Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

Zulfadli reiterates desire to don national colours   CHERAS: Not many knew who Zulfadli Zulkifli (pic) was a year ago but all that changed when he won the Asian Junior Championship in April followed by the World Junior Championship in November. He then became an instant celebrity, with many parties wanting a piece of him. Some even said he could be the next world No 1, but he remains unperturbed by such attention. "Oh yes, everyone wanted to be friends. People who never used to talk to me before wanted to hang out with me. It’s a little odd but I don’t care," said Zulfadli. "My focus is on badminton and nothing else. I have my own plans and I plan to achieve them." Zulfadli has options. The Los Angeles-born lad can play for the United States. He can even feature for Indonesia, the birth country of his mother Hanny Pranatyo. In fact, Zulfadli was approached by t

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are puzzled as to why the Indonesian SEA Games organising committee (Inasoc) are taking such a long time to test the B samples of two national athletes who were tested positive for doping at the Games. The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) received news from Inasoc on Dec 21 that a member of the men’s 4x400m relay gold medal winning team and a weightlifter, who won bronze, had tested positive for a banned substance. Malaysian chef-de-mission Datuk Naim Mohamed personally handed over a letter from the OCM to the Inasoc officials in Jakarta on Jan 7 asking for the B samples to be tested. Naim, who is also the deputy president of Malaysian National Cycling Association (MNCA) said, that when he contacted the officials in Indonesia yesterday to find out the results of the B samples, he was told that they had yet to send the urine samples to a lab in Bangkok. “I am surprised the Inasoc are taking so long to send the urine samples to the lab in Bangk

SAFEE belum mahu membuat sebarang spekulasi berhubung masa depannya dengan kelab Pelita Jaya. " SUDAH hendak sampai masa dah (masa depan bersama Pelita Jaya), dan bila segalanya sudah selesai saya akan membuat pengumuman rasmi dengan segera." Demikian respons ringkas penyerang sensasi Harimau Malaya, Mohd. Safee Sali bagi menjawab teka-teki yang bermain di kotak hati peminat berhubung masa depannya bersama Pelita Jaya selepas ini. Sebelum ini, pemerhati bola sepak tempatan tertanya-tanya mengenai masa depan penyerang kelahiran Kajang, Selangor itu bersama Pelita Jaya apabila kontraknya dengan kelab tersebut secara rasminya bakal tamat hari ini. Spekulasi Safee bakal berhij- rah ke kelab lain juga tersebar luas baru-baru ini lantaran Liga Super Indonesia (ISL) dan Persatuan Sepak Bola Seluruh Indonesia (PSSI) dikhabarkan 'diharamkan' oleh Persekutuan Bola Sepak Antarabangsa (FIFA). Selain dikaitkan dengan juara liga Thailand 2010, Muang Thong

KUALA LUMPUR: The first day of a two-week centralised training, aimed at psyching up the players for the Thomas-Uber Cup Asian Zone qualifying tournament, began on a stuttering note at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara. World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei missed the morning session due to illness. Chong Wei is the only player likely to win at least one point in every tie for Malaysia during the qualifiers in Macau, scheduled from Feb 13. Said national coach Tey Seu Bock: “Chong Wei has called in sick but he has been really focused in training since coming back from the Chinese New Year holidays,” said national coach Tey Seu Bock. Youngster Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, meanwhile, had to reduce his training time after hurting his knee in a fall but coach Hendrawan brushed aside the incident. The others, however, seemed completely engrossed with the training session, showing sheer focus and determination. The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), however, are showing signs of

Korean hurdle may prove insurmountable in Thomas Cup Thomas Cup MALAYSIA'S hopes of making the Thomas Cup final round received a blow after being drawn in the same group with second seeds South Korea for the qualifying tournament in Macau on Feb 13-19. Malaysia should beat Hong Kong  but must also overcome South Korea in Group B in order to receive an easier quarter-final clash, probably against India. Defeat to South Korea will  most likely pit Malaysia against Indonesia in the last eight and  defeat will see them fighting for the sole slot in a four-team round robin playoff. South Korea will rely on their doubles where Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae and Ko Sung Hyun-Yoo Yeon Seong have a clear edge over Malaysia's Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah. Malaysia should secure a point in the singles through Lee Chong Wei but the Koreans will fancy their chances in the second and third singles through Park Sung Hwan and Shon Wan

SEU BOCK (kanan) menjelaskan bahawa sandaran bukan terletak pada Chong Wei (kiri) seorang dalam kempen kelayakan Piala Thomas 2012 di Macau bulan depan. KETIKA sandaran utama diletakkan di atas bahu jaguh perse- orangan, Datuk Lee Chog Wei, lain pula yang disuarakan jurulatih negara, Tey Seu Bock menjelang kempen kelayakan Kejohanan Badminton Piala Thomas 2012 di Macau bulan depan. Bagi Seu Bock, bukan hanya Chong Wei yang diberi tanggungjawab, sebaliknya semua barisan pemain negara yang bakal menggalas cabaran pada kempen kelayakan kali mempunyai peranan masing-masing. Seu Bock berkata, memandangkan Piala Thomas merupakan kejohanan berpasukan, pemain-pemain lain juga perlu bekerja keras bagi memungut mata buat skuad negara dan tidak hanya mengharapkan Chong Wei seorang sahaja. “Piala Thomas kejohanan berpasukan, jika Chong Wei seorang sahaja yang berjaya mata, ia masih belum cukup untuk menjamin kemenangan buat skuad negara. “Justeru, saya harap pemain-pema

HER left arm in a cast and bed-ridden in hospital, Mariana Mohamad has a bone to pick with sports officials as she insists that she will be able to compete in the Asian Cycling Championships road events in Putrajaya on Feb 14-18.   Mariana is recovering at the Damansara Specialist Centre. Pic by Yazit Razali Minutes after Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek visited her and announced at a press conference the gravity of her injuries, the 34-year old Mariana refuted the doctor's report.   "No, I cannot be off the bike. As soon as I can, I'm going to get back on the bike and I'm going to ride in the Asian Championships," said Mariana, a mother of two, whose husband Glen Ford was against her cycling.   "The individual time trial is on  Feb 14 so there's time for me to recover. My legs are okay  so I'm going to ride."   A horrific accident during a selection race in Putrajaya on Sunday saw

PETALING JAYA: Stricter safety measures are urgently needed to protect our cyclists. National woman cyclist Mariana Mohamad was seriously hurt during a crash while undergoing simulation race with 50 other riders at 10.30am in Putrajaya on Sunday. TV news footage showed a Perodua Kancil zooming across the incoming riders at the junction of Persiaran Perdana and Lebuh Ehsan, despite marshals manning the junction. Former national champions Mariana then hit the side of the car. National cyclist Amir Mustafa Rusli, who was also in the race which was to select riders for the Asian Championships from Feb 8-18, described the accident as “the worst crash during a race I have ever seen”. Masziyaton Mohd Radzi and junior riders Abdul Azizi Zahid and Ahmad Azri Ahmad were also hurt in the crash. Azri suffered broken fingers while Masziyaton and Azizi received outpatient treatment for cuts and bruises. Mariana, who suffered a broken arm and fractured ribs, was rushed to th

AHMAD SHABERY (tengah) ditemani Dr. Ramlan (kiri) ketika melawat pelumba basikal lebuh raya wanita negara, Mariana di KPJ Damansara semalam. MENTERI Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek memberi jaminan untuk memperbaiki sebarang kelemahan yang ada dalam prosedur latihan skuad basikal lebuh raya negara bagi menjamin kesela- matan pelumba-pelumbanya pada masa hadapan. Ahmad Shabery berkata demikian ketika mengulas insiden kemalangan melibatkan lima pelumba negara yang dilanggar sebuah kereta Kancil ketika menja- lani latihan dan sesi pemili- han di Putrajaya kelmarin. Dalam insiden tersebut, seorang pelumba wanita negara, Mariana Mohamed, 34, mengalami kecederaan parah selepas patah tulang lengan, rusuk dan lutut kanannya, manakala empat lagi pelumba hanya mengalami kecederaan ringan. "Sudah tentu saya rasa amat sedih dengan kejadian buruk yang menimpa lima pelumba kita ini, terutamanya Mariana yang agak parah," kata Ahmad Shabery ketika melawat

PETALING JAYA - Kemalangan yang menimpa pelumba basikal wanita negara, Mariana Mohamad kelmarin menyebabkan dia terlepas Kejohanan Berbasikal Asia (ACC) 2012 berikutan proses pemulihan yang mengambil masa sekurang-kurangnya tiga bulan. Itu kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Institut Sukan Negara (ISN), Datuk Dr. Ramlan Aziz selepas menilai laporan perubatan terhadap kecederaan pelumba tersebut, semalam. Dr. Ramlan berkata, kemalangan yang berlaku dalam Perlumbaan Pemilihan Kejohanan Berbasikal Asia (ACC) 2012 di Putrajaya itu menyebabkan Mariana mengalami patah lengan dan cedera rusuk serta lutut kanan. "Laporan doktor mendapati Mariana mengalami banyak kecederaan dan yang paling serius adalah patah lengan tangannya, rusuk dan lutut kanan. "Proses pemulihan terhadap kecederaan ini amat penting buatnya dan kita akan memantau dengan lebih terperinci perkembangannya," katanya kepada pemberita dalam sidang akhbar selepas melawat Mariana di Hospital KPJ Damansar

KUALA LUMPUR - Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM) melalui jawatankuasa lebuh raya akan menyediakan laporan terperinci mengenai kemalangan yang berlaku ketika perlumbaan pemilihan ke Kejohanan Berbasikal Asia (ACC) 2012 di Putrajaya kelmarin secepat mungkin. Menurut Timbalannya, Datuk Naim Mohamad, laporan tersebut nanti akan menerangkan keseluruhan tentang kejadian yang berlaku yang mengakibatkan empat pelumba negara Mariana Mohamad, Masziyaton Mohd. Radzi, Ahmad Azri Ahmad dan Abdul Azizi Zahid yang cedera kerana dirempuh kereta Perodua Kancil. “Laporan ini akan diserahkan kepada Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) di mana ia akan menjelaskan tentang persiapan sehinggalah kejadian tersebut berlaku seperti mana yang diminta oleh Menteri, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek,” katanya dalam sidang media di Hospital Pakar KPJ Damansara semalam. Jelasnya, laporan tersebut tidak akan menyembunyikan apa-apa tentang kejadian yang berlaku sebaliknya ia akan meliputi

PETALING JAYA - Kementerian Belia dan Sukan meminta laporan penuh mengenai kemalangan yang melibatkan empat pelumba basikal lebuh raya negara di Putrajaya dengan seorang daripadanya parah kelmarin, bagi memastikan insiden sama tidak berulang. Menterinya, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek berkata, dia mahu laporan daripada Persekutuan Kebangsaan Basikal Malaysia (PKBM) dan polis untuk memperbaiki kelemahan dan kekurangan dalam penganjuran sesuatu perlumbaan. Tambahnya, kemalangan yang berlaku pada perlumbaan pemilihan Kejohanan Berbasikal Asia (ACC) 2012 di Putrajaya kelmarin perlu dipastikan sama ada ia dijalankan mengikut prosedur sewajarnya atau sebaliknya. “Saya difahamkan polis dan marsyal disediakan ketika perlumbaan. Sama ada ia mencukupi atau tidak, itu kita kena tunggu laporan. “Kita juga akan lihat laporan mengenai kemalangan itu dari pihak polis sama ada ia berpunca daripada kelalaian pemandu atau sebaliknya. Perkara begini tidak boleh dipandang mudah,” katany

KUALA LUMPUR - Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong mengarahkan Persekutuan Angkat Berat Malaysia (PABM) menubuhkan panel siasatan berhubung penggantungan empat tahun ke atas atlet angkat berat wanita, Raihan Yusoff kerana bersalah mengambil bahan larangan. Katanya, menjadi tanggungjawab PABM dalam membuka peluang kepada pengangkat berat kelas 53 kilogram berusia 24 tahun itu memberikan kenyataan atau alasan pengambilannya dalam Kejohanan Dunia Kelayakan Olimpik di Paris, November lalu sehingga digantung Persekutuan Angkat Berat Antarabangsa (IWF). “Ia tanggungjawab persatuan untuk buka peluang kepada atlet ini dalam berikan apa saja kenyataan atau alasan (pengambilan bahan larangan). Melarikan diri atau tidak memberikan maklum balas bukan penyelesaian yang baik,” katanya selepas majlis pelancaran Klinik Sepak Takraw Jelajah Akar Umbi bersama bekas pemain negara, Futra Ghani di MSN, Bukit Jalil, semalam. Zolkples menganggap hukuman IWF seri

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Thomas Cup squad will face the 'acid test' in their efforts to qualify for the Thomas Cup finals in Wuhan, China in May, after being drawn together with South Korea and Hong Kong. The three countries were drawn in Group D of the Asian Zone qualifying rounds which will be held in Macau from Feb 13-19. Based on the seeding for the Thomas Cup qualifying released by the Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC) today, South Korea is the second seed while Malaysia is fifth. Malaysian singles ace Datuk Lee Chong Wei is world number one men's singles while South Korean top singles, Lee Hyun Il, is world number eight. The other Malaysian men's singles are Muhammad Hafiz Hashim (33) and Liew Darren at number 45. South Korean second singles is Park Sung Hwan (15) and their third singles, Shon Wan Ho (19). Malaysia's major obstacles are South Korean top pair and world number two, Jung Jae Sung/Lee Yong Dae. Our t

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- Former national player Mohd Futra Abdul Ghani is conducting Sepak Takraw clinics throughout the country to scout for second echelon players capable of reviving national glory in Sepak Takraw. Mohd Futra, among the "regu emas" players who last won the gold medal at the SEA Games 2005 in Manila, said the Sepak Takraw clinic had started two years ago but he felt that its activities must be intensified. "This clinic is actually held out of my obligation as a former national player to contribute in the efforts to find second liners in Sepak Takraw. "I notice that the performance of our team at the Indonesian SEA Games last year was shameful and felt that our national team needs new faces to regain the country's image in the sport," he said after the launch of the clinic by National Sports Council Director-General Datuk Zolkples Embong, here. Mohd Futra said the clinic was being held in schools based on invi

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) - The Youth and Sports Ministry will review all safety procedures for training and competition involving the national cycling team. Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said this is due to an accident involving the cycling team during test session for selection to 2012 Asian Cycling Championships (ACC) in Putrajaya, Sunday. He said Malaysia has organised many cycling events and understands the procedures to be followed during competition. "We will study whether the accident involved weakness in safety procedures. More warning signs wil also be put during races," he said after visiting cyclist Mariana Mohamad at Damansara Specialist Hospital here. Also present were National Sports Institute chief executive officer, Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz and Malaysian National Cycling Federation deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamad. Other cyclists involved in the accident with a car were Masziyaton Mohd Radzi and juniors Ahmad Azri Ah

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- Less than two months after organising the 26th SEA Games, the Indonesian Youth and Sports Ministry is planning to bid for the 2019 Asian Games. The move, however, has received different reactions from the republic's athletes and sports associations. According to the Jakarta Post online newspaper, the Indonesian Government was asked to give the matter deep thought, in terms of when to host a bigger event, given the fact that no evaluation of the recent SEA Games had been made. Indonesia's number one beach volleyball player Koko Prasetyo Darkuncoro said the government needed to start preparations early to avoid the various delays which plagued the recent SEA Games. "We have heard so many complaints from athletes of other countries over the quality of food served in the athletes' village during the event. "Morover, the menu did not have much variety and some foreign athletes even found worms in their dish! What

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- Commitment and determination. These are qualities of Liew Daren and Muhammad Hafiz Hashim which could help the national team get through the Thomas Cup qualifying rounds in Macau next month. The qualifying rounds are from Feb 14-19. According to national singles chief coach Rashid Sidek, the players have shown a marked improvement in terms of stamina, and expressed satisfaction with the level of confidence among the players to accomplish their mission in the next two weeks. "Daren should take the opportunity training with world number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Muhammad Hafiz to learn and overcome the problem of nervousness during the game. "Playing as a team is different. If the performance is not up to the mark, it can be good because we don't need to play all out. We need only give 70 per cent during the game," he told reporters after a centralied training session in Bukit Kiara here. Rashid said Daren did

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's world No. 1 Datuk Nicol Ann David is on track to redeem herself at the Cleveland Racquet Classic after missing the title last year following a defeat to England's Laura Massaro during the final. In the first round match of the Cleveland Racquet Classic 2012 at the Cleveland Racquet Club in Ohio, the United States on Sunday, Nicol cruised into the quarter-finals after defeating a qualifier, Joelle King of New Zealand. Nicol beat Joelle 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11 and 11-7 in a gruelling 63-minute match to book her berth in the final eight. She meets Hong Kong's Annie Au, who claimed the quarter-final berth following the withdrawal of France's Camille Serme. Meanwhile, Malaysia's No. 2, Low Wee Wern went down to Massaro 4-11, 6-11, 11-9 and 5-11 in 53 minutes.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Former National badminton coach Razif Sidek took the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to task for not including world junior champion Zulfadli Zulkiffli in the Thomas Cup squad. Razif, during an interview with Bernama TV recently, said Zulfadli should have been given a chance to represent the country in the Thomas Cup Qualifier to be held in Macau from Feb 13 to 19. The former doubles player who together with his brother Jalani formed the backbone of the Thomas Cup squad in 1992, said Zulfadli's presence in Macau would give him valuable exposure and experience. "At least he (Zulfadli) will be able to witness in person, how difficult or tough the competition is at the Thomas Cup. "It does not matter whether he is from the Kuala Lumpur Racquet Club or not, BAM must still open the door to give players like Zulfadli in the near future. We must give opportunities for our best singles players so that they will be abl

ALOR SETAR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Kedah's acting coach Mohd Nidzam Adzha who stepped into the shoes of the suspended Wan Jamak Wan Hassan, resigned with immediate effect following the team's streak of poor results. Wan Jamak was suspended for seven Super League matches by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for his alleged criticism of the standard of refereeing after his team drew 1-1 against Perak in their Group A match Malaysia Cup match on Sept 28. Mohd Nidzam, a former Kedah and national striker, was the President's Cup coach before assuming the role of acting coach of the Super League team but the Kedah team has not achieved a win in five matches since the start of the M-League. Last night was probably the last straw for Mohd Nidzam when he saw his charges go down 1-3 to Johor FC at their own backyard - Darul Aman Stadium - to remain at the bottom of the league table with two points from two draws. Besides Wan Jamak, assistant coach Radzi Ma

By Ainul Huda Mohamed Saaid KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) High Performance Director Datuk James Selvaraj wants players to adopt a 'never say die' attitude although the Thomas Cup squad is labelled as a 'weak team' due to the presence of young players. Apart from being labelled as a weak team, the Thomas Cup squad led by world number one men's singles player Datuk Lee Chong Wei, has also been receiving negative reports in the media. James Selvaraj believes, the team comprising Chong Wei, former All England winner Muhammad Hafiz Hashim and former world number one men's doubles pair Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong still has a chance of making it to the final, if the players go into the battle with a positive attitude, determination and fighting spirit. Speaking of his own experience in the Thomas Cup competition back in 1976 when he represented the country together with legendary Datuk Punch Gunalan, th

Rosmah Mansor bersama barisan kepimpinan baru Yakeb yang membuat kunjungan hormat ke Sri Perdana, Putrajaya baru-baru ini. KUALA LUMPUR - Penaung Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan (Yakeb), Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor mahu Yayasan tersebut terus berada pada landasan betul dalam membela nasib dan kebajikan ahlinya, yang terdiri daripada atlet serta bekas atlet kebangsaan. Isteri Perdana Menteri berkata demikian ketika menerima kunjungan hormat daripada barisan kepimpinan baru Yakeb buat kali pertama di Sri Perdana, Putrajaya baru-baru ini. Beliau dalam pertemuan itu menyatakan rasa bangga terhadap apa yang telah dilaksanakan oleh Yayasan tersebut sejak ia ditubuhkan empat tahun lalu dan mahu matlamat penubuhan mereka kekal relevan. Malah, Rosmah juga menasihatkan semua barisan kepimpinan tertinggi Yakeb supaya bekerja dengan penuh keikhlasan serta dedikasi, dan yang paling penting katanya, mereka harus menjaga nama baik Yayasan. Pertemuan tersebut secara umumnya bertuju

NATIONAL Sports Institute's (NSI) Rosdie Ghani, as from today, will replace Behrad Honer as the physical trainer for struggling pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.    Rosdie, who has been guiding Lee Chong Wei for the last six years, has been given the added responsibility of assisting Kien Keat-Boon Heong as a lack of fitness and power have been identified as key reasons for their struggles.    Honer, formerly with the national hockey squad, had been in charge of the pair's physical conditioning for almost two years but their fitness remained an issue.    Rosdie will focus on Kien Keat-Boon Heong's programme while Sean Sturgess will conduct physical training sessions for the rest of the men's doubles players.    National Sports Institute (NSI) director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz said the move was not surprising as Kien Keat-Boon Heong have been struggling with their fitness and the problem was so glaring  in the Malaysia Open th

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Olympic champion Rexy Mainaky was a broken man when he was demoted from the high-profile job of coaching the men’s doubles elite team to grooming the women’s doubles players last year. But he is having the last laugh. His old pair of Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty are back in the reckoning for a spot in the Olympic Games in London while the new and vibrant Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo combination have raised hopes for the future by breaking into the top 20 for the first time. In the latest world rankings released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) yesterday, Eei Hui-Pei Tty moved up five rungs to No. 14 in the world. Only the top 16 are assured places in the Olympics. At one point just a year ago, the duo were ranked as low as 68th in the world following Pei Tty’s eight-month absence due to a knee injury. They were No. 4 in the world when Pei Tty decided to undergo surgery in August 2010. While the seniors seem to have found the motivation to rise

KOTA BHARU - Penjaga gol No. 1 negara, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat atau Apek (gambar) yang dilaporkan tidak muncul pada hari pertama sesi latihan Kelayakan Olimpik kelmarin, berkata dia menyerahkan kedudukannya kepada majikannya, Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan (KAFA).   Beliau yang masih berada di sisi skuad Kelantan di sini, enggan mengulas ketidakhadiran bersama skuad Ong Kim Swee di Wisma Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), seperti yang disiarkan akhbar semalam. Khairul Fahmi yang ditemui menyerahkan kepada KAFA untuk dia menyertai skuad Olimpik atau sebaliknya. "Saya tidak boleh buat apa-apa (untuk lapor diri skuad ke Olimpik atau sebaliknya) sebab tidak dapat kata putus daripada KAFA," katanya. Tinjauan Utusan Malaysia di kem latihan skuad Kelantan mendapati Khairul Fahmi menjalani latihan seperti biasa bersama rakan-rakan pasukannya dalam perlawanan persahabatan menentang skuad Piala Presiden negeri itu. Sementara itu, KAFA menjelaskan 'kehilan

ISU kegagalan penjaga gol kebangsaan, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat melaporkan diri bagi menjalani latihan bersama skuad Olimpik disifat lebih kepada salah faham dan dianggap selesai selepas Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan (Kafa) tampil menjelaskan situasi sebenar. Presiden Kafa, Tan Sri Annuar Musa berkata, pihaknya sudah memberikan pelepasan kepada Khairul Fahmi atau lebih dikenali dengan panggilan Apek bagi menyertai latihan skuad Olimpik tetapi harus kembali bersama pasukan Kelantan dalam tempoh 48 jam sebelum perlawanan menentang Kuala Lumpur, malam esok. “Apek sepatutnya perlu melaporkan diri pada 25 Januari (kelmarin) di Wisma FAM tetapi menyangka perlu melaporkan diri selepas perlawanan Kelantan menentang Kuala Lumpur di Kota Bharu, pada Sabtu ini. “Saya sudah meminta pihak pengurusan Kelantan dan Apek sendiri menghubungi ketua jurulatih skuad Olimpik, Ong Kim Swee bagi menyelesaikan perkara ini dengan baik demi kepentingan bersama semua pihak,” katanya. Harian Metro

IT will be a busy weekend for Malaysian squash professionals who will be involved in five international tournaments across three continents starting today.    The United States, Sweden and Kuala Lumpur will be the focus of attention as four national players have been given top billing in the respective tournaments they are entered.    Leading the way is Nicol David, fresh off her first World Series Finals triumph in London at the start of the year, as she attempts to go one better at the Cleveland Classic in Ohio on Sunday.    The World No 1 was upset by England's Laura Massaro in the final last year and Nicol will look to set things right in only her second appearance in the US$50,000 (RM160,000) Women's Squash Association (WSA) tournament, the first WSA Tour gold event of 2012.    Nicol meets a qualifier in the opening round before a quarter-final meeting with either Asian No 2 Annie Au of Hong Kong or French national champion Camille Serme while Ireland'

CHINA have left out Lin Dan and men's doubles World No 1 Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng but are still strong enough to win the Thomas Cup qualifying rounds in Macau on Feb 13-19. Yang Li Lian replaces the injured Sonia Cheah. The team will be led by Chen Long while Chen Jin, Du Pengyu and Wang Zhengming are the other singles players while Chai Biao-Guo Zhendong and Liu Ziaolong-Qiu Zihan and Zhang Nan-Li Gen complete China's line-up. China, who have already qualified for the Thomas Cup, are playing in the qualifying rounds for the first time since 2004 to allow their players to grab valuable Olympic qualifying points.    Japan look to be the only team capable of upsetting the formbook due to their strength in the doubles with Noriyasu Hirata-Hirokatsu Hashimoto, Naoki Kawamae-Shoji Sato and Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa  capable of beating China's back-up pairs while Sho Sasaki and Kenichi Tago have also toppled Chen Long and Chen Jin. Ch

SKUAD Brunei yang muncul juara Piala Malaysia pada tahun 1999. KEMENTERIAN Belia dan Sukan (KBS) tidak mempunyai masalah untuk melihat kehadiran semula skuad kebangsaan Brunei dalam saingan bola sepak Liga Malaysia (Liga-M) sebagai salah satu usaha mengeratkan hubungan dua hala antara kedua- dua negara dalam bidang sukan. Menterinya, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek berkata, Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) dan Persatuan Bola Sepak Brunei boleh berbincang bagi menentukan mekanisme yang sesuai untuk memastikan perkara tersebut terlaksana. "Kita tahu kerjasama dalam bidang sukan bukan sahaja melibatkan antara kerajaan dengan kerajaan tetapi juga antara persatuan sukan. Beliau berkata demikian kepada para pemberita selepas menyertai perlawanan golf dengan rakan sejawatnya dari Brunei, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Datuk Seri Setia Awang Hazir Awang Abdullah di Kelab Golf Kuala Lumpur (KLGCC) semalam. Pasukan kebangsaan Brunei menyertai Liga Malaysia yang

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Youth and Sports has not rule out the possibility of inviting Brunei to participate in the Malaysia League again in an effort to strengthen ties between the two countries through sports. Its minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the Football Association of Brunei could create a mechanism towards Brunei's participation. "Cooperation in sports not only involves government to government but also between sports associations of both countries," he told reporters after taking part in a golf friendly with Brunei Youth and Sports Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Datuk Seri Setia Awang Hazir Awang Abdullah at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club here. Brunei played in the Malaysian League (then known as Semi-Pro League) from 1989-1993 before joining the Singapore League in 2009. Brunei last won the Malaysia Cup in 1999 after beating Sarawak 2

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has been urged to give the spot held by the late Mohd Salam Sidek to another Malaysian archer for the London Paralympics on Aug 29 - Sept 9. Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) president Datuk Zainal Abu Zarin said Mohd Salam, who at one time held the top world ranking, had qualified for London before he died in November. "We hope the IPC retains the quota of three archers to London even without the involvement of the late Mohd Salam. The complete athletes' list to the London paralympic will be available in May. "Two more slots have yet to be filled but we appeal to IPC to retain them," he told reporters after a tree-planting ceremony here Thursday for athletes who won medals at the Asean Para Sports in Solo, Indonesia. The bi-annual games witnessed the national paralympic contingent finishing in third place with 51 gold medals, 36 silver and 45 bronze. On the particip

KUALA LUMPUR: Harun Rasheed has resigned as the national athletics chief coach. The 58-year-old, however, clarified that his resignation had nothing to do with the doping scandal hanging over the squad. “None of the athletes I trained tested positive in the Indonesia SEA Games,” said Harun, who was appointed national chief coach in early 2010. “I resigned because I want to take a break as I have been training athletes since 1980. I also want to concentrate on my business and spend time with my family and grandchildren. “I didn’t submit an official letter but I sent a text message to MAU (Malaysian Athletic Union) president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and deputy president Karim Ibrahim after the Games.” Shahidan, who is the coaching committee chairman, confirmed that Harun had verbally informed him of his intention to resign. “But I haven’t received any letter from him. We will hold a meeting next month to pick a new chief coach,” said Shahidan. A member of the men’s

PETALING JAYA : Cardiff City chairman Datuk Chan Tien Ghee said “the gods were smiling on us” after his club pulled off a sensational win over Crystal Palace on Tuesday to qualify for the League Cup final. Cardiff, who are bankrolled by Malaysian tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun, will play either Liverpool or Manchester City in the final at Wembley on Feb 26. “We had tremendous support from the fans and that made our players believe they could pull it off. We fought till the end and now we will be making our first appearance in the League Cup final after nearly 40 years,” said Chan. “The 26,000 fans who filled the stadium were our 12th man … they gave us the belief that we could do it. “Now, the whole city is celebrating this victory. “Many of our Malaysian fans in Cardiff are rejoicing with their Welsh friends and I myself have received around 400 text messages from Malaysians back home congratulating us on our victory. “We are proud of what we have done but

MASIH ada tiga bulan buat pelumba basikal negara untuk cuba mengumpulkan sebanyak mungkin mata sebelum senarai terakhir pelumba yang akan mewakili negara ke Sukan Olimpik London, diumumkan pada 8 April ini. Kejohanan Lumba Berbasikal Asia (ACC) yang berlangsung di Veledrom Cheras bermula pada 8 hingga 12 Februari ini akan menjadi medan paling hampir untuk barisan negara yang dibarisi Azizulhasni Awang, Josiah Ng dan Fatehah Mustapa mengumpul mata. Selain persaingan membabitkan barisan terkuat Asia, ACC ini juga akan membabitkan pertarungan dua pelumba harapan negara, Azizul dan Josiah yang berada dalam program Road to London untuk membuktikan siapa jaguh di tanah air sendiri. Begitupun menurut ketua jurulatih negara, John Beasley, selepas ACC masih ada dua kejohanan utama yang menawarkan mata iaitu Siri Piala Dunia Klasik keempat di London dan Kejohanan Dunia di Melbourne, April ini untuk pelumba mengumpul mata penting. “Hanya pelumba terbaik akan terpilih ke Sukan O

SKUAD Olimpik negara kini fokus bagi menghadapi baki tiga aksi kelayakan Olimpik 2012 bagi Zon Asia. ATAS kertas, peluang skuad Olimpik negara untuk mara ke peringkat seterusnya pada pusingan Kelayakan Olimpik 2012 (Zon Asia) tampak sukar. Selepas tewas 2-3 kepada Bahrain pada saingan peringkat Kumpulan C di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil pada November lalu, slot untuk ke saingan penentuan kini dilihat semakin tertutup rapat buat skuad kendalian Ong Kim Swee itu. Sebelum itu, skuad negara tewas 0-2 pada aksi pembukaan kepada Jepun diikuti kekalahan kepada Syria. Mungkin tidak keterlaluan jika dikatakan hasrat Harimau Muda untuk menjejakkan kaki ke bumi London tahun ini akan menemui kegagalan jika keputusan yang dicatat pada pusingan pertama peringkat kumpulan sebelum ini berulang pada kempen pusingan kedua kelak. Namun, dalam bola sepak macam-macam boleh berlaku dan tiada yang mustahil. Berpegang dengan hakikat tersebut, Kim Swee mengharapkan sedikit keajaiban pada ak

DATUK Lee Chong Wei mengetuai cabaran negara pada kempen kelayakan di Macau bulan depan. " SEMUA patut letak jawatan." Demikian tegas bekas pemain beregu badminton negara, Razif Sidek sekiranya skuad negara gagal mara ke pusingan akhir Piala Thomas di Wuhan, China pada Mei depan. Razif berkata, baik jurulatih, Jawatankuasa Kejurulatihan dan Latihan (C&T), Pasukan Prestasi Tinggi (HPT), individu-individu yang terbabit perlu bertanggungjawab sekiranya skuad negara gagal melepasi pusingan kelayakan di Macau, bulan depan. Katanya, beliau sangat kecewa melihat persiapan yang dilakukan Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) bagi menghadapi kempen kelayakan Piala Thomas kali ini yang mana lebih mementingkan temasya Sukan Olimpik 2012 di London berbanding kejohanan berprestij itu. "Berdasarkan post mortem yang dijalankan ekoran kegagalan skuad negara pada Piala Thomas 2010, punca kekalahan pada tahun tersebut adalah disebabkan daripada kelewatan melakuk