Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

MUHYIDDIN melihat Trofi Piala Dunia FIFA sambil diperhatikan Pengurus Besar Malaysia, Singapura dan Brunei Coca-Cola Company, Antonio Del Rosario pada pelancaran pameran trofi itu di KLCC, semalam. TROFI Piala Dunia - simbol keagungan bola sepak global - dilancarkan untuk tatapan umum oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, semalam selepas ia tiba di tanah air, kelmarin. Trofi itu akan dipamerkan kepada orang awam di Pusat Konvensyen Mid Valley di Kuala Lumpur, mulai hari ini. Piala emas berkenaan yang tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA), Sepang menerusi penerbangan khas dari Jakarta adalah trofi asli setinggi 36.8 sentimeter dan berat 6.175 kilogram yang diperbuat daripada emas tulen 18 karat.

SKUAD basikal trek negara kini semakin agresif dalam misi memburu pingat pertama di Sukan Olimpik, London dengan tertubuhnya YSD Trek Team - pasukan trek profesional negara. BERSEMANGAT...(dari kiri) Azizulhasni, Mohd Edros, Josiah dan Hafiz bersedia hadapi Kejohanan Dunia di Denmark, Mac depan. Pasukan YSD yang mendapat tajaan RM2 juta daripada Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) menjadi pasukan trek profesional pertama negara bagi membolehkan lebih ramai pelumba trek negara menyertai pertandingan di persada antarabangsa selain menampilkan skuad kebangsaan sedia ada.

IT is rare to find a sold-out sporting venue these days in Malaysia but basketball has been able to do what football or hockey can't -- bring in the crowd. The Asean Basketball League's (ABL) regular season has just ended with the playoffs due to take place tomorrow but already the inaugural season has been hailed as a resounding success. Fans have responded well to the six-team league with the KL Dragons enjoying capacity backing, albeit at the Maba Stadium which can hold no more than 2,000 people. Before any snickers, bear in mind that even the mighty Selangor football team can't attract more than that at the Shah Alam Stadium these days and they've got all the stars and lead the Super League!

NATIONAL shuttlers who have been struggling with their form have until June to buck up or face the music as National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Zolkples Embong is concerned with the performances of some established names. Leading the list of non-performers are Hafiz Hashim and Kuan Beng Hong while the pressure is also on men's doubles Zakry Latif-Fairuzizuan Tazari as well as women's singles Wong Mew Choo. Zolkples said the Thomas Cup Finals, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur on May 9-16, is another chance for Hafiz and Beng Hong to show progress.

KUALA LUMPUR: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Wong Mew Choo are the big guns who will be missing from action in the 2009 National Grand Prix Finals, which will be held at the Bandaraya Sta­dium in Johor Baru from Feb 4-7. Malaysian Open champions Kien Keat-Boon Heong failed to make the cut after only competing in one of the two legs in the local circuit last year. In their absence, two top back-up pairs – Chan Peng Soon-Lim Khim Wah and Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong – will be out to pull the rug from under three senior combinations – Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah and Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng.

KUALA LUMPUR: The second ranked national men’s pair of Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif have to pay a heavy price for their poor start to the season at the Malaysian Open last week. Yesterday, the duo were omitted from the squad for the centenary All-England championships, which will be held in Birmingham from March 9-14. At the Malaysian Open, Fairuzi­zuan-Zakry were beaten in the first round by former world champions Tony Gunawan-Howard Bach of the United States and their early exit did not go down well with the coaching panel. Out of the game: Mohd Fairuzizuan(right) and Mohd Zakry have been told to skip the German Open and All-England to iron out their problems.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former international Tan Kim Her will be given the task to groom the doubles players in the national back-up squad. That is the plan of the doubles chief coach, Rexy Mainaky. The Indonesian feels that Kim Her, who comes with the credentials of having coached England and South Korea, would be the right man to guide this group of shuttlers. The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have appointed Kim Her as a national coach but they have yet to clearly define his role in their set-up. A decision will be taken based on Rexy’s proposal at the BAM coaching and training committee meeting soon. The back-up doubles players are now under the charge of Pang Cheh Chang. “The main focus for us now is to build up the back-up players and turn them into world beaters. We want these players to have quality in their game,” said Rexy. “Kim Her’s presence will add depth to our coaching set-up. He has the experience of training the best from England and South Korea.

Tiada persediaan mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kerja Bersama SIKAP 'tangkap muat' dan tidak bersedia Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) mencetus rasa kurang senang Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) ketika kedua-dua pihak duduk semeja untuk mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kerja Bersama MSN-BAM, kelmarin. Antara keluhan diluahkan MSN ialah hakikat BAM belum pun mengesahkan senarai nama pemain dan jumlah kejohanan bakal disertai untuk sepanjang musim 2010. "Tahun ini penting untuk sukan badminton negara. Kita ada Piala Thomas, Kejohanan Dunia, Sukan Komanwel dan Sukan Asia di mana pemain negara diletakkan sasaran untuk menyerlah. "Sepatutnya BAM lebih bersedia. Mesyuarat itu adalah untuk memuktamadkan semua perkara penting, termasuk peruntukan kewangan. Tetapi apa diberi ialah senarai cadangan yang belum disahkan," kata Ketua Pengarah MSN, Datuk Zolkples Embong.

KUALA LUMPUR - Meskipun peruntukan yang diperoleh Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) tahun ini kurang 15 peratus berbanding 2009, namun ia sama sekali tidak akan menjejaskan tumpuan badan sukan itu untuk menghadapi dua temasya besar tahun ini. Ketua Pengarah MSN, Datuk Zolkples Embong berkata, pengurangan bajet tersebut, tidak akan menghalang badan sukan itu memberi tumpuan penuh menghadapi Sukan Asia dan Sukan Komanwel 2010. Katanya, peruntukan yang diberikan kepada MSN itu masih jauh lebih baik berbanding agensi kerajaan lain. "Saya tidak merasakan pengurangan peruntukkan tersebut akan menghalang sukan negara kita daripada terus mencipta kecemerlangan. "Ia tidak begitu menjejaskan tumpuan MSN untuk menghadapi Sukan Asia dan Sukan Komanwel 2010 "Sehubungan itu, saya berharap agar semua persatuan sukan di negara ini akan mengamalkan perbelanjaan berhemah dan berjimat cermat," katanya yang ditemui di majlis kesyukuran kejayaan kontinjen negara di Sukan SEA Laos, di sin

KUALA LUMPUR - Cadangan menubuhkan badan baru - Taekwondo Malaysia (TM) untuk menyelia aktiviti sukan itu di negara ini dianggap bukan jalan terbaik menyelesaikan isu taekwando tanah air. Salah satu ahli gabungan yang enggan dikenali berkata, kewujudan Persatuan Taekwondo Malaysia (MTA) tidak boleh diketepikan begitu saja, kerana mereka mewakili lebih 300,000 ahli, malah mendakwa badan itu tidak melakukan kesalahan yang menyalahi peraturan. Katanya, MTA juga telah mengikut segala prosedur yang diarahkan oleh Pejabat Pesuruhjaya Sukan untuk membolehkan penggantungan mereka dibatalkan, termasuk mengadakan Mesyuarat Agung Luar Biasa (EGM).

KREDIBILITI Rexy Mainaky selaku ketua jurulatih beregu badminton negara tidak perlu dipersoalkan lagi. Hakikatnya, Rexy telah berjaya membimbing anak-anak buahnya mengecap pelbagai kejayaan sejak dilantik sebagai jurulatih negara pada 2005. Bagi dua pemain beregu negara, Wong Pei Tty serta Mohd. Zakry Abdul Latif, mereka mengakui cukup selesa menjalani latihan bersama Rexy. Pei Tty berkata, dia dan pasangannnya, Chin Eei Hui tidak mengalami banyak masalah 'berguru' dengan bekas jaguh Indonesia itu. "Kami mula mendapat bimbingan daripada Rexy selepas Sukan Olimpik 2008 dan kami memang selesa untuk menjalani latihan bersamanya," kata Pei Tty. "Kami banyak menunjukkan peningkatan termasuk muncul beregu wanita No. 1 dunia tahun lepas dan menjuarai beberapa kejohanan. "Selain itu, kami dan Rexy juga selalu berbincang bagi memperbaiki mutu permainan. Dia merupakan jurulatih yang mudah menerima pandangan pemain. "Namun, kami sama sekali tidak a

THE National Sports Council (NSC), due to budget constraints, has asked the BA of Malaysia (BAM) to reduce its expenses on competitions and focus on preparations for this year’s four major events. The directive is with immediate effect as NSC director general Datuk Zolkples Embong, who chairs the joint-committee, has only approved the competition budget until the All England on Mar 9-14. Lee Chong Wei and men’s doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Ong Soon Hock-Hoon Thien How have been given an additional tournament — the Swiss Open on Mar 16-21 — as attention shifts to preparations for the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals on May 9-16 in Kuala Lumpur.

TAN Kim Her’s involvement with the national elite back-up and elite men’s doubles squads will not begin any time soon as the National Sports Council (NSC) does not want his arrival to disrupt Malaysia’s preparations for the Thomas Cup Finals in Kuala Lumpur on May 9-16. NSC director general Datuk Zolkples Embong said if Kim Her starts his job before the Thomas Cup, he could still be utilised in other areas and this has been agreed to by the BA of Malaysia’s (BAM) secretary P. Ganga Rao, who represented the association at the joint committee meeting yesterday.

CHENNAI: Women’s boxing will make its Asian Games debut in Guangzhou this year, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said on their website. “The Asian Boxing Confederation proposed the inclusion of women’s boxing in the 2010 Asian Games ... in hopes of raising the level of women’s boxing in Asia,” said a statement on the OCA website ( ocasia.org ) . Women will compete in flyweight (48-51kg), lightweight (56-60kg) and middleweight (69-75kg), the three categories that will feature at the 2012 London Games after women’s boxing was added to the Olympic programme last year. — Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR: SEA Games gold medallist Mohd Zafril Mohd Zuslaini wants to dip below 47 seconds in the 400m this year and he hopes to get more competitions to achieve his target. Zafril, who was a surprise winner at the Games in Vientiane last month with a personal best of 47.11, said yesterday that he would go all out to train much harder under coach K. Jayakumar to improve on his time. “I am happy to end my gold drought in the SEA Games,” said the 25-year-old Terengganu-born athlete. “But my biggest challenge this year is to break the 400m national record of 46.41 set by Mohd Zaiful (Zainal Abidin) in the Asian junior championships in Brunei in 2001. To help me achieve it, I need to train and compete overseas.”

KUALA LUMPUR - Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong semalam mengarahkan Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) agar tidak melakukan sebarang rombakan dalam skuad elit kebangsaan sehingga tamat Piala Thomas, Mei ini. Tegas Zolkples, tindakan merombak struktur kejurulatihan hanya akan merosakkan persiapan Malaysia menjelang kejohanan berpasukan prestij itu yang akan diadakan di Kuala Lumpur dari 9-15 Mei ini. Amaran tersebut dikeluarkan beberapa hari selepas ketua jurulatih beregu, Rexy Mainaky menyuarakan kebimbangan bahawa khidmatnya mungkin tidak diperlukan lagi oleh BAM. Malah, Zolkples dalam pertemuan dengan pegawai BAM, semalam turut memuji tindakan Rexy, yang dianggap menjalankan kerja dengan baik apabila mengagihkan tugas kepada jurulatih lain pada ketika ada pihak menganggap tindakan itu seperti 'lepas tangan'. "Saya sudah mengeluarkan arahan kepada BAM supaya jangan kacau pasukan sedia ada sehingga tamat Piala Thomas.

Zolkples MAJLIS Sukan negara (MSN) mendesak agar Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) mengkaji semula program-program yang telah dirancang sepanjang tahun 2010. Menurut Ketua Pengarah MSN, Datuk Zolkples Embong, BAM harus lebih selektif dalam memilih kejohanan yang harus disertai oleh pemain-pemain negara. Semalam, Zolkples mengumumkan untuk mengurangkan peruntukan yang akan diberikan kepada BAM dan juga persatuan-persatuan sukan lain di Malaysia meskipun sedar terdapat banyak kejohanan sukan yang akan berlangsung sepanjang tahun ini.

KUALA LUMPUR - Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM) masih berteka-teki mengenai masa depan skuad Harimau Muda A walaupun memberi bayangan ia mungkin akan ke kancah Liga Super. FAM dalam mesyuarat teknikalnya, semalam menemui jalan penyelesaian terbaik untuk skuad bawah 21 tahun kebangsaan itu, namun cadangan mereka perlu mendapat kelulusan exco yang akan bermesyuarat, Ahad ini. Walaupun enggan mendedahkan apakah cadangan yang bakal dibawa ke exco, namun Timbalan Presiden FAM, Datuk Seri Redzuan Sheikh Ahmad memberi jaminan, skuad itu tidak akan dibubarkan. "Kalau mereka tidak diterima oleh liga negara sendiri, di mana lagi mereka hendak bermain. "Yang pasti, rancangan ini akan melibatkan pemain-pemain sebagai sebuah pasukan, ia tidak akan dibubar atau dipecahkan.

KEJOHANAN Lumba Basikal Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) bukan sekadar perlumbaan tetapi turut menawarkan keindahan semula jadi yang ada di negara ini. Peserta disajikan dengan pemandangan yang indah sambil mengerah tenaga bersaing sesama sendiri. Atas hakikat tersebut, tidak hairan kenapa LTdL yang mula diperkenalkan sejak tahun 1996 itu terus bertapak kukuh dalam kalendar sukan negara. Ia juga telah menjadi tarikan kepada pasukan-pasukan luar negara untuk turut serta, malah menjadi acara yang dinanti-nantikan setiap tahun.

LANGKAWI - Kehadiran juara dunia Keerati Bualoong dalam acara Laser Radial dan juara Optimist Eropah, Carlos Robles Lorente akan menghangatkan saingan Regata Perdana Antarabangsa Langkawi 2010 yang bermula di sini, hari ini. Pengurus Besar Persatuan Pelayaran Malaysia (MYA), Mohd. Afendy Abdullah berkata, Keerati, pelayar Thailand, dan Lorente dari Sepanyol merupakan antara peserta yang akan memberi saingan kepada pelayar negara.

Antonio Del Rosario menarik kain penutup Piala Dunia untuk tatapan umum sebaik tiba dari Jakarta di KLIA, Sepang, semalam. SEPANG - Malaysia akan menjadi tumpuan utama peminat sukan tempatan dan dunia apabila trofi keagungan bola sepak, Piala Dunia tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) menerusi penerbangan khas dari Jakarta. Semalam, Kuala Lumpur menjadi bandar raya Asia kelima menerima kedatangan trofi tersebut dalam siri jelajah 134,017 kilometer merentasi lima benua dan 83 negara bermula dari Ibu Pejabat Persekutuan Bola sepak Antarabangsa (FIFA) di Zurich, Switzerland, 21 September lalu. Siri jelajah yang dibawakan khas oleh syarikat minuman terkenal Coca Cola dengan kerjasama FIFA, adalah sebahagian promosi Kejohanan Piala Dunia di Afrika Selatan mulai Jun hingga Julai ini.

EMPAT orang model tempatan bangga ketika mempamerkan trofi Piala Dunia di ibu negara semalam. MALAYSIA akan menjadi perhatian peminat sukan bola sepak dunia apabila Trofi Piala Dunia FIFA tiba dari Jakarta dalam penerbangan sewa khas di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) semalam. Kuala Lumpur menjadi bandar raya kelima Asia menerima kedatangan trofi teragung itu dalam siri jelajah sejauh 134, 017km merentasi lima benua dengan perjalanan bermula dari Ibu Pejabat Persekutuan Bola sepak Antarabangsa (FIFA) di Zurich, Switzerland, pada 21 September lalu. Sebelum ini, trofi itu singgah untuk tatapan peminat bola sepak di benua Asia di Calcutta, India pada 17 Januari lalu diikuti Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam), 20 Januari, Bangkok (Thailand), 23 Januari dan Jakarta semalam. Siri jelajah yang dibawakan khas oleh syarikat minuman terkenal Coco-Cola dengan kerjasama FIFA, adalah sebahagian daripada promosi Kejohanan Piala Dunia di Afrika Selatan.

KETUA Pegawai Pemasaran Maxis, Matthew Wilsher (tengah) bersalaman bersama Chong Wei dan Datuk Misbun Sidek (kiri) selepas menandatangani kontrak bersama Maxis, semalam. TAHUN 2012 menjadi musim terakhir buat Lee Chong Wei bergelar pemain badminton sepenuh masa, namun jaguh nombor satu dunia itu bertekad dia akan memastikan dapat merebut semua gelaran termasuk pingat emas Olimpik sebelum bersara. "Tumpuan saya ketika ini adalah terhadap badminton dan matlamat saya adalah merangkul semua gelaran yang belum pernah saya menang seperti Kejuaraan Dunia, Seluruh England dan Olimpik. Saya akan cuba," katanya.

LEE Chong Wei has revealed that he plans to retire after 2012, but more than that he wants to go out with the World and Olympic titles in his bag. "I want to achieve what no Malaysian has achieved before in the sport, which is to win the World and Olympic titles," said Chong Wei after the Maxis Berhad sponsorship ceremony at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. "It is not an impossible dream. It will be a very difficult time from now till 2012 but I am focused in winning titles for the country." The World No 1 added: "I have another three chances to win the World Championship but only one opportunity in the Olympic Games. "This is why I have to be in my best form for the 2012 London Olympics. It will be my toughest challenge. "My other dream is to end my career as the World No 1 player. I have been the World No 1 since 2008 and I hope to maintain my ranking till 2012. China’s Lin Dan is expected to face Chong Wei for the first time thi

THE 15th Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) will be run at a cost of RM7.5 million by the Sports Ministry. This, said Sports Ministry secretary general Datuk Mohd Yassin Salleh, was due to negotiations with suppliers, hotels and various service providers. "Last year's race was run at a cost of RM10.5 million and we've managed to reduce that even further this year, but still maintain a high level of organisation," said Yassin. "We managed to negotiate with the various contractors and suppliers to reduce their prices and also secure some contributions in terms of services." He added that this will make the event more sustainable in the future and also assured that even with the cost-cutting measures, the race will still maintain its hors classe (HC) status. LTdL is one of just three 2.HC status races on the UCI Asia Tour calendar, with China hosting the other two -- the Tour of Qinghai Lake and the Tour of Hainan - NST

THE first Malaysian track cycling trade team are set to become a reality with a RM2 million sponsorship fund injected by Yayasan Sime Darby. The team, which will be known as the YSD Track Team, will comprise World No 1 keirin rider Azizul Hasni Awang, Rizal Tisin, Junaidi Nasir, Edrus Yunos, Hafiz Sufian, Josiah Ng and Fatehah Mustapa. This comes as part of a memorandum of understanding signed between the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) and Sime Darby Berhad yesterday, which will see the RM2 million delivered over three years. This is the first sports team to be sponsored by Sime Darby, which is actively involved in sponsorship of lawn bowls and cricket events. Sime Darby was represented by chairman Tun Musa Hitam, who stated the company's support was based on the rise of the track cycling team into a force to be reckoned with on the world stage. "We already have a world number one and a group of youngsters who are there at world class level. What i

THE domino effect has begun. The decision by the Education Ministry to slash 11 of the 24 sports from this year's Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) calendar has resulted in some State School Councils doing the same. The councils have instructed their schools to scrap the 11 sports at the zone or district level. Their reasoning is because of budget cuts and to adhere to MSSM's policy. This despite Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's promise of training more teachers for sports and making sports a priority in schools.

THE Malaysian Taekwondo Association (MTA) has been been dealt another blow in its bid to get reinstated as a national body. The Sports Commissioner's office, in a statement yesterday, said MTA's appeal was rejected by Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek on Jan 18. Following the MTA's suspension on March 18, 2009, an ad-hoc committee took over the former's role. It is chaired by Olympic Council of Malaysia president, Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar.

TANPA mahu menyebelahi sesiapa, Datuk Zolkples Embong mahu kemelut membelenggu Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) dan ketua jurulatih beregunya, Rexy Mainaky, diselesaikan secepat mungkin. Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) itu tidak mahu ada cacat cela mampu menjelma ekoran situasi 'kurang senang' ketika ini, ketika beberapa tugasan penting menanti untuk dilaksanakan tahun ini. "Saya ada dengar mengenainya. Malah saya juga sudah mula mengumpul maklumat daripada pelbagai sumber. Saya mahu tahu secara keseluruhan apa sebenarnya berlaku. "Hari ini, saya akan berjumpa secara rasmi dalam mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kerja Bersama MSN-BAM. Saya percaya akan dapat gambaran jelas nanti," katanya.

LEE Chong Wei membayangkan akan bersara daripada badminton pada 2012 selepas meraih pingat emas Sukan Olimpik. DUTA MAXIS...Matthew (tengah) bersama Misbun (kiri) dan Chong Wei pada majlis menandatangani perjanjian penajaan dengan Maxis, semalam.  LEE Chong Wei membayangkan akan bersara daripada badminton pada 2012 selepas meraih pingat emas Sukan Olimpik.

Malaysian Badminton icon Datuk Lee Chong Wei meets young fans KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian sports icon Lee Chong Wei will quit the national badminton team after the 2012 London Olympics. And with just a few good years ahead of him, Chong Wei is determined to maintain his good run in international tournaments to inspire young players to follow in his footsteps. The world No. 1, who won opening two rounds of this season’s Super Series, the Korean and Malaysia Open tournaments, made a grand appearance yesterday at a leading hotel here to make it a memorable day for about 50 children, who won the Maxis Communications Bhd’s online contest on why they were Chong Wei’s greatest fans. He attended the function with coach Misbun Sidek and both also presented badminton racquets to the winners. Winning partnership: Maxis Chief Marketing Officer Matthew Willsher (centre) with Misbun Sidek and Lee Chong Wei at the signing ceremony Wednesday.  

KUALA LUMPUR: The lack of left-handed sparring partners is a setback for coach Misbun Sidek in his task to prepare Lee Chong Wei to be at peak form for the All-England from March 9-14. Chong Wei’s main rival in Birmingham will be formidable southpaw Lin Dan of China. Lin Dan will be out to win a fifth All-England title while Chong Wei is hoping to get a first in the centenary year of the prestigious tournament. Chun Seang: The southpaw is a likely candidate to spar with Lee Chong Wei. Misbun said that he would come out with plans to get Chong Wei ready to face his opponents, especially Lin Dan.

KUALA LUMPUR: National cyclists will get financial backing to help them prepare for a medal onslaught in the 2012 London Olympics. Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) in a partnership with the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) will allocate RM2mil over the next 36 months to help the top track cyclists, among them Azizul Hasni Awang and Josiah Ng, and the other riders to realise the goal. The money will be used to send cyclists to compete in the World Cup, continental and world championships leading up to the London Games. YSD and MNCF signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the initiative to produce the first Malaysian medal winner in Olympic cycling. New year gift: MNCF deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamed (third from right) receiving the mock cheque for RM2mil from Yayasan Sime Darby chairman Tun Musa Hitam in KL yesterday. Looking on are OCM deputy president Datuk Dr. M. Jegathesan and the cyclists.  

PERLUMBAAN Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2010 dijamin akan tetap menampilkan mutu kayuhan terbaik dan persaingan sengit di kalangan pasukan yang bertanding, walaupun penganjur mengakui terpaksa berjimat cermat berikutan kekurangan bajet. Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Mohd Yasin Mohd Saleh, berkata LTdL 2010 kekal mendapat sambutan hangat daripada pasukan tempatan dan profesional antarabangsa, walaupun bilangan penyertaan terpaksa dihadkan kepada hanya 20 sahaja.

LEBIH 120 pelumba dari dalam dan luar negara dijangka menyertai LTdL 2010, yang akan bermula Mac ini. PUTRAJAYA - Kehadiran pasukan ternama Jelajah Profesional, Astana pada Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2010, bakal menyemarakkan lagi perlumbaan tersebut. Namun begitu, pelumba sensasi Astana, Alberto Contador dikatakan tidak dapat beraksi di Malaysia, Mac ini ekoran kesibukan perlumbaan di Eropah. Perkara tersebut dinyatakan oleh Pengarah Teknikal LTdL 2010, Jamaludin Mahmood, yang merasakan jaguh dunia itu kemungkinan besar tidak datang mempamer aksinya di sini. Katanya, adalah mustahil untuk Contador menyertai LTdL 2010.

KUALA LUMPUR - Jaguh lumba basikal negara, Mohd. Azizulhasni Awang berjanji untuk mengekalkan prestasi selepas mendirikan rumahtangga dengan gadis pilihannya, pada 30 Januari ini. Bakal menjadi suami kepada Athiah Ilyana Abd. Samat, Azizulhasni menegaskan, fokusnya terhadap karier sama sekali tidak akan terjejas, malah dia berharap perkahwinan akan memberikan lagi dorongan tambahan kepada dirinya. ''Saya memandang serius dengan apa yang sedang saya lakukan sekarang, walaupun bakal bergelar suami, lumba basikal masih menjadi keutamaan. ''Malah, saya akan lebih bersemangat menjalani latihan di Melbourne kerana bakal isteri akan menemani saya di sana kerana dia sedang melanjutkan pelajaran,'' katanya kepada pemberita di sini, semalam. Azizulhasni turut menambah, dia akan kembali ke Melbourne pada 7 atau 8 Februari ini, selepas urusan perkahwinannya selesai.

BURUAN pingat emas Sukan Olimpik menerusi sukan berbasikal trek mendapat suntikan semangat apabila menerima tajaan RM2 juta daripada Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD). Durian runtuh berkenaan tiba tepat pada masanya - ketika bajet dari kerajaan untuk acara sukan susut 10 peratus tahun ini - bagi menampung perbelanjaan skuad berbasikal trek negara. “Kita bakal berdepan beberapa kejohanan besar pada 2010 dan 2011, termasuk Piala Dunia Klasik, Kejohanan Benua-Benua, Sukan Asia, Sukan Komanwel dan Kejohanan Dunia,” kata Timbalan Presiden Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (MNCF), Datuk Naim Mohamad.

KUANTAN – Persekutuan Hoki Malaysia (PHM) sedang berusaha mendapatkan penaja, untuk membayar khidmat jurulatih asing yang bakal dilantik untuk membimbing skuad kebangsaan. Presiden PHM, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah berkata, pihaknya mahu berkongsi kos membayar gaji jurulatih asing itu dengan Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN). “Kita sudah mengenalpasti dua jurulatih asing dan akan memilih calon yang sesuai dalam masa terdekat ini,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas menyampaikan insentif kepada atlet dan pegawai Pahang yang berjaya pada temasya Sukan SEA Laos bulan lepas, di sini semalam.

SEORANG jurulatih berpengalaman dari Eropah menjadi pilihan utama Persekutuan Hoki Malaysia (PHM) mengendalikan skuad negara bagi menggantikan Tan Beng Hai tetapi nama calon itu tidak diumumkan sehingga mendapat keputusan penaja dalam soal pembayaran gaji. Presidennya, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah berkata keputusan itu penting kerana gaji diminta jurulatih itu tinggi dan seboleh-bolehnya badan induk itu mahu menggunakan peruntukan daripada Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN). “Ketika ini, saya menunggu pengesahan penaja dalam soal bayaran gaji jurulatih dari Eropah itu. Apa yang pasti jurulatih itu sudah bersetuju untuk mengendalikan skuad negara.

JAKARTA - Piala Dunia akan tiba di Malaysia hari ini selepas sambutan hangat diberikan kira-kira 10,000 peminat bola sepak Indonesia dalam siri jelajah yang dibawakan khas oleh jenama minuman ringan terkenal, Coca-Cola di sini, semalam. Tanpa mengenal penat, jemu dan panas terik, ribuan peminat termasuk pelajar sekolah malahan dari segenap lapisan masyarakat sanggup berbaris panjang menanti giliran untuk melihat trofi teragung bola sepak itu. Indonesia menjadi negara yang ke-83 di dunia menerima kedatangan trofi itu dalam siri jelajah yang bergerak dari Ibu pejabat Persekutuan Bola Sepak Antarabangsa (FIFA) di Zurich, Switzerland sejak 21 September tahun lalu.

TONY tidak mahu menerima tawaran pemilik West Ham. KUALA LUMPUR - Taikun syarikat penerbangan negara, Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes (gambar) semalam menolak pelawaan untuk menjadi pemegang saham minoriti kelab bola sepak England, West Ham selepas beliau tewas dalam pembidaan untuk membeli kelab tersebut baru-baru ini. Bekas pemilik Birmingham City, David Sullivan dan David Gold pada 19 Januari lalu berkata, mereka telah berjaya menguasai West Ham setelah memiliki 50 peratus pegangan saham. Sullivan mempunyai pilihan untuk membeli baki 50 peratus pegangan saham tersebut pada bila-bila masa dalam tempoh empat tahun ini tetapi beliau lebih berminat untuk menarik individu lain yang juga penyokong West Ham seperti Tony untuk melabur dalam kelab itu.

HASRAT atlit negara beraksi di Sukan Perpaduan Islam di Teheran, April depan berkecai apabila Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) mengesahkan temasya sukan membabitkan negara Islam itu, dibatalkan. HASRAT atlit negara beraksi di Sukan Perpaduan Islam di Teheran, April depan berkecai apabila Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) mengesahkan temasya sukan membabitkan negara Islam itu, dibatalkan. Setiausaha Kehormat MOM, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi berkata, kegagalan tuan rumah Iran menunjukkan kesungguhan dalam penganjuran yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada 9 hingga 25 April ini di tiga bandar raya iaitu Teheran, Esfahan dan Mashhad mendorong Persekutuan Sukan Perpaduan Islam (ISSF) membatalkannya. “Saya mendapat surat daripada ISSF minggu lalu memaklumkan Sukan Perpaduan Islam dibatalkan. Perkara ini sudah dijangka kerana Iran tidak mengambil langkah persediaan walaupun waktu kejohanan semakin hampir.

PETALING JAYA: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei’s strong performances in the back-to-back Korean and Malaysian Open tournaments should be treated as appetisers for this season. The challenge for Chong Wei now is to have China’s Lin Dan as the main meal. And the real tests for him will be at the All-England and Swiss Open in March. Stable champion: Lee Chong Wei is becoming a wiser player.  

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia may have to depend more on the men’s doubles in the Thomas Cup Finals following the lack of depth in the singles. And based on the outcome of the Malaysian Open, the doubles department showed that the country could ride on their strength. Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong underlined their status as the best in the country by nailing the title in their first tournament of the year. In the absence of the national No. 1s from Indonesia, Denmark and China, Kien Keat-Boon Heong lived up to their top billing. And two Malaysian national back-up pairs – Ong Soon Hock-Hoon Thien How and Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong – showed that they can be groomed to become much stronger with breakthrough performances in the home Open last week. Soon Hock-Thien How dumped the Korean Open champions Jung Jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae of South Korea in the opening round while Hee Chun-Wee Kiong upstaged veteran compatriots Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah.

THE National Under-23 team will get a chance to train with Everton's senior and reserve teams if the Sports Ministry goes ahead with its plan to sign a three-year deal with the English Premier League side. The deal will also encompass coaching and grassroots development in Malaysia. Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the attachment with Everton could also pave the way for the Under-23 players to earn contracts with other European clubs. "I am aware that it will be tough for our players to play for Everton but at least the attachment with the club will make them better players. "It will open many doors for our players and who knows, maybe a few of them will earn a trial or even a contract with other European sides," said Ahmad Shabery, after testing the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Club tennis courts, the venue of next month's WTA Tour Malaysian Open, yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: Track cyclist Azizul Hasni Awang showed that his focus and concentration have not wavered at all despite coping with studies and impending marriage by taking a third career World Cup keirin gold medal at in the final leg in Beijing over the weekend. Simply the best: Azizul and Josiah are currently the top riders in the country.   And with Azizul showing the ability to maintain his form coupled with a resurgent Josiah Ng, coach John Beasley is looking ahead to exciting times for Malaysian cycling in the major assignments this year, starting with the World Championships in Copenhagen in two months’ time. Azizul and Josiah made it to the keirin final for the second successive time in the just completed World Cup series to confirm their qualification for the world championships.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) will stick by their decision to have all the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) knockout stage matches played in Kuala Lumpur. For the two-leg quarter-finals, one match will be held at the KL Hockey Stadium in Jalan Pantai and three will be played at the Tun Razak Stadium in Jalan Duta. The semi-final ties and final will be played at the Tun Razak Stadium.

TUN Ghazali Shafie revolutionised athletics during his near three-decade reign as the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) president with the laying of running tracks in almost every state a legacy of his leadership. Ghazali, who presided over the golden years of Malaysian track and field in the 1960s and 1970s, was also a visionary when MAAU became one of the first national associations to formulate a long term development plan. The plan, which was put in place soon after he was elected president in 1962, led to sustained dominance at the Southeast Asian level while winning honours at Asian level, including a staggering five gold medals at the 1966 Bangkok Asian Games. Malaysian athletes regularly qualified for the Olympic, and Ghazali's departure from the athletics scene in 1989 preceded a decline in the fortunes of the sport from which it has yet to recover. Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan, a sprinter in the 1960s and who later served under Ghazali as an MAAU vice preside

WORLD No 1 Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong's second Malaysia Open title may have given them an ideal start to a hectic year but it also revealed that they still have much to do. Missing from the Malaysia Open were Olympic champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia and China's world champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng while South Koreans Jun Jae Sung-Lee Yong were first round casualties, yet Kien Keat-Boon Heong won it the hard way. While it may have been only their first tournament of the year, Kien Keat-Boon Heong's inconsistency in every match was flabbergasting and they would have had to pay a heavy price if another top pair had been around. They cannot hope for such luxuries in the All England in Birmingham on March 9-14 as the best will be there and Kien Keat-Boon Heong must work hard on rectifying their weaknesses. What was encouraging though was the fact that Kien Keat-Boon Heong were able to grind out victories despite not being at their best.

HOTSHOTS Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong went through a roller coaster ride before nailing the Malaysian Open men’s doubles title at the Putra Stadium here yesterday. The top seeds came through some tense moments before prevailing over China’s Guo Zhengdong-Xu Chen 21-15, 17-21, 21-16 in a 55-minute final. It was the second time that the duo won a title when they were ranked as the world No.1 pair. They also pulled off a similar feat at the Denmark Open last year. Malaysia's Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong with the winning mock cheque after beating China's Guo Zhengdong and Xu Chen in the Malaysian Open Badminton Final at Putra stadium in Bukit Jalil Sunday. The Malaysian pair won 21-15 17-21 21-16.

NATIONAL doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky vent out his frustration and exposed a strain in his relationship with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) after breaking down in tears following the sensational win of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong in the Malaysian Open yesterday. He hugged Kien Keat for a long time on court after the victory and at the press conference later, he broke down.

  Puas hati raih emas Beijing KEJAYAAN jaguh berbasikal trek negara, Mohd Azizulhasni Awang meraih pingat emas dalam acara keirin di Piala Dunia Klasik di Beijing, China, adalah hadiah perkahwinan untuk bakal isterinya, Athiah Ilyana Abdul Samat yang akan dinikahinya, Sabtu ini. Azizulhasni berkata sebelum ini Athiah Ilyana ada memintanya untuk memenangi emas sebagai hadiah perkahwinan. "Saya cuma berjanji akan cuba sedaya upaya dan syukur akhirnya berjaya memenangi emas acara keirin selain meraih jersi putih," katanya sebaik tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA), semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR - Persoalan yang ditinggalkan ketua jurulatih beregu negara, Rexy Mainaky kelmarin dibalas dengan seribu satu persoalan oleh Persatuan Badminton malaysia (BAM). Semalam, BAM membuat sidang akhbar khas bagi menjelaskan kenyataan yang dikeluarkan Rexy, yang antara lain merasakan kedudukannya sebagai ketua jurulatih beregu Malaysia kini tidak selamat. Jurulatih kelahiran Indonesia itu dalam luahan rasanya kepada pemberita selepas tamat Terbuka Malaysia, kelmarin mengakui, dia berasakan seperti tidak lagi dipercayai untuk membimbing pemain Malaysia, malah sedih apabila mendengar khabar angin dan cakap-cakap belakang mengenai dirinya. "Saya tidak dengar apa-apa khabar angin, ini (cerita kurang enak) adalah benda baru.

KESATUAN Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) melakukan rombakan kepada jawatankuasa kecil dengan memisahkan pembangunan dan kejurulatihan dan tidak lagi diletakkan di bawah telunjuk seorang pengerusi. Dalam pemilihan baru jawatankuasa kecil badan induk itu hasil daripada mesyuarat agung tahunan (AGM) yang dilangsungkan, Sabtu lalu naib presidennya, Datuk Paduka Mumtaz Jaafar dilantik pengerusi jawatankuasa pembangunan.

KUALA LUMPUR - Selaku tuan rumah, skuad negara mensasarkan untuk berada dalam empat pasukan terbaik kumpulan dua zon Asia/Oceania Kejohanan Tenis Piala Fed yang akan berlangsung 1 hingga 7 Februari ini. Menurut ketua jurulatih negara, S. Selvarajoo, berdasarkan kemampuan skuadnya, beliau yakin pencapaian itu boleh dilakukan, namun tidak mahu meletakkan bebanan kepada setiap pemain. ''Kebanyakan pemain kali ini terdiri muka baru seperti Jawairiah Nordin, T. Neesha, Choo Lyn Yee selain dibantu muka lama Khoo Chin Bee.

KUALA LUMPUR - Bagi menyemarakkan minat orang ramai menceburi sukan berbasikal, Kayuhan KL akan dianjurkan pada 1 Februari ini bersempena Le Tour de Langkawi 2010 (LTdL) yang bermula dan berakhir di Dataran Merdeka di sini. Acara itu yang turut dianjurkan bersempena sambutan hari Wilayah Persekutuan akan melibatkan kayuhan sejauh 10 kilometer meliputi jalan-jalan utama di sekitar ibu negara. Kayuhan KL dianjurkan buat pertama kali tahun ini sebagai antara aktiviti mempromosi LTDL 2010 di samping Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) mahu menjadikan ia sebagai pentas untuk mewujudkan minat di kalangan generasi muda menceburi sukan berbasikal.

BAM bakal berdepan tragedi 2000 angkara pegawai penting diri ADA kata peribahasa yang tepat untuk menerangkan apa dilakukan Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) terhadap skuad Harimau Muda milik badan induk itu Berdentum guruh di langit, air di tempayan dicurahkan. Masakan tidak, ketika baru sahaja ditimbulkan cadangan menghantar skuad itu menyertai Liga Singapura, pegawai bijak pandai di FAM cepat-cepat memutuskan anak buah Azraai Khor Abdullah itu tidak dibenarkan bertanding dalam Liga Super.

SEPANG - Jika bukan kerana usaha keras petugas sokongan yang menampilkan bukti rakaman video, Mohd. Azizulhasni Awang pasti berputih mata daripada menikmati pingat emas acara keirin berbasikal Piala Dunia Klasik UCI di Beijing, Ahad lalu apatah lagi tiket ke Kejohanan Dunia, Mac ini. The Pocketrocketman mulanya cuba dinafikan tiket ke pusingan akhir gara-gara bantahan pasukan Jepun terhadap komisar perlumbaan yang mendakwa pelumba mereka, Masa Kotasai telah dihimpit sehingga pemegang basikalnya tersangkut dengan basikal milik pelumba negara. Timbalan Presiden Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM), Datuk Naim Mohamad berkata, nasib baik petugas ISN (Institut Sukan Negara) sempat merakamkan kejadian itu sekali gus membuktikan Azizul tidak melakukan sebarang tindakan yang menyalahi peraturan sehingga dia boleh dibatalkan seperti didakwa Jepun,'' katanya, semalam.

GAMBAR (kiri); REAKSI Kien Keat dan Boon Heong (kanan) selepas menewaskan Xu Chen-Guo Zhendong, semalam. (kanan) KEPUASAN terbayang di wajah Chong Wei selepas final, semalam. Hampiri rekod Peng Soon; Kien Keat-Boon Heong akhiri badi dua tahun GEMPITA sorakan menepati aksi mengagumkan ciptaan Lee Chong Wei yang memperolokkan Boonsak Ponsana diperakui antara bintang badminton dunia seperti 'budak baru belajar' dalam laluan merangkul mahkota keenam Terbuka Malaysia di Stadium Putra, semalam. Taktik awal jaguh Thailand itu untuk cuba mengganggu termasuk memilih bertukar gelanggang sebelum bermula aksi hanya 'menjadi' seketika, sebelum keunggulan dijelmakan Chong Wei, untuk Boonsak terpaku mengalah, 13-21, 7-21.

AN overjoyed Lee Chong Wei kissed the Jalur Gemilang on his T-Shirt and it drew the loudest cheer in the packed Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday. It was a moment to savour for the world number one Chong Wei when he lifted the Malaysian Open men’s singles title for the sixth time in a most convincing fashion. The win ended his agonising wait for his first back-to-back Open badminton title in his career. He had won the Korean Open last week. Lee Chong Wei celebrates after beating Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana in the Malaysian Open Badminton Final at Putra stadium in Bukit Jalil Sunday. 

HOTSHOTS Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong went through a roller coaster ride before nailing the Malaysian Open men’s doubles title at the Putra Stadium here yesterday. The top seeds came through some tense moments before prevailing over China’s Guo Zhengdong-Xu Chen 21-15, 17-21, 21-16 in a 55-minute final. It was the second time that the duo won a title when they were ranked as the world No.1 pair. They also pulled off a similar feat at the Denmark Open last year. Malaysia's Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong with the winning mock cheque after beating China's Guo Zhengdong and Xu Chen in the Malaysian Open Badminton Final at Putra stadium in Bukit Jalil Sunday. The Malaysian pair won 21-15 17-21 21-16.

DATUK Lee Chong Wei dan beregu sensasi negara, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong mempamerkan aksi bertenaga untuk menjuarai Kejohanan Badminton Terbuka Malaysia semalam. Selepas menjuarai Terbuka Korea minggu lepas, Chong Wei sekali lagi menepati ramalan apabila mudah menundukkan pemain Thailand, Boonsak Ponsana 21-13, 21-7 pada perlawanan akhir di Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil. Ini merupakan kejuaraan kedua berturut-turut Chong Wei dan kemenangan keenam pada Terbuka Malaysia selepas muncul juara pada edisi 2004, 2006, 2006 serta 2008 dan 2009.

  SATU dunia mahu lihat saya menentang Lin Dan." Itulah diluahkan Lee Chong Wei, juara enam kali Terbuka Malaysia, sejurus meraikan kejayaan mudah ke atas pemain Thailand, Boonsak Ponsana, semalam. Pertemuan dua jaguh hebat itu diramal berlaku pada Seluruh England di mana Lin Dan bakal mempertahankan mahkotanya serta Terbuka Switzerland gelanggang di mana Chong Wei menundukkan jaguh China itu, tahun lalu. "Saya tidak sabar lagi untuk bertemu Lin Dan. Untuk itu saya hanya perlu konsisten dan kekalkan momentum. Saya akan fokus kepada persembahan saya dan tidak mahu bimbangkan mengenainya," kata Chong Wei.