Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

By P.Vijian NEW DELHI, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- "House is in order and work is progressing at high speed" was how Malaysia's chef-de-mission (CDM) Tan Sri Abdul Halil Abdul Mutalib described the current condition of the New Delhi Commonwealth Games village. Abdul Halil, along with about 90 Malaysian athletes arrived in Delhi last night, to participate in the 19th edition of the games that kicks off this Sunday in the Indian capital. "My first impression when I arrived at the airport was quite impressive. The (Indian welcoming) reception and the arrangements from the airport to the games village was above average. "We even had an armed guard in our bus that gave us confidence about our security," he told the media at the games village. Until today about 118 Malaysians have arrived in Delhi and begun their training at the newly build but controversial-hit games village, where conditions were in appalling conditions earlier. But the Indian organi

AHMAD SHABERY (kiri) bersalaman dengan pengetua University of Stirling, Prof. Gerry McCormac selepas mengadakan pertemuan di Stirling, Scotland semalam. STIRLING (SCOTLAND) - Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) bercadang mengadakan kerjasama dengan University of Stirling bagi membangunkan sukan di Malaysia. Demikian jelas menterinya, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek semalam. Beliau berkata, satu perbincangan mengenai perkara itu sedang diatur antara Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), universiti tersebut dan Majlis Sukan Scotland. "Kerjasama itu akan memberi fokus kepada model pembangunan industri sukan, pengurusan sukan dan persediaan atlet," katanya selepas melawat universiti tersebut semalam. Ahmad Shabery berkata, kerjasama itu turut membuka kemungkinan untuk mewujudkan pangkalan hadapan atlet sebagai persediaan ke Sukan Komanwel 2014 di Glasgow. Pada masa yang sama, beliau menggesa universiti di Malaysia mencontohi rakan di Scotland yang melakukan pelbagai penyelidikan untuk pe

SEPANG, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysian contingent Chef-de-Mission (CDM) Tan Sri Abdul Halil Abdul Mutalib headed the second batch of athletes who left to New Delhi, India for the Commonwealth Games that starts on Monday. The athletes were also accompanied by two police officers to ensure their safety during the games. The first batch of athletes, led by the lawn bowls team, had already arrived in New Delhi on Friday. Among the teams that left to New Delhi were athletes from gymnastics, weightlifting, aquatics, archery, badminton and cycling. The Malaysian contingent to New Delhi would comprise 201 athletes and 95 officials who will be hoping to win 10 gold medals through the 17 sports featured by the country's athletes. -- BERNAMA http://thedelhi2010.blogspot.com/

SEPANG, 28 Sept (Bernama) -- Kontinjen negara merangkumi 93 atlet dan pegawai diketuai ketua kontinjen Tan Sri Abdul Halil Abdul Mutalib berlepas ke New Delhi, India, untuk menyertai Sukan Komanwel ke-19. Kontinjen kedua itu adalah yang terbesar selepas skuad boling padang berlepas ke ibu negara India itu, Jumaat lepas. Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan Datuk Razali Ibrahim berkata kontinjen tersebut turut diiringi dua orang pegawai polis selaku pegawai kontinjen untuk menjaga keselamatan atlet di sana. Bercakap kepada pemberita selepas mengucapkan selamat jalan kepada kontinjen itu di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa KL (KLIA) di sini, Selasa, beliau berharap sebarang kekurangan di temasya itu dapat ditangani oleh pihak penganjur sebelum temasya itu bermula Ahad ini. Kontinjen hari ini merangkumi enam anggota skuad gimnastik, angkat berat, akuatik, memanah, badminton dan berbasikal. Malaysia, yang menghantar 201 atlet dan 95 pegawai dalam menyertai dalam 17 jenis sukan pada

By P. Vijian NEW DELHI, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- Anxious Malaysian officials have yet to give the thumbs-up for conditions at the Games Village where the 2010 Commonwealth Games will be held. "I am keeping my fingers crossed, lot of work has to be done (where Malaysians athletes will be staying). Plumbing, electricity supply and cleanliness need to be improved," Malaysia's Commonwealth Games general manager Jefri Ngadirin told Bernama on Saturday. "We hope everything will be okay by Sept 28 when our athletes arrive. We are pushing them (organisers) to do it up, there is some progress," he said. He said food and health issues did not pose a problem as the organisers duly took care of them. A seven-member delegation, headed by Jefri, arrived in Delhi two nights ago to inspect the conditions of the venues and athletes residential zone, after Indian organisers fumbled in keeping up with their housekeeping deadline. With only eight days to go, workers, most

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil hands over the Overall OCM-Milo 2010 Women and Sports Overall award to netball coach Choo Kon Lee at Wisma OCM, yesterday. Looking on is OCM president Tengku Imran Tuanku Jaafar. — Picture by Fariz Iswadi Ismail   NETBALL coach Choo Kon Lee was honoured with the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM)-Milo 2010 Women and Sports Overall award yesterday after leading Malaysia to four Asian Youth Championship titles. Wong Long Choy and Kok Mee Foong, parents of badminton player Wong Mew Choo, were awarded the Women and Sport Partnership prize while table tennis coach and umpire Christina Chee Shin Liang won the Leadership award. Former national football player Normala Abd Rashid received the award for Development of Sports in the Community for her tireless efforts in promoting the development of women's football and netball in the country. The Grassroots Development award went to former Squash Racquets Associa

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Lawn bowling queen Siti Zalina Ahmad is free from injuries and ready to knock down her third Commonwealth Games gold medal in New Delhi. Malaysian Lawn Bowls Association deputy president Jamal Abdul Nasir Bakar said Siti Zalina has fully recovered from injury after a minor surgery. "The treatment at National Sports Institute has been good. I am confident that Siti Zalina will do well in New Delhi," the lawn bowling team manager told Bernama here Thursday. World number four Siti Zalina suffered an injury in a warm up competition in Paroi, Seremban four months ago. Jamal said Siti Zalina had told him that she would do her best to capture her third gold to make it a hattrick. Siti Zalina won two gold medals at Melbourne (2006) and Manchester (2002) Commonwealth Games. The lawn bowls team will be the first to leave for New Delhi tomorrow. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Laptop computers, mobile phones and radio sets are among electrical items banned form New Delhi Commonwealth Games (CWG) venues. National Sports Council (MSN) director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong said bags, food, beverages, coins, flags, musical instruments and weapons are also prohibited. "Malaysian athletes found for New Delhi have been briefed on the banned items and are requested to abide by regulations," he told reporters here Thursday. On the withdrawal of Olympic champions Usain Bolt of Jamaica and Chris Hoy of Britain, Zolkples said as professionals, they were not bound to their respective countries. However, it was a different case for Malaysian athletes who were financially supported by the government and thus had to abide by its decision. He said Malaysia could not withdraw from CWG based on negative media reports from India as the athletes had been training for many years. "We are not overlooking security and

KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 Nicol David captured a recordequalling fifth women’s World Open squash title in grand style in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, yesterday. The Penangite was simply too good for fourth seed Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt in the final, romping home 11-5, 11-8, 11-6 as the Egyptian failed to put up much resistance despite the huge home support. Nicol had also captured the world title in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009. Last hurdle: Nicol David easily overcame Omneya Abdel Kawy (left) of Egypt to win a record-equalling fifth World Open title in Sharm El Sheikh Wednesday.   “I am happy to win my fifth world title. I never expected to win it in straight sets,” Nicol was quoted on squashsite.co.uk . Her five world titles equal that achieved by Australian Sarah Fitz- Gerald, who triumphed in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2002. Yesterday’s triumph was Nicol’s 13th win over Omneya in 14 outings in Women’s International Squash Players Association (Wispa) tournaments. Nicol has be

KUALA LUMPUR, 22 Sept (Bernama)-- Timbalan Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Tan Sri Annuar Musa berkata pasukan bola sepak negara akan tetap bertanding pada Kejohanan Bola Sepak Piala AFF Suzuki di Jakarta Disember ini walaupun berlaku demonstrasi anti-Malaysia di sana. Annuar yang juga Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan (KAFA) berkata, keyakinan beliau berdasarkan keupayaan negara itu dalam menganjurkan beberapa acara berprestij seperti badminton. "Saya yakin pihak Persatuan Sepak Bola Indonesia (PSSI) akan mengambil langkah-langkah wajar dalam memastikan keselamatan para pemain bola sepak kita "Selain itu, keyakinan saya turut bersandarkan kepada keupayaan mereka dalam menganjurkan beberapa kejohanan berprestij dunia termasuk badminton dan sebagainya,jadi kita harus memberi kepercayaan kepada mereka dalam menganjurkan pertandingan itu (Piala AFF Suzuki)," katanya kepada pemberita di sini. Beliau diminta mengulas mengenai kebimbangan pasukan ne

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is still holding on to the assurance given by the Indian government in regard to the safety and security of Malaysian athletes who will be competing in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi next month, said Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek. However, as an added precaution, he said the national contingent's 201 athletes and 95 officials would be accompanied by security officials from the Home Ministry. "But this does not mean that the Malaysian government does not have confidence in the Indian government. "We are just taking added precautions and all our officials will also be reminded to give more attention to security aspects," he told reporters after launching his ministry's Sports Industry Laboratory at the Bukit Jalil Sports Complex here Wednesday. Shabery was asked to comment on the security of Malaysian athletes at the Games in the wake of the shooting incident outside the Jama Mosque las

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Olympic Council (MOM) needs to re-evaluate the security situation in New Delhi before the Malaysian contingent leaves for the Commonwealth Games (CWG). "Should the organiser fail to control security, it is best for us to withdraw as it is not a trivial matter," said sports critics Tan Sri Prof Emeritus Dr Khoo Kay Kim. A footbridge near the main stadium, venue of the opening and closing ceremony collapsed Tuesday, injuring 20 people while two Taiwanese tourists were hurt in a shooting by two men near Masjid Jama New Delhi over the weekend. Khoo claimed that lax security at New Delhi CWG (Oct 3-14), the first since it began in 1930 in Canada, had forced athletes from Australia, England and New Zealand to withdraw. The historian said the organising country should have taken stock of its ability to control security and health before offering to become host. However, Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation deputy president Jamal

KUALA LUMPUR, 22 Sept (Bernama) -- Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) perlu menilai semula situasi semasa di New Delhi sebelum kontinjen Malaysia berlepas ke sana untuk menyertai Sukan Komanwel pada Oktober ini, kata pengkritik sukan, Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim. "Sekiranya penganjur masih gagal mengawal soal keselamatan, adalah lebih baik saya cadangkan kita menarik diri kerana soal keselamatan kontinjen tidak boleh dianggap sesuatu yang remeh," katanya ketika diminta mengulas mengenai isu keselamatan di ibu negara India itu. Sebuah jambatan pejalan kaki yang sedang dalam pembinaan berhampiran Stadium Utama yang menjadi venue bagi acara pembukaan dan penutup kejohanan dilaporkan runtuh pada Selasa menyebabkan 20 pekerja pembinaan cedera. Turut berlaku kejadian dua pelancong Taiwan cedera ditembak dua lelaki berhampiran Masjid Jama di New Delhi minggu lepas. Khoo berkata isu keselamatan Sukan Komanwel pertama kali menjadi perhatian negara peserta sejak kejohanan diperkenalkan

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- A team from the Malaysian contingent secretariat will leave for New Delhi tomorrow to evaluate India's preparation for the Commonwealth Games from Oct 3-14. Commonwealth Games general manager Jefri Ngadirin who is leading the team said it comprises seven members including a doctor and a security officer. "The team will send a report on the latest situation in New Delhi to the Youth and Sports Minister," he told Bernama here Wednesday. Jefri said the first team to leave for New Delhi will be lawn bowls on Friday before the other contingent members on Sept 28. The contingent received daily reports from the Malaysian High Commissioner's Office in New Delhi particularly on security and health. "Despite negative media reports, the Malaysian High Commissioner's Office confirmed that security and health is under control," he added. Malaysia is sending 203 athletes to compete in 14 sports in New Delhi. They are a

  KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champion Nicol David outclassed Malaysian team-mate Low Wee Wern to reach the semi-finals of the US$ 147,000 women’s World Open squash tournament in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt on Monday. Nicol ranked No. 1 in the world since August, 2006, won 11-2, 11-5, 11-2 in 27 minutes. The 27-year-old Nicol, who is gunning for her fifth world title, will face nemesis and third seed Alison Waters of England for a place in the final. “It’s always hard when you are playing against your team-mate. But it’s the quarter-final of the World Open and you have to try and play your best squash,” Nicol was quoted on the website www.squashsite.co.uk. “I feel as fit as I have ever been, and maybe I am faster to the ball which enables me to do more things.” If Nicol had an easy match, the same cannot be said for Waters. The English No. 2 was not at her best even though she ended the run of 2004 world champion Vanessa Atkinson of Holland with a five-set win. Waters came ba

KUALA LUMPUR - Walaupun pelbagai kerisauan mengenai tahap kesihatan di New Delhi sepanjang Sukan Komanwel Ke-19, atlet negara diberi jaminan bahawa segala-galanya terkawal. Wabak denggi yang dikatakan serius di ibu negara tersebut, bukan masalah kepada atlet negara, kerana penganjur diyakini akan berusaha memastikan tahap kesihatan para sentiasa dijaga. Ketua kontijen negara, Tan Sri Halil Mutalif, berkata laporan yang diterima dari pegawai kesihatan Malaysia yang memantau keadaan di India, setakat semuanya dalam keadaan baik. "Atlet dan pegawai kita tidak perlu bimbang dengan tahap kesihatan di sana, asalkan mereka mengikut arahan dan prosedur yang telah ditetapkan oleh pasukan perubatan Malaysia. "Selagi mereka berada dalam kawasan perkampungan sukan, risiko penyakit adalah tipis, berbanding keadaan di luar kawasan tersebut. "Di New Delhi nanti, terdapat pusat-pusat kesihatan yang disediakan oleh pihak penganjur untuk memastikan tahap kesihatan atlet sentiasa

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) on Tuesday announced their final list of athletes for November's Asian Games in Guongzhou, China. Its secretary general Sidney Tung in a statement Tuesday said MTBC had decided to sent six men and six women players for the Games. The men's team consists of Adrian Ang, Alex Liew, Muhd Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek, Aaron Kong, Zulmazran Zulkifli and Muhd Nur Aiman Khairuddin while Zatil Iman Abdul Ghani, Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi, Esther Cheah, Sin Li Jane, Sharon Koh and Shalin Zulkifli make up the women's team.

By P. Vijian NEW DELHI, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- At least 20 people were reported injured, five seriously, when a footbridge under construction near the Jawaharlal Stadium, one of the main venues for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, collapsed Tuesday evening. Indian news channel said most of the injured were workers at the construction site and were rushed to the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences Trauma Centre. South Delhi police confirmed five of the workers were seriously injured in the collapse. Public Works Department chief engineer A. K. Sinha said the bridge was meant for visitors during the Commonwealth Games. The bridge would connect one of the entrances to the stadium that would host the opening of the 19th edition of the games, where about 7,000 international athletes are expected to participate. The bridge mishap adds more woes as Indian organisers race against time and the incessant monsoon rain to complete the infrastructure projects ahead of the games,

By P. Vijian NEW DELHI, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- With less than a fortnight to go, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has issued a stern reminder to the Indian organisers to fix the games village before athletes arrive in the capital on Wednesday. "Many nations that have already sent their advanced parties to set up within the village have made it abundantly clear that, as of the afternoon of Sept 20, the Commonwealth Games Village is seriously compromised. "The condition of the residential zone has shocked the majority of Commonwealth Games Associations and significant operational matters remain unaddressed," CGF president Michael Fennell voiced his concerns in a statement on Tuesday.

(From left): Mohd Amir Mohd Yusof, Nor Iryani Azmi, Siti Zalina Ahmad, Nor Hashimah Ismail and Azim Azami Ariffin with the Jalur Gemilang after the flag-handing over ceremony in Putrajaya yesterday. — Picture by Fariz Iswadi Ismail. SPORTS Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek believes national athletes have the pedigree to surpass the medal targets of the New Delhi Commonwealth Games and Guangzhou Asian Games. Malaysian athletes have been set a goal of winning 10 gold medals in the Commonwealth Games and eight in the Asian Games. "We, as Malaysians, must show the world that we can do it. Our athletes must show their commitment and dedication during their events in both Games," said Ahmad Shabery at the Commonwealth Games flag-handing ceremony in Putrajaya yesterday. "I strongly believe our athletes can surpass the medal targets if they perform to their true potential. Our athletes should also look back to how Malaysia performed in last year's Laos Sea Games. Our

KUANTAN, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- The Indonesian government has assured the safety of Malaysian footballers taking part in the AFF Suzuki Cup Championship in Jakarta for Dec 1 to 29. Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said he raised the matter at the Asean Football Federation (AFF)'s meeting recently. "We had also contacted the Malaysian Ambassador in Jakarta and he told us that the Indonesian government will ensure the safety of our footballers," he told reporters at an Aidilfitri open house hosted by Pahang Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Wan Adnan Wan Mamat here Monday.

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- The Youth and Sports Ministry on Monday gave an assurance that it would take measures to ensure the security of the Malaysian contingent at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi early next month. Its minister, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the ministry would place security as its main agenda to avoid any undesired incidents for the athletes during the games. "We believe the Indian government is capable of providing appropriate security measures to prevent any threat from militant groups," he told reporters after the handing over of the Jalur Gemilang to the Malaysian chef de mission to the Commonwealth Games, Tan Sri Abdul Halil Abdul Mutalib, here. Ahmad Shabery said the ministry would get in touch with the Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi to monitor the latest developments there. He said this when asked to comment on the incident where two Taiwanese tourists were injured after being shot at by two men near the main mosque in N

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian contingent have been challenged to go beyond the country’s 10-gold medal target at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi from Oct 3-14. And a cool and composed flag bearer Siti Zalina Ahmad said the team were ready to stand up to the challenge. Yesterday, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Shabery Cheek threw down the gauntlet on the athletes during a flag-handing ceremony at the centralised training camp in Palm Garden. Shabery handed over the Malaysian flag to chef-de-mission Tan Sri Abdul Halil Abdul Mutalib and the Jalur Gemilang was then passed on to two-time Commonwealth Games lawn bowl singles gold medallist Zalina in a simple ceremony yesterday. In a speech to fan the fire among the athletes, Shabery is hoping that the athletes would rise up to his challenge. “We had set a 30-35 gold medal target at the SEA Games (in Laos) but our athletes did better as they won more than 40 (last year). This was due to their steely determination and their lo

MENTERI Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek mahu lagu kebangsaan bergema sebanyak 10 kali pada temasya Sukan Komanwel 2010 di New Delhi, India bermula 3 hingga 14 Oktober depan. Ia adalah kesinambungan daripada sasaran yang diletakkan kepada kontinjen Malaysia untuk mengutip sebanyak 10 pingat emas pada temasya yang bakal masuk edisi ke-19 itu. Shabery berkata, perkara tersebut tidak mustahil mampu dilaku- kan oleh atlet negara sekiranya mereka mencontohi semangat juang atlet-atlet yang telah mengharumkan nama negara pada Sukan SEA 2009 di Laos, Vientiane. "Pada temasya itu, sasaran awal negara adalah 30 hingga 35 pingat emas tetapi berkat semangat juang serta kesungguhan para atlet, kita mampu melebihi apa yang disasar- kan itu dengan mengutip 40 pingat emas. "Atlet perlu menunjukkan yang mereka layak bergelar sebagai 'Harimau Malaya' yang mana tidak akan sesekali mudah tunduk dan berputus asa dalam usaha mengha- rumkan nama negara," katanya. Be

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysian top women squash players Datuk Nicol Ann David and Low Wee Wern advanced to the quarter-finals of the Women's World Open squash championship after defeating their respective opponents at the Soho Square Squash Centre in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Sunday. The world number one, Nicol took 30 minutes to defeat Eyptian Raneem El Weleily with an identical scores of 11-7, 11-7 and 11-7. "I was trying to keep composed. I know that with being in Egypt and playing Raneem I expect her to come up with everything. And also there was the home crowd, so I was trying to make sure my focus was right. "Raneem has really developed her game a lot, and that her shots can work really well. I knew she was going for it and I had to keep a look out and not let her do that," said Nicol as quouted in the tournament official website, www.sohosquareworldopen.com. Nicol will be playing against her compatriot, Wee Wern, who reached the la

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- The National Sports Council (NSC) has given assurance that all money owed to National Sports Associations will be unsettled by year end, its Director-General Datuk Zolkples Embong said. He added that the NSC would settle money owed to associations through installments through allocation received from the government and sponsors. "When we receive the allocation we will settle the amounts claimed. The NSC has actually started paying some associations but not at one go," he told reporters after opening the centralised training camp for Commonwealth and Asian Games bound athletes at the Palm Garden Hotel here Sunday. The NSC had come under fire from associations when reports in a local daily claimed that NSC owed national associations millions of ringgit. Unlike in the past, Zolkples did not refute claims from the associations but added that claims from most of the associations were being processed while some did not submit complete docu

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysian athletes bound for New Delhi Commonwealth Games from Oct 3-14 will be given a briefing on healthcare tomorrow. Malaysian Olympic Council (MOM) secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said the briefing by National Sports Institute (ISN) will focus on prevention of dengue fever, cough and diarrhoea. "ISN's guideline should be followed. The athletes are responsible for their own health," he told reporters at MOM Aidilfitri open house here Saturday. Malaysia is sending a contingent of 203 athletes and 99 officials to the Indian capital. The Indian media had reported 140 dengue fever cases including 123 in New Delhi. Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao yesterday said that reports of dengue cases had been exaggerated and assured that the games would start as scheduled. Malaysia is competing in 14 events namely aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, lawn bowling, ping pong, shooting, squash

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Sharon Wee had to dig deep into her reserves to overcome a lower ranked opponent from Egypt, Salma Hany, to enter round three of the Women's World Open qualifying competition at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Friday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- Pole vault queen Roslinda Samsu is aiming for a medal at New Delhi Commonwealth Games from Oct 3-14 before turning her sight on Guangzhou Asian Games in November.

RAJAGOBAL turut hadir mewakili Malaysia pada majlis undian di Hanoi, Vietnam semalam. MALAYSIA telah diundi bersama-sama Indonesia dan Thailand untuk saingan peringkat kumpulan pada Kejohanan Bola Sepak Piala AFF Suzuki 2010 yang akan berlangsung di Jakarta dan Bandung dari 1 hingga 7 Disember depan. Biarpun dihimpit isu keselamatan berhubung insiden gerakan anti-Malaysia oleh kumpulan Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera) yang semakin menjadi-jadi di negara republik itu, skuad kebangsaan tidak gentar untuk terus beraksi pada kejohanan tersebut. Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad berkata, soal penarikan diri daripada saingan di Indonesia itu tidak lagi difikirkan mereka apabila menerima seadanya keputusan majlis undian di Hanoi, Vietnam semalam. "Setakat ini tiada hasrat untuk kita menarik diri kerana Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah (Timbalan Presiden FAM) sendiri menyatakan bahawa kita perlu teruskan saja penyertaan ini. "Cuma

PENYERTAAN Malaysia pada kejohanan dwitahunan anjuran Persekutuan Bola Sepak ASEAN (AFF), Piala AFF Suzuki 2010 dari 1 hingga 29 Disember depan kini bergantung kepada keputusan majlis undian di Hanoi, Vietnam hari ini. Saingan peringkat kumpulan kejohanan yang akan disertai lapan pasukan itu akan dibahagikan kepada dua venue tuan rumah iaitu Indonesia dan Vietnam dari 1 hingga 8 Disember. Pasukan yang diundi satu kumpulan dengan Indonesia akan beraksi di Stadium Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta dan Stadium Jalak Harupat, Bandung. Manakala pasukan yang sama kumpulan dengan Vietnam pula bakal beraksi di Stadium My Dinh dan Stadium Hang Day di Hanoi. Dua minggu lalu, Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) telah menyatakan kebimbangan bahawa skuad kebangsaan mungkin terpaksa menarik diri daripada kejohanan tersebut jika diundi satu kumpulan dengan Indonesia. Ia berkait rapat dengan isu keselamatan berhubung insiden gerakan anti-Malaysia oleh kumpulan Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera) yang

CADANGAN penggabungan Akademi Badminton Negara dan Akademi Berbasikal di velodrom tertutup yang dirancang pembinaannya di Vision Valley, Labu di Negeri Sembilan, memerlukan kajian lanjut mengenai kesesuaiannya. Naib Presiden Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM), Datuk Mohamed Al-Amin Abdul Majid berkata, satu kajian kini dilakukan satu jawatankuasa persatuan induk badminton itu, namun belum ada keputusan dibuat mengenai kesesuaian penggabungan tersebut. "Jika dilaksanakan, akademi itu dijadualkan siap pada 2012, lengkap dengan infrastruktur berteknologi terkini untuk atlet dan bakal menggantikan Akademi BAM yang kini terletak di Stadium Badminton Kuala Lumpur di Cheras," katanya semalam. Dua tahun lalu, Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) telah mengenal pasti satu tapak di Taman Maluri, Cheras untuk dijadikan Pusat Kecemerlangan Badminton negara. Namun pada tahun lalu, KBS memilih satu tapak baru yang dirasakan lebih sesuai di Jalan Coch- rane, Cheras seluas 3.3 hektar teta

SELEPAS 21 tahun, Malaysia kembali melahirkan kuartet 4x100 meter wanita. Kebangkitan kuartet tersebut tampil penuh bergaya namun masih perlu digilap agar lebih berdaya saing di pentas antarabangsa, khususnya pada peringkat Sukan SEA dan Asia. Sebagai permulaan, kuartet tersebut tampil dengan kejayaan memperbaharui rekod kebangsaan. Ia hadir menerusi rangkaian pelari yang dibarisi Siti Zubaidah Adabi, Nor Jannah Hafizah Jamaludin, Yee Yi Ling dan Nurul Sarah Abdul Kadir. Kuartet negara itu ternyata berada pada landasan terbaik apabila berjaya mencatatkan rekod baru 45.33 saat yang dilakukan pada Grand Prix (GP) Poland, Julai lalu. Kejayaan tersebut sekali gus memadam rekod lama yang dicipta oleh kuartet yang dibarisi Anita Ali, G Shanti, Sajaratuldur Hamzah dan Mumtaz Jaafar yang melakukan catatan 45.37 pada Sukan SEA 1989 di Kuala Lumpur. “Saya sebenarnya tidak menjangka yang kami (kuartet 4x100 meter) mampu untuk memecahkan rekod kebangsaan dan sudah pasti ia merupakan de

BERSALAMAN bersama-sama rakan sepasukan ketika menyambut aidilfitri di Slovakia. PEMAIN skuad Harimau Muda yang beragam Islam menunaikan solat sunat aidilfitri serta bertakbir raya pada pagi Syawal. PEMAIN-PEMAIN skuad Harimau Muda menjamu selera ketika menyambut aidilfitri di hotel penginapan mereka di Slovakia. BIARPUN jauh di perantauan, barisan pemain dan pegawai skuad bawah 21 tahun kebangsaan, Harimau Muda A tetap menyambut pagi Syawal kelmarin dalam suasana meriah, lapor WAN FAKHRUL BAKAR. Skuad Harimau Muda A telah berlepas ke Zlate Moravce, Slovakia pada 2 September lalu untuk menjalani latihan dan siri perlawanan persahabatan selama tiga bulan sehingga penghujung November depan. Selepas mengharungi dua aksi sulung ketika bulan Ramadan, pemain-pemain Harimau Muda A tidak ke- tinggalan menyambut Aidilfitri dengan menunaikan solat sunat Aidilfitri di tempat penginapan mereka, Hotel Vion. Sambutan tersebut bukan saja diraikan 20 pemain Harimau Muda A yang beragama

INSTITUT Sukan Negara (ISN) bercadang untuk memperluaskan penggunaan aplikasi teknologi sains sukan biomekanik bagi membantu mempertingkatkan prestasi atlet taekwondo negara. Ketua Pengarahnya, Datuk Dr. Ramlan Abdul Aziz berkata aplikasi tersebut yang pada awalnya digunakan bagi membantu skuad bola sepak negara akan diperluaskan penerapannya kepada atlet taekwondo, bermula awal tahun hadapan. "Daripada kajian yang ISN lakukan kepada skuad bola sepak, didapati bahawa teknologi ini banyak membantu pemain mencapai tahap kecergasan yang diinginkan oleh jurulatih," kata- nya. Dr. Ramlan berkata, pada peringkat awal, teknologi tersebut akan digunakan untuk membantu beberapa orang atlet elit taekwondo sebelum diterapkan secara menyeluruh. Beliau berkata, ISN mempunyai kepakaran dan peralatan yang terkini bagi menjayakan usaha ini yang dapat membantu atlet taekwondo negara memperbaiki teknik mereka berdasarkan data yang dikumpul. "Teknologi ini mampu membantu jurulatih d

DETIK manis buat Nor Iryani (kanan) selepas muncul juara acara triple pada Sukan SEA 2005 di Manila, Filipina bersama Haslah Hassan (kiri) dan Azlina Arshad. SELEPAS 'hilang' seketika, Nor Iryani Azmi kini kembali mewarnai arena sukan boling padang tanah air. Mula membarisi skuad elit negara pada usia 18 tahun, Iryani mempunyai alasan mengapa dia terpaksa menyepikan diri daripada sukan boling padang selama tiga tahun. Ini kerana, anak jati kelahiran Taiping, Perak itu menyambung pengajiannya di peringkat diploma dalam jurusan Multimedia Pengiklanan dan Penyiaran di Universiti Kreatif Teknologi LimKokWing bermula awal tahun 2007. Hasrat tersebut disokong sepenuhnya oleh Persekutuan Boling Padang Malaysia (PLBM) biarpun menyedari Iryani pada ketika itu berada di kemuncak prestasinya. "Bagi saya, pelajaran itu penting dan disebabkan itu, saya mengambil keputusan untuk berhenti seketika daripada membabitkan diri dalam sukan boling padang. "Saya bersyukur kerana

  KEMELUT yang melanda Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) dengan Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) dan Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) sedikit pun tidak menjejaskan tumpuan atlet olahraga negara. Sebaliknya ketua jurulatih olahraga negara, Harun Rasheed Othman berkata, dia sangat berpuas hati dengan komitmen yang dipamerkan atlet-atlet ketika sesi latihan di bawah pengawasannya. "Saya tidak merasakan isu-isu yang timbul sebelum ini telah menjejaskan tumpuan para atlet sewaktu mereka menjalani latihan ataupun menyertai sebarang kejohanan. "Apa yang saya lihat, mereka sentiasa memberikan tumpuan sepenuhnya kerana sedar bahawa mereka ada tugas yang lebih penting buat negara," jelas Harun kepada Kosmo! baru-baru ini. Ketika ini, barisan atlet olahraga negara sedang giat menjalani latihan bagi beraksi pada dua temasya iaitu Sukan Komanwel di New Delhi, India pada Oktober dan Sukan Asia 2010 di Guangzhou, China November depan.

ucapan Ramadhan KP from alan82 on Vimeo .

KUALA LUMPUR - Tiada sasaran pingat diletakkan pada Sukan Komanwel 2010 di New Delhi. Itu kata skuad hoki kebangsaan. Namun, Malaysia tetap mahu melakukan yang terbaik pada temasya tersebut sebagai persedian untuk cemerlang pada Sukan Asia di Guangzhou pada November ini. Timbalan Presiden Persekutuan Hoki Malaysia (PHM), Nur Azmi Ahmad berkata, Sukan Komanwel kali ini lebih kepada persediaan terbesar bagi pasukan negara kerana mereka bakal bertemu pasukan yang kuat seperti India, Pakistan dan Australia. Menurut Nur Azmi, beliau juga yakin 16 pemain yang dipilih untuk beraksi di New Delhi mampu melakukan yang terbaik pada temasya itu. ''Kebanyakan yang kita pilih untuk ke Komanwel ini adalah yang terbaik dan kemungkinan mereka juga bakal beraksi di Guangzhou nanti. ''Kami tidak meletakkan apa-apa sasaran pingat pada Komanwel ini kerana matlamat utama kami adalah mahu memastikan skuad kita dapat melakukan yang terbaik di New Delhi sebagai persediaan untuk mendapat

Azlan Iskandar (left) and Madeline Perry pose with the trophy after winning the Irish Open men’s and women’s title on Saturday. NOT quite satisfied with winning two PSA Tour titles and an Asian Championship crown, Azlan Iskandar wants to turn 2010 into a truly memorable year. The Irish Open which Azlan won on Saturday, is just the appetiser as he sets his sights on winning an Asian Games gold medal, a Commonwealth Games medal of any colour and to break into the world's top 10 for the first time. Being injury-free this year has allowed Azlan to keep his mind firmly focused on his squash and he has begun to reap the rewards. "Well my targets (for now) have been achieved but I still want to get into the top-10, win a Commonwealth Games medal and the Asian Games gold. "The next two weeks will be nothing but hard training and then I'll take the time to relax before the Commonwealth Games," said Azlan, 28, in an online interview from Dublin yesterday. The Comm

PETALING JAYA: Mohd Azlan Iskandar bagged his second Professional Squash Association (PSA) of the year, the 13th of his career, when he beat Spaniard Borja Golan in the final of the Irish Open on Saturday. The world No. 14 won 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-5 in a match against the 2006 champion that lasted for 100 minutes. After winning the first set, the Malaysian Open champion found himself on the back foot when he trailed Golan 1-5 in the opening minutes of the second set. Although the Sarawakian managed to level 8-8, Golan, a former world No. 10 now ranked in 83rd spot after a knee surgery hampered his career last year, proved to be too strong and took the set. On a roll: Mohd Azlan Iskandar bagged his second PSA title of the year after he beat Borja Golan in Irish Open final on Saturday.   Azlan was again unlucky in the third set and failed to stop Golan from drawing level at 8-8 and then allowing the Spaniard to win it at 11-9 win. “I was a bit unlucky in the

SKUAD negara memperoleh pengalaman berguna sepanjang latihan serta aksi persahabatan ketika berada di Doha, Qatar. JIKA mahu terus kekal dalam skuad kebangsaan, pemain perlu mengekalkan prestasi bermula pada saingan Piala Malaysia. Jika tidak, mereka berhadapan kemungkinan diketepikan daripada skuad kendalian K. Rajagobal itu. Selepas menjalani latihan selama tiga minggu sepanjang bulan Ramadan ini, pemain negara kini kembali ke pangkuan skuad negeri masing-masing. Apa yang pasti, mereka perlu mengekalkan prestasi cemerlang kerana selepas ini skuad negara ada tugas yang lebih mencabar untuk diharungi. Sepanjang kem latihan mereka selama tiga minggu, secara keseluruhannya prestasi mereka boleh dianggap membanggakan. Latihan itu merangkumi beberapa aksi persahabatan dengan kelab tempatan dan luar negara. Mereka bermula dengan aksi pemanas pada 24 Ogos lalu yang menyaksikan skuad negara menang 3-1 ke atas KL Plus. Selepas itu, skuad Rajagobal ini terbang ke Doha, Qatar untuk