Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

PETALING JAYA: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei will return home from Europe with a very big smile today. Top seed Chong Wei disposed of Kenichi Tago 21-16, 21-11 in the men’s singles final of the French Open in Paris yesterday – extending his unbeaten run against the Japanese – to nick an amazing seventh title of the year. The Malaysian has won all his seven previous matches against Kenichi. It was also Chong Wei’s 11th individual tournament and 11th final appearance this year – a record that will be quite impossible for others to emulate. A day earlier, Chong Wei had shown more fire in his game to overcome a psychological barrier against China’s rising star Chen Long. Having lost twice to Chen Long in the finals of the Japan and Denmark Opens, Chong Wei turned the tables on the 22-year-old with a well-deserved 23-21, 17-21, 21-15 win. National coach Tey Seu Bock commended Chong Wei for making a quick rebound after the disappointment in Denmark just a week ago “His most significan

KUALA LUMPUR - Gembira dalam sedih. Itu perasaan penyerang Negeri Sembilan, Hairuddin Omar atau Hai-O ketika memberikan kemenangan 2-1 kepada pasukannya pada perlawanan akhir Piala Malaysia 2011 menentang Terengganu di Stadium Shah Alam, kelmarin. Ini kerana dia gembira memberikan kemenangan buat pasukan yang diwakilinya ketika ini, namun dalam masa yang sama memahami kekecewaan penyokong negeri kelahirannya, Terengganu. Ekoran itu, dia meminta penyokong skuad Penyu tidak membencinya kerana menjadi penyebab kekalahan Terengganu hasil jaringannya pada minit ke-86. "Saya mohon maaf kepada semua penyokong Terengganu pada perlawanan hari ini (kelmarin) dan saya harap sangat agar mereka tidak membenci saya. "Negeri Sembilan adalah majikan yang membayar gaji saya serta Terengganu adalah negeri asal saya. Saya terpaksa memberikan yang terbaik buat majikan saya untuk mendapatkan kemenangan ini," kata Hairuddin. Sementara itu ditanya mengenai kontraknya bersama Negeri Sembi

Defending champion Ben Crane plays a shot in the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic at the Mines Resort and Golf Club in Seri Kembangan yesterday. Crane fired a 69. — Picture by Yazit Razali ROBERT Allenby grabbed the first round lead with a flawless display featuring eight birdies for a one-stroke lead over Jhonattan Vegas in the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic yesterday. Australian Allenby fired an eight-under 63 as flight-mate Vegas shot a 64 in benign early morning conditions before rain interrupted play late in the afternoon at the Mines Resort and Golf Club in Seri Kembangan. By the time the heavens opened, Allenby and Vegas were already in the club-house with only Fredrik Jacobson proving a threat among the late starters as the Swede came home in 65. Allenby was off to a quick start, sinking four birdies in his opening six holes, before claiming four more birdies on the back-nine, including three in a row from the 15th, for a blemish-free round. "I'm happy with th

Koo Kien Keat (left) and Tan Boon Heong lost to Mads Conrad Petersen-Jonas Rasmussen 21-16, 21-19 in the second round of the French Open in Paris yesterday. KOO Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong again failed to impress under their new coach, Pang Cheh Chang, when they were shown the exit in the men's doubles second round of the French Open in Paris yesterday. Kien Keat-Boon Heong, the fifth seeds, lost 21-16, 21-19 to Denmark's World No 13 Mads Conrad-Petersen-Jonas Rasmussen. The defeat is a huge blow to the World No 5 in their hope of reviving their fading careers. Last week, the former Asian Games champions were beaten in the first round of the Denmark Open. Kien Keat-Boon Heong, considered potential medallists at next year's London Olympic Games, switched coaches last month from Rexy Mainaky to Cheh Chang but so far the pair have failed to show improvement. The former All England winners will have to work harder in training if they hope to remain as one of the

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- National karate back-up exponent Nisha Alagasan is ready to face the challenge from more experienced opponents in her debut at the SEA Games in Indonesia next month. Nisha, 23, who would be in action in the under-55kg women kumite event, said as her preparation for the biennial sports extravanganza, she had been undergoing training since September last year under national coach P. Arivalagan. "This is my first experience participating in the SEA Games and as a back-up member of the squad, there were intensive training as preparation to face the more experienced contenders. I am very pleased to be selected for the SEA Games even though I am feeling a bit nervous. "At the beginning, I felt pressured due to the high hopes placed on me in the event, nonetheless with the guidance of the coach and intensive training, I am ready," she told Bernama. On the expectation of the Malaysian Karate Association (Makaf) for a silver

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Australia's Robert Allenby shot an eight-under-par 63, to take a slim one-stroke lead in the opening round of the US$6.1 million (about RM19.1 million) CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia at The Mines Resort and Golf Club, Seri Kembangan, near here, Thursday. The score equalled the course record, recorded by Ricky Barnes at last year's CIMB Asia Pacific Classic. "I'm obviously very happy with the way I played. I got away with a nice par on the 18th hole. I made a lot of nice putts and hit the ball really well all day. "I've been playing well for a while but I just haven't really put the scores on the board. I make a lot of birdies but a few others have been slipping in there. So, to have a bogey-free round and to shoot an eight-under around here is a great score," said Allenby. In today's opening round, Allenby carded four birdies in his first-nine at the second, third, fifth and sixth hole and

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- It was just an average outing for two Malaysian professional golfers in the opening round of the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic, which was held at The Mines Resort and Golf Club in Seri Kembangan, near here. After completing today's first round, Malaysia's top ranked player, Danny Chia shared 33rd position after posting an even-par 71, while Shaaban Hussin was in joint 41st position with a one-over-par 72. "Obviously, I am not not satisfied. I would have been happier if I did not mess up on those two holes," said the 39-year-old Chia, when met at the competition venue Thursday. In his first-nine, Chia dropped a double-bogey at par-4 fourth hole and later a triple-bogey in the next hole but managed to recover with three birdies on the sixth, seventh and ninth holes. "I need to stop making triple and double bogeys! If you hit the ball good on this course, you will have a lot of birdies. I may have a different stra

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Youth and Sports Ministry is planning to set up a body responsible for conceptualising and implementing sports events strategies. Its minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the proposed body would also develop methods of measuring expected economic impact to the country from hosting major world-class events based on the strategic objectives. "This organisation will be tasked with reviewing and aligning our sports event calendar to ensure we maximise the returns from them. "In turn, we can become a top destination for sports in the world just like Melbourne in Australia," he said in his speech when launching the Malaysian Sports Trade and Golf Expo (MSTGE) 2011 at The Mines International Expo and Convention Centre (MIECC), near here Thursday. He said the body would make the assessment on the return on investment of an event to the country. He said those who were keen to organise the sports events could seek the

PETALING JAYA: Budding womens doubles pair of Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo gave their SEA Games chances a major boost when they stunned Meiliana Jauhari-Greysia Polii in the first round of the French Open in Paris yesterday. The young upcoming pair were highly disappointing in the Denmark Open last week when they lost meekly to Thailand’s Sapsiree Taerattanachai-Savitree Amitapai in the qualifying rounds. But Khe Wei-Vivian were simply on fire yesterday as they came back from a game down to beat the top Indonesian pair, 18-21, 21-16, 21-15 and move into the second round. It was their second win over the world No. 8 pair and they will take on either Anneke Feinya Agustin-Nitya Krishinda Maheshwari of Indonesia or Denmark’s Line Damkjaer Kruse-Marie Roepke who played later last night. However, top Malaysian pair Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty, bowed out in the first round after losing to top seeds Wang Xiaoli-Yu Yang of China. In men’s singles, world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei was

LEE Chong Wei's quest to win his first European title of the season received a boost when he stormed into the second round of the French Open in Paris yesterday. The World No 1 needed just 31 minutes to brush aside Germany's World No 16 Marc Zwiebler 21-16, 21-13 to set up a clash with France's Brice Leverdez, who won the first game against Chetan Anand 21-13 before the Indian retired, for a place in today's quarter-finals. Chong Wei hopes to bounce back from back-to-back defeats to China's World No 3 Chen Long in the final of the recent Japan Open and Denmark Open, in Paris. The two-time All England champion, who has been World No 1 since September 2008, has won six titles so far this year. In the men's doubles, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong dropped the first set before edging Russia's Vladimir Ivanov-Ivan Sozonov 21-23, 21-17, 23-21 in 51 minutes. The World No 5 pair will need to buck-up if they hope to beat Denmark's Mads Conrad-Pete

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak shares a light moment with Vijay Singh (left) and CIMB chief executive officer Datuk Seri Nazir Razak at the Mines Resort and Golf Club yesterday. IT has been a decade since Vijay Singh last played in Malaysia but his love for the country has changed little as he prepares to make his debut at the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic today. The Fijian has a Malaysian wife and began his career in Malaysia, plying his trade in Sabah and Sarawak in the mid-1980s and winning the 1984 Malaysian PGA Championship. Malaysia was the launchpad of many great victories in the following years but playing opportunities here have been limited due to his busy US PGA Tour schedule and a succession of knee and back injuries over the past two years. The three-time major winner’s last appearance here was in 2001, when he won his second Malaysian Open title at Saujana in Subang. He was due to play at the 2008 Iskandar Johor Open only to pull out after suffering a

Najib Tun Razak berbual dengan Vijay Singh ketika sesi bertemu pemain yang akan mengambil bahagian pada Kejohanan Golf CIMB Asia Pacific Classic di Kelab Golf The Mines, Seri Kembangan, semalam. KUALA LUMPUR - Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak semalam hadir di Kelab Golf The Mines untuk bertemu dengan beberapa pemain golf profesional yang menyertai Kejohanan Golf CIMB Asia Pacific Classic. Antara pemain yang ditemui oleh Perdana Menteri ketika sesi latihan ialah pemain golf terkemuka Fiji, Vijay Singh yang kini menduduki tangga ke-58 dunia. Selain itu Perdana Menteri sempat menemui juara bertahan, Ben Crane yang kini berada pada kedudukan ke-50 dunia. Perdana Menteri turut berkesempatan bertemu dan memberi kata-kata semangat kepada pemain golf negara, Mohd. Shaaban Hussin bagi menghadapi saingan hebat dalam kejohanan yang cukup berprestij itu. Selain Mohd. Shaaban, Malaysia turut diwakili oleh pemain golf No. 1 negara, Danny Chia. Perdana Menteri kemudi

Plastik yang mengandungi cat merah dilempar oleh mereka yang tidak bertanggungjawab sehingga terkena pada bumbung Wisma FAM di Kelana Jaya. - UTUSAN/Bariq Ramadhan PETALING JAYA - Taktik 'amaran ala 'ah long' terhadap peminjam' atau vandalisme dengan membaling cat menimpa Wisma Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Kelana Jaya, awal pagi semalam. Ia dipercayai ada kaitannya dengan kenaikan harga tiket perlawanan akhir Piala Malaysia, Sabtu ini. Lima bungkus plastik mengandungi cat merah dilempar oleh empat lelaki bermotosikal dari luar kawasan wisma itu kira-kira pukul 3.30 pagi sehingga pecah dan melimpahkan isinya, lalu mengotori lantai pintu depan wisma, serta memercik dan bertompok pada dinding tingkat satu serta bumbung. Sebahagian cat turut mengenai kereta salah seorang daripada dua pengawal keselamatan yang bertugas dari malam tadi hingga awal pagi ini, yang diletakkan berdekatan pagar wisma dan jalan raya hadapannya. namun sebuah bas Pioneer be

KUALA LUMPUR - Selepas kumpulan penyokong Negeri Sembilan dan Terengganu menyatakan bantahan keras dan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek kecewa dan terkejut, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah pula merayu harga tiket perlawanan akhir Piala Malaysia agar dikurangkan. Timbalan Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) menyatakan pendirian secara berlembut dan berhemah serta memilih pendekatan prihatin dengan peminat bola sepak tanah air ini dalam khidmat pesanan ringkasnya (SMS) kepada Utusan Malaysia , semalam. "Saya sudah pun merayu dengan FAM melalui (Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pertandingan Tempatan) Datuk Hamidin (Amin) dan Datuk Azzuddin (Ahmad, Setiausaha Agung FAM) supaya dapat dikurangkan harga tiket (perlawanan Terengganu-Negeri Sembilan di Stadium Shah Alam). "Sekarang terpulang kepada mereka dan jawatankuasa berkenaan (untuk mengekalkan keputusan Isnin lalu dengan harga baru tiket semua tempat duduk, RM50, mengembalikan kepada har

JAKARTA, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- The Indonesia SEA Games Organising Committee (Inasoc) has given assurance that media personnel covering the 26th SEA Games in Jakarta will be given the same hospitality as their counterparts in Palembang. Inasoc head of Media and Broadcasting, Linda Wahyudi, said the Main Press Centre (MPC) and International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) for the Games would be located at the Bank Sumsel building in Palembang. "Don't worry. We also cater to the needs of journalists covering the events in Jakarta as well. "The MPC for Jakarta is located at the Indonesia Olympiad Committee (Koni) building in the city centre. We also provide sub-media centres at certain venues but it's up to the respective sports federation to arrange the facilities at the venues," she told a group of 25 members of the Sports Writers Association of Malaysia (SAM) who are on a three-day working visit to Jakarta. The group led by SAM president Ahmad Khawari

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- National road racing cyclist Suhardi Hassan has been given the task to carry the country's challenge at the 2011 SEA Games in Subang, Indonesia in November. Suhardi, who was the champion of the event at the 2005 Manila SEA Games, said he would muster his expertise and experience to repeat the success for gold in the event in Indonesia. "I will be making my outing at the Perlis National Circuit Grand Prix Championship this Saturday as a warm up," he said in a statement issued by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF), here Wednesday. However, the challenge in the Perlis GP would be tough as he had to face several top riders including Muhammad Adiq Hussainie (Othman) and Amir Rusli (Mustafa). "They are very good and their performance have been consistent. Nonetheless I believe I could test my latest form at the Grand Prix in Perlis," he said. Suhardi, who won a silver medal in the event at the 2007

JAKARTA, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia will mobilise support for the Malaysian contingent in the SEA Games in November from Malaysians, especially students, domiciled in the republic. Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin said currently there were 2,328 Malaysians, 1,928 of them students, who were members of the Malaysia Club Jakarta, besides 50 embassy personnel in Indonesia. Bandung has the largest number of Malaysian students, numbering 1,042 followed by Jakarta (745), Palembang (95) and Jambi (46), he told 25 members of the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM), who were here on an inspection tour on the preparation of the Games, here Wednesday. The SAM delegation is headed by its president, Ahmad Khawari Isa and accompanied by Malaysian chef-de-mission Datuk Naim Mohamad. The Games will be co-hosted by Jakarta and Palembang from Nov 11 to 22. Syed Munshi said the Malaysian Embassy here as well as the

JAKARTA, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin has assured the safety of Malaysian contingent to the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia next month, saying the matter is a priority for the embassy. He said that in addition to the assurance given by Indonesian authorities on the safety of all contingents to the Games, the Malaysian embassy would also take steps to ensure members of the Malaysian contingent would feel safe and are able to concentrate on their events. "The same goes to the Malaysian supporters. The thing is that we should also be civil and we should sit together inside the venues so that assistance can be given if the needs arise," he said. He was speaking to 25 members of the Sportswriters Association Malaysia (SAM) who are currently on a three-day pre-SEA Games tour of this Indonesian capital. The visit, led by SAM president Ahmad Khawari Isa, is to allow association members to get an overview of th

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- The national women's football squad needs more exposure at the international level if it wishes to compete with the Asean football powers such as Thailand and Myanmar. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) as a parent body for national football must also play a more pro-active role by arranging more friendly matches with foreign teams to ensure the national women's football team is on par with them. The poor start of the squad had been taking place since so long but the most obvious was at the SEA Games in 2009 when it lost all its matches including a 0-14 humiliation by Thailand. This forced the Women Football Committee chairman and FAM deputy president at that time, Khairy Jamaluddin, to ban the squad from taking part in any championship except for friendly matches for a year. Starting last year, the squad was placed under the Women Football Committee headed by FAM deputy president Tan Sri Annuar Musa. In line with

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- National archer Nurul Syafiqah Hashim today described her success in earning a ticket to 2012 London Olympics at the Asian Archery Championships in Tehran, Iran last Monday, as a dream come true. She said her determination to win the ticket grew stronger after seeing the men's archers - Cheng Chu Sian, Khairul Anuar Mohamad and Hafiz Kamaruddin - booked their tickets to Olympic at the World Championships early this year. "My hard work really paid off and I'm really happy with the result," she told Bernama when contacted here Wednesday. She also vowed not to waste the opportunity when she made her debut appearance in the recurve event at the world's most prestigious games. Nurul Syafiqah scored 599 points to defeat Iranian's archer Sareh Asadi in the playoff for third and fourth place to grab one of the three Olympic tickets on offer. Meanwhile, National Sports Council director-general Datuk Zolkples Embon

Lee Chong Wei tewas kepada pemain China, Chen Long 15-21, 18-21 pada perlawanan akhir Kejohanan Badminton Terbuka Denmark, kelmarin. - AP KUALA LUMPUR - Misi memburu pingat emas Sukan Olimpik Datuk Lee Chong Wei masih berada di landasan yang betul dan kekalahan terbaru jaguh No. 1 dunia itu kepada Chen Long pada final Kejohanan Badminton Terbuka Denmark kelmarin bukan sesuatu yang terlalu mencemaskan. Ketua jurulatih perseorangan negara, Rashid Sidek menjelaskan, selepas mengerah seluruh tenaganya pada Kejohanan Dunia di London, Ogos lalu, Chong Wei kini sedang berada dalam fasa 'penurunan permainan' dan ia adalah proses peralihan biasa buat pemain badminton. Katanya, jaguh negara itu tidak berada pada prestasi tertinggi dalam dua kejohanan terakhir yang disertai - Terbuka Jepun (September) dan Terbuka Denmark, namun dia masih mampu melayakkan diri ke perlawanan akhir dalam kedua-dua kejohanan. Malah, Chong Wei adalah satu-satunya pemain yang berjaya melang

PADA 15 Oktober yang lalu, Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin merangkap Menteri Pelajaran telah melancarkan IPG Sukan bertempat di IPG Kampus Raja Melewar Seremban.  Dua IPG lain ialah IPG Kampus Perlis dan IPG Kampus Tun Abdul Razak yang merupakan fasa pertama IPG Sukan ini oleh kerana ada tiga lagi IPG yang telah dikenal pasti sebelum ini akan dilaksanakan kemudian. Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Seri Utama, Mohamad Hasan juga hadir di majlis berkenaan. Kalau kita masih ingat bahawa Menteri Pelajaran telah mengumumkan betapa perlunya ditubuhkan IPG Sukan oleh Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia ketika beliau merasmikan Kejohanan Olahraga Kebangsaan MSSM pada bulan Mei 2009 di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil Kuala Lumpur. Walaupun ada pihak yang menyifatkan tempoh dua tahun yang diambil sehingga terlancarnya IPG sukan ini adalah dikira lama tetapi kita patut bersyukur kerana ia dapat direalisasikan juga. Sebenarnya idea dan cadangan mewujudkan sebuah mak

Naim Mohamad (barisan belakang, empat dari kiri) bersama skuad wusyu yang akan ke Sukan SEA XXVI Indonesia. KUALA LUMPUR - Aksi memberangsangkan pada Kejohanan Wusyu Dunia di Ankara dua minggu lepas menjadi tonik buat skuad tersebut untuk meraih sekurang-kurangnya dua pingat emas di Sukan SEA XXVI Indonesia 2011 bulan depan. Menurut Ketua Kontinjen Malaysia ke Sukan SEA , Datuk Naim Mohamad, wusyu tidak putus-putus memberikan kilauan emas buat kontinjen negara termasuk di Sukan SEA Laos 2009 apabila berjaya meraih tiga emas, satu perak dan tiga gangsa. "Kita bukan sahaja mampu memberikan persembahan terbaik di peringkat serantau, malah dihormati di peringkat benua dan dunia selepas dibuktikan dalam Kejohanan Wusyu Dunia baru-baru ini," katanya selepas mengadakan pertemuan dengan skuad wusyu negara yang akan ke Sukan SEA Palembang 2011, semalam. Jelasnya, walaupun hampir separuh atlet pelapis akan mengambil bahagian, dia yakin pasukan yang dilatih Yoong Thon

Zolkples Embong KUALA LUMPUR – Skuad bola sepak bawah 23 tahun negara mempunyai tugas berat di Sukan SEA XXVI 2011 apabila diletakkan harapan untuk mempertahankan pingat emas yang dimenangi dua tahun lalu di Laos. Menurut Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong skuad bimbingan Ong Kim Swee mampu untuk meraih pingat emas selepas mendapat banyak pendedahan termasuk berlatih di Slovakia dan beberapa pemain beraksi bersama skuad senior menentang pasukan Australia baru-baru ini. “Skuad bawah 23 tahun negara juga merupakan satu-satunya pasukan dari Asia Tenggara yang beraksi sehingga ke pusingan ketiga kelayakan Sukan Olimpik 2012 London. Jadi tiada masalah untuk mereka muncul juara di peringkat kumpulan walaupun berada dalam kumpulan maut,” katanya. Jelasnya, beliau cukup yakin dengan pengalaman yang dimiliki barisan pemain muda negara termasuk kehadiran beberapa pemain yang sudah kerap beraksi dengan skuad senior di bawah bimbingan jurulatih

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 Okt (Bernama) -- Kejohanan Paintball Piala Dunia Asia (WCA 2011) buat julung kali akan diadakan dalam dewan tertutup yang dilengkapi penghawa dingin di Pusat Pameran Antarabangsa Mahsuri (MIEC), Langkawi, dari 10 hingga 13 Nov ini. Kejohanan edisi pertama berskala dunia itu akan menghimpunkan lebih 150 pasukan dari 30 negara dan antaranya Amerika Syarikat, United Kingdom, Perancis, Jepun dan Korea Selatan. Pengerusi WCA 2011, Datuk Mahadzir Khalid, berkata lebih 1,000 pencinta sukan itu akan bersatu di Langkawi. "Tanpa disangkal lagi, kita sedang mencipta lagenda tersendiri menerusi penganjuran WCA 2011 yang menjadi penanda aras untuk penganjuran acara seumpamanya di seluruh dunia," katanya pada majlis pelancaran kejohanan itu di sebuah restoran di Ampang, di sini, Isnin. Beliau berkata pencapaian itu secara tidak langsung menyerlahkan lagi nama Langkawi sebagai lokasi utama untuk acara sukan dan pelancongan. Selain itu, Tunku Panglima Besa

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 Okt (Bernama) -- Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) mengakui bimbang dengan peningkatan pemain nombor dua China, Chen Long, yang kini dilihat menjadi 'ancaman' kepada peluang Malaysia untuk merangkul emas pertama Olimpik menerusi sukan itu. Setiausaha BAM Ng Chin Chai berkata jika dahulu pencabar utama jaguh negara Datuk Lee Chong Wei pada Sukan Olimpik London tahun depan hanyalah pemain China, Lin Dan, tetapi kini Chen Long turut menjadi penghalang. Ng, bagaimanapun menafikan prestasi Chong Wei telah mengalami kemerosotan. "Prestasi Chong Wei tak menurun, tetapi prestasi Chen Long yang nampaknya naik dengan mendadak," katanya kepada Bernama ketika dihubungi di sini Isnin. Chong Wei kalah Chen Long, pemain nombor tiga dunia, 15-21, 18-21 pada perlawanan akhir Terbuka Denmark semalam , iaitu kekalahan kedua beliau tahun ini kepada pemain berusia 22 tahun itu. Sebelum ini, Chen Long mengalahkan Chong Wei pada final Terbuka Jepun, bu

SHAH ALAM, 24 Okt (Bernama) -- Tiket bagi semua tempat duduk bagi perlawanan akhir Piala Malaysia edisi ke-85 antara Negeri Sembilan dan Terengganu di Stadium Shah Alam pada Sabtu ini ditetapkan pada harga RM50. Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pertandingan Tempatan Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin berkata harga tiket itu dianggap wajar kerana FAM terpaksa menanggung beberapa kos termasuk bayaran kepada pihak stadium selain beberapa faktor lain. "Kita turut memikirkan mengenai kapasiti stadium yang mampu menerima kehadiran penyokong kedua-dua pasukan. Kita telah melihat beberapa pilihan yang ada sebelum memutuskan harga tersebut," katanya kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat jawatankuasa perlawanan akhir di Stadium Shah Alam di sini Isnin. Tiket boleh dibeli melalui persatuan bolasepak negeri masing-masing mulai esok. Pada edisi terdahulu Piala Malaysia yang diadakan di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil, FAM menjual tiket berhar

SHAH ALAM, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- All tickets for the 85th edition of Malaysia Cup final match between Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu at the Shah Alam Stadium this Saturday will be sold at a flat rate of RM50. Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Local Competitions Committee chairman Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said the price was deemed apt as FAM had to bear several other costs concerning the final match, including payment for the stadium. "We have also taken into consideration the capacity of the stadium which can facilitate the supporters from both teams. We have also looked into other options before fixing the ticket price," he told reporters after chairing the committee meeting here Monday. Prior to this, tickets for Malaysia Cup final match held at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium were priced at RM30 for free seating and RM50 for the grandstand. Hamidin said supporters of both teams could start purchasing their tickets through their respective state foo

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) - The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is worried with the rise of Chen Long who has become a new threat to Malaysia's chances of winning the first Olympic gold medal. Secretary Ng Chin Chai said Chen Long has joined compatriot Lin Dan as a threat to Datuk Lee Chong Wei at London Olympics next year. He denied that the performance of Chong Wei, the world and Malaysian number one singles player has declined. "Chong Wei's performance has not declined but rather the performance of China number two Chen Long has improved dramatically," he told Bernama when contacted here. Chong Wei lost 15-21, 18-21 in the Denmark Open final yesterday, his second defeat to Chen Long, China's number two and world number three singles player. Chen Long,22, grabbed the Japan Open singles title after beating Chong Wei in the final last month. Ng said BAM will review Chong Wei's performance and if necessary will retructure his

PERLUKAH Datuk Misbun Sidek dipanggil semula membimbing Lee Chong Wei? Persoalan itu timbul selepas jaguh n negara itu jelas 'berkarat' hingga tumbang buat kali kedua berturut-turut kepada bintang muda China, Chen Long di final Siri SuperTerbuka Denmark di Odense Sports Park, malam tadi. Kekalahan 15-21, 18-21 bukan saja menyaksikan impian Chong Wei memenangi kejuaraan ketujuh musim ini musnah, malah hasratnya menjuarai kejohanan bernilai AS$400,000 (RM1.2 juta) sempena ulang tahun kelahiran ke-29 Jumaat lalu, turut berkubur. Bagi Chen Long, kemenangan itu membuktikan kejayaannya menumbangkan pemain nombor satu dunia pada final Terbuka Jepun bulan lalu, bukan sekadar nasib. Persaingan antara pemain nombor satu dan tiga dunia itu tampak seimbang tetapi beberapa kesilapan mudah Chong Wei pada pertengahan saingan menyaksikan Chen Long mendahului sebelum menang 21-15. Hajat Chong Wei untuk bangkit tidak kesampaian apabila Chen Long menamatkan sai

KELAB Hoki Kuala Lumpur (KLHC) bangkit daripada ketinggalan dua gol pada babak pertama untuk mencatat kemenangan penuh dramatik 3-2 ke atas TNB pada perlawanan akhir Piala TNB malam tadi sekali gus mempertahankan kejuaraan yang dimenangi mereka musim lalu. Penyerang sensasi skuad negara, Faizal Saari memastikan TNB di depan terlebih dulu apabila menjaringkan gol pada minit kelima hasil jaringan padang sebelum Amir Farid Ahmad Fuzi mengukuhkan kedudukan TNB apabila meledakkan gol kedua pada minit kelapan. Ketika KLHC berada dalam situasi tertekan, TNB menggandakan asakan, namun kedudukan 2-0 kekal selepas tamat separuh masa pertama. Bersambung babak kedua, KLHC memperkemaskan corak permainan mereka dan hasilnya Mohd Ameerullah Abd Aziz berjaya menjaringkan gol pada minit ke-59. Tiga minit kemudian, bekas penyerang skuad negara, Chua Boon Huat menyamakan kedudukan hasil pukulan sudut penalti. Gol penyamaan KLHC itu membuatkan TNB pula berada dalam tekanan dan ketua pa

SKUAD bawah 23 tahun negara menamatkan cabaran di kejohanan jemputan Piala Persekutuan Bola Sepak Vietnam (VFF) di tempat ketiga selepas sekadar seri 1-1 dengan tuan rumah dalam aksi terakhir di Stadium My Dinh, Hanoi semalam. Selepas menurunkan barisan pilihan ketiga dalam dua perlawanan awal ketika tewas 3-1 di tangan Uzbekistan dan menang 2-1 ke atas Myanmar, jurulatih negara, Ong Kim Swee kembali mempertaruhkan skuad terbaiknya di Hanoi. Khairul Fahmi Che Mat kembali menggalas tugas mengawal gawang namun tugas selaku kapten diserahkan kepada Baddrol Bakhtiar sambil serangan diterajui Izzaq Faris Ramlan dan Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim. Malaysia bermula garang menerusi rembatan Mohd Fandi Othman yang singgah di tepi jaring pasukan tuan rumah pada minit keempat. Bagaimanapun Vietnam yang dibimbing jurulatih Valko Goetz Gerd mengejutkan barisan muda negara apabila rembatan jarak jauh pemain tengah, Nguyen Trong Hoang berjaya menewaskan Khairul Fahmi di minit ke-28. Ke

Marco Simoncelli dari Itali terbaring di tengah litar selepas terlibat dalam kemalangan semasa berlumba dalam saingan MotoGP pada Grand Prix Malaysia di Litar Antarabangsa Sepang, semalam. – REUTERS SEPANG – Kerancakan Grand Prix Malaysia yang berlangsung di Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (SIC), semalam berakhir dengan tragedi apabila pelumba pasukan San Carlo Honda Gresini, Marco Simoncelli terbunuh dalam kemalangan maut yang turut melibatkan dua pelumba saingan MotoGP. Pelumba No. 6 dunia yang berasal dari Itali itu mengalami kecederaan parah di kepala, tengkuk dan dada apabila dia terbabit dalam perlanggaran dengan sebuah motosikal yang ditunggang Colin Edwards dari pasukan Monster Yamaha Tech 3. Insiden itu berlaku di selekoh 11 ketika saingan baru masuk pusingan kedua sebelum perlumbaan dihentikan ekoran kejadian tersebut. Kemalangan itu berlaku yang dipercayai berpunca daripada kegagalan Simoncelli mengawal jenteranya dan mengakibatkan dia hilang kawalan lalu terja

ADA cerita suka duka mewarnai perlumbaan MotoGP Malaysia di Litar Sepang semalam. Paling menyayat hati apabila pelumba Itali, Marco Simoncelli maut dalam kemalangan ketika saingan bagi kelas MotoGP baru memasuki pusingan kedua. Insiden kemalangan itu berlaku apabila Simoncelli yang terjatuh di selekoh ke-11 akibat hilang keseimbangan badan, dirempuh dua pelumba lain - Colin Edwards dan Valentino Rossi. Akibatnya, topi keledar yang dipakai Simoncelli pecah sehingga mendatangkan kecederaan parah di bahagian kepala, tengkuk dan dadanya. Sejurus selepas insiden tersebut, pihak penganjur, Sepang International Circuit (SIC) dan Dorna Sports iaitu pemegang hak perlumbaan MotoGP membatalkan perlumbaan serta merta. “Kami dari warga SIC amat kesal dengan insiden itu dan ini merupakan kejadian yang pertama kali berlaku di Litar Sepang dan ia diluar jangkaan oleh pihak kami,” kata Pengerusi SIC, Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir semalam. Kemalangan maut yang melibatkan Simoncelli itu me

Zulfahmi Khairuddin (inset) managed seventh place in the 125cc event yesterday. — Picture by Yazit Razali A PACKED Sepang circuit saw Maverick Vinales register his third 125cc victory, but they were on their feet celebrating what was the greatest achievement in Malaysian motorcycling when Mohd Zulfahmi Khairuddin passed the chequered flag in seventh place to send the 21st edition of the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix into the history books. A points scoring finish would have sufficed for 20-year-old Zulfahmi in his third attempt at pleasing the passionate home crowd who had waited 21 years for even a solitary point, but the tone had already been set for a much better outcome after the Banting-born AirAsia-SIC-Ajo Motorsport rider parked his Derbi 13th on the grid in 125cc qualifying on Saturday. Off the blocks, Zulfahmi stormed into the top 10 and maintained his pace within the second batch of pace setters, then with five laps to go he was up to e

China’s Wang Xiaoli (back) and Yu Yang won their sixth international title in eight years after beating Tian Qing-Zhao Yunlei 22-20, 21-16 yesterday.    THE revenge that Lee Chong Wei was hoping for didn't materialise as Chen Long of China defeated the World No 1 again to clinch the Denmark Open in Odense yesterday. Chen Long defeated Chong Wei 21-15, 21-18 in 45 minutes to complete a hat-trick of Super Series titles and also repeat his Japan Open victory over the Malaysian. Chong Wei had made it clear that before leaving for Odense last week that his intention was not to keep winning every title but the build-up to the London Olympics next year. National singles coach Tey Seu Bock, in a telephone interview from Odense, said he is not too worried about Chong Wei's second defeat to Chen Long. "Chen Long uses the same strategy like Lin Dan and Chong Wei is not comfortable playing him at the moment. We have to do some homework and analyse a little bit more

SEPANG: The Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix was supposed to have basked in glory – thanks to having achieved its best-ever attendance of 111,385 and Banting-born Zulfahmi Khairuddin career-high seventh placing in the 125cc class. A record 67,112 attended the race yesterday but the mood turned sombre following the accident which claimed Italian Honda rider Marco Simoncelli’s life – the first fatality since the Sepang track opened its doors to motorsports in 1999. Simoncelli, a rising star who was the 250cc world champion, lost control of his bike and had his helmet ripped off as he ran into American Colin Edwards and compatriot Valentino Rossi in the second lap of the MotoGP race. The 24-year-old, who remained unconscious on the track, later succumbed to his injuries at the on-site track medical centre at 4.56pm. The race was immediately stopped and later cancelled by race organisers Sepang International Circuit. The crowd, who were kept in the dark about Simoncelli

ODENSE: World No 1 Lee Chong Wei suffered another heartbreak at the hands of China’s Chen Long when he lost 15-21, 18-21 in the men’s singles final of the Denmark Open here yesterday. And immediately after the loss, Chong Wei declared that the 22-year-old Chen Long has now become a genuine challenger aside from Lin Dan of China for next year’s Olympic Games in London. Chong Wei had hoped for a revenge after losing to Chen Long in the final of the Japan Open last month but to his surprise, the Chinese turned out to be a much tougher opponent. While the Malaysian was slower than usual, the Chinese took full control of the match from the start with his excellent court coverage, superiority at the net and solid attacking play. Undoubtly, top seed Chong Wei had some good tricks up his sleeve but it was Chen Long, who had held all the aces to romp home a convincing winner in straight games. It was Chong Wei’s 10th final of the year but probably his weakest performances

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- World number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei failed to lift the men's singles title at the Denmark Open Championship in Odense, Denmark Sunday night. Chong Wei was defeated in the final by Chinese shuttler Chen Long in the hour-long battle with the Chinese ace winning 21-15, 21-18. The third seed advanced to the final after taming Japanese shuttler Sho Sasaki 21-16, 21-7 in the semifinals yesterday.

SEPANG, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- Italian MotoGP rider, Marco Simoncelli of San Carlo Honda Gresini, died after a horrific crash at the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Sepang Circuit, Sunday. The organisers confirmed that the 24-year-old was pronounced dead at 4.56pm at the SIC medical centre. The race was earlier cancelled following the crash which entered the second lap. "The cause of his death was due to trauma to the head, neck and chest. When our medical staff arrived, he was unconscious. The medical staff had given him the CPR in the ambulance. "Immediately at the medical centre, he was incubated. Unfortunately, we couldn't help him. At 1656, he was dead," MotoGP Medical director Dr Michele Macchiagodena told a press conference. SIC chairman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir was also saddened by the tragic incident and expressed his condolences to Simoncelli's family and team. "You can never guarantee a 100 percent safe race in any motorsport

JANGAN kaitkan lagi jurulatih dengan prestasi hambar yang dipamerkan setiap kali tewas, demikian amaran Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) Datuk Zolkples Embong ketika diminta mengulas kekalahan beregu harapan emas Olimpik negara, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong di Siri Super Terbuka Denmark awal pagi semalam. Begitupun, ayat pertama yang terpacul dari mulut Zolkples sejurus ditanya mengenai kekalahan juara Sukan Asia Doha 2006 itu dan perubahan struktur kejurulatihan di Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM), ada nada kecewa terhadap sikap atlet negara. “Nampaknya tukar jurulatih pun masih tidak dapat mengubah permainan mereka,” keluh Zolkples. “Acap kali sebelum ini saya nyatakan jangan sesekali menyalahkan jurulatih jika gagal kerana punca kecemerlangan atau kegagalan seseorang atlet bermula dari dirinya,” katanya. Beliau turut menasihatkan BAM supaya tidak terlalu mudah mengikut telunjuk atlet yang mahu menukar jurulatih. “Nak tukar jurulatih memang boleh tapi perl

ODENSE: Malaysia’s top pair of Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong are not mentally strong enough to beat Korean shuttlers. That’s the brutal truth, said South Korean head coach Sung Han-kook after world No. 5 Kien Keat-Boon Heong lost 21-15, 15-21, 12-21 to the third ranked Korean pair of Kwon Yi-goo-Cho Gun-woo in the first round of the Denmark Open on Wednesday. It was the Malaysians’ first loss in three meetings against the Korean pair. “Yi-goo is 24 years old and Gun-woo is 23. Our back-up pair did well and were superior at the front court. Our players showed more fighting spirit and that was the key,” said Han-kook. “All our top three pairs are of almost equal standard. There is no special reason why the Koreans are able to beat this Malaysia pair so often ... it is all about practice, determination in training and adopting the right strategy. “I have seen Koo and Tan play for some time and, I think, they are weak mentally, especially against the Koreans. The Ma

ODENSE: Doubles shuttlers Hoon Thien How and Tan Wee Kiong are enjoying a dream run in the Denmark Open in only their first outing as a pair. Thien How-Wee Kiong continued their fairytale run by storming into the quarter-finals with a sensational 21-18, 21-17 win over Indonesians Alven Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan in 37 minutes. A day earlier, the Malaysian qualifiers got their new partnership off to a flying start with a superb 16-21, 21-19, 21-11 win over China’s second pair Guo Zhengdong-Chai Biao in the first round. Today, they will take on the winners of the match between top seeds Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China and Taiwan’s Fang Chieh-min-Lee Sheng-mu for a place in the semi-finals. Their good run has certainly lifted the gloom in the men’s doubles department following the shock loss of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong to South Korea’s Kwon Yi-goo-Cho Gun-woo in the opening round. Thien How was delighted to have made the breakthrough, especially after picking up a sligh