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Lee Chong Wei with the mock cheque after beating Chan Kwong Beng 21-11, 21-19 in the Pahang Open final in Kuantan yesterday. FAVOURITE Lee Chong Wei proved why he has remained unbeaten on the local circuit for six years as he captured the Pahang Open in convincing manner in Kuantan yesterday. Chong Wei toyed around with back-up shuttler Chan Kwong Beng, playing in his first final of the local circuit, before securing a 21-11, 21-19 win in 30 minutes. The only moment Kwong Beng had some momentum in the match was when he took a 6-2 and then a 18-16 lead but could not deny Chong Wei from running away with the title. "Kwong Beng is a talented junior player, he played well especially in the second game but I think my experience on the international stage was an advantage," said Chong Wei. "Although I have maintained my unbeaten run on the local circuit, my priority has always been international tournaments, especially with the Singapore Open around the cor

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Bernama) -- Maldives, overwhelmed by the rapid progress of sports in Malaysia, are keen to establish cooperation in areas involving sports development. National Sports Institute (ISN) Director-general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz said Malaysia's success in establishing itself as a sports power in the world, has caught the attention of Maldives. "ISN look at their interest in a very positive manner and we are ever willing to share our experience and expertise with them towards developing sports," he told Bernama after receiving Maldives' minister for Human Resource, Youth and Sports, Hassan Latheef, here Friday. Dr Ramlan said the Maldives government had also submitted a draft detailing their interest and cooperation with the Malaysian government. The draft would be studied by the ministry of Youth and Sports, he said. "ISN hope the cooperation will benefit both parties, especially in the development of sports," he said. -- BERNAMA

KUANTAN, May 29 (Bernama) -- World number one and national number one, Datuk Lee Chong Wei accomplished a hat-trick of Pahang Open titles after sweeping aside Chan Kwong Beng in the men's singles final at the SUKPA Stadium here Friday night. Chong Wei, the top seed who started as the firm favourite in the Proton Pahang Open national circuit, after having won the title in 2005 and 2007 took just 30 minutes to emerge with a 21-11, 21-19 victory. The world number one who was using the tournament as preparations for the Singapore and Indonesian Opens, said he did not face any pressure when facing his younger opponent and promised to return to Pahang in the years to come. "Winning or losing does not matter but I just wanted to keep playing," he said. With the absence of national number one Wong Mew Choo and the injured Julia Wong, another national player Lydia Cheah Li Ya cruised past Sannatasah Saniru 21-15, 21-13 to clinch the women's singles title. In the most exciting

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim today announced that he was withdrawing from the contest for the presidency of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) at its election for the 2009-2011 term Saturday. The decision enables incumbent president Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar to continue holding the post which he has held since 1999. Shahidan, who is the president of the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU), said at a media conference here that he decided to withdraw after considering that his chances were fifty-fifty which could cause a split in the sports bodies. The former Perlis menteri besar, however, said that he would 'return' in the next election two years from now. "I will make preparations much earlier in future but for the election tomorrow, I am stating my open support for Datuk Seri Ibrahim Saad in the contest for the post of deputy president against Datuk M.Jegathesan," he said. Meanwhile, the OCM said in a media stateme

KUANTAN, 28 Mei (Bernama) -- Datuk Lee Chong Wei kini hanya selangkah lagi untuk merangkul gelaran hatrik juara Kejohanan Badminton Sirkit Kebangsaan Proton Terbuka Pahang setelah menundukkan Kuan Beng Hong dalam saingan separuh akhir acara lelaki di Stadium Sukan Pahang (SUKPA) di sini Khamis. Chong Wei yang merupakan pilihan utama kejohanan menundukkan Beng Hong 21-8, 21-8 dalam masa 27 minit untuk ke perlawanan akhir. Dalam perlawanan akhir esok, pemain nombor satu dunia itu akan berdepan dengan Chan Kwong Beng yang berjaya menewaskan Mohd Roslin Hashim 24-22, 21-19 dalam masa 50 minit. Dalam acara perseorangan wanita, Sannatasah Saniru layak perlawanan akhir selepas berjaya menewaskan Stephanie Shalini Sukumaran 21-15, 17-21, 21-18 manakala lawannya Lydia Cheah Li Ya menewaskan Tee Jing Yi 21-17, 21-16. Bagi acara beregu lelaki, pasangan veteran Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah mara ke perlawanan akhir selepas berjaya menewaskan pasangan Koo Kien Kiat/Tan Boon Heong 17-21, 21-19, 21-

LEE Chong Wei is set to bag his third Pahang Open title when he takes on Chan Kwong Beng in the men singles final today in Kuantan. The world number one was in total control as he used his jumping smash to good effect in demolishing Kuan Beng Hong 21-8, 21-8 in the semi-final yesterday. "It was an easy outing here and for me most of my matches were like warming-up sessions. "But I expect some challenge from Kwong Beng in the final as he managed to beat Roslin Hashim who is a very experienced player. "I am here to prepare for the Singapore Open next month." It took Chong Wei 27 minutes to seal the match against Beng Hong and the latter could only depend on collecting points from mistakes by Chong Wei. Roslin, tipped to meet Chong Wei in the final, suffered a shock 21-20,21-12 defeat to Kwong Beng. In the women's singles, second seed Lydia Cheah cruised into the final by beating Tee Jing Yi 21-17, 21-16 . She will next face Sannatasah Saniru

By RAJES PAUL KUANTAN: National gymnast Ng Shu Wai has gone AWOL again, leaving chief coach Pavel Todorov perplexed. Shu Wai was dropped from the men’s artistic gymnastics squad almost two years ago for missing training. He was given a reprieve by the National Sports Council (NSC) in April to allow him to pursue his dream of winning honours for the country at next year’s Common-wealth Games and Asian Games. Even Todorov was impressed with Shu Wai’s renewed commitment since rejoining training with the national team. Not again: Ng Shu Wai was dropped from the national team for missing training two years ago. In fact, Shu Wai trained regularly under Todorov although he had yet to receive an official letter from the NSC. Then, suddenly, he stopped attending training. “Everything seemed fine in the beginning. He was attending training regularly. Then he stopped coming for training and he has not given any reasons for it,” said Todorov. “Shu Wai’s brother (Shu Lian) is m

KANGAR - Bekas Menteri Besar Perlis, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim semalam menyatakan sokongan terbukanya kepada Datuk Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad untuk merebut kerusi Timbalan Presiden Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM). Katanya, Ibrahim yang juga Naib Presiden MOM adalah tokoh yang berwibawa dan paling layak untuk menduduki kerusi nombor dua MOM yang kini disandang oleh Datuk Dr. M. Jegathesan. "Saya mengenali beliau sebagai seorang yang berpengalaman memimpin badan sukan dan beliau juga berpengalaman mendapat penajaan untuk sukan," kata Shahidan yang juga Presiden Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) kepada Bernama semalam. Shahidan yang merupakan calon presiden MOM berkata, Ibrahim seorang yang boleh melaksanakan tugas yang dipertanggungjawabkan kepadanya dengan baik. Shahidan juga yakin persatuan-persatuan yang menyokongnya untuk merebut kerusi nombor satu MOM itu akan turut memberi sokongan kepada Ibrahim untuk mencabar M. Jegathesan. - BERNAMA

KANGAR, May 28 (Bernama) -- Former Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim on Thursday openly expressed his support for Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad in vying for the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) deputy president post. He said Ibrahim, an OCM vice-president, was a qualified and capable leader for the No. 2 post, now held by Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan. "I've known him (Ibarhim) as an experienced hand in leading sports bodies and also in getting sponsorship for sports," Shahidan, who is also the president of the Malaysia Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU), told Bernama here Thursday. Shahidan who is contesting the OCM president post, said Ibrahim was also someone who could carry out well the tasks entrusted to him. He believed that the associations which supported him in the contest for the OCM top post would also be supporting Ibrahim in challenging Dr Jegathesan for the deputy president post. Shahidan also repeated his earlier statement that good leaders were not nec

Oleh Hamid Salleh bhkt@bharian.com.my TIGA regu lelaki negara, menempah tempat ke separuh akhir Kejohanan Sepak Takraw Dunia yang berlangsung di Stadium Negeri, Terengganu, semalam. Regu Malaysia B dijadual bersaing sesama sendiri apabila dijadual berdepan Malaysia A manakala Malaysia E berdepan laluan sukar apabila menempah saingan menentang Thailand hari ini. Dalam saingan suku akhir semalam, Malaysia A menundukkan Indonesia 2-0 manakala dalam satu lagi perlawanan, Malaysia E menundukkan Vietnam, juga dengan 2-0, ketika saingan membabitkan skuad wanita negara berakhir dengan kekecewaan. Sementara itu, dalam saingan divisyen dua yang dibarisi pasukan dari negara yang baru diperkenalkan dengan sukan itu, regu Malaysia C dan Malaysia D turut mara ke separuh akhir hari ini, masing-masing akan menentang pasukan Brunei dan India. Dalam usaha merancakkan kemeriahan kejohanan itu, satu perlawanan persahabatan membabitkan pemain legenda, Adnan Saidin yang

Oleh Rizar Mohd Noor bhsukan@bharian.com.my JOHOR sudah bersedia menjadi tuan rumah terbaik Kejohanan Hoki Piala Dunia Remaja 2009 yang menyingkap tirai pada 7 sehingga 21 Jun ini. Keyakinan itu terbit daripada nada suara Menteri Besar, Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman yang nyata berpuas hati dengan perkembangan terkini persiapan penganjuran sukan hoki bertaraf dunia tatkala melakukan lawatan singkat ke Stadium Hoki Taman Daya, petang semalam. Beliau berpendapat betapa tempoh singkat yang diberi untuk memastikan segala kemudahan, terutama padang kedua seperti yang ditetapkan oleh Persekutuan Hoki Antarabangsa (FIH) sudah siap sepenuhnya dan tidak akan timbul masalah untuk pasukan yang bakal beraksi di gelanggang berkenaan. “Dalam tempoh tiga bulan padang kedua yang membabitkan perbelanjaan RM5.6 juta sudah siap malah saya amat berpuas hati terutama kerja-kerja pembinaan itu begitu cekap dan yakin semua akan siap sepenuhnya dalam masa dua atau tiga hari lag

Junior World Cup coach K. Rajan K. RAJAN, Malaysia's Junior World Cup coach, considers himself very lucky as he has three penalty corner flickers who are challenging each other to the limit. AHMAD KAZAMIRUL Top penalty corner flicker Nor Hafiq Ghaffar is recovering after an appendix operation. And with top flicker Nor Hafiq Ghaffar still in the midst of recovering after an appendix operation, he has been overtaken by Ahmad Kazamirul. Malaysia and Singapore will co-host the Junior World Cup on June 7-21 with each country hosting 10 teams. "Not many teams in the world can boast of having three penalty corner flickers, and so I consider myself lucky as I have many options to play. "All three have been doing well, and pushing themselves to the limit, and this healthy competition has made them sharper," said Rajan. The third flicker is Faizal Saari. "With Faizal also looking dangerous now, I will at least have two of them on the pitch

THE National Sports Institute is taking a proactive step in developing the country's sports by making Germany its "sports friend" owing to the country's position as a major sports power. The institute's director-general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz said cooperation with Germany had been in existence since its inception in 1983. "We are planning to send more athletes to train in Germany. "Their athletes can also come and train here," he told reporters after receiving RM32,000 worth of sports equipment from Germany's ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Gunter Gruber in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. He thank the embassy for the donation and said that it would be used to train the country's back-up squads. -- Bernama

JAWATANKUASA Disiplin Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) memutuskan untuk membatalkan penggantungan Stadium Sultan Mohamad IV selepas mesyuaratnya, semalam. Ia bermakna Kelantan yang digantung daripada menggunakan gelanggang mereka sehingga ke penghujung musim bakal beraksi di depan penyokong mereka menentang UPB MyTeam pada 16 Jun ini. Setiausaha Agung FAM, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad, mengesahkan keputusan itu, tetapi memaklumkan butiran lanjut mengenainya akan hanya diumumkan, hari ini. “Jawatankuasa Disiplin sudah membuat keputusan tetapi ianya akan dibincangkan dengan Jawatankuasa Pertandingan Tempatan FAM. Butirannya akan diumumkan esok (hari ini),” katanya. Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan (Kafa), Tan Sri Annuar Musa, turut mengakui ada mendengar keputusan itu, tetapi mahu terlebih dahulu mendapatkan kepastian daripada FAM. “Saya ada dengar keputusan itu, dengan perlawanan pertama ialah menentang MyTeam. Tetapi saya mahu tunggu hitam putih daripada FAM terlebih dahulu,”

KUANTAN, May 28 (Bernama) -- Lee Chong Wei is in line for a hattrick when he made the singles final of the Proton Pahang Open Badminton Championships at Pahang Sports Stadium here Thursday night. Chong Wei, the top seed and world No 1 beat Kuan Beng Hong 21-8, 21-8 in 27 minutes in the semi-final. He will meet Chan Kwong Beng in the final tomorrow. Chan had to work hard to beat Mohd Roslin Hashim 24-22, 21-19 in 50 minutes. The women's singles final will be between Sannatasah Saniru and Lydia Cheah Li Ya who beat Stephanie Shalini Sukumaran (21-15, 17-21, 21-18) and Tee Jing Yi (21-17,21-16). In the men's doubles, Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah made the final after beating Koo Kien Kiat/Tan Boon Heong 17-21, 21-19, 21-17. Tan Fook/Wan Wah will face Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari/Mohd Zakry Ab Latif in the final. In the semi final, they beat Chan Chong Ming/Chew Choon Eng 21-16, 19-21, 21-13. The women's doubles final will feature Goh Liu Ying/Nairul Suhada Abdul Latif and Ameli

Oleh Meor Hisham Zulkifli sham@bharian.com.my CORAK dan pendekatan yang diguna pakai oleh persatuan sukan, atlit dan agensi pelaksana di negara ini masih belum benar-benar mampu membangkitkan paduan tenaga bagi melahirkan atlit bertaraf dunia. Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Razali Ibrahim, berkata ketika kemajuan sukan di negara lain sudah berkembang terlalu jauh, negara masih belum mampu keluar daripada kepompong lama. “Ketika ini, saya melihat entiti sukan gagal mencetuskan sinergi (paduan tenaga) untuk melahirkan juara. Hanya yang dilihat, persatuan dengan pengaruhnya dalam satu kelompok, MSN (Majlis Sukan Negara) di satu sudut dan atlit di sudut lain. “Sudah tiba masanya untuk melihat bagaimana sukan bola sepak di England, yang hanya menonjolkan seorang pengurus dan dia bertanggungjawab mentadbir segala aspek kelab bola sepaknya,” katanya selepas merasmikan Perhimpunan Atlit Program Cabaran 2010 membabitkan hampir 300 atlit bagi menghad

Oleh WAN FAKHRUL BAKAR fakhrul@kosmo.com.my EVALARASAN (kiri) memberi arahan kepada anak-anak buahnya pada sesi latihan di Bangi semalam. TIGA bulan beraksi tanpa nakhoda, Felda United akhirnya menerima tonik terbaru apabila bekas jurulatih Melaka dan Public Bank Selangor, E. Elavarasan tampil sebagai pengganti Reduan Abdullah. Biarpun kontraknya hanya akan bermula 1 Jun depan, Elavarasan memilih untuk 'bekerja' lebih awal bagi mengenali para pemainnya apabila turun mengendalikan sesi latihan di Stadium BSN, Bangi semalam. Presiden Felda United, Datuk Dzulkifli Abd. Wahab berkata, kehadiran Elavara- san itu diharap dapat menaikkan semula moral pasukan seterusnya menamatkan saingan Liga Perdana musim ini yang berbaki 10 perlawanan di kedudukan lebih baik. "Dia (Elavarasan) telah menyatakan minat dan kesungguhan untuk membantu pasukan ini. Kita mengharapkan sesuatu yang positif dengan kehadirannya ini. "Kontraknya adalah bermula 1 Jun sehingga penghujung musim in

ee Hup Wei has risen to second from fifth in the World Athletics Tour standings for high jump. LEE Hup Wei continued his recent fine run to clinch his second international high jump title of the year at the second leg of the Asian Grand Prix in Kunshan, China on Wednesday. The Asian champion matched his season's best of 2.24 metres for his second win in the three-leg series after taking the first leg in Suzhou on Saturday when he won clearing the same height. To put the icing on the cake, Hup Wei earned another six points to rise to second from fifth in the World Athletics Tour standings for men's high jump with 17 points, one behind the leader Jesse Williams of the United States. If Hup Wei can maintain his position in the top eight till the end of August, he would become the first Malaysian athlete to qualify for the World Athletics Final, to be held on Sept 12-13 in Thessaloniki, Greece. The 22-year-old from Dengkil, Selangor has the chance to move to the to

PETALING JAYA, May 28 (Bernama) -- Two national golfers, Iszaimi Ismail and Kenneth de Silva share the top spot of the Kurnia-Saujana Amateur Open golf championship after accumulating an identical scores of one-under 143. In today's round, overnight leader Iszaimi posted three birdies and four bogeys for one-over 73. "My game was not so good today. I was a bit struggling with my putting. Hopefully, I will be able to focus more on my game in tomorrow's final round," said Iszaimi, 19, who is currently studying at the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy in the United States. Meanwhile, Kenneth captured four birdies and drop two bogeys and a double bogey at the par-4 first hole for an even par scores Thursday. "Overall, my game was okay, except for the lost ball at the first hole which resulted in a double bogey. I'll certainly try and do my best tomorrow," said Kenneth. Following with two strokes adrift to settle in third position was former n

KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Bernama) -- Some 980 disabled athletes from Asean countries and Timor Leste will compete in the 5th Asean Para Games here from Aug 15-19. Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games Organising Committee (KLAPGOC) chairman Datuk Zainal Abu Zarin said host Malaysia will send the largest contingent of 258 athletes. Second is Thailand with 203 followed by Vietnam (116), Indonesia (99), Singapore (98), Philippines (60), Timor Leste (45), Myanmar (36), Brunei (30), Laos (24) and Cambodia (11). "Malaysia will compete in all 11 sports followed by Philippines (10), Thailand (10), Singapore (9), Indonesia (7), Timor Leste (6), Myanmar (5), Laos (4), Brunei (3) and Cambodia (2)," he told reporters here Thursday. Vietnam has not decided on the sports it will contest. Some 1,500 medals await winners in athletics, swimming, badminton, ping pong, weightlifting, bowling, yachting, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair netball, sitting volleyball and chess. Malaysia came in second overal

KOK CHUNG (barisan ketiga, tujuh dari kiri) bergambar bersama kontinjen USIM dan UTeM di UUM semalam. DENGAN pungutan 39 pingat emas, 24 perak dan 24 gangsa, kontinjen Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) dinobatkan selaku juara keseluruhan temasya Sukan Majlis Sukan Universiti Malaysia (Masum) 2009 yang menutup tirainya semalam. Daripada 22 acara yang dipertandingkan bermula 14 Mei lalu, UiTM muncul juara dalam acara tenpin boling lelaki, futsal wanita, ping pong lelaki, tenis lelaki, tenis wanita, memanah wanita, pencak silat lelaki dan wanita, badminton lelaki dan wanita, ragbi 15 sepasu- kan, sofbol wanita, sepak takraw, skuasy lelaki dan wanita serta tae- kwondo lelaki dan wanita. Berada jauh di kedudukan kedua dengan jumlah pungutan 15 emas, 18 perak dan 13 gangsa ialah Universiti Malaya (UM), manakala Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) pula berada di tangga ketiga dengan 15 emas, 16 perak dan sembilan gangsa. Dalam majlis penutup yang diadakan di Dewan Mu'adzam Shah, Universit

ABDUL Ghani Othman (kanan) turut meninjau persiapan menjelang Kejohanan Hoki Piala Dunia Remaja di Stadium Hoki Taman Daya, Johor Bahru, semalam. UTUSAN JOHOR BAHRU - Kesemua pegawai, jurulatih dan pemain luar negara yang menyertai Kejohanan Hoki Remaja Dunia 2009 di Stadium Hoki Taman Daya di sini perlu menjalani pemeriksaan ketat penyaringan wabak influenza A (H1N1). Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Belia dan Sukan negeri, Md. Jais Sarday berkata, ia penting bagi memastikan wabak selesema babi tidak menular ke negara ini kerana kebanyakan ahli delegasi berasal dari negara yang disahkan mencatatkan kes penyakit itu. Tegasnya, pemeriksaan itu dijalankan di tiga lokasi iaitu Lapangan Terbang Changi, Singapura; di Kompleks Kastam, Imigresen dan Kuarantin (CIQ) serta di hotel penginapan mereka di Puteri Pan Pacific di sini. "Sewaktu berada di sini, mereka akan dikuarantin di Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) dan Hospital Sultan Ismail (HSI) jika didapati dijangkiti H1N1. "Kita tidak

Oleh Meor Hisham Zulkifli sham@bharian.com.my Ahmad Shabery mahu pemilihan MOM berjalan dengan semangat demokrasi KETIKA debaran pemilihan pucuk pimpinan Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) Sabtu ini kian memuncak, desakan makin meningkat supaya proses pengundian berjalan dengan penuh semangat demokrasi tidak diganggu sebarang anasir tidak bermoral dan politik wang. Malah, peringatan ini dikeluarkan sendiri oleh Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek yang berharap calon yang bertanding, bersaing secara sihat dan demokratik selain menyedari betapa tanggungjawab sebenar mereka adalah untuk memajukan sukan. "Kita berharap mereka dapat bertanding secara penuh demokratik dan apa yang penting, mereka yang dipilih mampu membawa perubahan serta dapat memajukan sukan ini ke peringkat lebih tinggi," katanya yang dipetik sebagai berkata, semalam. Kata-kata ini terbit ekoran peringatan yang dikeluarkan Pengerusi Panel Bebas MOM, Norminshah

OLYMPIC Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar has reminded challengers who are taking on the current office bearers that time, commitment and a certain level of calibre are essential in running the association. Tunku Imran will be challenged for the president's post by former Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim at OCM's biennial elections on Saturday. Although Tunku Imran has been careful not to direct his comments at anyone in particular, Shahidan is the only candidate who presently helms several national and state sports associations. Shahidan is the president of the Malaysian AAU (MAAU), Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM), Kabaddi Association of Malaysia and the Perlis Football Association. "Talking about OCM generally, it takes a lot of time and commitment as well as calibre. This is because you have to represent the country at international level and so far, our (current office bearers) contribution has been

Oleh Mohd Fadzrie Hazis fadzrie@bharian.com.my K Rajan Skuad hoki digamit cabaran getir Piala Dunia Remaja 2009 KEKUATAN mental serta kemampuan menangani tekanan beraksi di tempat sendiri adalah antara faktor yang perlu dihadapi pemain muda negara sebelum menyahut cabaran menentang England dalam perlawanan pembukaan di kancah Piala Dunia Remaja 2008 yang bermula 7 Jun ini di Johor Bahru. Saranan ini dibuat jurulatih skuad remaja kebangsaan, K Rajan yang turut bersikap positif sasaran ke pusingan kedua mampu dicapai anak buahnya andai dua faktor itu mampu diatasi pemain sebelum perlawanan pertama. “Kami kini berada di fasa terakhir persiapan dan bagi saya, pemain perlu bersedia beraksi di Piala Dunia Remaja dari segi mental dan fizikal kerana ia pasti berbeza daripada aksi perlawanan persahabatan. “Peminat juga pasti mengharapkan keputusan baik daripada skuad negara memandangkan kami beraksi di tempat sendiri. Oleh itu pemain ju

Oleh NORZIE MOHD. KHASBI norzie.khasbi@utusan.com.my Ahmad Shabery Cheek (tengah) berbual dengan Suhaimi Sulaiman (kanan) sambil diperhatikan Zolkples Embong di Putrajaya semalam. KUALA LUMPUR – Selepas melihat situasi sedikit tegang menjelang pemilihan Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM), Sabtu ini, Menteri Belia dan Sukan semalam tampil bersama nasihat, elakkan sebarang kontroversi. Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek sebaliknya menasihatkan perwakilan MOM agar memilih dengan bijak dan meletakkan kepentingan sukan sebagai keutamaan. Mengakui tidak memihak kepada mana-mana calon, Shabery menegaskan, beliau hanya mahu menyaksikan yang terpilih mempunyai matlamat untuk mengangkat sukan negara ke peringkat lebih tinggi. “Saya tiada nasihat khusus kepada perwakilan, masing-masing ada hak untuk memilih siapa yang mereka mahu, cuma saya mahu ingatkan mereka agar elakkan daripada sebarang kontroversi. “MOM bukan parti politik, ia merupakan badan yang tanggungjawabnya adalah mengangkat sukan tempata

By LIM TEIK HUAT PETALING JAYA: World Championships medal winners Azizul Hasni Awang and Rizal Tisin will sit out the Asian Championships in Palembang in August and let the back-up cyclists carry the Malaysian challenge. Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamad said this was to give the second stringers more international exposure. “We’ve also learnt that our main rivals, Japan and China, will be fielding their back-up riders as well,” said Naim, who is also MNCF development committee chairman. Making way: Rizal Tisin (left) and Azizul Hasni Awang will let the back-up cyclists seize the day at the Asian Championships. “The elite cyclists, like Azizul and Rizal, have proved their abilities at the World Cup and World Championships this year. So it’s time we give the other cyclists a chance to show their stuff.” One reason why Japan and China may want to blood their second stringers in the Asian meet is to prepare them for the

SELEPAS dua pembatalan kejohanan - Terbuka Filipina dan latihan serta pertandingan di Mannheim, Jerman - atlit olahraga elit dan pelapis kebangsaan berpeluang memperagakan keupayaan pada Terbuka Pahang ke-43 selama dua hari, bermula Sabtu ini di Temerloh. Antara barisan atlit elit yang bakal berhimpun, termasuk Robbani Hassan dan Muhd Faiz Muhammad (110 meter berpagar), Mohd Zafril Zuslaini (400m), M Vadivellan (800 dan 1,500m), S Narendran (200m) serta barisan pelari pecut Abdul Latif Nyat, Zabadi Ghazali dan Zabidi Ahmad. Barisan atlit wanita dibarisi jaguh baling tukul besi, Siti Shahidah Abdullah dan Yap Jeng Tzen. Bagaimanapun kelibat jaguh lompat bergalah, Roslinda Samsu tidak ada dalam senarai, begitu juga dengan pakar lompat tinggi lelaki, Lee Hup Wei. "Lebih 400 atlit lelaki dan wanita daripada seluruh persatuan negeri, ahli gabungan Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) dan kelab akan mengambil bahagian dalam kejohanan kali ini," kata Setiausaha Persatua

SEVERAL national athletes will be looking to kick start their season at the Pahang Open in Temerloh this weekend. The Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union has submitted the names of 24 elite athletes for the two-day meet which takes place at a newly-laid track at the Temerloh Stadium. "We expect to see some 400 athletes, including 24 national elite athletes, taking part in the Pahang Open, which for the first time will be held in Temerloh after a new running track was laid at the stadium," said Pahang AAA secretary R. Annamalai. Among the national athletes expected to take part are national record holders Tan Song Hwa (women's hammer), Yap Jeng Tzan (women's discus), M. Vadivella (men's 1,500m) and Josbert Tinus (men's long jump). Others include Pahang's Siti Shahida Abdullah (women's hammer), sprinters Zabidi Ahmad, Zabidi Ghazali and Latif Nyat, hurdlers Robani Hassan and Faiz Muhammad and Terengganu shot putter Adi Alifuddin Hussin. Al

Lee Chong Wei cruised into the Pahang Open semi-finals after beating Tan Chun Seang 21-9, 21-14 yesterday. LEE Chong Wei cruised into the semi-finals of the Pahang Open but Liew Daren, conqueror of Hafiz Hashim, was sent packing by national back-up player Chan Kwong Beng in Kuantan yesterday. Chong Wei, the overwhelming favourite, secured a comfortable 21-9, 21-14 win over national teammate Tan Chun Seang in just 25 minutes to secure his semi-final berth. He will next meet third seed Kuan Beng Hong, who beat elite back-up player Arif Latif 21-15, 14-21, 21-17 in 40 minutes. The unpredictable form of Liew Daren continued as he lost 21-16, 21-17 to Kwong Beng just a day after a fine win over Hafiz. Kwong Beng will meet veteran Roslin Hashim, who overcame back-up player Syed Akbar Syed Mustakim 21-11, 21-19, in the last four today. In the women's singles, second seed Lydia Cheah advanced to the semi-finals after beating Ooi Swee Wenn 21-14, 21-14 and will nex

Oleh Hasnira Hassan niera@nstp.com.my MARBAWI tersingkir lebih awal pada pusingan kedua Piala Dunia di Porec, Croatia, awal bulan ini. Aksi pemanah pelapis elit bakal merentap prestasi atlit senior itu BELUM masanya Persatuan Memanah Kebangsaan (NAAM) menekan butang kecemasan mengenai kemerosotan prestasi Mohd Marbawi Sulaiman, sekalipun mengakui kebangkitan barisan pemanah pelapis elit bakal menenggelamkan aksi pemanah senior itu, andai masalah itu tidak diatasi. Setiausaha kehormatnya, Hamid Hassan yang mengakui masih belum berkesempatan membincangkan perkara itu dengan ketua jurulatih, Lee Jae-hyung berkata, masih ada ruang untuk mengatasi masalah yang dilihat kian meningkat pada suku pertama tahun ini. “Kita tidak pasti masalah sebenar. Tetapi, sekarang masih awal tahun dan kita kekurangan kejohanan antarabangsa. “Jurulatih masih membuat persiapan dengan menukar gandingan pemain. Perubahan yang dibuat atau teknik baru yang

PERDANA Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menyampaikan Anugerah Kalung Perpaduan kepada Dina Rizal (kiri) sambil disaksikan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon (kanan) dan Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Perpaduan dan Integrasi Nasional, Datuk Azman Amin Hassan di Puchong, baru-baru ini. Anugerah Kalung Perpaduan yang diberikan oleh Jabatan Perpaduan Negara dan Integrasi Nasional, Jabatan Perdana Menteri kepada Kelab Sukan SportsUnite untuk kategori sukan adalah titik permulaan kerajaan menjadikan sukan sebagai mekanisme penting dala m meningkatkan perpaduan antara kaum di negara ini. Ditubuhkan sejak lima tahun lalu, Kelab Sukan SportsUnite sudah menganjurkan lebih 150 acara sukan dan karnival dari boling, bola sepak, futsal, badminton, hoki, bola jaring, bola keranjang, kabadi, ping pong sehingga taekwondo - sekadar menyebut beberapa acara sukan yang pernah dianjurkan. Dengan tema dan konsep ‘Perpaduan Menerusi Sukan’, Kelab Sukan SportsUnite, yang dipengeru

KUANTAN - Pemain veteran, Muhd. Roslin Hashim melayakkan diri ke perlawanan separuh akhir Sirkit Badminton Kebangsaan Proton Terbuka Pahang apabila mudah menundukkan pemain Melaka, Syed Akbar Shah Syed Mustakim dengan 21-11, 21-19. Bekas juara Terbuka Jepun itu mengambil masa 30 minit bagi menempah pertemuan dengan seorang lagi pemain pelapis negara, Chan Kwong Beng pada perlawanan separuh akhir hari ini di Stadium Tertutup Majlis Sukan Pahang (Sukpa), Indera Mahkota di sini. Jika berjaya menewaskan Kwong Beng, Muhd. Roslin dijangka bertemu jaguh No. 1 dunia dan pilihan pertama, Datuk Lee Chong Wei yang diramal tidak berdepan masalah untuk mara ke perlawanan akhir Jumaat ini. Kwong Beng sebelum itu menamatkan cabaran seorang lagi pemain pelapis negara, Liew Daren yang sebelum ini mengejutkan jaguh elit kebangsaan, Muhammad Hafiz Hashim. Kwong Beng menang dengan 21-17, 21-16 dalam masa 45 minit. Sementara itu, Chong Wei turut tidak menghadapi banyak masalah untuk menewaskan pemain p

KUALA LUMPUR - Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) tidak pernah mengeluarkan larangan kepada atlet atau pasukan kebangsaan daripada bertanding di luar negara ekoran kebimbangan terhadap wabak influenza A (H1N1). Badan sukan kebangsaan itu sebaliknya hanya mengeluarkan nasihat kepada persatuan sukan supaya tidak mengunjungi lima negara yang telah disenaraikan oleh Kementerian Kesihatan. Ketua Pengarahnya, Datuk Zolkples Embong berkata, beliau perlu memberi penjelasan kepada persatuan-persatuan sukan yang terkeliru dengan arahan 'larangan' yang pernah dikeluarkan MSN sebelum ini. Kesan daripada larangan itu, dikhuatiri akan menjejaskan persiapan mereka bagi menghadapi beberapa kejohanan penting seperti Sukan SEA (Disember), Sukan Komanwel (2010) dan Sukan Asia (2010). "MSN tidak pernah mengeluarkan arahan melarang atlet dan pasukan kebangsaan daripada ke luar negara, apatah lagi Kementerian Kesihatan sendiri tidak pernah mengeluarkan larangan secara bertulis. "Kami cuma mena

Oleh HARADIAN SHAH HAMDAN haradianshah.hamdan@kosmo.com.my BANGGA... SKUAD Malaysia 'D' bergambar bersama piala dan pingat emas yang dimenangi bagi kategori lelaki Divisyen Dua padai Kejohanan Sepak Takraw Dunia 2009 di Stadium Negeri, Kuala Terengganu semalam. SEPERTI diramal, Thailand membuktikan kejaguhan mereka apabila menguasai acara double lelaki dan wanita pada Kejohanan Sepak Takraw Dunia di Kuala Terengganu semalam. Dalam aksi final di Stadium Negeri itu, beregu lelaki Thailand ternyata berada dalam kelas tersendiri apabila mudah menewaskan Vietnam 21-12 dan 21-14. Gandingan Rawat Dabehompoo dan Sudachai Maneenat menjinakkan lawan dari Vietnam, Tran Quang Khai dan Le Tien Tung hanya dalam masa 35 minit. Bagaikan satu kebetulan, rakan senegara mereka, Tidawan Daosakul dan Pikun Seedam turut mengambil masa 35 minit mengalahkan beregu Vietnam 21-3 dan 21-17 dalam perlawanan akhir kategori wanita. Sementara itu, beregu Malaysia 'D' terpaksa berhempas-pulas

Oleh Lukman Salleh lukmsal@bharian.com.my Tarikh asal bertembung dengan pertandingan antarabangsa membabitkan sukan badminton KONTROVERSI mengenai tarikh penganjuran kejohanan Mini Olimpik Malaysia yang kerap tertunda akhirnya diselesaikan dengan hos utamanya - Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) memilih 29 Julai sehingga 9 Ogos ini untuk menganjurkannya. Kejohanan yang julung kali diadakan dengan matlamat melahirkan serta mempersiapkan atlit untuk menghadapi Sukan Olimpik, sebelum ini dilanda masalah dengan tarikh asal pada 20 Jun, bertembung dengan beberapa pertandingan antarabangsa terutama membabitkan sukan badminton. "Ini tarikh muktamad... tidak akan lagi penangguhan," kata Pengarah Pengurusan Acara MSN, Jalil Abdullah (gambar), semalam. "Selepas perbincangan dengan persatuan sukan terbabit tarikh 29 Julai-9 Ogos ini adalah tempoh sesuai kerana atlit daripada lapan sukan yang bertanding tidak terbabit dalam sebarang pertandingan antaraba

KUALA TERENGGANU, 27 Mei (Bernama) -- Thailand menepati ramalan apabila menjuarai kategori lelaki dan wanita acara beregu pada Kejohanan Sepak Takraw Dunia Piala Malaysia edisi ketiga di Stadium Negeri di sini hari ini. Pada perlawanan akhir bagi kedua-dua kategori berkenaan, skuad lelaki dan wanita Thailand menundukkan pasukan Vietnam, masing-masing dengan kemenangan 2-0. Kategori tersebut pertama kali diperkenalkan dalam kejohanan berprestij itu, tahun ini. Bagi kategori lelaki, Thailand yang dibarisi Rawat Pabehompoo dan Supachai Maneenat menewaskan gandingan Tran Quang Khai-Le Tien Dung dengan 21-12, 21-14 dalam masa 35 minit. Di peringkat separuh akhir pagi ini, pasangan Thailand itu mengetepikan cabaran pasukan Malaysia B yang diwakili Mohd Shaikullah Md Noor-Mohd Shafiq Abdul Rahman 21-19, 21-18 manakala pasukan Vietnam mengalahkan gandingan Indonesia 22-20, 21-15. Tempat ketiga milik bersama pasukan Malaysia B dan Indonesia setelah masing-masing tewas di peringkat separuh ak

KUANTAN, May 27 (Bernama) -- World Number One Datuk Lee Chong Wei will be challenged by Kuan Beng Hong while Mohd Roslin Hashim will face Chang Kwong Beng in the men's singles semifinals of the Pahang Open badminton championship at the Pahang Indoor Stadium here tomorrow. Chong Wei easily despatched Tan Chun Seang 21-9, 21-14 in 25 minutes in today's quarterfinals. Beng Hong, who is seeded third, took some 40 minutes to overcome Mohd Arif Abdul Latif in 21-15, 14-21 and 21-17 before booking his date with Chong Wei, the top seed. In the two other quarterfinals, Mohd Roslin Hashim defeated Syed Akbar Shah S. Mustakim 21-11, 21-19 in 30 minutes while Kwong Beng took out Liew Daren 21-17, 21-16 in 45 minutes. In the women's singles, Stephanie Shalini Sukumaran, who qualified for the semis on a bye, will meet Sannathasah Saniru. Sannathasah had tamed Ng Sin Zou 12-21, 21-16, 21-13 in her quarterfinal. Joining them in the last four are Tee Jing Yi who defeated Yeow Mei Xi 21-

MELAKA, May 27 (Bernama) -- Host Melaka wants five more sports to be included in the biennial Sukma Games next year. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the sports are bowling, taekwondo, golf, yachting and go-karting. "The application will be made at the Sukma full council meeting to be chaired by the Youth and Sports Minister next month," he said at a zakat presentation ceremony by government agencies here today. If agreed, the five sports will join the 18 compulsory sports to be competed at the 13th Sukma Games. Mohd Ali said yachting was requested by Terengganu while bowling and go-karting were his personal choice. -- BERNAMA

By Ahmad Muliady Ab. Majid KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) -- Sazali Abd Samad used to pump iron by lifting scrap metal at his car workshop in his village in Batu Pahat, Johor in 1980s for workouts as there is no gymnasium nearby. Sazali, 42, eventually became Mr Universe four times - in Melaka in 2000, Moscow (2004), Czech Republic (2006) and South Korea (2007). But budding bodybuilders no longer had to improvise their weight lifting equipments as the government had built 92 people's gyms costing between RM50,000 and RM100,000 nationwide. They are managed by the National Agility Branch, Sports Development Division of the Youth and Sports Ministry. However, much to Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek chagrin, 72 of them are in a state of disarray and only 20 are properly managed. In his walkabout to the Kampung Pandan Sports Complex, Ahmad Shabery, who is a gym buff himself, discovered that the gym equipments were poorly maintained. The 72 poorly managed gyms de

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 May (Bernama) -- The prolonged crisis in the country's governing body for taekwondo, the Malaysian Taekwondo Association (MTA), is expected to be resolved soon with the setting up of a new MTA, based on amendments made to its constitution, by-laws, and membership eligibility. MTA Ad-Hoc Committee chairman Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja'afar said with the crisis entering its fifth year, the committee, formed in April after the MTA's re-suspension by the Sports commissioner, has held seven meetings and its 15 members had agreed to the new MTA. "The 15-member committee want to end this crisis for the development of the sport in this country," said Tunku Imran who is also president of Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM). MTA, which comes under the affiliation of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), was de-registered by the then Sports Commissioner, Tan Sri Elyas Omar on May 6, 2005 for hindering the development of the sport and in the public intere

THE ad hoc committee of the suspended Malaysia Taekwondo Association (MTA) has made the first move to unify the warring factions with an open meeting yesterday and promised to give the clubs more prominent roles. The committee, chaired by Olympic Council of Malaysia president (OCM) Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar, has identified three components -- State taekwondo associations, non-State bodies like Police and Armed Forces and premier taekwondo clubs -- who can become direct members of the national body with voting rights. Yesterday's meeting, organised for the first time by the ad hoc committee, was attended by officials from all three associations as well as state taekwondo bodies and taekwondo instructors of the clubs. Tunku Imran said that the process of ending the turmoil in taekwondo which has crippled the development and welfare of the athletes, will only end when the constitutional amendments are complete and MTA's house is put in order. He added that the su