sultan Ahmad Shah yang kecewa dengan kegagalan itu. Walaupun gembira dengan peningkatan ranking dunia skuad kebangsaan di tangga ke-151, baginda berharap jurulatih kebangsaan, B Sathianathan dapat memperbaiki segala kelemahan sebelum memulakan saingan di Piala Suzuki bulan depan. "Kekalahan kepada Myanmar amat mengecewakan dan satu pendekatan yang sesuai harus diambil menjelang saingan Piala Suzuki bulan depan. Kita tidak boleh berpuas hati dengan tahap ketika ini kerana usaha mewujudkan skuad kebangsaan berdaya saing harus diteruskan. "Saya berharap kekalahan itu akan memberi iktibar kepada Sathianthan dan segala kelemahan pasukan dapat diatasi sebelum skuad kebangsaan berlepas ke Bangkok," titah Sultan Ahmad Shah dalam ucapannya pada mesyuarat Exco FAM y

MEW CHOO tewas mengejut kepada pemain China pada aksi pusingan kedua Terbuka China semalam. NASIB malang masih menghantui ratu badminton negara, Wong Mew Choo. Selepas tersingkir pada pusingan pertama Terbuka Perancis awal bulan ini, Mew Choo yang memburu tiket Final Masters bulan depan, tewas mengejut kepada pemain ranking ke-99 dunia, Zhu Jingjing pada pusingan kedua Terbuka China semalam. Mew Choo yang turun selaku juara bertahan, tewas 11-21, 14-21 dalam permainan yang mengambil masa 40 minit. Pilihan ketujuh kejohanan itu kini berdepan risiko gagal melayakkan diri beraksi pada Final Masters yang akan diadakan di Kota Kinabalu pada 18 hingga 21 Disember sekiranya gagal menempatkan diri dalam kelompok lapan terbaik dalam ranking Super Series 2008. Mew Choo kini menduduki ranking ke-10 Super Series dan hanya lapan pemain terbaik sahaja yang bakal beraksi pada Final Masters yang menawarkan hadiah lumayan AS$500,000 (RM1.8 juta) itu. Seorang lagi pemain wanita perseorangan

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- Eleven-year-old swimmer, Salman Ali Shariati Abdul Halim, nicknamed Iron Boy, will brave 49 nautical miles across the Straits of Melaka on Dec 30 in preparing to conquer the English Channel next June. He will start his swim at Pulau Rupat in Sumatra, Indonesia, and finish at Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. "According to our plan, Salman will take between 20 to 24 hours to complete the swim," Seven Continents Extreme Expedition Club chairman Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarudin told reporters here today. He said Salman would make the straits swim in a cage because of dangers posed by jellyfish, sea snakes and other creatures. Salman would be accompanied by his sister, Zahrah Ma'sounah, 17, for this practice session costing RM60,000 per person, he said. He said Salman would then focus on the 37 nautical miles English Channel in trying to become the second youngest swimmer in the world to achieve the feat. Muhamad Muqharabbin, who climbed Mou