Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

SEPANG, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- He may be young, petite and standing at only 5' 4" but newly-named 1Malaysia Formula 1 team chief executive officer Riad Asmat has the right credentials to take the country's challenge in the world's foremost sporting race a notch higher. Riad, 38, who was attached to the Proton managing director's office as general manager prior to this appointment, has the corporate experience and motorsports acument to do justice to the team and the country. His appointment as CEO was announced on Friday by the team's principal Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes at a media briefing. A crucial ingredient to push Riad in such an endeavor is his passion for sports which has been a major factor throughout his career. Soon after graduating from Western Michigan University in the United States with a Masters Degree in Organisation Communication, Riad joined Nike, the world's premier sportswear company, at its public relations division based in Malaysia.

ALOR SETAR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Three national singles players, two males and a female, advanced to the boys' quarter finals of the World Junior Badminton Championship at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium here this Friday's morning. Iskandar Zulkarnain, who took to the court as a second pick, was forced into three sets by Thai challenger, Pisit Poodchalat before winning 18-21, 21-15 and 21-17. Another national single, Misbun Ramdan Mohamed Misbun, joined Iskandar after defeating Nikolaj Persson of Germany 21-18 and 28-26. However, Zulfadli Zulkifli failed to join his mates after being sent off the court by Chinese first choice, Tian Houwei 21-19 and 21-17. Meanwhile, Tee Jing Yi continued Malaysia's quest in the girls' event after easily defeating Ying Suet Tse from Hong Kong with straight sets of 21-9 and 21-10. Sonia Cheah Su Ya's journey ended when she was defeated by Chinese first pick, Chen Xiaojia, 17-21, 19-21. Girls' doubles pair Ng Hui Ern and Lai Pei

SEPANG, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- The preparation for Malaysia's F1 car debut is on schedule and the car will be ready for planned pre-season testing at the Sepang circuit here in February. Team boss Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes said the first model being constructed in Norfolk, England, was three days ahead of progress and headed for wind tunnel testing. "We have assembled the engine, gearbox and done the crash test. The machines will be at the Sepang Circuit in February for pre-season testing and will be on the grid at the Bahrain race," he said. The team recently signed an agreement with Bridgestone, the official F1 tyre supplier, which will provide slick Potenza tyres to all teams for the 2010 championship. Fernandes said the official name of the team was Lotus F1 Racing as endorsed by the Federation of International Automobile (FIA) in September. He also announced the appointment of Riad Asmat as the chief executive officer (CEO) of 1Malaysia F1 Team Sdn Bhd (1MF1T). Pri

PEKAN - Presiden Persekutuan Hoki Malaysia (PHM), Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah (gambar) tidak menolak kemungkinan strategi skuad hoki kebangsaan yang bakal mengharungi kelayakan Piala Dunia di New Zealand dari 7 hingga 15 November ini dikhuatiri terjejas ekoran pengguguran dua tonggak senior dalam pasukan. Bagaimanapun, beliau yakin jurulatih, Tai Beng Hai telah memikirkan semasak-masaknya sebelum menggugurkan dua pemain terbabit, Ismail Abu dan Chua Boon Huat dan meletakkan pengganti muda yang dianggap lebih 'dahagakan kemenangan' untuk menggalas cabaran dalam saingan pada pusingan kelayakan tersebut. Meskipun menyedari pengalaman kedua-dua pemain senior itu masih diperlukan tetapi beberapa aspek lain telah diambil kira sebelum menggugurkan mereka daripada skuad kebangsaan, ujarnya. ''Saya rasa memang terjejas sikit tetapi ia boleh diganti dengan pemain muda yang lebih dahagakan kejayaan. Kita memang merasa kerugian kerana pengalaman mereka tidak boleh dipero

Para pemain hoki negara yang akan memikul cabaran pada Kelayakan Piala Dunia 2010 menjalani latihan intensif di Stadium Hoki Nasional, Bukit Jalil, semalam. KUALA LUMPUR - Menentang Wales, Scotland dan Austria dalam kelayakan hoki Piala Dunia 2010 di New Zealand bukan tugasan yang boleh dipandang ringan bagi skuad kebangsaan. Jurulatih negara, Tai Beng Hai menegaskan, Malaysia tidak boleh hanya memandang lawan mereka itu sebelah mata, sebaliknya perlu sentiasa merebut segala peluang yang ada untuk menjaringkan gol. "Mereka mempunyai kekuatan dari segi fizikal dan mampu membentuk pasukan mantap berikutan kelebihan teknik hoki secara asas," katanya merujuk kepada tiga negara tersebut yang agak kurang dikenali dalam sukan hoki. Jelas Beng Hai, hoki amat berbeza dengan sukan bola sepak terutamanya pada zaman ini kerana ia lebih terbuka dan agresif. "Kami tidak boleh menggangap tentangan yang bakal diberikan mereka adalah mudah, ini adalah pertandingan, sekarang ini p

THE national women's hockey team beat Thailand 3-0 in their opening encounter in the Seventh Asia Cup in Bangkok yesterday. The tournament offers two berths to the World Cup in Argentina next year, while the third to fifth placed teams will play in a qualifier. And Malaysia are looking at the fifth spot, as realistically, they do not have the depth to challenge Japan and China. Yesterday, Norfarahana Hashim scored off a penalty corner in the seventh minute. Juliani Din then made it 2-0 with another penalty corner attempt in the 24th minute. A field goal from Norbaini Hashim in the 53rd minute gave Malaysia a comfortable win over the hosts. However, the Malaysian players are expected to face a torrid time when they meet China on Sunday. Group A: China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand. Group B: Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Sri Lanka RESULTS: Group A: Thailand 0 Malaysia 3, India 13 Singapore 0; Group B: Japan 10 Kazakhstan 0, South Korea 17 Sri Lanka 0. Tod

PETALING JAYA: Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif set up an intriguing quarter-final clash against Olympic champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan after taking down Germans Michael Fuchs-Ingo Kindervater in the second round of the French Open in Paris yesterday. The Malaysians, who were eliminated in the second round in the Denmark Open last week, won the match 21-18, 21-18 in 34 minutes. Denmark Open champions Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong also kept the Malaysian interest going strong when they brushed aside England’s Marcus Ellis-Peter Mills 21-11, 21-17. The second seeds will take on either Kiwi pair Oliver Leydon-Davis-Henry Tam or seventh seeds Anthony Clark-Nathan Robertson of England today for a place in the semi-finals. The spotlight on the men’s doubles quarter-finals should be on the match between Fairuzizuan-Zakry and Markis-Hendra. National doubles head coach Rexy Mainaky is hoping to see a stronger performance from Fairuzizuan-Zakry in their bid to beat the I

NG Say Yoke and Diana Bong added two bronze medals to Malaysia's haul in the Wushu World Championships in Toronto on Wednesday. Say Yoke, after failing in two earlier events, produced a splendid performance to secure the bronze in the men's daoshu (sword) discipline with 9.72 points. The Kedah-born exponent had finished fifth in the changquan (northern style barehands) and gunshu (stick) events earlier in the week. It was Say Yoke's first world meet medal since his debut in the 2002 edition in Beijing. Meanwhile, Diana, a 2007 Sea Games gold medallist, earned 9.64 points for third place in the women's nangun (cudgel). The Sarawak-born exponent had earlier finished fifth in nanquan (southern style barehands) and seventh in nando (broadsword). Diana scored 9.64 points for third place in the nangun. The bronze is her second World Championship medal after taking the silver in nanquan in the Beijing edition two years ago.

KUALA LUMPUR - Selepas beberapa bulan menjalankan siasatan, Persekutuan Lawn Bowls Malaysia (PLBM) mendapati dakwaan terhadap seorang pegawai yang dikatakan cuba mengatur perlawanan tidak wujud. PLBM dalam satu kenyataan ringkas kepada media semalam berkata, keputusan itu dicapai jawatankuasa siasatan bebas yang dilantik pada awal tahun ini selepas menerima aduan beberapa pemain. "Saya dengan sukacita ingin memaklumkan, jawatankuasa siasatan telah menyimpulkan bahawa cubaan mengatur perlawanan tidak wujud dalam PLBM. "PLBM bagaimanapun menghargai kebimbangan masyarakat sukan dan World Bowls (badan boling padang dunia) mengenai perkara ini, dan kami juga mengiktiraf kesimpulan yang dibuat oleh Jawatankuasa Siasatan,'' kata Presiden PLBM, Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid dalam kenyataan itu. Menurut PLBM lagi untuk mencapai satu keputusan yang telus dan tidak berat sebelah, badan itu telah melantik personaliti yang memiliki pengalaman serta latar belakang berkaitan untuk men

KUALA LUMPUR - Kemelut Persatuan Taekwondo Malaysia (MTA) yang tiada kesudahan membawa kerugian besar kepada sukan itu apabila ia digugurkan daripada Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) ke-13 di Melaka tahun depan. Pada ketika status penyertaan taekwondo pada Sukan SEA Laos, Disember ini masih tidak pasti, keputusan terbaru ini menjadi tamparan kepada MTA dan penggiat taekwondo tanah air. Ia juga memberi mesej jelas kepada semua pemimpin badan taekwondo kebangsaan itu agar segera menyelesaikan kemelut atau mereka hanya akan menerima lebih banyak keburukan daripada kebaikan. Jawatankuasa Tertinggi Sukma 2010 yang dipengerusikan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, semalam sebaliknya memberi khabar gembira buat sembilan sukan lain - Formula Future, kanu, golf, kabaddi, ragbi (7 sebelah), judo, bola tampar (dalam dewan dan pantai), lawan pedang serta tenis kerana sukan itu akan dipertandingkan pada Sukma 2010. Malah, akuatik turut menerima kemasukan dua acara baru - renang berirama dan

KAPTEN Perlis, Fauzi Nan (kiri) menghalang gerakan penyerang Kelantan, Nizad Ayub pada aksi separuh akhir pertama Piala Malaysia, Selasa lalu. KEKALAHAN 0-2 kepada Kelantan pada aksi separuh akhir pertama Piala Malaysia di Stadium Sultan Muhammed IV, Kota Bharu, Selasa lalu bukan bermakna peluang buat Perlis mara ke final sudah tertutup. Jurulatih Perlis, Irfan Bakti Abu Salim berkata, anak-anak buahnya akan membalas dendam kekalahan itu apabila kedua- dua pasukan berentap pada aksi separuh akhir kedua di Stadium Utama Negeri, Kangar malam esok. Irfan menambah, ketiadaan kapten Kelantan, Indra Putra Mahayuddin yang dikenakan penggantungan satu perlawanan, bakal memberi kelebihan buat skuad kendaliannya. "Ini kerana kemenangan Kelantan tempoh hari disebabkan kecemerlangan Indra yang banyak mencipta peluang kepada penyerangnya. "Tetapi bila di Kangar nanti, Indra tidak boleh main dan ini akan menyebabkan jentera Kelantan pincang seterusnya memberi kelebihan Perlis m

SHABERY (kanan) menyatakan sesuatu kepada ahli-ahli jawatankuasa Sukma XIII selepas Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Tertinggi Sukma di Bukit Jalil semalam. SEBANYAK sembilan acara baru bakal dipertandingkan pada temasya Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) XIII di Melaka tahun depan. Acara terbabit ialah formula future, kenu, golf, kab- badi, ragbi 7 sepasukan, bola tampar (dewan dan pantai), judo, lawan pedang serta tenis. Acara akuatik pula menyaksikan dua disiplin baru bakal dipertandingkan iaitu renang berirama dan polo air. Bagaimanapun, taekwondo merupakan satu-satunya acara yang ditolak oleh Jawa- tankuasa Tertinggi Sukma semalam. Menurut Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, acara taekwondo ditolak berikutan kemelut dalaman yang melanda Persatuan Taekwondo Malaysia (MTA). "Saya memang berharap agar MTA dapat menyelesai- kan masalah ini tetapi Sukma 2010 hanya tinggal beberapa bulan sahaja lagi dan tidak adil untuk tuan rumah menerima penyertaan pada saat-saat akhir. "

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- The 2010 SUKMA in Melaka will feature 34 sports after nine more sports were approved by the SUKMA Supreme Council that met here Thursday. The meeting which was chaired by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek today included formula future, canoe, golf, rugby 7s, volleyball (beach and indoor), kabaddi, judo, fencing, synchronized swimming and water polo to the list of 18 compulsory sports and seven of the host's choice. The 18 compulsory sports are weightlifting, badminton, cycling, football, lawn bowls, gymnastics, hockey, karate, archery, shooting, athletics, sailing, aquatics (swimming, diving), sepak takraw, pencak silat, squash, bowling and wushu. The seven sports identified by the host were netball, basketball, equestrian, boxing, silambam, table tennis and petanque. "At the meeting today, I was happy with the presentation made by Melaka and I hope Melaka will be able to host a successful event," he told reporters after

ALOR SETAR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- Five Malaysian singles players - three men and two women - marched into the fourth round of the World Junior Badminton Championships at the Sultan Abdul Halim Indoor Stadium Thursday. Leading the charge was Sonia Cheah Su Ya, the younger sister of national senior women's singles player Lydia Cheah, who beat Japan's Sayaka Takahasi 22-20, 21-16 in straight sets. The 16-year-old Kuala Lumpur lass, making her debut here will next face her toughest hurdle tomorrow when she faces Xiaojia Chen of China, the top seed in the competition. "I am happy with my performance so far because I was able to beat a number of seeded players in the championships," she told reporters after here match. National women's junior ace Tee Jing Yi also booked her ticket to the fourth round of the women's singles with an easy 21-14, 21-13 win over Thailand's Jindapol Nitchaon. Three men's singles players Zulfadli Zulkifli, Misbun Ramdan Mohamed Misbu

ALOR SETAR, 29 Okt (Bernama) -- Pemain perseorangan utama negara Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin melangkah ke pusingan ketiga selepas mudah menundukkan Ashwant Gobinathan dari Australia 21-5,21-10 pada kejohanan Badminton Remaja Dunia yang sedang berlangsung di Stadium Tertutup Sultan Abdul Halim di sini. Iskandar yang juga pilihan kedua kejohanan berkata dia sudah melupakan kekecewaan tidak dapat beraksi dalam final acara berpasukan kerana keracunan makanan dan mahu menumpukan perhatian untuk perlawanan berikutnya. "Saya kini mahu lebih fokus kerana setiap perlawanan adalah penting jika mahu muncul juara dan berharap dapat menebus kekecewaan dalam acara berpasukan dengan meraih pingat emas bagi acara perseorangan ini," katanya di sini selepas perlawanan. Sementara itu, tiga lagi perseorangan lelaki negara turut melayakkan diri ke pusingan ketiga selepas menewaskan lawan masing-masing. Muhammad Syawal Mohd Ismail yang juga pilihan 3/4 mendapat kemenangan percuma apabila lawa

Arnaz M. Khairul THE hot pre-season form of Azizul Hasni Awang hit a snag when he was struck by fever, but it is all systems go for the World Championships silver medallist as he looks to open his UCI World Cup campaign with a bang in Manchester tomorrow. Azizul, 21, opens the Malaysian challenge in the new World Cup season when he enters tomorrow's keirin, an event which already features a star-studded cast including triple Olympic champion Chris Hoy of Britain. The 200m sprint Asian champion, Azizul has built up his pre-season form steadily, having exacted revenge on France's Gregory Bauge in the Gran Caracol de Pista in Colombia three weeks ago. The Frenchman had beaten Azizul in the World Championships 200m sprint final in Poland in April. "My form is still good, even if I had to recover from a fever and only managed three training sessions before coming here. So, I am not thinking about that. I'm confident going into this competition,"

By LIM TEIK HUAT PETALING JAYA: World championship bronze medallists Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif avenged a defeat by young Indonesians Yonathan Suryatama Dasuki-Rian Sukma-wan to advance to the men’s doubles second round of the French Open in Paris yesterday. However, Malaysian veteran Wong Choon Hann suffered a second successive first-round defeat in a Super Series tournament when he lost 19-21, 17-21 to Hong Kong’s Hu Yun. Choong Hann was eliminated in the opening round of the Denmark Open in Odense last week by German Marc Zwiebler. Fairuzizuan-Zakry cleared the first-round hurdle in style, chalking up a 21-17, 21-16 win over the fast improving Indonesians in just 24 minutes. Yonathan-Rian had snapped a three-match losing streak against the Malaysians in the quarter-finals of the Japan Open last month. And they went on to finish as the runners-up to compatriots and Olympic champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan. The win yesterday for the fif

By AFTAR SINGH KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are unhappy over the draw for the Under-18 Asia Cup hockey tournament, which will be held in Myanmar from Nov 11-22. They have been drawn in Group A with defending champions India, Pakistan, Taiwan and Sri Lanka. Group B comprises South Korea, Japan, Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar. Coach K. Dharmaraj said that it was an unfair draw to have the top three-rated teams – India, Pakistan and Malaysia – in the same group. “South Korea and Japan are not strong in age-group tournaments but they are both in the weaker group,” he said. “I have asked the MHF (Malaysian Hockey Federation) to make a complaint about the draw to the AHF (Asian Hockey Federation) and also the FIH (International Hockey Federation. “The tournament is an important assignment for us as the winners will qualify for the Youth Olympics in Singapore next year.” Dharmaraj added that despite the unfavourable draw, the team are in high spirits ahead of the ta

By LIM TEIK HUAT PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian male wushu exponents continued to put up hot performances in the World Championships in chilly Toronto and Lee Yang delivered a second gold for the country on Tuesday. The 25-year-old finally got his act right in his third world championship campaign to secure first place in the men’s taijiquan competition with a score of 9.74. Lee Yang won the men’s taijiquan gold. South Korea’s Jang Young-ho won the silver on 9.73 and the bronze went to Malaysia’s Loh Jack Chang, who chalked up 9.72. Lee Yang, the bronze medallist in the World Games in Kaohsiung in July, finished fourth in his debut in the world championships in Hanoi in 2005 and claimed the bronze in Beijing two years later. His golden effort in Toronto is worth RM40,000 under the National Sports Council (NSC) reward scheme. The 21-year-old Jack Chang had a splendid debut when he took silver in the men’s taijijian (taiji sword) earlier. The Sarawakian scored 9.80 to

Oleh Ahmad Khawari Isa ahmadkhawari@bharian.com.my Status selaku medan saingan kompetitif barisan atlit muda perlu diutama DI sebalik hasrat penganjur, Melaka, mahu 'meramaikan majlis', status Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) selaku medan saingan kompetitif barisan atlit muda berpotensi tidak wajar diperlekehkan pada edisi ke-13, tahun depan. Lantas, persoalan itu harus jadi bahan pertimbangan utama Jawatankuasa Tertinggi Sukma ketika mengkaji cadangan penambahan jenis sukan pada mesyuarat, hari ini, ketika tampak ada kecenderungan terbaru ‘berlembut’ dengan usaha melobi oleh penganjur. Antara faktor utama yang harus diambilkira, seperti diakui Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong, ialah pra-syarat sedia ada sebelum sesuatu jenis sukan itu diterima. “Antara syaratnya ialah sesuatu jenis sukan yang mahu dipertandingkan dalam Sukma perlu disertai sekurang-kurangnya enam negeri. “Selain

60 bekas pemain termasuk regu jemputan, media dijangka turut serta KEJOHANAN Sepak Takraw Libas Memori yang bakal berlangsung 30 Oktober ini yang menampilkan legenda negara seperti Adnan Saidin dan Zahir Awang, dilihat kaedah terbaik mengembalikan kegemilangan sukan warisan itu. Namun, jelas tersirat betapa penganjuran sukan itu dilihat sebagai langkah awal menyelamat maruah, ketika barisan pemain ketika ini, menanggung aib di pentas antarabangsa. Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong, berkata kejohanan dijangka menarik minat lebih 60 bekas pemain sepak takraw negara, termasuk regu jemputan daripada MSN dan media. “Kami terpanggil untuk menganjurkan kejohanan ini bagi mengembalikan populariti sukan warisan ini. “Malah, kejohanan ini juga dapat mengisi kekurangan penganjuran pertandingan dan diharapkan ramai peminat dapat menyaksikan kehebatan Adnan yang dulu libasannya mampu memecah

MENTERI Besar Kelantan, Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, menjanjikan ganjaran daripada kerajaan negeri sebagai penghargaan, jika pasukan negeri itu mara ke final, seterusnya membawa pulang Piala Malaysia, musim ini. "Saya bersyukur Kelantan menang 2-0 mengalahkan Perlis malam tadi. Saya beritahu kepada pemain, kalau masuk akhir, kerajaan negeri akan memberi sumbangan. “Malam tadi, saya sudah beri RM5,000 sebagai penguat semangat menerusi Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan (Kafa), Tan Sri Annuar Musa dan berharap pemain bermain bersungguh-sungguh pada pertemuan kedua nanti," katanya yang pertama kali menyaksikan perlawanan membabitkan pasukan negeri itu di Stadium Sultan Muhammad ke IV kelmarin. Pada masa sama, Nik Aziz melahirkan rasa kesalnya terhadap sikap penonton yang membaling mercun dan bunga api, serta mengibar bendera parti ketika menyaksikan perlawanan bola sepak, yang dianggapnya tidak mengambarkan semangat kesukana

KUALA LUMPUR - Juara dunia sudah pun berjaya ditewaskannya, kini tiba saat terbaik untuk Azizulhasni Awang menjinakkan pula juara Olimpik, Chris Hoy apabila pusingan pertama basikal trek Piala Dunia Klasik bermula di Manchester, esok. Sejak tewas kepada pelumba hebat dari Britain itu pada suku akhir acara 200m pecut Sukan Olimpik Beijing tahun lalu, ini kali pertama Azizulhasni berpeluang bertarung lagi dengan idolanya itu. Walaupun bertanding atas tiket sebuah kelab berbasikal profesional Australia, Bike Technologies dan bukannya Malaysia, Azizulhasni tetap menyimpan cita-cita untuk membalas dendam ke atas Hoy. "Impian saya memang untuk tewaskan dia tetapi kami amat jarang dapat berlumba bersama sejak Sukan Olimpik Beijing lalu. "Saya harap dapat berlumba dengannya pada perlumbaan Piala Dunia Klasik di Manchester hujung bulan ini untuk menilai jurang keupayaan antara kami," katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia , baru-baru ini. Dengan jurang pengalaman dan perbezaan umur

utusan.com.my kehadiran semula (dari kiri) Bibiana Ng, Joseline Cheah serta Nur Masitah Badrin daripada penggantungan dua tahun akibat dadah mampu menghadirkan cabaran lebih mantap buat skuad negara pada Sukan SEA Laos Disember ini. - UTUSAN/ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE KUALA LUMPUR - Kekuatan sebenar skuad menembak negara yang memburu empat pingat emas pada Sukan SEA, Disember ini akan diuji pada Kejohanan Menembak SEASA di Bangkok, 2-9 November ini. Kesemua 14 penembak yang bakal menggalas cabaran di Laos akan beraksi di Bangkok untuk menguji sejauh mana tahap persediaan mereka selepas menjalani latihan fasa akhir di Langkawi sejak bulan puasa lalu. Malah, Persatuan Menembak Kebangsaan Malaysia (NSAM) turut menyenaraikan 22 penembak remaja bagi bersaing dalam acara peringkat umur. Menurut pengurus sukan (menembak) Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Lt. Emran Zakaria, SEASA ibarat Mini Sukan SEA kerana ia menghimpunkan sebahagian besar penembak yang akan beraksi di Laos nanti. "Ia umpama ge

KUALA LUMPUR - Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) bersedia mencontohi perlawanan bola sepak Piala Sultan Selangor dengan menganjurkan sebuah pertandingan khas yang menemukan bintang legenda sepak takraw Malaysia dengan lawan seangkatan dari Thailand sekiranya mendapat sambutan hangat penyertaan dan penonton. Ketua Pengarah MSN, Datuk Zolkples Embong berkata, perlawanan berkonsep nostalgia perebutan Piala Malaysia antara Selangor-Singapura itu mungkin mampu diterapkan ke sukan sepak takraw dan sebagai langkah awal, sambutan dalam Libas Memori 2009 Sabtu ini bakal menjadi kayu pengukurnya. Perlawanan khas nostalgia itu turut membuka peluang peminat setia sukan ini termasuk generasi baru, mengimbas semula aksi jaguh lama musuh tradisi Malaysia seperti Pakdee Dangwatanapaibul, Surat Na Chiengmai, Veeras Na Nongkhai dan Kriengkrai Mutalai. "Ia satu idea yang baik untuk mengembalikan kegemilangan dan populariti sepak takraw Malaysia dengan mengambil contoh Piala Sultan Selangor yang diadakan

KUALA LUMPUR - Skuad kebangsaan yakin mampu mengharungi pusingan kelayakan hoki Piala Dunia 2010 di New Zealand dari 7 hingga 15 November ini mengikut perancangan walaupun kehilangan dua tonggak senior akibat digugurkan. Tanpa Ismail Abu dan Chua Boon Huat, semua pemain 18 yang terpilih ke New Zealand sudah bersedia untuk menggapai misi pulang dengan kejayaan demi melayakkan diri ke pusingan akhir Piala Dunia 2010 di New Delhi, India pada 28 Februari hingga 13 Mac tahun depan. Ketua pasukan, Mohd. Madzli Ikmal Mohd. Nor berkata, dia dan rakan sepasukan akur dengan keputusan jurulatih Tai Beng Hai yang mengetepikan khidmat Ismail dan Boon Huat. ''Ketiadaan mereka tidak banyak perubahan corak permainan cuma kami kehilangan pemain pengalaman. ''Secara keseluruhan kami sudah bersedia untuk mengharungi pusingan kelayakan di New Zealand dan saya berharap rakan sepasukan memberi tumpuan seratus peratus di dalam setiap perlawanan,'' katanya ketika dihubungi semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 Okt (Bernama) -- Malaysia tidak mensasarkan pungutan emas yang tinggi pada temasya Sukan SEA di Laos kerana banyak acara yang boleh menyumbang kepada negara tidak dipertandingkan, kata Menteri Belia dan Sukan Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek. "Laos tidak mempertandingkan acara yang menjadi lubuk emas bagi Malaysia seperti gimnastik, gimrama, tenpin boling, skuasy, terjun, ekuestrian, hoki lelaki dan wanita, boling padang, polo, pelayaran dan triathlon," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Persidangan Dunia Belia Kesatuan Jaringan Antarabangsa-Global di sini pada Rabu. Sebagai rekod, Malaysia telahpun kehilangan 32 pingat emas daripada acara yang digugurkan oleh Laos pada temasya sukan itu yang akan mempertandingkan 384 pingat emas menerusi 25 acara sukan termasuk sukan tradisional seperti renang sirip, timang bulu ayam dan muay thai. Kontinjen negara hanya mensasarkan kutipan antara 30 hingga 35 pingat emas menerusi 21 acara sukan yang disertai. Malaysia aka

MALAYSIA tidak mensasarkan pungutan emas yang tinggi pada temasya Sukan SEA di Laos kerana banyak acara yang menjadi kelebihan kepada negara tidak dipertandingkan. Demikian tegas Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek ( gambar ) semalam. "Laos tidak mempertandingkan acara yang menjadi lubuk emas bagi Malaysia seperti gimnastik, gimrama, tenpin boling, skuasy, terjun, ekuestrian, hoki lelaki dan wanita, boling padang, polo, pelayaran dan triatlon," katanya kepada selepas merasmikan Persidangan Dunia Belia Kesatuan Jaringan Antarabangsa-Global di ibu negara semalam. Untuk rekod, Malaysia telah pun kehilangan 32 pingat emas daripada acara yang digugurkan oleh Laos pada temasya sukan itu yang akan mempertandingkan 384 pingat emas menerusi 25 acara sukan termasuk sukan tradisional seperti renang sirip, timang bulu ayam dan muay thai. Kontinjen negara hanya mensasarkan kutipan antara 30 hingga 35 pingat emas menerusi 21 acara sukan yang disertai. Malaysia akan m

AZLAN (kiri) antara pemain yang dipanggil menyertai skuad B-23 negara. PERSIAPAN skuad bawah 23 tahun (B-23) negara terjejas. Semuanya gara-gara masalah kecederaan yang dialami oleh beberapa tonggak utamanya. Mereka hanya ada masa lima minggu lagi untuk membuat persiapan sebelum memulakan misi pada Sukan SEA XXV Laos. Perkembangan itu mengundang resah kepada jurulatih, K. Rajagobal. ( gambar ) Selepas pemain sayap dari Kedah, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri terpaksa berehat panjang setelah menjalani pembedahan lutut, enam lagi pemain turut mengalami kecederaan ketika ini. Mereka termasuk Amirulhadi Zainal dan Asraruddin Putra Omar (Selangor), Azmi Muslim dan Bunyamin Umar (UPB-MyTeam), Farderin Kadir (KM Naza) dan Muslim Ahmad (Harimau Muda). Rajagobal tidak dapat menyembunyikan perasaan bimbangnya dengan situasi tersebut yang secara langsung menjejaskan persiapan mereka menghadapi dua tugas penting dalam masa terdekat. Selain membuat persediaan menghadapi Sukan SEA, skuad B-23

ALOR SETAR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysian shuttlers started their individual campaign in the World Junior Badminton Championships in style when a mixed doubles pair and two women's singles players advanced into the second round at the Sultan Abdul Halim here Wednesday. Mixed doubles pair Chooi Kah Ming-Ng Hui Ern easily disposed Lam Chi Leong-Ieong Pek San of Macau 21-8, 21-4 in straight sets while Sonia Cheah Su Ya beat Taiwan's Chen Chi Ya 21-12, 21-14. In another singles match, Yang Li Lan was stretched to the limit by Alcala Malvinne Ann Venice of the Philippines before emerging victorious in three sets 15-21, 21-13, 21-17. Luck however, deserted another Malaysian, Florah Ng Siew Fong who was beaten 13-21, 15-21 by Tulasi P.C of India. National junior number one, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin who is seeded second in the championships, received a first round bye when the draw was made yesterday and is expected to see action tomorrow. Apart from Iskandar, Muhammad Syawal

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- The SUKMA Supreme Council that meets tomorrow is expected to decide on host Melaka's appeal for the inclusion of 10 additional sports in the 13th SUKMA (Malaysia Games). National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong said the meeting would be chaired by Youth and Sports minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek. "As far as possible, we do not want to burden the host with too many sports because even the Olympics which is the biggest sporting event in the world, has only 26 sports," he told Bernama after launching the Sepak Takraw Libas Memori 2009 championship organised by NSC, here Wednesday. Melaka who had initially agreed to host 18 compulsory sports plus another seven of their choice, had appealed to include another 10 sports, especially golf, volleyball, tennis and Formula Future. The SUKMA to be hosted by Melaka has been scheduled from May 28 to June 6 next year. Meanwhile, the sepak takraw championship to be held

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Two SEA Games Federation (SGF) members, Malaysia and Singapore, have voiced their concern over the move by the 25th SEA Games host, Laos, to locate the national Olympic councils (NOCs) and the medical officers outside the Games Village. In a chefs-de-mission (CDM) report issued after their meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on Sunday and obtained by Bernama today, the two countries said that the the NOCs staff and medical officers ideally must be close to the athletes to assist them when required. Malaysia was represented at the meeting by chef-de-mission, Datuk Dr Ramlan Abd Aziz. "The proximity of the NOCs and medical support for teams is very important and any delay in access, even in a matter of minutes, can be a risk to performance potential," Dr Ramlan said in the report. Meanwhile, representative from Singapore said they had a big medical team including doctors, physiotherapists and psychologists and these people must be close to the athel

utusan.com.my Dr. Saharudin Ismail (belakang, tiga dari kiri) dan Nur Ekmal Buhary (belakang, empat dari kiri), bergambar bersama sebahagian peserta kursus Taekwondo Poomsae WTF di Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM), semalam. – UTUSAN/MOHD. HATIM MAZLAN KUALA LUMPUR – Setiausaha Agung Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM), Datuk Sieh Kok Chi menyelar keengganan Persatuan Taekwondo Malaysia (MTA) memberi hak mengundi kepada Majlis Sukan Universiti (Masum) dan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM). Malah pegawai sukan negara itu menyifatkan keputusan yang dibuat pada Mesyuarat Agung Luar Biasa (EGM) MTA baru-baru ini sebagai tidak adil. Katanya, keputusan yang dibuat baru-baru ini oleh jawatankuasa sementara seolah-olah tidak patut terhadap kedua-dua buah badan sukan taekwondo tertua negara itu. “Keputusan yang dibuat oleh jawatankuasa sementara MTA tersebut adalah tidak logik dan tidak patut dilaksanakan. “Kedua-duanya (Masum dan ATM) telah lama berada dalam MTA dan banyak memberi sumbangan besar

CALLS are being made for Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek (pic) to step in and clear the air over the fuss in the local taekwondo scene since 2005, the year then Sports Comissioner Tan Sri Elyas Omar decided to deregister the Malaysian Taekwondo Association (MTA). However, little can be expected from the minister as he seems to be rather vague about the whole situation. When asked what has caused the sport to be in turmoil and how can it be fi xed, Shabery had no relevant answer. “The source of the whole problem is actually coming from outside. With the establishment of the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) and the Global Taekwondo Federation (GTF), which are not recognised by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) — that’s where the problem is from. We cannot let external factors affect us,” said Shabery. Yet, OCM president Tunku Imran Jaafar opined that with no settlement in sight, the best thing would be to consult Shabery. Of course, Tunku Imran is unaware of Sha