Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

Gold Medal for Malaysia!!! MEN'S SPRINT RT @Pelapis ACC 2014: Tahniah azizul pic.twitter.com/NXoCcqPirJ — Azizulhasni Awang (@AzizulAWANG) May 25, 2014 Sepang: Program latihan baru nyata membuahkan hasil buat pelumba trek negara, Azizulhasni Awang yang kembali pada tahap terbaik selepas menjuarai acara pecut individu di Kejohanan Lumba Basikal Asia (ACC) di Astana, Kazakhstan baru-baru ini. Menurut pelumba Olimpik negara itu, ketua jurulatih John Beasley menyediakan program latihan berlainan berbanding pelumba negara yang lain di Australia kerana saiz fizikalnya dan mempunyai masa yang terhad kerana terikat dengan pengajian. Malah pelumba kelahiran Terengganu itu terlepas Kejohanan Grand Prix Asia Tenggara di Kuala Lumpur awal bulan ini, aksi pemanas badan sebelum ke ACC kerana persediaan menghadapi peperiksaan. “Saya bersyukur kerana prestasi meningkat, saya bekerja keras sejak awal musim ini dan nampaknya program baru ini membuahkan hasil dengan Beasl

PETALING JAYA - Pelantikan jurulatih baharu Harimau Malaya yang pada mulanya dijangka diumumkan pada minggu depan telah ditangguhkan dengan Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM) membayangkan pengumuman mengenainya akan dilakukan pada penghujung Jun atau awal Julai. Setiausaha Agung FAM, Datuk Hamidin Mohd. Amin berkata, berdasarkan kekangan-kekangan tertentu, FAM tiada pilihan lain selain menangguhkan pelantikan itu. Selain itu, katanya, FAM tidak mahu tergesa-gesa dalam membuat keputusan selain mahu menumpukan perhatian kepada pemilihan anggota jawatankuasa FAM bagi penggal 2014-2018. "Tidak, tidak sama sekali (umumkan pada minggu pertama Jun), Presiden FAM, (Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah) hanya akan mengumumkan nama jurulatih selepas selesai melantik semua pengerusi jawatankuasa yang baharu. Selain itu baginda mempunyai beberapa tugasan penting yang lain" katanya ketika ditemui selepas sidang akhbar Bengkel Pelesenan AFC-FAM di Wisma FAM semalam.

Kelana Jaya: Teka-teki pengendali baru Harimau Malaya berterusan apabila Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM) masih belum bersedia mengumumkan pengganti Datuk K Rajagobal yang tidak dilanjutkan kontrak penghujung tahun lalu. Malah Setiausaha Agung FAM, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin (gambar) membayangkan ada kemungkinan calon lain dipertimbangkan walaupun badan induk sudah menyenarai pendek tiga calon sebelum ini. Tiga calon itu adalah bekas jurulatih Iraq, Wolfgang Sidka, bekas pemain Real Madrid dan Barcelona, Luis Milla bersama jurulatih Mozambique, Gern Engels. “Kita tidak boleh umumkan kerana terdapat kekangan tertentu, jawatan ketua jurulatih negara akan diumumkan penghujung bulan depan atau awal Julai, mungkin juga ada calon lain selain tiga calon disenarai pendek itu. “Ia termasuklah pengumuman mengenai exco yang bakal memimpin sejumlah jawatankuasa tetap di FAM selepas pemilihan barisan kepimpinan yang baru. “Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah (Presiden F

PENGUNJUNG Pusat Akuatik melihat bumbung yang terkoyak dan jatuh ke dalam kolam renang yang sepatutnya digunakan untuk acara renang dalam Sukma XVII di Kangar semalam.   KANGAR - Selepas beberapa jam insiden melibatkan bumbung koyak dan tercabut di Pusat Akuatik di Kompleks Sukan Negeri di sini, kontraktor utama Lima Corporation Sdn. Bhd. akhirnya tampil memberikan penjelasan berhubung isu berkaitan. Pengarah operasinya, Hishamuddin Abd. Hamid berkata, pihaknya diberi jaminan keselamatan oleh syarikat pembekal bumbung yang beroperasi di Pulau Pinang sebelum ia dipasang di venue tersebut. Dia menegaskan, pembekal sudah memberi jaminan bahawa ia selamat digunakan tetapi perkara yang terjadi semalam menyebabkan keseluruhan bumbung itu perlu dibuka. Katanya, tindakan membuka bumbung dilakukan 30 minit selepas kejadian itu berlaku dengan bantuan daripada sub-kontraktor yang masih melakukan kerja-kerja di dalam kawasan kompleks sukan itu. "Kami akan melihat

The torn canopy roof at the State Aquatic Centre in Kangar caved in to the swimming pool. KANGAR: Mother Nature can be unforgiving. Even the State Aquatic Centre was not spared as heavy rain and strong winds tore the canvas roofing apart. The incident occurred at around 2.15pm on Thursday when it started to rain at the venue. A 10-minute downpour saw the porous canvas roofing over the swimming pool begin to tear. It proved distracting to those who were at the Aquatic Centre for the Malaysia Games (Sukma) events. While watching the diving events, many kept turning to see the tear and if it was getting worse. By the time the rain subsided, half an hour later, the canvas was 90% torn across the width. It caused a 30-minute delay in the swimming finals which were supposed to begin at 4.30pm as contractors brought in a crane to remove the canvas roofing. Thankfully nobody was hurt at the centre, which has been in the news over

Kuala Lumpur: Walau apapun keputusan pertemuan dengan Australia pada perlawanan pertama skuad negara di Piala Dunia esok, anak buah Muhammad Dhaarma Raj Abdullah mahu perlawanan itu menjadi sesuatu yang bermakna bagi memperingati kemangkatan Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah yang cukup dikenali begitu meminati sukan hoki. Dhaarma yang dihubungi semalam berkata, pemergian Almarhum Sultan Azlan Shah atau bapa hoki Malaysia ketika skuad negara bakal mengharungi perlawanan pertama mereka, cukup dirasai oleh beliau serta anak buahnya. “Sudah tentu kami mahukan keputusan bagus. Harap-harap kami dapat mempamerkan permainan menarik sebagai memperingati pemergian Almarhum Sultan Perak. “Lagipun inilah masanya untuk kami memperoleh kembali penghormatan daripada dunia selepas sekian lama tidak beraksi di Piala Dunia,” katanya. Jelas Dhaarma, bertemu pasukan ranking pertama dunia pada penampilan pertama skuad negara selepas 12 tahun menyepi daripada saingan berprestij it

TRIBUTE: World Cup to observe moments of respect    Sultan Azlan Shah, who passed away on Wednesday, was the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) president as well as an Executive Board member of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). “Sultan Azlan Shah was an important and passionate member of our Executive Board and we are very saddened by this news,” said Leandro Negre, president of FIH. “Our condolences go out to his Royal Highness’ entire family and especially his wife, Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Bainun, his son, (Sultan) Raja Dr Nazrin Shah and daughters, Datuk Seri Raja Azureen, Raja Eleena and Raja Yong Sofia,” added Negre. FIH ceo Kelly Fairweather said: “This is a great loss for the hockey world as Sultan Azlan Shah was an icon in hockey. “His commitment and his dedication as an ambassador for the sport will truly be missed.” The FIH press release also said: “Moments of respect will be paid during the Rabobank Hockey World Cup in The Hague, Netherla

إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون | Dapat berita kemangkatan KDYMM Tuanku Sultan Azlan Shah. Philosopher king zaman kita. Al Fatihah. — Khairy Jamaluddin (@Khairykj) May 28, 2014 Kuala Lumpur: Skuad hoki negara akan memakai lilitan kain hitam di lengan sebagai menghormati kemangkatan Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah pada perlawanan pembukaan menentang Australia di Kejohanan Piala Dunia 2014 di The Hague, Belanda, Sabtu ini. Ketua jurulatih negara, Muhammad Dhaarma Raj Abdullah berkata berita kemangkatan Almarhum adalah satu perkhabaran sedih buat skuad negara yang kini giat menjalani latihan untuk kejohanan itu. Bagi skuad negara, kemangkatan baginda yang digelar Bapa Hoki Malaysia adalah satu kehilangan yang amat besar kepada sejarah sukan hoki negara. Amat sedih Kemangkatan Almarhum Sultan Azlan Shah pada masa kita akan bermula kempen Piala Dunia adalah sangat menyedihkan. Almarhum Tuanku akan sentiasa berada di mana-mana perlawanan dan sentiasa memberi soko

Sultan Azlan Shah menyampaikan trofi kejohanan hoki Piala Dunia Remaja kepada ketua pasukan Jerman, Martin Haner sambil diperhatikan oleh Nur Azmi Ahmad di Stadium Taman Daya, Johor Bahru pada 21 Jun 2009.   KUALA LUMPUR - Naib Presiden Kanan Konfederasi Hoki Malaysia (KHM), Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad menyifatkan kemangkatan Sultan Perak, Almarhum Sultan Azlan Shah yang pernah memimpin badan induk itu, sebagai satu kehilangan besar kepada arena hoki negara ini dan Asia. Katanya, jasa dan minat Almarhum kepada sukan hoki begitu jelas dan ini terbukti apabila baginda berusaha membina gelanggang hoki astroturf, Stadium Azlan Shah di Ipoh, Perak dan mewujudkan Piala Sultan Azlan Shah - sebuah kejohanan antarabangsa tahunan dalam kalendar MHC - dan disertai pasukan-pasukan ternama dunia. "Saya dan seluruh warga kerja MHC terasa amat sedih dan pasti sentiasa merindui jasa, sumbangan dan sokongan moral yang diberikan Almarhum kepada hoki negara sepanjang penglibatanny

Sultan Azlan Shah (duduk paling kiri) bersama rakan-rakan baginda dalam pasukan hoki University Nottingham (1951-1952). KUALA LUMPUR - Almarhum Sultan Azlan Shah bukan hanya menaruh minat yang mendalam terhadap hoki malah sering mencemar duli untuk menzahirkan sokongan moralnya kepada mana-mana atlet sukan lain setiap kali berlangsungnya temasya sukan besar. Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong berkata, beliau pernah beberapa kali menemani Almarhum yang bukan hanya menonton aksi atlet di padang malah melawat mereka di perkampungan Sukan Olimpik atau Sukan Asia. "Almarhum memang mudah didekati dan seorang yang merendah diri tetapi tidak banyak bercakap. Kemangkatannya satu kehilangan besar kepada sukan tempatan, terutama sukan hoki Malaysia dan dunia. "Ketokohannya sebagai pemimpin sukan memang tiada tolok bandingnya dan saya rasa tiada orang yang lebih layak untuk digelar Bapa Hoki Malaysia kecuali Almarhum," katan

The late Sultan Azlan Shah celebrating with Malaysian hockey players and former MHF president Tan Sri P. Alegendra after a triumph over Belgium in 2006. PETALING JAYA: Datuk N. Sri Shanmuganathan has credited the late Sultan Azlan Shah as being the man behind the heroics of the 1975 World Cup hockey team. “Sultan Azlan made us bring out our best,” said Sri Shan, who captained the team to a creditable fourth placing in the 1975 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur. He said that the late Sultan Azlan was the first chief selector of the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) and played a significant role in the national team’s progress in the 1975 World Cup as well as in the 1972 Munich Olympics, where they finished eighth. “Sultan Azlan’s active involvement in the team was the key factor behind our strong showing. He was a father figure to the players. Obviously, hockey was in his blood and he was really close to us. He may have been a man of few words but what he said meant

Kenangan bersama Al Marhum Sultan Azlan Shah di Larian Obor Sukan #Olimpik Beijing 2008 pic.twitter.com/hUHJ2WldH0 — Man Olimpik (@ManOlimpik) May 28, 2014 LEAVING A MARK: Sultan Azlan's foundation a blessing to nation  KUALA LUMPUR: THE Father of Malaysian Hockey left his mark on so many areas of the sport that it would be impossible for any other official to even come close to his work since 1966. Sultan Azlan Shah had not only established his own invitational tournament which has been running since 1983, but was also credited with founding the Yayasan Hoki Malaysia (YHM) in 1992. The foundation helps national players to further their studies, and provides them financial assistance, depending on the number of caps when they retire. Back then, there was no help for players who needed money to enrol into universities, but when the father of one player approached Sultan Azlan in the 1990s, he started the ball rolling for a foundation to give players the opp

DYMM Sultan Azlan Shah, di Majlis Larian Obor Sukan Olimpik Beijing 2008 KUALA LUMPUR,  Penglibatan dan sumbangan Sultan Perak Sultan Azlan Shah dalam sukan hoki tempatan dan antarabangsa sudah sebati dengan perkembangan sukan ini di mana jua dan sewajarnya baginda digelar 'Bapa Hoki Malaysia'. Sejak 40 tahun yang lepas, baginda tanpa jemu membangunkan arena hoki negara sehinggalah pasukan hoki kebangsaan mampu berdiri sama tinggi dengan pasukan-pasukan ternama dunia. Hoki ialah cinta pertama baginda meskipun baginda aktif dalam pelbagai sukan di usia mudanya, menurut cerita beberapa ahli sukan yang ditemui. Setiausaha Agung Persekutuan Hoki Asia (AHF) AHF Tan Sri P. Alagendra yang mengenali baginda menerusi hoki sejak zaman persekolahan lagi berkata Sultan Azlan Shah digelar Bapa Hoki Malaysia kerana dedikasi baginda dalam sukan itu. PENGLIBATAN AWAL Raja Azlan Shah(tiga dari kiri) bersama barisan atlet & guru di Batu Gajah Government En

The condition at the State Aquatic Centre in Kangar as of Monday.  KANGAR: The aquatic events at the Perlis Sukma, which were scheduled to begin on Wednesday, have been postponed to Thursday. Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said they had no choice but to postpone the events because the State Aquatic Centre’s safety features need to be improved first. Throughout the hullabaloo in the past few weeks over when the venue would be ready, Perlis Mentri Besar Azlan Man remained adamant that the Aquatic Centre would be ready in time. Saravanan, who inspected the site on Tuesday, said he was surprised by the lack of supervision by the Public Works Department (PWD). “We have postponed the aquatic events because we want the venue to really be safe for competition and we have been given assurance that all the remaining work will be completed within 24 hours,” he said. The Aquatic Centre was scheduled to be handed over to

SAFETY issues at the aquatic centre in Perlis have forced the organisers of the Malaysia Games to postpone the aquatic events. The events, which were originally scheduled to start today, will only take place tomorrow, as the contractors raced against time to overcome poor water quality and improve the diving platforms at the venue. Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) secretary-general Edwin Chong said the issues must be resolved to guarantee the safety of the athletes. “There are a few things that the contractors are working on now. The water in both the swimming and dving pools is still murky. “The contractors are also installing new anti-slip mats on the diving platforms, because the earlier ones did not meet the required standards. “The 5-meter diving platform is being shortened and re-cemented, because the earlier measurements were not right.” There were earlier suggestions that the aquatic events be moved to the Gunung Keriang Aquatics Centr

Oleh Lokman Zainal Abidin, Mohd Firdaus Hashim dan Hafizudin Mohd Safar Kangar: Giliran Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) negeri pula dipersalahkan gara-gara pusat akuatik Kompleks Sukan Kangar masih tidak siap sedangkan acara renang sepatutnya bermula hari ini. Satu-satunya jalan yang dapat difikirkan ialah penganjur terpaksa mengambil keputusan menangguhkan acara akuatik dan ia akan hanya bermula esok, lewat sehari daripada jadual asal. Lawatan Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan (KBS) Datuk M Saravanan ke venue berkenaan petang semalam mengundang kesal apabila beliau mendapati tidak seorangpun wakil JKR berada di situ untuk memantau semua kerja pembinaan. Ketiadaan wakil JKR itu disifatkan antara punca mengapa kolam renang terbabit lewat disiapkan. SARAVANAN (kanan) melawat Pusat Akuatik yang masih dalam pembinaan. Akibatnya, KBS terpaksa mengeluarkan bajet tambahan RM300,000 bagi menyediakan lokasi lain di Kedah andai pusat akuatik itu tetap gagal disudahkan menjelang t

KANGAR, 27 Mei (Bernama) -- Keputusan sama ada Kompleks Renang di Kompleks Sukan Negeri (KSN) di sini boleh diguna atau tidak untuk Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) ke-17 terletak pada Menteri Besar Perlis Datuk Seri Azlan Man. Setiausaha Kehormat Persatuan Renang Amatur Malaysia (ASUM) Edwin Chong berkata ini kerana kompleks itu terletak di bawah bidang kuasa kerajaan negeri. "Kita sudah melihat keadaan Kompleks Renang ini. ASUM tidak boleh membuat keputusan akhir sama ada ia dapat digunakan esok (hari pertama acara akuatik). "Keputusan sama ada kompleks ini boleh digunakan bergantung kepada mesyuarat antara Menteri Besar dengan pihak kontraktor yang saya difahamkan berlangsung hari ini. Kita kena tunggu keputusan itu," katanya kepada Bernama di sini Selasa. Beliau ditemui selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat pengurus pasukan di kompleks renang berkenaan. Menurutnya berdasarkan pemeriksaan ASUM di Kompleks Renang itu, tiga perkara utama menimbulkan kebimbang

FAM new President first Press Conference on 25 May 2014. Pix by @kamarulakhir @asianadotmy @PahangFA @FASelangorMy pic.twitter.com/OmFWpCl5Jc — asiana.my (@asianadotmy) May 25, 2014 Kuala Lumpur: Presiden Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM) Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah (gambar) harus mencari pendekatan terbaik untuk ‘memadam janji’ disuarakan Presiden Persatuan Bolasepak Negeri Johor (PBNJ) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, baru-baru ini. Pemerhati sukan negara, Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad berkata, beliau melihat janji disuarakan Tunku Ismail sebelum pemilihan pucuk pimpinan FAM kelmarin sebagai tekanan kepada barisan kepimpinan baru badan induk itu yang mendapat mandat menerusi Kongres FAM Ke-50 kelmarin. “Ada dua atau tiga cadangan dilontarkan seperti ahli gabungan mendapat peruntukan RM2 hingga RM3 juta. Itu tekanan kepada Tengku Abdullah kerana beliau perlu memberi reaksi terhadap cadangan Tunku Ismail itu. “Usul itu menarik kerana kebanyakan ahli gabungan k

Meanwhile in Netherlands... Good luck Coach Dharmaraj! #YakinBoleh #MalaysiaBoleh #Hoki #Hockey pic.twitter.com/3RurcFmJZQ — Man Olimpik (@ManOlimpik) May 26, 2014 THE Malaysian hockey team received a 8-2 drubbing when World Cup hosts the Netherlands ran riot in a friendly at the Hague on Sunday. Both the Malaysian goals were scored by Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, and the team have to brace for another onslaught when they face World No 1 Australia in the World Cup curtain raiser on Saturday. Malaysia are in Group A, and there will be no easy matches as they also meet World No 5 Belgium (June 2), World No 4 England (June 5), World No 8 India (June 7) and World No 10 Spain (June 9). Reigning Olympic champions Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Argentina and South Africa are in Group B. Australia showed their class when they beat England 2-1 and 3-1 in their two friendlies. The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) is looking for at least a 10th place finis

SKUAD negara menamatkan kempen Piala Thomas 2014 di tempat kedua selepas tewas 2-3 kepada Jepun pada perlawanan akhir di Stadium Siri Fort New Delhi, India kelmarin. MUNGKIN sudah tiba masanya Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) meniru sistem latihan skuad Jepun yang memberi tumpuan untuk menjalin kerjasama dengan kelab-kelab tempatan mereka dalam melahirkan pemain bertaraf dunia. Bekas pemain beregu negara dan Penasihat Kelab Badminton Nusa Mahsuri, Datuk Seri Jalani Sidek berkata, sistem yang digunakan Jepun itu terbukti berjaya selepas mereka muncul sebagai kuasa baharu badminton dunia. Kelmarin, Jepun mencatat sejarah baharu apabila muncul juara Kejohanan Badminton Piala Thomas selepas menundukkan Malaysia 3-2 pada perlawanan akhir yang berlangsung di Stadium Siri Fort New Delhi, India. “Sistem di Jepun tidak sama dengan BAM, Di Jepun, mereka tidak menggunakan sistem pemain sepenuh masa dalam skuad kebangsaan seperti kita. Selepas habis sahaja kejo

LEE Chong Wei wants to have one last Thomas Cup hurrah in 2016 before he writes a final chapter in his colourful badminton odyssey at the Olympic Games. Unbeaten in New Delhi, Chong Wei is determined to win the Cup after coming so close in the 3-2 defeat to Japan in the final on Sunday. “I will compete in all major events before the 2016 Olympic Games. “I had a good outing here but we did not win the Cup as a team. “We did what we could. “ I want to try for it one last time,” said Chong Wei in New Delhi yesterday. National singles coach Rashid Sidek was disappointed with the defeat to Japan but felt his team did fine by surpassing the semi-final target. “We tried but Japan were better than us. “We need to work harder for the next edition. “Our chances will be brighter if Chong Wei is still with us. “Others have to improve their world ranking and also do better in tournaments. “We have to accept that Japan are now the Thomas Cup champ

With glowing hearts, we proudly welcome our #ThomasCup #Badminton Team home... #MalaysiaBoleh pic.twitter.com/OUgHcE6cQG — Man Olimpik (@ManOlimpik) May 26, 2014 SEPANG: There’s still hope for Malaysian badminton after all. Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff believes Malaysia have maintained their status as one of the top nations in the sport with the runners-up showing at the Thomas Cup. At the Siri Fort Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday, Malaysia gave a gallant performance before losing 3-2 to Japan in the final. World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei and the second doubles pairing of Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong won their matches for Malaysia. Japan bagged their points through world No. 3 Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa (first doubles), Kento Momota (second singles) and Takuma Ueda (third singles). Tengku Mahaleel praised the team for their efforts. “The results have shown that we are not going backwards in the

Welcome home @TeamMsia ! #ThomasCup #MalaysiaBoleh pic.twitter.com/K81Tg9mU2x — Man Olimpik (@ManOlimpik) May 26, 2014 New Delhi: Pemain perseorangan negara Datuk Lee Chong Wei memberi bayangan akan terus beraksi pada saingan Piala Thomas 2016. Meskipun skuad negara tewas kepada Jepun kelmarin sekali gus gagal menamatkan penantian selama 22 tahun sejak kali terakhir menjulang piala itu di Kuala Lumpur, Chong Wei dilihat masih belum berputus asa dan mahu memburu piala yang masih belum berada dalam genggamannya itu. Chong Wei berkata, dia sudah menyatakan hasrat untuk terus beraksi hingga 2016 kepada Menteri Belia dan Sukan Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar yang menyaksikan perlawanan kelmarin. Perkara itu pernah dinyatakan Khairy pada April lalu selepas bertemu Chong Wei dengan menyatakan pemain nombor satu dunia itu bakal beraksi sehingga 2016, tempoh sama berlangsungnya Piala Thomas. “Saya sudah bercakap dengan Menteri Belia dan Sukan selepas perlawanan yang saya

Ketibaan wira negara... Dato' @lee_c_wei di KLIA... #Badminton #MalaysiaBoleh pic.twitter.com/Yt2gH6tdJi — Man Olimpik (@ManOlimpik) May 26, 2014 SEPANG, May 26 (Bernama) -- The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in expressing its satisfaction with the performance of the national badminton squad which emerged runners-up in the Thomas Cup championship in India last night, reminded the players not to be complacent in the international arena. Its president, Tan Sri Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff said Malaysia's achievement in the tournament was a great recognition for the country. "We cannot be too contented and need to be wary of the rise of other countries in the international arena of badminton. "Our competitors are not just Japan as other countries such as India and Thailand have also shown impressive performance," he told reporters after welcoming the return of the national squad from India at the Kuala Lumpur International Airpo

#Badminton team have made it safely home from New Delhi & all of them have returned to a hero's welcome! #ThomasCup pic.twitter.com/cD6QS3ZjVM — Man Olimpik (@ManOlimpik) May 26, 2014 SEPANG, 26 Mei (Bernama) -- Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) berpuas hati dengan persembahan skuad negara yang muncul naib juara dalam kejohanan Piala Thomas 2014 di India semalam, namun mengingatkan pemain agar tidak terlalu selesa dengan kedudukan Malaysia di persada antarabangsa. Presidennya, Tan Sri Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff berkata penyertaan Malaysia dalam kejohanan itu merupakan pengiktirafan kepada negara. "Kita tidak boleh terlalu berpuas hati dan perlu berjaga-jaga dengan kebangkitan negara lain yang sedang meningkat naik dalam arena badminton antarabangsa. "Pesaing kita bukan sahaja Jepun (yang menewaskan Malaysia pada final Piala Thomas) kerana negara lain seperti India dan Thailand juga menunjukkan prestasi yang baik," katanya kepada pe

Shot of the opening ceremony of the Sukma Games in Perlis on Monday KANGAR: The eagerly-anticipated 17th Sukma (Malaysia Games) got off to a glittering start at the Stadium Tuanku Syed Putra here. The opening ceremony, which was officiated by the Raja Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail on Monday night, featured a four-themed celebration of history, evolution, art and colours. Five former and current Perlis athletes, led by Afizal Abu Othman (tennis), Badrul Hisham Basri (rugby), Nusairi Musa (cycling), Azhar Ismail (softball), Ibrahim Saad (football), Mustaf Ibrahim (athletics), Mohd Faiz Musa (weightlifting) and Sukma secretariat sub-commitee chairman Jamil Saad took turns to carry the torch. The Raja Perlis was then given the honour of placing the torch into a transparent box on a pedestal. Immediately there was a beam of light flashing across the pitch towards the Games’ cauldron, setting it alight to signify the opening of the Games.

On May 15, 2014, there was still no roof for the Aquatic Centre of the Kangar Sports Complex. KANGAR: Now that the Malaysia Games (Sukma) have been launched and the State Aquatic Centre is still not ready, the finger-pointing and blame-shifting has begun. Perlis Mentri Besar Azlan Man and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had earlier said that the venue would be ready in time. On Friday, National Sports Council director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong echoed their sentiments. He gave his assurance that the State Aquatics Centre would be ready in time for the Sukma aquatics competition. On Monday, the centre still did not look ready. What's worse, the water filtration pump for the diving pool was being repaired midday on Monday following some issues which turned the pool's water murky. In addition, there was still paint work and side jobs still being conducted. Main contractors Lima Corporation said they are not to be blamed for the delay

Kangar: “Terus terang cakap, saya takut nak bertanding jika melihatkan keadaan platform dan air kolam seperti ini dan ia amat mengecewakan.” Itu luahan atlet negara yang pernah bertanding di Sukan SEA Myanmar, Nur Dhabitah Sabri (gambar) selepas dia bersama pasukannya meninjau sekitar Pusat Akuatik di Kompleks Sukan Negeri, kelmarin. Nur Dhabitah, 15, tampil buat pertama kali di temasya SUKMA mewakili Wilayah Persekutuan dan di bahunya terpikul impian pasukan untuk memenangi emas dua acara disertai, 3 meter papan anjal dan 10m platform seirama. “Saya begitu kecewa apabila kolam ini tidak memenuhi apa yang kami mahukan. Keadaan macam ini benar-benar mematahkan semangat saya dan rakan-rakan kerana sebelum datang ke sini kami berlatih dengan gigih, tapi sekarang semangat kami seolah-olah hilang. “Untuk papan anjal rasanya tidak ada masalah, tapi untuk platform ada gangguan sikit dan saya takut untuk melakukan terjunan kerana lantainya licin,” katanya. Kel

KANGAR, May 26 (Bernama) -- The Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail said sports is the best platform to forge unity without any feeling of prejudice or differences. According to him, the organiser of the 2014 17th Malaysia Games (Sukma) should make the championship the best avenue to promote and strengthen solidarity among competing athletes. "I want to tell all to compete healthily. If one is unsuccessful, it does not mean one loses forever. Consider it as not our time to win," said Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin when opening Sukma XVII at the Sports Complex here tonight. Also present were the Raja Perempuan of Perlis, Tuanku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid, the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra as well as the Raja Puan Muda, Tuanku Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil. Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim were also present. In conjunction with op

KANGAR, 26 Mei (Bernama) -- Kerajaan pimpinan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak komited untuk terus melihat lebih ramai atlet muda negara beraksi di peringkat antarabangsa. Menteri Belia dan Sukan Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar berkata penganjuran Sukan Malaysia atau SUKMA bertepatan dengan matlamat itu. Beliau berkata selain SUKMA, pelbagai program pembangunan sukan dilancar bagi melahirkan atlet untuk disandarkan harapan mewakili negara dalam Sukan Asia, Komanwel dan Olimpik. "Atlet-atlet muda hendaklah berani menyambut cabaran untuk menjadi jaguh-jaguh hebat dengan penuh semangat," katanya dalam ucapan pada perasmian SUKMA XII oleh Raja Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail di sini Isnin malam. Teks ucapan beliau dibacakan timbalannya, Datuk M. Saravanan. Khairy berkata ramai atlet terbaik negara lahir hasil penganjuran SUKMA, antaranya Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Datuk Nicol Ann David, Shalin Zulkifly, Azizul Hasni Awang dan Pandalela Rin

KANGAR, May 26 (Bernama) -- The leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is committed to continue seeing more of the country's young athletes in action in the international arena, according to Youth and Sports Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin. He said organising the Malaysia Games or Sukma was geared towards this objective. He said apart from Sukma, various other sports development programmes were also launched to produce athletes to shoulder the country's challenge at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and also the Olympics. "Young athletes should be bold to meet challenges to be great champions," he said in his speech for the opening of the Sukma XVII here tonight. The text of his speech was read out by his deputy, Datuk M. Saravanan. The Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail opened the Games. According to Khairy, many of the nation's leading athletes were products of the Sukma, including Datuk Lee Cho