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BERSIKAP berkecuali. Itu pendirian Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) yang mengamalkan dasar 'atas pagar' berhubung hasrat Presiden Kesatuan Olahraga Malaysia (KOM), Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim mempertahankan jawatan bulan depan. Setiausaha Kehormat MOM, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi ( gambar ) berkata, pihaknya tidak berhak menyatakan pendirian berhubung perkara itu kerana tidak mahu mencampuri urusan mana-mana persatuan. Menurut beliau, sebagai sebuah persatuan yang mengamalkan sikap demokrasi, terpulang kepada mana-mana persatuan termasuk KOM memilih presiden bagi menerajui pucuk pimpinan masing-masing. "Terpulang kepada pengundi (dalam KOM), jika mereka rasa beliau (Shahidan) berhak mempertahankan jawatan, terpulanglah kerana MOM sentiasa menyokong penuh mana-mana individu yang dilantik," jelas Kok Chi kepada Kosmo! kelmarin. Terdahulu, Shahidan yang secara terbuka mengakui bersedia sekiranya ada mana-mana individu berhasrat mencabar jawat

KUALA LUMPUR: Singles back-up shuttler Chan Kwong Beng is banking on a change of coach to give his career a new lease of life. The 24-year-old is ready to part ways with national chief coach Rashid Sidek because he strongly believes that he can revive his fortunes under former world champion Hendrawan of Indonesia.     If I still do not excel under Hendrawan, it is a clear sign for me to end my career. - CHAN KWONG BENG   Kwong Beng has been training under Rashid since 2010 when his previous coach, Misbun Sidek, left the national team. Kwong Beng is hoping that the coaching and training committee, who will meet on Sept 8, will agree to his request. He claims that he has spoken to Rashid and Hendrawan and that both coaches have agreed to the swap. It is learnt that Mohd Arif Abdul Latif may go the other way – leaving Hendrawan to train under Rashid. Kwong Beng showed that he is still an asset to the national team when he was selected to accompany world No

KUALA LUMPUR: Singles back-up shuttler Chan Kwong Beng is banking on a change of coach to give his career a new lease of life. The 24-year-old is ready to part ways with national chief coach Rashid Sidek because he strongly believes that he can revive his fortunes under former world champion Hendrawan of Indonesia.     If I still do not excel under Hendrawan, it is a clear sign for me to end my career. - CHAN KWONG BENG   Kwong Beng has been training under Rashid since 2010 when his previous coach, Misbun Sidek, left the national team. Kwong Beng is hoping that the coaching and training committee, who will meet on Sept 8, will agree to his request. He claims that he has spoken to Rashid and Hendrawan and that both coaches have agreed to the swap. It is learnt that Mohd Arif Abdul Latif may go the other way – leaving Hendrawan to train under Rashid. Kwong Beng showed that he is still an asset to the national team when he was selected to accompany world No

KUALA LUMPUR - Sungguhpun usianya semakin meningkat, ratu 400 meter lari berpagar negara Noraseela Khalid masih lagi menjadi pilihan utama untuk mewakili negara di rantau Asia Tenggara. Itu tegas Naib Presiden Kesatuan Olahraga Malaysia (KOM), Datuk Annamalai Ramasamy ketika diminta mengulas masa depan atlet tersebut. Kata Annamalai, Noraseela yang bakal mencecah usia 33 tahun pada September ini masih lagi berupaya untuk menghadiahkan sesuatu buat negara pada kejohanan peringkat Asia Tenggara, malah setakat ini prestasi atlet tersebut belum dapat dicabar terutama pada Sukan SEA. Bagaimanapun, Annamalai mengakui Noraseela sukar untuk memberikan saingan dalam usianya ketika ini pada temasya yang lebih besar. "Tenaganya masih lagi kuat untuk mewakili negara, malah setakat ini belum ada atlet muda tempatan yang mampu menandinginya. "Minggu depan kita akan adakan mesyuarat kejurulatihan dan kita akan bincang berhubung status atlet kebangsaan termasuk Nor

HE Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) could be re-branded next year to attract more teams for the annual competition which is on the decline due to poor response. Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) secretary Johari Aziz said a re-branding exercise will likely be done to make the league more attractive next year. "The league has potential but we need to upgrade it. We could change the format or invite foreign teams to make it more exciting and competitive," said Johari after the MHL team managers' meeting at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday. The league, which began in the late 1980s, used to attract a large participation but of late, teams have been staying away due to budget constraint. In 2010, 16 teams played in the league but only 14 registered for the competition last season. The upcoming season, which starts on Saturday, has attracted only 13 clubs despite MHC's move to increase the prize money from RM350,000 to RM4

KUALA LUMPUR - Konfederasi Hoki Malaysia (MHC) menyerah masa depan skuad hoki kebangsaan kepada jurulatih baru dari Afrika Selatan, Paul Revington untuk merawat kekecewaan gagal ke Sukan Olimpik London 2012. Setiausaha Agung MHC, Mohd. Johari Abdul Aziz berkata, Revington bakal memikul tanggungjawab besar membimbing skuad kebangsaan ke tahap yang lebih baik bermula tahun ini. Menurutnya, tugasan utama Revington adalah mempersiapkan skuad kebangsaan untuk dua kejohanan penting iaitu Cabaran Juara-Juara 1 di Quilmes, Argentina November ini dan Piala Kejuaraan Enam Negara Asia di Doha, Disember ini. Liga Hoki Malaysia (TNB-MHL) 2012 (1-10 September) dan Piala Razak (14-23 Oktober) bakal menjadi medan Revington menilai prestasi pemain untuk membentuk skuad kebangsaan. "Esok (hari ini) Revington akan diperkenalkan kepada media buat kali pertama. Ia adalah peluang terbaik untuk bertanya kepada dia tentang perancangannya. "Bagaimana dia mahu mencorak sku

KUALA LUMPUR - Pulang tangan kosong dalam dua edisi sebelumnya, atlet wusyu negara, Diana Bong Siong Lin tidak lagi kempunan pada cubaan ketiga apabila dia pulang dengan tiga pingat termasuk satu emas dari Kejohanan Wusyu Asia yang menutup tirainya di Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Ahad lalu. Diana, 27, mempamerkan aksi bertenaga untuk mengungguli acara nandao dengan kutipan mata 9.62, mengatasi pesaing dari Taiwan, Tsai Wen-chuan (9.61). Turut mengharumkan nama negara ialah seorang lagi ahli wusyu wanita, Tai Cheau Xuen, yang memerlukan hanya penampilan sulung untuk mengecapi gelaran juara Asia dalam nangun , menewaskan Diana untuk Malaysia mendominasi kedudukan 1-2 acara tersebut. Diana melengkapkan rekod sempurna tiga pingat dalam tiga acara dengan merangkul perak nanquan dan gadis kelahiran Kuching, Sarawak itu boleh menjangkakan habuan lumayan RM80,000 melalui Skim Hadiah Kemenangan Sukan (SHAKAM), dengan RM40,000 ditawarkan untuk sebutir emas dan RM20,000 bagi sebutir

  Phillipa Yoong (kiri) dan Aaliyah (didukung oleh Alexander Yoong) mengharumkan nama negara pada Kejohanan Ski Air Asia IWWF di Korea Selatan, semalam.    KUALA LUMPUR - Adik beradik Yoong, Phillipa dan Aaliyah meneruskan kejaguhan mereka di pentas antarabangsa dengan kejayaan terbaru meraih emas pada Kejohanan Ski Air Asia IWWF yang berakhir di Chuncheon, Korea Selatan, semalam. Kakak, Phillipa menjuarai acara slalom terbuka wanita manakala adiknya, Aaliyah, si cilik berusia sembilan tahun, tidak mahu ketinggalan meraih emas dengan memenangi acara tricks bagi kategori Bawah17 tahun. Phillipa, ibu kepada dua anak itu, menewaskan dua pencabarnya, Yoo Ji-young dari Korea Selatan dan Saaya Hirosawa dari Jepun, sekali gus mempertahankan gelaran miliknya pada edisi tahun lalu. Kehebatan Phillipa pada usia 34 tahun sememangnya menakjubkan mengambil kira dia keluar daripada persaraan dua tahun lalu. Tahun lalu, dia bergabung tenaga dengan Aaliyah dan abangny

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 Ogos (Bernama) -- Sukan Olimpik di Rio De Janeiro, Brazil akan berlangsung empat tahun akan datang dan jika dilihat barisan atlet negara kini, sandaran pingat emas pertama Malaysia pada temasya itu masih bergantung kepada atlet senior. Kudrat Datuk Lee Chong Wei dalam acara badminton, Pandelela Rinong Anak Pamg (terjun) dan Mohd Azizulhasni Awang (berbasikal) terus ditagih bagi merealisasikan harapan 28 juta rakyat Malaysia untuk mendengar lagu Negaraku berkumandang buat pertama kali di venue Olimpik. Selain tiga sukan elit itu, mungkinkah sejarah bakal tercipta di Brazil sebagaimana kemunculan 'mengejut' atlet lawan pedang, Yu Peng Kean serta perenang marathon, Heidi Gan di temasya London baru-baru ini, walaupun kedua-dua mereka gagal menyumbangkan pingat kepada Malaysia. Tempoh empat tahun bukannya terlalu lama untuk mencongak impian emas pertama Malaysia di Sukan Olimpik kerana sejarah membuktikan, pemenang pingat pada temasya te

LONDON, 30 Ogos (Bernama) -- Langit di sekitar Stadium Olimpik di Stratford, yang terletak di London Timur, sekali lagi menjadi terang benderang oleh percikan pertunjukan bunga api yang menyerikan upacara perasmian Sukan Paralimpik Ke-14 pada Rabu. Ratu England, Queen Elizabeth II merasmikan upacara penuh gilang gemilang itu bagi menandakan bermulanya persaingan mencipta kemegahan selama 11 hari oleh lebih 4,000 atlet kurang upaya dari 166 negara -- penyertaan paling ramai dalam sejarah sukan ini. Upacara perasmian membuka tirainya pada pukul 8.30 malam (3.30 pagi waktu Malaysia). Seramai 80,000 penonton yang membanjiri stadium itu terpukau oleh kehebatan dan keistimewaan persembahan yang dijayakan oleh 3,200 peserta. Persembahan bertajuk "Enlightenment" itu diarahkan bersama Jenny Sealey dan Bradley Hemmings, yang telah berganding bahu menjayakan beberapa persembahan teater luar sejak sekian lama. Antara detik yang menyentuh perasaan pada majl

LONDON, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- London Olympics and Paralympic Organising Committee (LOGOC) chairman, Sebastian Coe on Wednesday, welcomed the athletes to the home of the Paralympic Games. Recalling the sports event by German Ludwig Guttman for the injured war victims at the Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire in 1948, Coe said: "It was this vision that launched Ludwig Guttman's great venture, it was this that launched the Paralympic Games. "So we say welcome home to this great sporting competition. Welcome home to a movement that shows what sport is all about." Coe said this in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 14th Paralympic Games. The Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II opened the Games. Over 4,000 athletes from 166 countries participated in this year's edition, the biggest participation in the Games history.

LONDON, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- The sky around the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, situated in East London was once again lit with spectacular fireworks display on the opening of the 14th Paralympic Games, on Wednesday. The Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II opened the well-organised opening to mark the beginning of an 11-day quest for glory by more than 4,000 disabled athletes from 166 countries competing in the biggest participation ever in the Games' history. The official opening ceremony started at 8.30pm (3.30am Malaysian time). The stadium was packed with 80,000 spectators who were mesmerised by the two-hour inspirational show by 3,200 performers. Entitled "Enlightenment", the performance was co-directed by Jenny Sealey and Bradley Hemmings, who have worked together in outdoor theatre for a number of years. Among the touching moments at the opening ceremony was when renowned British theoretical physicist and author, Professor Stephen Hawking,

GEORGE TOWN: Lee Chong Wei has named five singles shuttlers who have the potential to be top players. They are Chan Kwong Beng, Liew Daren, Chong Wei Feng, Mohd Arif Abdul Latif and Misbun Ramdan. The world No. 2 singles star, however, conceded that the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) face a tough task in finding his successor. “Even China have difficulty trying to find a ‘second’ Lin Dan despite having a population of more than one billion while Malaysia only have a population of 28 million,” Chong Wei told a press conference before a meet-the-fans session at KDU College in Penang yesterday. “Indonesia and Denmark also find it hard to replace Taufik Hidayat and Peter-Gade Chris­tensen.” Chong Wei was asked to comment on a report in a Malay daily on Sunday which stated that a replacement for him has yet to be found. He said more junior players would be sent to overseas tournaments to acquire experience. Chong Wei also said he hoped to attend Lin Da

Pandelela Rinong dan Ahmad Shabery Cheek disambut penduduk kampung sempena majlis 'biruman bisamah Pandelela' di Kampung Jugan, Bau semalam.    KUCHING - Kementerian Belia dan Sukan bersedia mengemukakan cadangan kepada Kabinet supaya memberi taraf Penduduk Tetap kepada jurulatih asing yang berjaya memartabatkan mutu sukan negara di persada antarabangsa. Menterinya, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek berkata, pemberian taraf tersebut kepada jurulatih asing yang cemerlang perlu dipertimbangkan bagi menarik minat mereka untuk terus membimbing Malaysia. "Ada negara menggunakan model memberi kerakyatan kepada rakyat negara lain supaya dapat menjadi atlet mereka. Bagaimanapun, model ini bukan pilihan kita kerana jika diberi status kepada atlet, sumbangannya akan habis di situ sahaja apabila usia meningkat. "Kalau beri pada jurulatih, mereka akan terus melahirkan lebih ramai atlet ternama. Perkara ini bagaimanapun melibatkan polisi, jadi saya akan

APABILA saya dipinjamkan ke Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) pada awal 1983, tugas khusus yang diberikan kepada saya ialah membangunkan Institut Sukan Negara (ISN).    Saya diberi maklumat mengenai konsep ISN ini oleh Ketua Pengarah MSN ketika itu, Datuk Noh Abdullah sebagai panduan. Urusan pengambilan tanah untuk tapak ISN di Bukit Jalil pun dimulakan oleh Pejabat Tanah Kuala Lumpur. Akhirnya tanah seluas 80 hektar diambil balik dan pampasan kepada tuan punya tanah yang dibayar oleh KBS berjumlah lebih kurang RM 24 juta. Daripada dokumen yang saya perolehi menunjukkan bahawa idea membina sebuah ISN telah lama dibincangkan sebelum ini. Tapak yang dicadangkan pada awalnya adalah di sekitar Bukit Kiara di mana Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam dan Kelab Golf Kuala Lumpur berada sekarang ini. Oleh yang demikian kita bolehlah membuat kesimpulan bahawa pemikiran pemimpin kita pada waktu itu sudah pun nampak akan kepentingan sebuah institut yang boleh membantu kemajuan suka

LONDON, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Paralympic athletes who are here to compete in the London Paralympics which starts on Aug 29, have started to adapt to the unpredictable weather conditions in London said head coach R. Jeganathan. "When we arrived here on Wednesday, the weather was hot and many athletes fell sick. But after a few days they have been able to adapt to the conditions which keep changing from time to time. "In fact, they are beginning to show good performances, especially in the throws and jumps, coming close to their personal best in training," he told Bernama here Monday. Jeganathan feels if they (athletes) can maintain such form, they would be able to see success in their respective events. "Since athletics is among sports targeted to win medals, I hope they can maintain their good form," he said. The Malaysian athletics team competing in the London Olympics comprise eight athletes, five men and three women. The men ar

LUNDU (Sarawak), Aug 27 (Bernama) -- The Youth and Sports Ministry are ready to consider requests from the diving fraternity to employ additional diving coaches. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said following the success of diver Pandelela Rinong to win a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, there was no doubt that the services of diving coaches from countries like China, would boost Malaysia's medal hopes. "It will be good to have the services of formidable foreign coaches and it will not be wrong to give them permanent resident status," he told reporters at a function to celebrate Pandelela's success at Kampung Jugan here Monday. Ahmad Shabery said the request would be submitted to the cabinet for approval. He added that Pandelela's achievement in the Olympics and other international competitions has boosted Malaysia's confidence of matching other diving powers in the world.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei, fresh from winning a silver medal at the London Olympics, is expected to end his bachelorhood next year. The world number two is expected to wed former national top women's singles player Wong Mew Choo as both are rumoured to be planning to settle down after courting for more than a decade. Chong Wei who claimed that he was ready to take the plunge, however, did not give any tentative date or place for the wedding. "Maybe I will step down next year because there are no big competitions and start planning for the wedding. I am not young anymore," he told Bernama. Mew Choo, 29, is now a coach at the Bukit Jalil Sports School after she quit competitive badminton last year.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Former national sprint queen Datuk Mumtaz Jaafar has expressed a desire to defend her Malaysian Athletics Union (MAU) vice-president post in its upcoming annual general meeting (AGM) on Sept 23. The 1980 national sportswoman said her wish to defend the post which she held since 2006, was to help MAU continue its programme to develop the nation in the field of athletics. "God willing, if I receive a nomination, I will contest, but if I do not, I will withdraw. "I do not have any problem working with any individual, including the new leadership, if I am elected," she said when contacted by Bernama Monday. MAU president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim was earlier reported to have said he intended to defend his post to solve the internal crisis faced by the nation's premier athletics body. Mumtaz is confident her vast experience as athlete, coach and having previously held various positions in state-level athletic

LONDON, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- All national paralympic elite athletes are ready for the 14th Paralympic Games that will officially start here on Wednesday, says Chef-de-Mission Datuk Zolkples Embong. "From what I saw during training, the athletes are adapting well and ready for the world's largest sporting event for athletes with disabilities. I am happy with this situation," he told Bernama here Monday. Zolkples who is also director-general of National Sports Council (NSC) said although the Malaysian contingent is small compared to other countries, the team spirit of the paralympic athletes is strong. "The athletes from different races and different types of sports help each other while the coaches and officials help manage them. So far, there has been no problem." He said that the coaches and officials constantly reminded the athletes to always focus on training and not to feel pressured. He said that the coaches and officials cons

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Beleaguered Malaysian Athletics Union (MAU) deputy president Datuk Karim Ibrahim will defend his post amid calls for him to step down following doping allegations against him. Karim, who has been holding the post since 2006, is adamant despite a petition signed by 16 coaches and 42 athletes in February, urging him to relinquish his post. "I have grown accustomed to the theatrics of athletic association politics. However, this does not dampen my spirit. "I am not desperate to contest the post, but I will only do so if I received nominations from state associations," Karim told Bernama. The MAU has set up an anti-doping investigation committee headed by former Court of Appeal judge Tan Sri V.C. George to investigate a doping issue involving seven athletes linked to Karim.

LONDON, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- The Jalur Gemilang was raised together with the flags of five other nations in a brief ceremony in conjunction with the 14th Paralympyc Games, London, here Sunday. Besides the Malaysian participants, Paralympic Games Village Mayor Tony Sainsbury also feted participants from South Korea, Laos, Nigeria and Singapore. Representing Malaysia was the Director-General of the National Sports Council (NSC) Datuk Zolkples Embong, as the head of the Malaysian contingent. Also present were the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Datuk Razali Ibrahim and the Malaysian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Datuk Seri Zakaria Sulong. The Paralympic Games Village, located in Stratford, near here could take in more than 4,000 athletes from 166 participating nations. The raising of the flag ceremony began with a musical theatre performance to entertain the athletes. The Malaysian contingent of 23 athletes arrived here on Wednesday for a famili

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- National shooter Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi who competed in the London Olympic Games in her advanced stage of pregnancy, has chosen to deliver her first child at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), here. Nur Suryani, 29, who is now almost nine months' pregnant, is expected to give birth on Sept 13. "InsyaAllah (God willing), if everything goes well, I will give birth to my baby at UMMC," she said via SMS to Bernama today. Although she failed to win any medal at the recent Olympics, the national shooter who hails from Perak hopes her baby girl whom she will name Dayana Widyan will make up for her disappointment in London. Nur Suryani, the gold medallist in the Women's 10m Air Rifle event at the Commonwealth Games in India in 2010, failed to get into the finals and was 34th out of 56 competing shooters in the preliminary round of the London Olympics. In her SMS text, she also expressed hope that her daug

LONDON, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysians should fully support the nation's paralympic athletes as much as they did the athletes of the London Olympic Games, said Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Razali Ibrahim. "Malaysia's participation in the Paralympic Games is not merely because Malaysia wants to take part but because our athletes qualified on merit. "It can be said that many Malaysians know who our paralympians are," he told Bernama after attending an Aidilfitri gathering for Malaysian paralympic athletes here Saturday. Razali said the occasion was held with the cooperation of the Malaysian High Commission and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to introduce the national paralympic athletes. "Apart from celebrating Aidilfitri and Merdeka Day, I feel the paralympians need more exposure to the Malaysians here to garner their support on the ground," he said. He said the national paralympic athletes have the capability

LONDON, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- After a spectacular Olympic Games, the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has been busy undertaking a huge transitional operation to make the Paralympic Games equally successful. According to the Games' official website, the London 2012 venues were designed with both games in mind but a number of changes have to be made. "The transition to what will be the largest Paralympic Games ever is a huge operation in a short time period. We are getting ready to welcome the world's Paralympians, and deliver a truly spectacular Paralympic Games," said LOGOC Chief Executive Paul Deighton. All venues are having their 'look' and signage refreshed, the flags of competing nations are being revised, adjustments are being made to broadcast requirements, and changes are being made to the field of play. Among them are The Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, where work includes refocusing the field-of-play lighting

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- The question of whether Datuk Lee Chong Wei will continue to be trained by his coach Tey Seu Bock is expected to be answered on Sept 8. The Badminton Association of Malaysia's (BAM) Coaching and Training Committee is expected to meet and make a decision as to whether Seu Bock would continue coaching Chong Wei. BAM Honorary Secretary Ng Chin Chai said as for the time being, Seu Bock would continue training Chong Wei and that the BAM has not changed the coaching structure. "At the moment everything remains status quo because there's no meeting yet to make any changes... probably after the coaching and training committee meeting on Sept 8," he told Bernama. Seu Bock was quoted in a local daily yesterday that he would not be able to say anything on his future as Chong Wei's coach, adding that he would leave it to the BAM to make a decision. Ng said BAM would look at the detailed report related to the per

KUCHING, Aug 22 (Bernama) -- Fans of Sarawak diving queen Pandelela Rinong may still be in a celebratory mood over her impressive Olympic bronze medal feat but there are numerous calls for the government to formulate proper long-term planning for national athletes through a collaboration with corporate bodies. National Service Council chairman Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe said on Wednesday the Youth and Sports Ministry should take into account, not only the need to provide coaches and training venues, but also financial resources as most of these athletes have to support their families. "Right now, the government should not only give incentives but also provide them full employment. Then, they can concentrate on training, otherwise, we can never expect good athletes who can excel as the world stage," Dr Tiki who is also Mas Gading Member of Parliament told reporters when announcing a luncheon in honour of Pandelela at her village, Kampung Jugan in Bau, about 40km

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- The candidate for the National Sports Council (NSC) Athletes Division director will be announced after the Paralympic Games in London, said NSC director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong. He said NSC would not be taking outsiders to fill the position which was held by National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer Ahmad Shapawi Ismail earlier. "We are firm in filling the post with an NSC officer. As for me, I will not have any problem with the development even though the post is still vacant as each NSC branch has its own head. "When Ahmad Shapawi resumed his studies for two years prior to this, we continued to meet targets at the Commonwealth Games in New Dehli and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in 2010," he told reporters at an Aidilfitri reception for London 2012 Paralympic athletes here. Zolkples said he had identified several potential officers to continue the nation's excellent sports perform

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's elite paralympic athletes are more prepared to face the Paralympic Games in London compared to the previous edition in Beijing, China, four years ago. National Sports Council (NSC) Director Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong said: "They are better prepared for the event in London. The athletes have also had a more systematic training programme with the NSC having taken over preparations from the Malaysian Paralympic Council. "Under the NSC programme, we have sent some of the athletes for overseas training. They may just spring a surprise in London." He was speaking to reporters at the Hari Raya celebration with the paralympic athletes here. The event was also attended by family members and friends of the paralympic athletes who will be taking on the challenge of the London Paralympic Games from Aug 29-Sept 9. Zolklpes, who is also the Chef-de-Mission of the Malaysian Contingent to the London Games, said based o

KUALA LUMPUR: New National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer Ahmad Shapawi Ismail has pledged to make the organisation a more competitive sports body. The former National Sports Council (NSC) Athletes Division director said yesterday that he planned to establish closer ties with public institutions of higher learning and government hospitals in a move to provide a more complete and efficient package in sports science and medicine. “NSI have their own satellite centres and we need to strengthen their existing roles so that they will not only provide consultancy but service athletes at state levels. “Athletes in the states require assistance in sports science from young. “As such, we need to focus on the technical and tactical aspects in the respective sports,” said Ahmad Shapawi, who replaced Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz as the CEO of the NSI. Ahmad Shapawi said the NSI currently has satellite centres in Sarawak, Johor, Kelantan, Kedah, Pena

KUALA LUMPUR: Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Institut Sukan Negara (ISN) yang baru, Ahmad Shapawi Ismail berikrar untuk menjadikan organisasi itu sebagai sebuah badan sukan yang lebih berdaya saing dalam masa terdekat. Bagi memastikan hasrat itu tercapai, bekas pengarah cawangan atlet Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) itu, berkata beliau merancang untuk mewujudkan satu kerjasama erat dengan institut pengajian tinggi awam (IPTA) dan hospital kerajaan dengan menyediakan satu pakej sokongan sains dan perubatan sukan yang lengkap dan efisien. "ISN sudah mempunyai pusat satelit sendiri, maka kami akan memperkukuhkan peranan mereka sedia ada supaya bukan sahaja dapat menyediakan khidmat nasihat tetapi juga perkhidmatan mereka kepada atlet di peringkat negeri. "Apabila atlet di peringkat negeri mendapat bantuan sains sukan sejak usia muda lagi, maka kita hanya perlu memberi fokus kepada aspek taktikal dan teknik yang diperlukan dalam sesebuah acara sukan itu s

KUALA LUMPUR, 17 Aug 2012: Outgoing National Sports Institute (ISN) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz is to be appointed special adviser to Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek. National Sports Council (NSC) Athletes Division Director Ahmad Shapawi Ismail took over as the new CEO yesterday, thus ending months of speculation about who would replace Dr Ramlan, who was the first director general of the ISN. “Dr Ramlan is supposed to advise me on the comprehensive development programme for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. We are still in the midst of discussions and his position will be finalised soon,” Ahmad Shabery told reporters after visiting the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday. “Ahmad Shapawi will take over as the CEO for a year to ensure the smooth administration of the ISN. “There’s nothing controversial about his appointment as the focus is on the 2016 Olympics which needs immediate attention.

FORMER National Sports Institute CEO Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz will act as a consultant to the Sports Ministry to plan out a programme overseeing athletes' preparation for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Ramlan's expertise and experience will be an asset towards preparing a new Olympic programme. "I have discussed this matter with Ramlan. He will act as my advisor for sports, especially for the 2016 Games. We also need him to concentrate on further developing our anti-doping agency (Adamas)," said Ahmad Shabery in Bukit Jalil yesterday. "Ramlan's redesignation is part of the ministry's reshuffling programme. We will reshuffle our officers to strengthen our administration. I believe, Ramlan is more suited for this role." Ahmad Shapawi Ismail, formerly the National Sports Council (NSC) elite athletes director, was appointed as NSI's new CEO effective yesterday. H

Wishing all Malaysians Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri & a Happy 55 th Independence Day.