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Kapten pasukan Negeri Sembilan, Aidil Zafuan Abd. Razak (kiri) dan rakan sejawatannya dari Kelantan, Indra Putra Mahyuddin sudah bersedia untuk bertarung habis-habisan pada perlawanan akhir Piala Malaysia di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil, malam ini. - UTUSAN/Azrul Edham Mohd. Aminuddin KUALA LUMPUR - Kelantan berasa mereka telah matang dengan pengajaran musim lalu manakala Negeri Sembilan percaya seluruh pemainnya mampu menampung kelemahan jentera serangan apabila kedua-duanya mengulangi perhitungan akhir bola sepak Piala Malaysia, malam ini. Edisi ke-44 di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil turut membuka peluang terbaik Wira Merah menghadiahkan Sultan Muhammed V atas pemasyhuran baginda sebagai Sultan Kelantan. Sedangkan Si Rusa mengidam gelaran berganda musim ini selepas menjulang Piala FA. Inilah kemaraan keempat Kelantan ke perlawanan akhir Piala Malaysia (termasuk Piala Malaya) selepas 1955, 1970 dan tahun lalu yang kesemuanya dihampakan Singapura, Perak dan Negeri Sembila

Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek with Country Heights founder Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew at the Malaysia Sports Trade and Golf Expo. — Picture by Nor Nashriq Haron TO further educate and create awareness of sports as an industry, the Sports Ministry launched the Malaysia Sports Trade and Golf Expo (MSTGE) at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre (MIECC) yesterday. The event, jointly organised by the ministry and Mines Event Management Sdn Bhd, is a four-day expo featuring about 150 booths which cover a wide range of products and services linked to sports. However, the emphasis is more on golf products. Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who launched the MSTGE, said the expo was a timely addition to the Malaysia Sports Industry Convention and the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Golf Championship which is also being held at the Mines Resort City in Seri Kembangan. "This is the first time we are having MSTGE and it is a new beginning. The world

(From left) National hockey player Baljit Singh, Sports Ministry secretary general Datuk Mohid Mohamed, Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Deputy Sports Minister Gan Ping Shou at the second Sports Industry Convention yesterday. — Picture by Syarafiq Abd Samad THE growth of sports as an industry depends much on the successes of the national athletes. And Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek believes that Malaysia's 12-gold haul in the New Delhi Commonwealth Games is a big boost for the sports industry. Ahmad Shabery said the performances of the athletes have captured public's interest which is needed for creating a sports culture. The minister pointed out that a sports-oriented mindset is crucial to making sports a lucrative industry. Ahmad Shabery, who officiated the second Sports Industry Convention (KISMAS II) at the Mines Resort City yesterday, said China is a prime example of how success on the field has elevated the country into a leading

ZOLKPLES memberi kata-kata semangat kepada para perenang negara di Pusat Akuatik Nasional, Bukit Jalil semalam. MISI skuad renang negara bagi menghadapi temasya Sukan Asia 2010 di Guangzhou, China bulan depan dijangka cukup mencabar. Selain perlu berdepan cabaran tuan rumah, China, barisan perenang negara juga terpaksa mengharungi cabaran daripada perenang-perenang Olimpik dari negara Asia lain. Namun, bagi Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong, situasi itu tidak seharusnya menjadi alasan kepada 12 perenang dan tiga atlet renang berirama negara untuk 'menyerah' begitu sahaja. Jelas Zolkples, meskipun tidak meletakkan sasaran pingat pada temasya di Guangzhou itu, namun beliau tetap berharap perenang negara dapat menunjukkan peningkatan dari segi prestasi atau sekurang-kurangnya mampu memperbaharui rekod kebangsaan masing-masing. "Kita tidak meletakkan harapan yang tinggi kepada skuad renang negara memenangi pingat di Sukan Asia nanti,"

GIMNAS negara, Elaine Koon (tengah) sambil diiringi jaguh angkat berat, Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim (kiri) dan pemain hoki, Baljit Singh membawa lambang 1Malaysia untuk diserahkan kepada Shabery pada majlis perasmian KISMAS 2010. KONVENSYEN Industri Sukan Malaysia (KISMAS) 2010 yang berlangsung mulai semalam hingga esok meletakkan matlamat untuk menjadikan bidang sukan di negara ini mampu berkembang dengan sendiri tanpa bantuan kerajaan. Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek berkata, buat masa ini, China akan menjadi model kepada Malaysia untuk merealisasikan hasrat itu. Katanya, adalah tidak mustahil suatu hari nanti Malaysia tidak perlu lagi ada kementerian yang memajukan sukan seperti yang berlaku di Amerika Syarikat dan Jepun ketika ini. “Kita memerlukan masa yang panjang untuk mencapai tahap seperti di Amerika Syarikat tetapi dengan adanya KISMAS, kita sedang bergerak ke arah itu dengan menumpukan kepada sukan (seperti sepak takraw dan badminton) yang sudah ad

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 Okt (Bernama) -- Penglibatan lebih banyak syarikat swasta dalam penajaan sukan memberi petunjuk bahawa industri sukan negara sedang menuju ke arah perkembangan yang lebih baik. Menteri Belia dan Sukan Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek berkata syarikat swasta kini melihat penajaan tersebut bukan lagi sekadar tanggungjawab sosial tetapi sebagai pelaburan pemasaran. "Mereka (syarikat swasta) meletakkan nama mereka pada acara-acara sukan yang dapat mengembangkan pasaran mereka, perbezaan pendekatan inilah sesuatu yang perlu kita galakkan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Konvensyen Industri Sukan Malaysia (KISMAS) 2010 di sini Khamis. Selain itu, beliau berkata penganjuran kejohanan sukan bertaraf antarabangsa turut membantu perkembangan industri tersebut. "Penganjuran sesuatu sukan contohnya kejohanan badminton, meskipun kalah, kita mendapat faedah dari satu sudut yang lain iaitu dapat mempopularkan nama negara. "Atau kejohanan sepak

THE second National Sports Industry Convention beginning today will open up more opportunities for local entrepreneurs to explore business opportunities relating to sport in this country. In a statement issued by the Corporate Communications Unit of the Sports Ministry, it said the convention seeks to provide exposure and the latest information on strategies in line with the national sports industry's New Economic Model. "It also aims to strengthen cooperation in terms of dynamic partnerships, knowledge and expertise with government agencies, private sector and NGOs," read the statement. The Convention will be officially launched by Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek at the Palace of Golden Horses in Mines Resort City today. Alongside the convention, the ministry is also organising a Malaysian Sport Trade & Golf Resort (MSTGR) exposition until Sunday at the Malaysian International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The MSTGR is intended to develop t

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The National Sports Council (NSC) has set a nine-gold target for the Guangzhou Asian Games in China through cycling, tenpin bowling and squash. NSC director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong said three of the nine gold medals were targeted from tenpin bowling, through men's singles, women's singles and doubles. Zolkples said based on the squad's success in winning numerous titles at international tournament, it would not be impossible for the bowling squad to achieve that target. "They are a balanced squad. In the past we depended heavily on the women keglers to deliver but now even the men, comprising Zulmazran Zulkifli, Adrian Ang, Muhd Syafiq Ridhwan and Muhd Nur Aiman Khairuddin are all capable of winning," he told reporters after watching the team training at the Endah Parade Megalanes in Sri Petaling here Wednesday. Bowling offers 12 gold medals in the Guangzhou Asian Games scheduled from Nov 12-27. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) are hoping for high jumper Lee Hup Wei to repeat his Asian Track and Field (ATF) feat at the Guangzhou Asian Games next month. MAAU deputy president Karim Ibrahim said since Hup Wei had clinched the gold medal at the ATF in Amman, Jordan back in 2007, against a tough field, he was confident that Hup Wei would soar to greater heights in the Asian Games, scheduled from Nov 12-27. "If he can maintain his performance and clear 2.26m or 2.27m, we can be assured of a medal," he told Bernama here Wednesday. He added that in New Delhi, Hup Wei could only manage 2.23m, way below his personal best of 2.27m, achieved at the China Open in May 2008 at the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, to break the 13-year-old record of 2.24m set by Loo Kum Zee in the 1995 Chiang Mai SEA Games. The Dengkil, Selangor-born high jumper who holds the national high jump record of 2.27m, would hi

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union's (MAAU) National Athletics Championships will be the final platform for national athletes to earn a ticket to the Guangzhou Asian Games scheduled next month. MAAU deputy president Karim Ibrahim said the championships to be held at the National Sports Council (NSC) Mini Stadium in Bukit Jalil would also double up as a selection for national athletes. According to Karim, so far only six athletes had qualified for the Asian Games on merit, namely Roslinda Samsu (women's pole vault), Lee Hup Wei (men's high jump) and the women's 4x100m quartet comprising Siti Zubaidah Adabi, Norjannah Hafiszah Jamaludin, Nurul Sarah Abdul Kadir and Yee Yi Lin. "We will select a few more athletes to Guangzhou. We have short-listed about seven potential athletes but a decision will only be made by the MAAU selection committee after the meet, based on their performances," he told reporters at the National

Zafarul Akbar Kassim (left).   KUALA Lumpur businessman Zafarul Akbar Kassim ousted long-serving Datuk Wira Gan Boon Leong as president of the Malaysia Weightlifting Federation (MWF) at its annual general meeting-cum-elections in Malacca on Sunday. Zafarul, who is the KL Weightlifting Association (KLWA) president, received the majority of support from the 16 affiliates to replace Boon Leong who has served MWF for more than two decades. Boon Leong's defeat triggered the withdrawal of another experienced official Roslan Othman, the incumbent secretary, who also called it a day although he was nominated to contest for the position. Roslan's withdrawal led to the other nominee, Ismail Khamis, being announced as the secretary unopposed. According to the MWF constitution, the nomination of the candidates is done during the elections. Zainuddin Rashidi (Kedah), Philip Gisen (Sabah), Duang Sitang (Labuan) and Zainuddin Joseph (Pahang) were elected as vice presidents. Zafarul

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's top shuttler, Datuk Lee Chong Wei who had a favourable draw in the men's singles draw is expected to cruise into the semifinals of the 16th Guangzhou Asian Games badminton competition scheduled from Nov 12-27. In the draw held in Guangzhou, the men's singles world number one and top seed, received a first round bye and is expected to face Chan Yan Kit of Hong Kong in the second round. Chong Wei is expected to battle against Thailand ace Boonsak Ponsana, seeded sixth, in the quarter-finals and barring any upsets, would face either third seeded Chen Jin of China or Indonesian Sony Dwi Kuncoro, seeded seventh. In the bottom-half of the draw, world champion Lin Dan of China also received an easy path to the semifinals and expected to face little resistance, either from fourth seeded Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia or Kenichi Tago of Japan, seeded eighth. If both Chong Wei and Lin Dan manage to overcome their respective opponents

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- With the experience gained playing among top women professional golfers in the world at the just-concluded inaugural Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia tournament, national amateur golfer Kelly Tan is all fired up to face the Asian Games in Guongzhou, China next month. She finished in 32nd position with an overall score of three-over-par 216, a creditable performance indeed in view of the big names who competed. "I learnt a lot from them (the pros) and they motivated me throughout. The experience will serve me well when I compete in the Asian Games next month," she told Bernama. Asked if she would be turning professional soon, Kelly said: "Not for the time being. I plan to enrol in a college in the United States to upgrade my golfing skills first." The three-day tournament which began on Friday and offered total prize money of US1.8 million (RM5.6 million) was won by Kang Jimin, a professional golfer from South Korea. Kang fired a

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Asian Track and Field (ATF) Championships gold medallist Lee Hup Wei hopes to add the Asian Games gold medal to his trophy cabinet. The Dengkil, Selangor-born high jumper who holds the national high jump record of 2.27m, is also eager to make up for a costly mistake that denied him a medal at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games which ended last week. Hup Wei who clinched the gold medal at the ATF in Amman, Jordan back in 2007, remains confident of coming back with a medal from the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China scheduled from Nov 13-27. "In Delhi, I was too anxious to win a medal and that resulted in an injury to my ankle but luckily it was not serious," Hup Wei who finished seventh in the Doha Asian Games four years ago told Bernama here Thursday. In New Delhi, Lee could only manage 2.23m, way below his personal best of 2.27m, achieved at the China Open in May 2008 at Beijing's National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest,

NATIONAL Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Zolkples Embong is confident Malaysia will win at least nine gold medal in the Asian Games next month. The chef-de-mission also does not rule out the possibility of Malaysia reaching double figures. Zolkples said multiple gold can be expected from squash, cycling and bowling while several other sports can deliver at least one gold. Four gold medals will be on offer in squash for the first time and Malaysia are aiming for a clean sweep. Zolkples believes Malaysia have the chance to win more gold medals in cycling compared to only one gold (in keirin) in the New Delhi Commonwealth Games a fortnight ago. Bowling provided three gold in Doha four years ago where Malaysia achieved their best haul of eight gold, 17 silver and 17 bronze and Zolkples expects the sport to maintain the consistency in the Asian Games. The other sports which can deliver gold are badminton, karate, wushu, sailing and equestrian. "We should be goo

THE Malaysian men's hockey team received a favourable fixture for the Guangzhou Asian Games as they open accounts against Singapore. But they could find themselves without a chief coach. After playing Singapore, Malaysia will have a day's rest before meeting South Korea and Oman back-to-back. Hosts China will square off against Malaysia after another day's rest. "Yes, the fixtures are very kind to us because earlier I had feared that we would have to play Korea and China back-to-back. Or that Korea and China will play in the last game. "However, having said that, reaching the semi-finals is still in the hands of the players, as they have to perform in every match," said chief coach Stephen van Huizen. It is highly likely that Korea will seal one semis ticket, while Malaysia and China will fight for the second spot in their final Group A match. Van Huizen was injured during the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi when he missed a step, and the early in

KUALA LUMPUR: Everyone is dreaming of a battle between the two current badminton greats – Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei and China’s Lin Dan – in the men’s singles final of the Asian Games in Guangzhou next month. It could happen if both live up to their first and second seedings in the singles event and they stay free from injuries. To further intensify their rivalry, Lin Dan recently stated that Chong Wei would indeed be his ‘enemy’ until the 2012 Olympic Games in London. He made this statement in an interview published in the latest edition of Olympic Review , the International Olympic Committee’s e-magazine, which was posted on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) website yesterday. “Over the next two years, leading players such as Lee Chong Wei and Bao Chunlai will keep making progress. Meanwhile, more players will come up, like Chen Jin and Chen Long. “All of them are very good players and will be major competitors to me in London,” said Lin Dan. All three – Chunlai,

KUALA LUMPUR: World number one shuttler Lee Chong Wei will resume his preparation for the Asian Games today with a light workout. Chong Wei, who returned home from the New Delhi Commonwealth Games on Friday, had been seeking treatment for his ankle injury. “He will start with a light workout today (at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara) and he will be monitored closely by the NSI (National Sports Institute). “We will be able to get a full report on his status from the NSI after this,” said Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) general manager Kenny Goh yesterday. Chong Wei is the top seed for the Asian Games in Guangzhou next month. He has to be in tip-top condition if he wants to win the Asiad gold medal as the field will be much stronger than that at the Commonwealth Games, where he emerged as the champion for the second consecutive time. Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Gymnastics Federation (MGF) deserve a pat on the back for admitting their mistakes. And what is more pleasing is their willingness to learn from it in a bid to bring back the glory days in the men’s and women’s artistic event, beginning with the Guangzhou Asian Games next month. Yesterday, Asiad team manager Abdul Razak Mat Amin, who is also the MGF deputy president, admitted it was time to go back to the grassroots and bring in new and fresh faces to the men’s and women’s artistic team. A shortage of new talents was evident at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi recently – especially in the men’s artistic team. Malaysia have been banking for far too long on injury-prone seniors like Onn Kwang Tung and Mohd Iwan Miskob. Kwang Tung took part in only three events and was not able to join the team for a training stint in China prior to the Games due to health reasons.

FOCUS ON TABLE TENNIS DATES OF COMPETITION: Nov 13-20 VENUE: Guangzhou Gymnasium MEDALS AT STAKE: 7-7-7 EVENTS: Men and women team, singles, doubles and mixed doubles TEAM MALAYSIA MEN: Mohd Shakirin Ibrahim WOMEN: Beh Lee Wei, Ng Sock Khim, Chiu Soo Jiin MANAGER: Han Kee Juan COACH: Soong Poh Wah PREVIOUS ACHIEVEMENTS: Nil THE Malaysian women’s table tennis team created history by winning the first ever medal in the New Delhi Commonwealth Games recently. Beh Lee Wei, Ng Sock Khim and Chiu Soo Jiin chalked up a hard fought 3-2 win over England to bag the team bronze medal. But the trio, and men’s national player Mohd Shakirin Ibrahim, will be heading for the Asian Games next month knowing they stand no chance at all of winning a medal in Guangzhou, China. Malaysian paddlers will be featuring in the Asiad for the first time after a lapse of 32 years. The standard in the Asian Games is very much higher compared to the Commonwealth Games and powerhouse China are expected

KUALA LUMPUR: The draw for the Asian Games has not been kind to debutant Mak Hee Chun. But it has not dampened his spirits. Hee Chun will be partnering Tan Wee Kiong at the Asiad in Guangzhou next month in both the individual and team events. In the individual event, the duo have been drawn in the same quarter as former world and Olympic champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia. They have a tricky first round match against Japan’s Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa. “For a debutant like me, it is certainly a tough draw. We never expected it to be easy anyway,” said Hee Chun. “Wee Kiong and I will be very satisfied if we can beat one or two top names in the Asiad. That is our goal for now.”

NORASEELA, pemenang gangsa Doha 2006 tersenarai dalam kontinjen olahraga. Ratu 400m lari berpagar disenarai dalam Kategori B WALAUPUN gagal melepasi had kelayakan ditetapkan, ratu 400 meter lari berpagar negara Noraseela Khalid mampu menghela nafas lega apabila namanya disahkan tersenarai ke Sukan Asia XVI Guangzhou dari 12 hingga 27 November ini. Setiausaha Kehormat Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM), Datuk Sieh Kok Chi yang sedang menghadiri mesyuarat Persatuan Jawatankuasa Olimpik Kebangsaan (ANOC) di Mexico mengesahkan nama pemenang gangsa Doha 2006 itu tersenarai dalam kontinjen olahraga ke temasya berprestij itu. “Mengapa kita perlu menghalang atlit bertanding sedangkan ramai pegawai termasuk dari negeri yang tidak ada kena mengena turut pergi ke temasya itu,” katanya. Timbalan Presiden Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM), Karim Ibrahim mengesahkan pihaknya menyenaraikan pelari 30 tahun itu bertanding di bawah Kategori B. “Begitupun, peluangnya beraksi belum terjam

Yeoh Ken Nee (kiri) dan Bryan Nickson Lomas ketika memenangi pingat gangsa acara 3 meter papan anjal pada Sukan Komanwel, baru-baru ini. KUALA LUMPUR - Bryan Nickson Lomas mungkin dilihat gandingan terbaik dengan penerjun berpengalaman Yeoh Keen Nee, namun perbezaan fizikal menjadi penghalang setiap kali mereka beraksi. Mereka meraih pingat gangsa dalam acara papan anjal 3 meter pada Sukan Komanwel, namun Ken Nee berpandangan keserasian antara mereka belum cukup sempurna. Katanya, mereka mampu melaksanakan rutin bersama-sama, namun kerana perbezaan saiz fizikal, kordinasi sesama sendiri sedikit terganggu. "Sukan Komanwel lalu merupakan gandingan ketiga kami. Saya harus akui kami masih berusaha untuk mencari keserasian, kerana perbezaan saiz fizikal," katanya. Ditanya siapa gandingan terbaiknya, pemenang pingat perak Sukan Asia Doha 2006 itu memberitahu, Rossharisham Roslan merupakan pasangan paling serasi. "Saya serasi dengan Rossharisham, tetapi dia meng

KUALA LUMPUR - Gimnas kebangsaan, Elaine Koon mengakui cabaran pada Sukan Asia Guangzhou, jauh lebih sukar berbanding Sukan Komanwel di New Delhi, minggu lepas. Menurutnya, Jepun, Kazakhstan dan China adalah antara negara yang mempunyai kekuatan dalam sukan gimnastik berirama, kerana mempunyai barisan gimnas berpengalaman luas di peringkat antarabangsa. Namun, Elaine, 17, yakin untuk memberikan persembahan terbaik bagi mendapatkan pingat buat negara pada saingan di Guangzhou nanti. ''Walaupun sukar, saya tetap bersedia untuk menghadapi apa jua cabaran di Guangzhou. "Saya akan terus mengikuti latihan di Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) untuk meningkatkan lagi prestasi,'' katanya, semalam. Pada temasya sukan di New Delhi, Elaine mencipta kejutan apabila memenangi satu pingat emas melalui acara apparatus gelung, iaitu pingat emas ke-10 Malaysia. Selain Elaine, gimnas yang sama-sama beraksi di New Delhi, Nur Hidayah Abdul Wahid, juga akan menggalas cabaran negara di

KUALA LUMPUR - Kesatuan Ragbi Malaysia (KRM) tetap akan menyertai ragbi tujuh sepasukan Sukan Asia Guangzhou, bulan depan biarpun mereka dibelasah Samoa, Papua New Guinea dan Kenya dalam Sukan Komanwel Delhi. Dengan rombakan pengurusan dilakukan dan pemilihan semula pemain dirancang selepas Kejohanan Cobra 10 Sebelah, KRM percaya nasib skuad negara bakal berubah lebih baik, apabila berdepan Jepun, Hong Kong, Thailand dan Mongolia dalam Kumpulan A di Guangzhou. Malah, KRM mengambil langkah drastik dengan mengambil alih semula pengurusan skuad tujuh sebelah negara, yang sebelumnya dikendalikan di Sabah, hasil satu keputusan mesyuarat Majlis di sebuah hotel di Petaling Jaya, kelmarin. Presiden KRM, Datuk Wira Amiruddin Embi berkata, mesyuarat itu turut bersetuju melantik Boon Tan, dari kelab Persatuan Ragbi Gabungan Bekas Pemain (Cobra), sebagai pengurus pasukan baru negara, sekali gus menyelia pemilihan pemain menerusi dua kejohanan, tidak lama lagi. "Ujian pemilihan baru sk

IMBAS KEMBALI... Reaksi Bibiana selepas meraih pingat emas pada Sukan Komanwel 2010 di New Delhi baru-baru ini. SELEPAS merangkul pingat emas pada Sukan Komanwel 2010, penembak wanita negara, Bibiana Ng kini mempunyai misi yang lebih besar. Bibiana berkata, kejayaan meraih emas dalam acara 10 meter Air Pistol individu pada temasya di New Delhi, India itu akan dijadikan pembakar semangat baginya terus mencipta nama di pentas lebih berprestij. Penembak kelahiran Sarawak itu berazam untuk melakar kejayaan yang sama pada temasya Sukan Asia 2010 yang akan diadakan di Guangzhou, China bulan depan. "Saya telah menyertai empat temasya Sukan Komanwel sebelum ini dan baru kali ini saya berjaya meraih pingat emas," kata Bibiana kepada Kosmo! semalam. "Kejayaan ini menaikkan lagi semangat saya untuk melakar keputusan yang baik pada Sukan Asia bulan depan. "Walaupun saya akui saingan pada Sukan Asia lebih hebat dengan penyertaan penembak-penembak handalan dunia

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Okt (Bernama) -- Hasrat Pejabat Pesuruhjaya Sukan (PPS) untuk menguat kuasa dan memperluaskan skop bidang kuasanya sebagai pendaftar dan penguat kuasa tadbir urus persatuan sukan tempatan terbantut berikutan badan itu tiada mempunyai kuasa penguatkuasaan. Bekas Pesuruhjaya Sukan Datuk Nik Mahmud Nik Yusuf berkata PPS hanya mempunyai kuasa seperti yang diperuntukkan di bawah Akta Pembangunan Sukan 1997 untuk sekadar menerima laporan dan menyiasat sebarang salah laku dalam pentadbiran sesebuah persatuan sukan. "Tetapi di bawah akta yang sama, PPS tidak diberikan kuasa untuk menguatkuasakan akta tersebut. Contohnya, jika PPS perlu mendapatkan sebarang dokumen dari pejabat persatuan, PPS terpaksa mendapatkan bantuan dari pihak lain untuk melakukannya, seperti bantuan dari Polis Diraja Malaysia," katanya kepada Bernama. Kontrak Nik Mahmud, 61, sebagai Pesuruhjaya Sukan tamat Khamis lepas setelah tiga tahun berkhidmat sejak April 2008. "Berikutan seka

KUALA LUMPUR: Maybank are set to be the new multi-million cash dispensers for the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in a bid to further raise the profile of the popular sport in the country. It is learnt that the financial institution, who have come in strongly to back many other sports in the country over the past years, are on the verge of signing on the dotted lines as another prominent sponsors of the BAM. Currently, Proton are the BAM’s biggest main players as far as funding is concerned. Maybank are expected to sign a deal worth RM10mil with the BAM in a partnership over a few years and the move is seen as a timely boost ahead of the national players’ preparations for the 2012 London Olympics. With the huge financial boost, the BAM are expected to strengthen their elite and back-up programmes. Some of the BAM’s plans, which were shelved due to financial constraints – among them increasing the monthly allowances of the players, introduction of incentive bonus

MALAYSIA have been pitted against Pakistan in the first round of the 2012 Olympic football Asian qualifying tournament following the draw in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. It will be the first meeting between the two countries at Olympic level with the first leg to be played in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 23 next year and the return leg in Pakistan on March 9. The tie is one that the national youth team will fancy winning in order to advance to the second knockout round on June 19 and June 23 where Asia's 13 highest ranked teams will join the 11 winners from round 1. The 12 winners from the second round will be drawn into three groups of four teams each, playing six matches from Sept 21, 2011 to March 14, 2012. The top team in each group will automatically earn a place in the 2012 London Olympics while the runners-up in each group will then compete in a round-robin playoff group at a neutral venue. The playoff winners will advance to another playoff against the fourth-ranked African team

Prestasi hambar di Sukan Komanwel di New Delhi antara faktor utama KONTINJEN negara ke Sukan Asia XVI Guangzhou dari 12 hingga 27 November ini mungkin berkurangan daripada jumlah asal apabila beberapa atlit yang sudah mendapat ‘tiket’ beraksi pada temasya itu kemungkinan menarik diri. ntara faktor mereka mungkin menarik diri susulan prestasi hambar ketika beraksi dalam Sukan Komanwel XIX New Delhi baru-baru ini dan tidak mampu bersaing apabila beraksi pada temasya kedua terbesar dunia itu selepas Sukan Olimpik Setiausaha Kehormat Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM), Datuk Sieh Kok Chi sebelum ini pernah mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa atlit yang sudah mendapat ‘tiket’ beraksi dalam Sukan Asia belum boleh menarik nafas lega kerana ia boleh ditarik balik sekiranya gagal menyerlah di Sukan Komanwel. Antara faktor MOM mahu mengkaji semula kelulusan ‘tiket’ yang sudah diberikan berikutan kos mahal yang terpaksa ditanggung iaitu AS$50 (RM155) sehari berbanding penginapan dan makanan perc

PELUMBA lebuh raya negara dicadangkan agar menjalani latihan di Colorado, Amerika Syarikat. KEGAGALAN di beberapa kejohanan besar termasuk yang terbaru di Sukan Komanwel di New Delhi awal bulan ini menyaksikan kemungkinan skuad lebuh raya negara akan dihantar berlatih di Colorado, Amerika Syarikat dalam tempoh terdekat sebagai usaha melahirkan pendaki bertaraf dunia. Saranan itu diluahkan ketua jurulatih, John Beasley kepada Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM) sebagai salah satu intipati post-mortem ringkas rentetan kegagalan demi kegagalan skuad lebuh raya negara dalam satu pertemuan di Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur semalam. "Saya harus tegaskan bahawa adalah elok kalau kita hantar mereka (skuad lebuh raya) ke Colorado, Amerika Syarikat bagi memperkuatkan daya kayuhan ketika mendaki. Saya sedang kaji perkara ini secara serius kerana ketika ini Malaysia ketandusan pelumba handal yang boleh menang GC (keseluruhan klasifikasi). "Kita ada ramai pemecut yang be

KUALA LUMPUR - Sasaran sembilan pingat emas mampu dicapai pada Sukan Asia di Guangzhou bulan depan, jika empat sukan utama yang dipertaruhkan harapan, mampu mempamer aksi cemerlang pada temasya tersebut. Empat sukan yang disandarkan untuk merealisasikan sasaran pingat emas ialah boling, badminton, skuasy dan basikal trek. Ketua kontinjen Malaysia ke Sukan Asia, Datuk Zolkples Embong berkata, sekiranya sukan lain seperti wusyu, karate, pelayaran dan ekuestrian dapat menyumbang pingat, mungkin lebih banyak emas dapat diraih, lebih daripada yang disasarkan. ''Jika sukan boling dapat mengekalkan prestasi seperti pada Sukan Asia 2006 di Doha, yang menyumbang tiga pingat emas, selain tambahan daripada sukan yang kita letakkan harapan tinggi, tentunya laluan untuk mencapai sasaran sembilan pingat emas, dapat dicapai. ''Malah, boling dan badminton sering memberikan kita pingat apabila beraksi di peringkat Asia,'' katanya, semalam. Zolkples berkata, skuasy juga

KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Okt (Bernama) -- Skuad berbasikal lebuh raya negara akan menjalani latihan intensif di Colorado, Amerika Syarikat dalam tempoh terdekat bagi melahirkan pendaki bertaraf dunia, ekoran kegagalan dalam beberapa temasya besar. Ketua jurulatihnya, John Beasley berkata beliau telah berbincang mengenai hasrat itu dengan Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (MNCF) serta jurulatih lebuh raya yang baru iaitu John Seers. "Saya merasakan sesuai berlatih di Colorado kerana John Seers pernah berlatih di sana dan beliau mempunyai ramai kenalan di sana. "Malah John Seers pernah memberitahu saya bahawa rupa bentuk dan keadaan di Colorado sangat sesuai untuk latihan berbukit. Jadi saya akan kemukakan cadangan rasmi kepada persatuan untuk tindakan selanjutnya," katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari Rabu. Jurulatih kelahiran Australia itu berkata Malaysia mempunyai ramai pemecut berkualiti seperti Anuar Manan, Mohd Harrif Salleh dan Mohd Zamri Salleh. Bagaimana

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- The ankle injury sustained by Datuk Lee Chong Wei after returning to Malaysia from the Delhi Commonwealth Games is expected to fully heal before the Asian Games next month, said National Sports Institute (NSI) director-general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz. He said the world number one singles player was receiving treatment for the injury at the NSI. "The injury is not very serious and we are monitoring his situation very closely," he told reporters after delivering his keynote address at the "Sports Health In Industry 2010" symposium at the Bukit Jalil Sports Complex here Wednesday. He added that despite the injury, Chong Wei was in high spirits and looking forward to competing in the Asian Games, which will be held in Guangzhou, China from Nov 12 and 27. At the Delhi Games, Chong Wei contributed two gold, in the men's singles and team event. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's wushu squad members, who are undergoing intensive training in Beijing since last month, will continue with their preparations there before heading for Guangzhou, which is hosting this year's Asian Games from Nov 12 to 27. Wushu Federation of Malaysia (WFM) executive secretary, Winnie Chin Kim Yoong told Bernama here today that they would not be returning to Malaysia prior to the Games and that their target was to defend the single gold they won at the Doha Asian Games four years ago. The squads members are Lee Yang, Loh Jack Chang, Chai Foong Ying, Ng Shin Yii, Diana Bong, Tai Cheau Xuen and Ang Eng Chong for the Taolu event while Lee Sew Kit will compete in the Sanshou event. Meanwhile, the national cycling squad's chief coach John Beasley said he would be discussing with the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) on sending members of the road cycling squad to Colorado, United States for intensive training to raise

SAYA tidak tahu sejauh mana tahap kecederaan buku lali saya tetapi saya harap dapat pulih menjelang Sukan Asia," kata jaguh perseorangan negara yang juga pemain nombor satu dunia, Lee Chong Wei, semalam. Chong Wei yang berjaya mempertahankan pingat emas yang dimenangi di Melbourne 2006 pada Sukan Komanwel New Delhi baru-baru ini mengadu sakit di buku lali ketika beraksi menentang Rajiv Ouseph pada final temasya itu. Sekembali daripada New Delhi, pemain kelahiran Pulau Pinang itu kemudian mendapat rawatan di Institut Sukan Negara (ISN) dan semalam menjalani ujian imbasan Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) di Hospital Universiti Malaya (UM). Sebelum ini, Chong Wei mengalami kecederaan belakang ketika beraksi di suku akhir menentang Taufik Hidayat di Kejohanan Dunia Paris, Ogos lalu selain mempunyai masalah kecederaan lama di lutut. Ketua jurulatih, Rashid Sidek yang tidak tahu sebenar kecederaan itu berkata: “Dia belum turun menjalani latihan sejak kembali dari New Delhi. Saya

Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid KUALA LUMPUR – Presiden Persekutuan Lawn Bowl Malaysia (PLBM), Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid memandang serius dakwaan pemain tentang wujudnya ‘gangguan’ serta masalah dalam skuad negara pada Sukan Komanwel di New Delhi, baru-baru ini dan berjanji akan mengambil tindakan segera. Jaminan tersebut diberikan Ahmad Sarji selepas mengadakan pertemuan tertutup dengan pemain di Bukit Kiara semalam, yang turut dihadiri ratu boling padang, Siti Zalina Ahmad pemain yang terjejas teruk ekoran ‘gangguan’ yang dikatakan hadir pada hari terakhir temasya XIX itu. Pertemuan yang berlangsung hampir dua jam itu menjadi sesi buat pemain meluahkan segala ketidakpuasan yang dipendam mereka, selain menjelaskan kepada presiden mengenai apa yang berlaku sepanjang di New Delhi hingga menyebabkan sasaran empat pingat emas yang diletakkan oleh persatuan gagal dipenuhi. Pertemuan tersebut hanya melibatkan presiden dan pemain tanpa kehadiran pengurus pasukan Sukan Komanwel, J

Mohd. Yasin Salleh KUALA LUMPUR – Bekas Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Mohd. Yasin Salleh dilantik Pesuruhjaya Sukan yang baru menggantikan Datuk Nik Mahmud Nik Yusuf yang tamat kontraknya, Khamis lalu. Mohd. Yasin yang menerima tawaran untuk jawatan tersebut pada 6 Oktober lalu akan mula bertugas pada November ini. Bagaimanapun tarikh sebenar masih belum ditetapkan kerana beliau mahu menguruskan segala urusan peribadinya terlebih dahulu. Mohd. Yasin yang dihubungi Utusan Malaysia berkata, ketika ini masih terlalu baru baginya untuk bercakap tentang perancangan. Beliau bagaimanapun akan memaklumkan apa jua rancangan masa depannya sebagai Pesuruhjaya Sukan sebaik sahaja mula bertugas kelak. ‘‘Saya telah memberi jawapan pada surat tawaran yang saya terima pada dua minggu lalu dan saya akan mula bertugas pada November ini. ‘‘Tarikh tepat untuk saya mula bertugas masih tidak diketahui lagi kerana saya memohon penangguhan daripada tarikh asal kerana ma

KUALA LUMPUR: One is the longest-serving archer in the national men’s team while the other is the youngest member. But together, both Cheng Chu Sian and Arif Farhan Ibrahim Putra have vowed to pull off a really tough job to win a medal in the Guangzhou Asian Games. And based on past results and current form, Malaysia have a realistic shot at getting on the rostrum in the men’s team event. At the previous Games in Doha in 2006, the team finished fourth and it was the best-ever result for Malaysia in Asiad archery. Just recently in New Delhi, the team did the country proud by winning the first silver medal in Commonwealth Games archery. The other members of the men’s team for the Asiad are Mohd Izzuddin Abdul Rahim and Wan Khalmizam Wan Abdul Aziz. The 24-year-old Chu Sian, who will be featuring in his second Asiad, hopes to steer the team to go one step better in Guangzhou.

ABDUL Hadi aims to take the bull by its horns in the Oct 31 Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) elections after he was nominated by Perak for the post of deputy president. Hadi, a former national player and a terror in attack with Mirnawan Nawawi, has served as Perak HA deputy president for three terms, and feels the the time is right for him to serve in MHF. He will be challenging incumbent Nur Azmi Ahmad, who received four nominations, Datuk Dr S.S. Cheema (two) and Tengku Majid Sultan Iskandar (one vote) for the deputy president's post. MHF president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was returned unopposed when nominations closed on Oct 15. "I was nominated by my home state and agreed to stand for the second post because I feel MHF needs fresh blood to pump in new ideas," said Hadi. "Nur Azmi was a vice-president for two terms, and then a deputy for one term. Cheema has been a vice-president for four terms, while Tengku Majid was a former deputy president.

WENDY Chai melakukan lontaran cemerlang untuk medahului blok pertama Kejohanan Boling Piala Dunia Qubicaamf ke-46 yang bermula di Toulong, Perancis kelmarin. Pada lima permainan blok pertama itu, Wendy mencatat 193, 224, 258, 197 dan 254 untuk jumlah keseluruhan 1,126 jatuhan pin sekali gus mengatasi pencabarnya, Min Young-gye (Korea Sela- tan) dan Holly Fleming dari Scotland. Ini merupakan penampilan kali ketiga Wendy pada kejohanan dunia. "Bersikap Tenang serta mengukuhkan kekuatan mental adalah kunci terhadap prestasi cemerlang saya hari ini (kelmarin). "Saya yakin melakukan yang lebih baik sekiranya mampu mengekalkan momentum hebat ini," kata Wendy. Pada penampilan sulungnya di Latvia pada tahun 2002, Wendy sekadar menamatkan saingan di tempat kelima. Selepas itu, dia terus mempamerkan peningkatan apabila menduduki tempat ketiga pada kejohanan yang sama di Ljubljana, Slovenia pada tahun berikutnya. "Saya harap pada penampilan ketiga ini, saya

Oleh SHAHRIL NIZAM ABDULLAH shahril@kosmo.com.my SAINGAN LTdL 2011 akan bermula pada 23 Januari tahun depan melibatkan 10 peringkat perlumbaan. PERSOALAN mengenai tarikh sebenar penganjuran kejohanan lumba basikal Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2011 akhirnya terjawab semalam. Sebelum ini, LTdL berdepan kemungkinan dipendekkan hari saingan daripada 10 kepada tujuh hari ekoran salah faham Jawatankuasa Lebuh Raya Kesatuan Berbasikal Antarabangsa (UCI) ketika membuat keputusan di Kongres UCI di Melbourne bulan lalu. Begitupun, keputusan untuk mengekalkan cadangan asal sebanyak 10 peringkat perlumbaan bermula 23 Januari hingga 1 Februari 2011 akhirnya dicapai menerusi rundingan di antara Presiden UCI, Pat McQuaid dan Naib Presiden Persatuan Berbasikal Asia (ACA), Abu Samah Abd Wahab kelmarin. Abu Samah yang juga Presiden Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM) dan Penasihat LTdL 2011 menjelaskan, McQuaid telah membuat keputusan positif tersebut sekalipun menerima laporan dan

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Okt (Bernama) -- Konfederasi Bolasepak Asia (AFC) akan mengumumkan negara tuan rumah bagi Kejohanan Piala Asia AFC 2015 pada 6 Jan depan. Menurut kenyataan AFC pada Selasa, keputusan itu akan buat pada mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Eksekutif AFC yang bersidang semasa Kongres AFC di Doha, Qatar, pada hari tersebut. "Australia merupakan negara tunggal membuat bidaan bagi kejohanan utama AFC itu dan disyaratkan mematuhi proses pembidaan rasmi yang dirangka oleh AFC. "Sebahagian daripada proses pembidaan itu, Persekutuan Bolasepak Australia (FFA) akan menyampaikan persembahan akhir dan menjawab soalan, jika ada, daripada Jawatankuasa Eksekutif," kata kenyataan itu. Jawatankuasa itu kemudian akan memperhalusi bidaan itu sebelum mengumumkan tuan rumah bagi kejohanan edisi 2015 itu. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Okt (Bernama) -- Walaupun England, Australia dan India telah menganjurkan Sukan Komanwel selepas giliran Malaysia pada 1998, akaun penganjur temasya sukan terbesar pernah dianjurkan di negara ini, iaitu Sukom Ninety Eight Berhad (SUKOM 98), hanya akan ditutup secara rasmi pada Oktober tahun depan. Pengerusi Eksekutif SUKOM 98 Datuk Nik Mahmud Nik Yusuf berkata, syarikat tersebut yang ditubuhkan bagi mengendali Sukan Komanwel di ibu negara pada 1998, telah melantik sebuah syarikat pembubar, Deloitte Kassim Chan, pada awal bulan ini untuk menyelesaikan penutupan akaun itu. Ketika ditanya kenapa SUKOM 98 memerlukan masa sehingga 13 tahun untuk dibubarkan, Nik Mahmud berkata antara penghalang utama ialah kes tuntutan di mahkamah, akaun yang belum selesai serta masa yang diperlukan untuk mengutip dan menjelaskan hutang. "Deloitte Kassim Chan bertanggungjawab untuk menutup akaun SUKOM 98, termasuk menyelesaikan semua kes tuntutan di mahkamah," katanya kepada