Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- National Under-23 coach (Harimau Muda A) Datuk Ong Kim Swee has called up 11 new faces to beef up the squad that will be participating in the National Premier League (NPL) in Queensland, Australia from March to August, 2014. Kim Swee said six of them were from the Harimau Muda B squad (National Under-21) and five from the Harimau Muda C (Under-19) squad. Apart from the 11 players, Kim Swee would also be scouting for a number of players who would be playing in the President's Cup competition which starts next week. "Not all will make the final squad but I want to give them ample time to adapt to the National team's style of the play," he told Bernama, Wednesday. Kim Swee said the squad would take a two-day break for the Chinese New Year celebrations (Friday & Saturday) and resume training on Sunday. "We do not have much time to prepare as the team will be leaving to Brisbane soon," he said. The

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 Jan (Bernama) -- Sebanyak 11 pemain baharu akan dipanggil bagi menjalani sesi pemilihan skuad Harimau Muda A (Bawah 23) dalam tempoh terdekat, kata ketua jurulatih skuad itu Datuk Ong Kim Swee. Katanya beliau akan menguji enam pemain daripada pasukan Harimau Muda B (Bawah 21) serta lima pemain daripada pasukan Harimau Muda C (Bawah 19) memandangkan skuad berkenaan bakal beraksi dalam Liga Perdana Kebangsaan (NPL) Queensland di Brisbane, Australia dari Mac sehingga Ogos ini. Selain menguji 11 pemain berkenaan, beliau turut memantau beberapa pemain berpotensi daripada Kejohanan Piala Presiden yang bermula minggu ini untuk dibawa bersama beraksi dalam liga divisyen dua Australia itu. "Tidak semestinya kesemua pemain akan pergi termasuk sesiapa yang saya pilih daripada Kejohanan Piala Presiden nanti kerana saya harus memberi mereka lebih masa untuk menyesuaikan diri dengan corak permainan pasukan saya," katanya kepada Bernama Rabu. Bel

SPORTS Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has asked hosts Perlis to ramp up security for the May 24-June 4 Malaysia Games to ensure that incidents like the alleged rape case that marred last year's edition does not happen again. Khairy, who visited various Games venues in Perlis on Monday, stressed the need to ensure the safety of athletes and announced that random breathalyzer tests will be introduced for the first time this year. "The accommodation for athletes has been separated into five or six different places at colleges (hostels). When it is not centralised, we fear that unsavoury incidents could happen again," said Khairy when met at an appreciation lunch he hosted for media personnel that had covered the recent Myanmar Sea Games in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. "I have asked that we not only depend on the police a hundred per cent (to secure the area). The secretariat and volunteers must also need to be on patrol. "We will be a

Diana Bong is going all out to win the gold medal at the Incheon Asian Games in September. KUALA LUMPUR: Wushu exponent Diana Bong will defer her studies in a bid to capture the gold medal at the Incheon Asian Games in September. Incheon is likely to be the last Asian Games for Diana and she hopes to win the only title missing from her collection. Diana enjoyed a successful season last year with a maiden world title on home soil in November before claiming her third career SEA Games gold medal in Myanmar the following month. She clinched the women’s nandao gold when Malaysia hosted the World Championships in Kuala Lumpur and her triumph in nanquan at the SEA Games was also the first gold for Malaysia in Myanmar. Despite having tasted success at all levels, the seasoned campaigner insisted her motivation is still strong. “Incheon will likely be my last Asiad as I do not think I can still be competing in 2019 in Hanoi,” said the Sarawakian, who has been give

KUALA LUMPUR - Jurulatih PDRM dan bekas pemain kebangsaan, Dollah Salleh dikejarkan ke Pusat Perubatan Ara Damansara selepas mendapat serangan jantung pada petang semalam dan terpaksa menjalani pembedahan jantung. Menurut anaknya, Nurdyan, ayahnya sebelum ini pernah mengadu sakit di bahagian dada namun keadaan kesihatannya semakin serius petang semalam dan dibawa ke hospital untuk diperiksa. “Ayah saya semakin sakit menjelang petang tadi dan apabila dibawa ke hospital, doktor memberitahu ayah saya perlu dibedah segera kerana keadaannya makin serius. “Pembedahan tersebut bermula kira-kira pukul 7 malam dan berakhir pada pukul 9 malam, alhamdulilah semuanya selamat," kata Nurdyan apabila dihubungi. Dollah yang berumur 50 tahun baru sahaja mengecapi kejayaan bersama Pahang pada musim lalu selepas membantu skuad Tok Gajah menamatkan kemarau memenangi Piala Malaysia dalam tempoh 21 tahun dengan menewaskan Kelantan 1-0. Ketika kariernya bergelar pemain,

Kuala Lumpur: Selepas diselubungi kontroversi rentetan kegagalan di Sukan SEA Myanmar, ketua jurulatih Aminuddin Sulaiman akan menampilkan barisan percubaannya di Ronda Pilipinas 2014, 1 Februari ini. Perlumbaan itu sebagai pemanas badan menjelang Le Tour de Langkawi 2014 (LTdL 2014). Sudah pasti kudrat Loh Sea Keong - pelumba Pro Tour Giant Shimano ditagih dan Aminuddin kini berdepan masalah apabila seorang lagi tonggak, Muhammad Fauzan Ahmad Lufti disahkan masih mengalami kecederaan kronik bahagian belakang. Justeru, Aminuddin kini hanya mampu mempertaruhkan Muhammad Rauf Nur Misbah, Suhardi Hassan, Mohd Nor Rizuan Zainal, Nik Mohd Azwan Zulkiflie, Mohd Ekbar Zamanhuri dan Amirul Anuar Jafri bagi menghadapi kejohanan 14 peringkat sejauh 1,776 kilometer yang melibatkan kawasan pergunungan di sekitar Baguio. Presiden Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (MNCF), Datuk Abu Samah Abd Wahab menegaskan keputusan untuk menyertai Ronda Pilipinas 2014 adalah ba

SIKAP profesional bekas ketua jurulatih skuad hoki senior negara, Paul Revington harus dipuji. Walaupun 'kerusinya' telah diambil alih oleh Muhammad Dhaarma Raj Abdullah disebabkan masalah kesihatan yang dialami, Revington masih mahu memberikan sumbangan kepada skuad negara. Buktinya, pengendali kelahiran Afrika Selatan itu dilihat turun membantu Dhaarma Raj semasa sesi latihan skuad negara di Stadium Hoki Nasional, Bukit Jalil semalam. Dhaarma Raj berkata, Revington tetap bersemangat untuk membantu beliau dan skuad negara sehingga kontraknya yang masih berbaki tiga bulan tamat pada Mac depan. Menurut Dhaarma Raj, tujuan Revington 'turun padang' adalah kerana jurulatih berusia 41 tahun itu masih menghormati kontrak dengan Persekutuan Hoki Malaysia (MHC). "Hari ini (semalam) merupakan hari pertama beliau (Revington) turun ke padang. Beliau tidak perlu lagi menanggung tekanan yang dialami sebagai ketua jurulatih kerana saya yang perlu mena

Mohd Firdaus Zonis (right) in a file photo. He is aiming to win all the three individual sprint events at the Asian Cycling Championships for the second straight year. PETALING JAYA: Mohd Firdaus Zonis is determined to leave his mark as a junior track cyclist before he moves up to the senior ranks next year. At the top of the 17-year-old’s target is the Asian Cycling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, from May 21-June 1. He will attempt to be the first rider to successfully win all the three individual sprint events for the second straight year. He raced to a treble (sprint, keirin and 1km individual time trial) at the championships in New Delhi last season. Firdaus’ next aim will be the Junior World Track Championships in Seoul in August where he hopes for a breakthrough performance in the sprint events. Firdaus started the new season on a strong note, winning a treble – sprint, keirin and 1km time trial – at the Hong Kong Track Cup earli

SELEPAS terlalu banyak diberi peluang, Tan Boon Heong (kiri) akhirnya akur berpisah dengan Koo Kien Keat mungkin jalan terbaik untuk memperbaiki karier. KUALA LUMPUR - Sudah terlalu lama Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) memberi peluang kepada Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, walaupun prestasi beregu utama negara itu tidak menunjukkan sebarang tanda akan pulih.  Penyingkiran Boon Heong-Kien Keat pada pusingan pertama Terbuka Malaysia, dua minggu lalu sepatutnya memberi alasan kukuh kepada BAM untuk bertindak, namun badan induk itu sebaliknya sekadar 'membekukan' penyertaan mereka buat sementara. Namun sekarang, BAM tiada sebarang alasan lagi untuk terus mengekalkan pasangan bermasalah itu selepas Boon Heong sendiri dengan rela hati bersetuju untuk dipisahkan. Pemain berusia 26 tahun itu berkata, dia rela diberikan pasangan baharu asalkan ia memberi kebaikan kepada dirinya dan Kien Keat. Kata Boon Heong, sekarang terpulang kepada BAM untuk menentuka

Ex-national coach K. Rajagopal was hauled up by the Football Association of Malaysia's disciplinary committee after he made comments about the lack of quality strikers to the press. - Filepic  It's no secret that world-renowned coach Philippe Troussier has been linked with a stint in Malaysia. It would be a pleasure to have the Frenchman as our national football coach, but is the man aware of the atrocious working environment that’s in store for him here? Here are some factors Monsieur Troussier should take into consideration before signing on the dotted line with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). No. 1 - Beware the draconian law of the FAM (Article 88)! Did the officials who conducted the preliminary interviews with Troussier warned him of the do’s and dont’s in Malaysian football? Was he told to just to keep his mouth shut, no matter what the situation? And that if he does want to open his mouth, then he MUST paint a rosy

Kelana Jaya: Aksi persahabatan antarabangsa dengan Filipina pada 1 Mac depan di Stadium Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS) bakal menjadi aksi pembuka tirai Harimau Malaya tahun ini namun biarpun tempoh itu nampak singkat, Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) seakan tidak mahu terburu-buru untuk memperkenalkan jurulatih baru kebangsaan. Jika sebelum ini badan induk bola sepak tanah air itu menyatakan bersedia untuk mengumumkan pengganti baru Datuk K Rajagobal awal bulan depan namun seakan ada rundingan yang belum selesai apabila mereka masih memerlukan sedikit masa lagi. “Seperti yang saya nyatakan sebelum ini, saya akan umumkan apabila tiba masanya. Saya jangkakan jurulatih baru skuad kebangsaan akan diumumkan pada pertengahan bulan depan,” kata Setiausaha Agung FAM Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin ketika ditemui semalam. Pengendali dari Perancis Philippe Troussier dikatakan semakin hampir untuk menandatangani kontrak dengan FAM selepas mereka mengadakan pertemuan di

. @khairykj not very pleased with the swimming venue for the 2014 Sukma. pic.twitter.com/ObSriti0Nr — Regina Lee (@reginalah) January 27, 2014   KANGAR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin wants all contractors involved in building or upgrading sport venues for the 17th Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Perlis this year to expedite their work. He said he was giving them until the end of March or early April as each venue involved had to be tested to ensure it is safe. However, Khairy also reminded contractors not to hurriedly finish their projects at the expense of quality and safety. He was speaking to reporters after making a working visit to inspect the contruction and upgrading of sports venues for the Sukma at the state sports complex here today. During the visit, he was briefed on the Sukma project development by Perlis Sukma secretariat deputy chief executive officer Saiful Rizal Mohd Shukri at the State Sports Council in Kampung P

Lawatan ke venue2 SUKMA 2014 di Perlis. Progress semua ok kecuali kolam renang. Saya minta kontraktor kerja 24/7. pic.twitter.com/yGYrBOcbxF — Khairy Jamaluddin (@Khairykj) January 27, 2014   KANGAR, 27 Jan (Bernama) -- Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) menyediakan peruntukan sebanyak RM122 juta kepada Perlis untuk menganjurkan temasya Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) ke-17, Mei ini, kata menterinya Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar. Beliau berkata daripada jumlah itu, sebanyak RM76 juta adalah untuk pembangunan prasarana termasuk menaik taraf kemudahan venue pertandingan dan RM46 juta bagi mengurus temasya sukan tersebut. Beliau juga berkata setiap kontraktor yang terlibat mengendalikan projek pembinaan atau menaik taraf venue pertandingan diberi tempoh selewat-lewatnya awal April ini untuk menyiapkan kerja masing-masing. Katanya, hasil pemeriksaan di Kompleks Sukan Negeri di sini, yang menjadikan venue bagi 11 daripada 24 acara sukan, mendapati kerja-kerja menyiapkan kolam ren

Kuala Lumpur: Selepas melonjak tiga anak tangga untuk menduduki ranking ke-14 dunia pada minggu lalu, gandingan beregu lelaki negara, Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah yakin mampu berada pada kelompok 10 terbaik sebelum berakhir tahun ini. Kejayaan muncul juara Siri Super Premier Terbuka Malaysia baru-baru ini bukan saja mengubah persepsi ramai terhadap mereka berdua yang sebelum ini kurang dikenali, malah meletakkan mereka semakin hampir untuk berada setaraf dengan gandingan beregu hebat dunia yang lain. “Ketika ini tahap keyakinan kami berdua lebih tinggi, terutama ketika sesi latihan. Malah kami juga sudah nampak sasaran tertentu pada kejohanan yang akan disertai selepas ini. “Kalau kami berdua boleh mengekalkan prestasi sekarang, saya rasa tidak mustahil untuk kami mengambil alih beregu utama negara milik Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong dan berada dalam kedudukan 10 terbaik dunia sebelum berakhir tahun ini,” kata V Shem. KHIM Wah (kiri) dan V Shem lebih yakin ketika l

National cycling coach Jamaluddin Omar speaking at the forum organised by MNCF to improve road cycling at Universiti Putra Malaysia on Saturday. Calls for its president Datuk Abu Samah Abdul Wahab to step down has intensified due to his alleged poor leadership of the association. PETALING JAYA: Calls for Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) president Datuk Abu Samah Abdul Wahab to step down is ringing loud and clear in the cycling fraternity. Ismail Badrul, who runs the Straleader cycling club in Malacca, was one of those who called on Abu Samah to resign. “When there is no progress from inside the association after a long time, the people in power must owe up to it and claim responsibility … they have to step down and give opportunities for new faces to run the show,” said Ismail. “The president is from Malacca. The MNCF’s office is in Malacca. But grassroots development in the state is almost non-existence and that is just appalling,”

THE Malaysian Karate Federation (Makaf) says it has done all it can to ensure the sport is included in the 2015 Sea Games in Singapore. Karate's fate, which like several other Olympic sports facing the chop, will be known on Feb 15 when the Sea Games Federation sports and rules committee meets to decide on the final list of sports to be held next year. A high-powered delegation led by World Karate Federation (WKF) president Antonio Espinosa visited Singapore earlier last week to meet with officials from the Singapore National Olympic Council, Singapore Sports Council and Singapore Karatedo Federation (SKF). Makaf secretary-general Vincent Chen, who was part of the delegation, said the decision now rests with Singapore and SGF. "Makaf have exhausted all avenues and WKF has even offered technical help to the organisers. Now we can only wait for Feb 15 to find out if karate is in or not," said Vincent after Makaf's executive committee meeting o

IT is unlikely that national weightlifters will be a dominant force but the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) has nevertheless urged hosts Singapore to seriously consider including the sport in the 2015 Sea Games. Deputy president Ahmad Janius Abdullah said the Sea Games plays an important part in development at Asean level and its absence would leave a big gap in terms of major competition for lifters in the region for the year, including Malaysia. The last time weightlifting was not included in the Sea Games was in the Brunei edition in 1999. "It (not being included) is a great blow as the majority of lifters in the region use the tournament to benchmark themselves against their (Asean) peers and gain competitive experience," said Ahmad Janius. "With it being held the year before the Rio Olympics, I am also sure that a lot of (Asean) lifters will be looking to use the opportunity to use it as part of their buildup for the Brazil Games

Asian junior champion Mohd Firdaus Zonis has won all his kierin races this year, the latest a double victory at the UCI Japan Track Grand Prix Series in Shizuoka. - Filepic PETALING JAYA: Mohd Firdaus Zonis kept his perfect record in keirin intact by winning both the junior races at the UCI Japan Track Grand Prix Series in Shizuoka. In the first series on Friday, the 17-year-old shrugged off the challenges from Hong Kong’s Leung Ka Yu and South Korea’s Jung Jae-hae to clinch the gold. Firdaus, the reigning Asian junior champion, again proved too strong for his rivals in the second series on Sunday. He breezed through to the final before getting the better of Japan’s Yanada Kazugi and South Korean Jae-hee to complete his double. Adiq Huznie Othman, the other Malaysian rider, also made the final of both series. He finished fifth and then sixth. Firdaus has been unbeaten in keirin this year. He achieved a treble at the Hong Kong Track Cup two

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysian squash queen and world No 1, Datuk Nicol David got off to a better start in the new year, after clinching the 2014 Tournament of Champions title in the United States. In the final match held at the Grand Central Terminal, New York early Saturday, the 30-year-old Penangite put up a splendid performance to upstage her opponent, Laura Massaro of England. She beat the world number two and second seed player in 11-4, 13-11 and 11-8 in 45 minutes. On the victory, Nicol, who is also seven times world champion, said she was happy to win the tournament despite having to struggle in the first set against the Englishwoman. "The ball got faster as we were playing and I was able to play some good and low attacking shots...I just kept telling myself to 'keep going, keep going and keep going' (in the second set)," she was quoted as saying in the tournament website's www.toc.com. Meanwhile, in the men'

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Jan (Bernama) -- Ratu skuasy negara Datuk Nicol Ann David memulakan kalendar tahun baharu dengan langkah kanan apabila menjuarai Kejohanan Juara-Juara 2014 di New York, Amerika Syarikat. Pada final di 'Grand Central Terminal', awal Sabtu, pemain nombor satu dunia itu menampilkan aksi cemerlang menundukkan pemain nombor dua dunia, Laura Massaro dari England dengan 11-4, 13-11 dan 11-8 dalam masa 45 minit. Nicol, 30, yang merupakan juara dunia tujuh kali, berkata beliau gembira untuk merangkul kejuaraan tersebut walaupun terpaksa berjuang untuk mencari rentak pada set pembukaan. "Pada set kedua, saya meningatkan diri untuk teruskan saingan sehingga ke penghabisan," kata ratu skuasy negara itu dipetik sebagai berkata dalam laman web kejohanan. Sementara itu, pada final kategori lelaki, pemain Mesir, Amr Shabana, selaku pilihan ketujuh, merangkul gelaran apabila mengejutkan pemain nombor dua dunia, Gregory Gaultier dari Perancis deng

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- The National Sports Council (NSC) has denied claims that national swimming coach Paul Birmingham would be following in the foot steps of national hockey chief coach Paul Revington, who resigned from his post last week. NSC director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong said the matter did not arise because Birmingham had informed the NSC's Athletes Preparation Division director Ariffin Mohd Ghani that he was facing health problems. "His (Birmingham's) absence from training the national squad since last month was because he contracted dengue fever...now he has almost recovered. Futhermore, he and the national swimming contingent recently returned from the SEA Games in Myanmar. "I hope he does not face any serious problems that can affect his duties," he told reporters after attending the NSC's Maulidur Rasul celebration in Bukit Jalil here Thursday. On another note, Zolkples said at the meeting between the

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- The transparent approach of Khairy Jamaluddin in engaging local sports personalities shows how serious the Youth and Sports Minister is in looking into local sports development, said National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong. He said the meetings Khairy held with sports bodies or actions in intervening in the affairs of local sports associations should not be made into an issue. This, he said was because a minister had the authority to do so as provided under the Sports Development Act to ensure national sports development was on the right track. "He is concerned about problems faced by the associations and as the minister, he has the power over all national sports development programmes and activities. "Should there be problems, they should be handled well so that plans could be implemented to avoid creating more problems," he told reporters after attending a Maulidur Rasul celeb

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Jan (Bernama) -- Sikap keterbukaan Khairy Jamaluddin yang sedia berjumpa dengan setiap penggiat sukan tempatan memperlihatkan betapa menteri belia dan sukan itu serius untuk melihat kemajuan sukan tanah air. Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong berkata pertemuan Khairy dengan mana-mana badan sukan atau tindakan mencampuri urusan badan induk sukan tempatan tidak wajar dijadikan isu. Ini kerana katanya seseorang menteri mempunyai kuasa berbuat demikian seperti mana termaktub dalam Akta Pembangunan Sukan bagi memastikan pembangunan sukan negara berada di landasan yang betul. "Beliau prihatin dengan segala masalah yang dihadapi (persatuan sukan) dan sebagai menteri, beliau mempunyai kuasa memastikan segala program dan aktiviti berkaitan pembangunan sukan negara. "Sekiranya terdapat sebarang masalah harus ditangani dengan sebaiknya supaya segala yang dirancang dapat dilaksanakan dan tidak mendatangkan masala

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Jan (Bernama) -- Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) menepis dakwaan bahawa jurulatih renang kebangsaan Paul Birmingham bakal mengikuti jejak langkah bekas jurulatih hoki negara Paul Revington untuk meletak jawatan. Ketua Pengarah MSN Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong berkata perkara tersebut tidak timbul kerana Birmingham telah memaklumkan kepada Pengarah Bahagian Persediaan Atlet MSN, Ariffin Mohd Ghani bahawa beliau mengalami masalah kesihatan. "Ketiadaan beliau bagi melatih skuad renang sejak sebulan lepas disebabkan beliau mengalami demam denggi, sekarang sudah hampir pulih. Kita pun sedia maklum beliau dan atlet renang baru kembali dari Sukan SEA (di Myanmar). "Saya harap beliau tidak menghadapi masalah besar yang boleh menjejaskan tugasan beliau," katanya kepada pemberita selepas majlis perarakan sambutan Maulidur Rasul peringkat MSN di Bukit Jalil di sini Khamis. Perarakan sekitar Kompleks Sukan Negara itu disertai atlet, petugas MSN

Fatehah Mustapa shows off her keirin silver medal won at the World Cup track cycling event in Guadalajara, Mexico on Sunday. PETALING JAYA: Having announced her arrival on the world stage in style, track cyclist Fatehah Mustapa is determined to stay there. Her best season in the Track World Cup, which culminated with a historic silver medal in the final round in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Sunday saw Fatehah breaking into the top five in the world rankings for women’s elite keirin for the first time. She jumped to fourth behind third-placed Rebecca Angharad James of Britain and second-placed German Kristina Vogel, the London Olympic gold medallist in team sprint. Hong Kong’s Lee Wai Sze, the London Olympic bronze medallist for keirin and the one Fatehah narrowly lost to on Sunday evening, takes the top spot. The world rankings will be used to determine the cyclists who will ride at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. There is no rest for the 25-y

EIGHT of the country's top cyclists met Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin yesterday and told him of their frustration with the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF). They want changes and significant improvements to the road programme. That was their tone as they voiced their grievances and views to Khairy in a special meeting. As a result of the meeting, National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong said he would take into consideration the cyclists' plea for the NSC to be involved in the road programme to ensure better management and preparation. A key performance indicator (KPI) has been set and the 2015 Sea Games in Singapore is suggested as a target, after which an evaluation of whether government funding for the programme will continue. "We might insist that they work with the NSC on certain areas," said Zolkples. Khairy said the meeting with the cyclists came after he had a meeting with MNCF&#

SALAH seorang pelumba yang mendakwa PKBM bersikap berat sebelah, Mohd. Zamri Salleh bercakap kepada wartawan selepas dia dan beberapa pelumba profesional lain mengadakan perjumpaan dengan Khairy Jamaluddin di Putrajaya semalam.    PUTRAJAYA - Selepas satu isu, timbul satu lagi rasa tidak puas hati terhadap Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM) apabila beberapa pelumba mendakwa mereka selama ini berasa telah dipergunakan dan dilayan seperti anak tiri. Dakwaan itu serius kerana dibuat di hadapan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar oleh kumpulan sembilan pelumba senior acara lebuh raya dalam pertemuan mereka di sini semalam, yang bertujuan meminta beliau campur tangan. Salah seorang pelumba yang menyertai perjumpaan itu, Mohd. Harrif Salleh mendakwa, PKBM telah bersikap berat sebelah hingga menimbulkan rasa tidak puas hati segelintir atlet berbasikal negara yang berasakan mereka tidak diberi layanan secara adil oleh badan induk su

Putrajaya: Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) sudah memberikan tempoh sebulan kepada Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM) untuk menyiapkan dan membentangkan perancangan program lebuh raya. “Saya memberi tempoh sebulan kepada mereka. Kita akan membuat penilaian awal sebelum duduk berbincang bagi memastikan apakah program terbaik yang akan dilaksanakan bersama. “Ia (kerjasama) sudah diarahkan Menteri Belia dan Sukan Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, jadi mereka tidak mempunyai pilihan sekiranya mahukan bantuan kerajaan, mereka perlu akur kepada arahan itu. Kami (MSN) tidak mempunyai masalah dengan sudah membuktikan menerusi kejayaan program trek sebelum ini,” kata Ketua Pengarah MSN Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong. Menurutnya, Khairy sudah meminta MSN membabitkan diri dalam program lebuh raya PKBM selepas mengadakan perjumpaan dengan pegawai persatuan berkenaan minggu lalu. “Menteri maklumkan antara syarat utama meletakkan KPI (indeks petunjuk prestasi) dengan

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said he would be looking at all the problems and suggestions raised by the national highway cycling racers before taking any follow-up actions. Khairy said he could not arbitrarily make decisions based on the closed-door meeting with the riders today without obtaining the views of other parties including the Malaysia National Cycling Federation (MNCF). "During the meeting this morning, some of the professional cyclists have voiced their views to improve the quality of national highway cycling programme. "I told them the matter will be discussed at a forum," he said. Khairy was speaking to reporters after attending a presentation of sponsorship for the Malay College Rugby Premier Seven-A-Side Championships in Kuala Kangsar here Tuesday. Khairy however said he needed to focus on the MNCF accounts audit which received an annual allocation of RM1.5 million from the min

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Jan (Bernama) -- Menteri Belia dan Sukan Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar berkata beliau akan meneliti segala masalah serta cadangan yang diluahkan oleh barisan pelumba berbasikal lebuh raya negara sebelum dapat mengambil tindakan susulan. Khairy berkata beliau tidak boleh sewenang-wenangnya membuat keputusan segera hasil daripada perjumpaan tertutup bersama pelumba berkenaan, hari ini tanpa mendapatkan pandangan daripada beberapa pihak yang lain termasuk Persatuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM). "Hasil perjumpaan yang berlangsung pagi tadi, ada sebahagian daripada mereka yang merupakan pelumba profesional telah meluahkan pandangan serta cadangan bagaimana untuk meningkatkan (kualiti) program acara lebuh raya negara. "Jadi, saya maklumkan kepada mereka bahawa perkara berkenaan akan dibincangkan bersama wakil PKBM dan pelumba lebuh raya negara pada satu forum khas (nanti)," katanya. Khairy berkata demikian kepada pemberita sele

KUALA LUMPUR - Selama ini dia cemburu melihat pelumba lain seperti Azizulhasni Awang dan Josiah Ng menaiki podium di Siri Piala Dunia Klasik, tetapi semalam Fatehah Mustapa berjaya menamatkan penantian selama tujuh tahun dengan memenangi pingat perak dalam acara keirin wanita di Guadalajara, Mexico. Sejak mula menyertai kejohanan itu di Sydney pada 2007, Fatehah belum merasai nikmat dikalungkan pingat di kejohanan berbasikal trek kedua terbesar itu, selepas Kejohanan Trek Dunia, tetapi semalam dia berjaya menggapai impian tersebut seterusnya berada di landasan terbaik untuk terus menyerlah tahun ini. Dalam perlumbaan akhir, Fatehah tewas dengan kehebatan pelumba Hong Kong, Lee Wai Sze yang juga pemenang pingat gangsa Sukan Olimpik London 2012. Di tempat ketiga ialah pelumba Perancis, Sandie Clair. Menurut Fatehah, sebelum perlumbaan akhir di Velodrom Panamerican, dia berasa sedikit takut kerana kebanyakan pelumba yang beraksi hebat-hebat belaka, termasuk Ekaterina

Fatehah Mustapa (left) created history as the first Malaysian woman track cyclist to medal at a World Cup meet when she clinched the keirin silver in Guadalajara, Mexico on Sunday. - AFP PETALING JAYA: Fatehah Mustapa rode into the history books as the first Malaysian woman cyclist to win a medal at the Track World Cup. After two near misses in the previous legs, Fatehah got her act together this time to bag silver behind London Olympic bronze medallist Lee Wai Sze of Hong Kong in the keirin final at the Mexican city of Guadalajara on Sunday. It was a historic day for Malaysian cycling as she is not just the first woman cyclist but the first to stand on the World Cup podium since Azizulhasni Awang’s bronze medal in keirin in the Manchester leg of the 2012 season. The Terengganu-born Fatehah finished second in her first round heat to gain an automatic spot in the top six final, thus saving her the need to go thr

UCI WORLD CUP: Historic achievement winning silver in keirin  FATEHAH Mustapa notched another piece of history for herself when she emerged the first Malaysian woman to win a UCI World Cup medal, after finishing second in the keirin in Round Two in Guadalajara, Mexico Sunday. It could have so easily been gold for Fatehah, but for revenge exacted by Hong Kong's Lee Wai Sze, whom the Malaysian beat in the keirin final to bag her Asian title last year. Asia's top two keirin riders also topped the podium with Wai Sze standing on the step above Fatehah this time, followed by France's Sandie Claire in third. "I was overjoyed and when I turned to coach John Beasley, he looked like the happiest man here and very satisfied with my current form," said Fatehah, 24, when contacted. Fatehah said she had moved up from the back of the pack, looking for an opening and when the opportunity came, she did not let go. "John told me to fully

Kuala Lumpur: Pelumba trek Yayasan Sime Darby, Fatehah Mustapa mempamerkan persembahan mengagumkan untuk meraih pingat perak dalam acara keirin di siri ketiga Piala Dunia UCI yang berlangsung di Guadalajara, Mexico semalam. Ia membolehkan atlet kelahiran Terengganu berusia 24 tahun itu melakar sejarah tersendiri menjadi pelumba wanita pertama negara meraih pingat pada kejohanan berkenaan dan ia juga adalah pingat pertamanya sejak mula beraksi pada 2007 di Piala Dunia UCI. Saingan membabitkan enam pelumba itu berlangsung sengit dengan pelumba sensasi Hong Kong, Lee Wai Sze berjaya meraih emas dengan Fatehah hanya ketinggalan 0.017 saat disusuli Sandie Clair dari Perancis. “Sudah banyak kali saya melangkah ke final keirin, namun gagal meraih pingat, namun kali ini saya sangat gembira kerana berjaya melakukannya. Ia satu pencapaian yang membanggakan dengan sasaran selepas ini adalah Kejohanan Trek Dunia di Columbia bulan depan. “Saya tidak mengira kila

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Jan (Bernama) -- Penolong jurulatih Muhammad Dharma Raj Abdullah Isnin dilantik sebagai ketua jurulatih skuad hoki senior negara menggantikan Paul Revington yang telah meletak jawatan, Jumaat lepas. Naib Presiden Kanan Konfederasi Hoki Malaysia (MHC) Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad berkata pelantikan Dharma Raj itu telah dipersetujui oleh Presiden MHC Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah yang mengadakan pertemuan dengan Revington dan barisan kejurulatihan skuad hoki negara, semalam. "Kita sudah menerima keputusan Revington meletak jawatan," katanya. Nur Azmi berkata dua bekas pemain negara K. Gobinathan dan Nor Azlan Bakar akan membantu Dharma Raj manakala pembantu Revington, Arul Selvaraj dilantik sebagai ketua jurulatih skuad remaja kebangsaan. Beliau berkata Dharma Raj dilantik membimbing skuad senior memandangkan kesuntukan masa untuk MHC mencari jurulatih asing bagi mempersiapkan pasukan negara menghadapi Kejohanan Piala Sultan Azlan di Ipoh,

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) - Former national junior hockey coach Muhammad Dharmaraj Abdullah has been appointed as national senior head coach to replace Paul Revington. Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) senior vice-president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad said the appointment of Muhammad Dharmaraj was approved by MHC president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah who met Revington and the players yesterday. "K. Gobinathan and Nor Azlan Bakar will assist Muhammad Dharmaraj while Selvaraj who was assistant to Revington was appointed as head coach of the junior squad," he told reporters at a press conference, here today. Nur Azmi said MHC agreed to Muhammad Dharmaraj's appointment as they were unable to find a foreign coach to prepare the national squad for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Perak in March. Revington, who was present at the press conference claimed he needed to fight the onset of a stress related illness which he suffered since taking over

NAYPYITAW, 21 Jan (Bernama) -- Selepas 1,800 atlet paralimpik daripada 10 negara bersaing selama lima hari dalam suasana keharmonian, edisi ketujuh Sukan Para Asean akhirnya melabuhkan tirai Isnin malam. Upacara penutupan temasya dengan tema 'Persahabatan, Persamaan dan Perpaduan' berlangsung meriah dalam suasana warna warni di Stadium Utama Wunna Theikdi di sini. Ribuan penonton yang hadir disajikan dengan persembahan hiburan oleh kanak-kanak kurang upaya diikuti tarian tradisional Myanmar serta persembahan muzikal oleh murid-murid dan pelajar universiti dengan gerakan pelbagai rentak. Upacara penutupan tersebut disempurnakan oleh Naib Presiden Myanmar, Nyan Tun. Majlis tersebut disusuli oleh perarakan 10 kontinjen yang mengambil bahagian iaitu Brunei, Kemboja, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Filipina, Singapura, Thailand, Vietnam dan tuan rumah, Myanmar. Kontinjen Malaysia diketuai oleh Datuk Zakaria Musa dengan mengenakan jersi kebangsaan 'Harimau

  K. Dharmaraj (right) will replace Paul Revington as the national seniors chief coach. STUNNER: South African coach cites health reasons, Dharmaraj to guide the senior squad SOUTH African Paul Revington has quit as national seniors chief coach, again, and this time it is final as Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) has accepted his resignation.     And K. Dharmaraj will fill his shoes as the national seniors coach, while Revington's assistant Arul Selvaraj will helm the juniors side.     This decision was taken at a hush-hush meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, with the official announcement only due to be made by MHC today.    Revington sent in his quit letter last week, and on Thursday was present to name the 35 trainees for the senior World Cup, as well as the Azlan Shah Cup, the Champions Challenge, the Commonwalth Games and the Asian Games -- all of which will be held this year.    Revington never gave any indication that he had sent in h