"Special Officer" Post Will Be Created To Help Indian Youths, Says Sabri
KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- In the absence of a parliamentary secretary, The Youth and Sports Ministry will create the post of a "Special Officer" to look after the development needs of Indian youths, said its newly-appointed minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He also said that the ministry was looking at a new mechanism to channel funding to sports associations in the states of Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor.
Most likely it would follow the example of Kelantan which has been in opposition's hands since 1990, he told reporters after making a visit to the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil here Tuesday.
Also present were his deputy, Wee Jeck Seng, National Sports Council director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong and National Sports Institute director Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz.
On Malaysia's preparations of the Beijing Olympics, he said that he would be chairing a steering committee on it next week to ensure the athletes who have qualified and others making it in time received the appropriate buildup.
He added that the ministry would also place special emphasis on using the Internet to get closer to youths as they were more technologically savvy.
-- BERNAMA
Chia, Que And Ali Share Lead In British Open Qualifying
KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Danny Chia, Angelo Que of the Philippines and Englands Yasin Ali took a giant step towards making a trip to the British Open after firing identical three-under par 69s in the International Final Qualifying in Singapore Tuesday.
Danny Chia, an Asian Tour regular, sank six birdies against three bogeys at the Sentosa Golf Clubs Serapong course while Que enjoyed five birdies on the card for his strong start and big-hitting Ali who was poised for an outright lead, double-bogeyed the final hole and had to be contended with a share of the lead.
Filipino Antonio Lascuna, Ben Leong of Malaysia, who enjoyed a hole-in-one, and Japanese duo Tomohiro Kondo and Keiichiro Fukabori shot identical 70s to stay in the hunt for the four tickets at stake to The Open at Royal Birkdale, England in July.
Danny Chia who featured at St Andrews in 2005 and bidding for a second appearance at The Open, gave himself every chance with a solid ball striking display Tuesday.
"I'm quite pleased with the way I'm hitting the ball. There were some tough pins out there but on the whole, I like the layout here and every time I come back, I'm confident of playing well," said Danny Chia in a statement from the Asian Tour.
Que, a winner on the Asian Tour, got his adrenaline flowing as he moved into position for a maiden debut with a 30-foot birdie conversion on the 17th hole which capped his superb round.
"For the first time, Im in a position to get in. Ive been hitting the ball good since the Indonesian Open this year and all I have needed to do was to make putts which I did Tuesday," said the jovial Filipino.
Ben Leong sank an ace at the second hole with a seven iron en route to a 70 to give himself a fighting chance for an Open ticket. But like many others, he also faltered down the stretch with two closing bogeys.
"It was a bit disappointing but Im still in the game," said Ben Leong, winner of the Asian Tour Qualifying School for the past two seasons.
Leading first round scores:
69 - Danny Chia (MAS), Angelo Que (PHI), Yasin Ali (ENG)
70 - Antonio Lascuna (PHI), Tomohiro Kondo (JPN), Keiichiro Fukabori (JPN), Ben Leong (MAS)
71 - Chinnarat Phadungsil, Prom Meesawat (THA), Gavin Flint, Jason King, Brad Kennedy (AUS), Yoshinobu Tsukada (JPN), Will Yanagisawa (USA)
72 - Airil Rizman (MAS), Young Nam, Han Lee (USA), Scott Barr (AUS), Chung Joon (KOR), Lam Chih Bing (SIN), Juvic Pagunsan, Mars Pucay (PHI), Brett Bingham (CAN)
73 - Lee Sung (KOR), David Bransdon, Adam Blyth (Aus), Takuya Taniguchi, Tatsuhiko Ichihara (JPN), Anthony Kang (USA)
74 - Mardan Mamat (SIN), Sushi Ishigaki, Jun Kikuchi (JPN), Bryan Saltus (USA), Amandeep Johl (IND), Park Jun-won (KOR)
75 - Shiv Kapur, Digvijay Singh (IND), Olle Nordberg (SWE), Tony Carolan, David Gleeson, Richard Moir, Adam Groom (AUS), Ahmad Dan Bateman (CAN), Zaw Moe (MYA).
-- BERNAMA
10 Disabled Athletes Qualify For Beijing Paralympics
KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- A total of 10 disabled athletes have qualified on merit to participate in the Beijing Paralympic Games that is to be held after the Beijing Olympics.
The Paralympics, which is the pinnacle for disabled athletes, just like the Olympics for normal athletes, will take place at the same venue of the Beijing Olympics from Sept 6-17.
"Thus far eight athletes have qualified on merit while another two who came close but missed the qualifying mark, made it through the Bipartite entries (chosen from a pool of those who came close to the qualifying mark by the International Paralympics Council (IPC)).
"We expect another one or two athletes to qualify on merit while a number of others are expected to be given wildcard entries by the IPC," said Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) president Datuk Zainal Abu Zarin after receiving six wheelchairs used for racing competitions from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) here today.
He added that the six racing wheelchairs, worth RM180,000, would come in handy in Malaysia's aspirations towards becoming a leading sporting nation in disabled sports.
"It is indeed a noble deed by JICA to come forward an support the MPC's efforts and aspirations towards developing disabled sports. In fact, they have been giving us other kinds of professional support in the past by providing qualified coaches and personnel.
"We have accepted JICA as "Friends of Paralympic Sports" and their sponsorship is a gesture of good partnership and friendship between Malaysia and Japan," he said.
Zainal who acknowledged the fact that disabled sports in Southeast Asia was miles behind compared to advanced nations like the USA, England, Russia or China, did not want to set any targets for the Malaysian athletes bound for the Paralympics.
"We must accept the fact that we still way behind even Thailand but our main objective is to see as many athletes qualify for the Paralympics on merit and with material support like the one from JICA, I hope we can one day start winning medals," he said.
He added that Malaysia's best hopes will rest on archers Muhammad Salam Sidik and Zulkifli Mat Zin who are ranked sixth in the world.
Qualifiers for Beijing Paralympics: Men: Athletics: Mohd Raduan Emeari; Powerlifting: Cheok Kon Fatt (52kg), P. Mariappan (67.5kg); Archery: Muhammad Salam, Zulkifli (Recurve); Swimming: Zul Amirul Sidi (50m backstroke), Yusup Dewa (50m freestyle). Women: Powerlifting: Siow Lee Chan (56kg), Sharifah Raudzah Syed Akil (82.5kg), Fatimah Wagimin (75kg).
-- BERNAMA
Dua elemen majukan sukan negara
Oleh Meor Hisham Zulkifli
DUA elemen - berbincang dan merangka strategi secara bersama-sama menentukan hala tuju, termasuk dalam aspek memastikan jenis sukan yang bakal disertai di peringkat antarabangsa, menjadi intipati usaha baru Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) menangani masalah persatuan sukan.
Setiausaha Kehormat Majlis Olimpik Malaysia, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, berkata persatuan sukan di negara ini perlu mempunyai hubungan akrab dengan MOM bagi membolehkan perancangan dan strategi lebih tersusun dapat dirancang.
“Kami mahu semua persatuan sukan tampil untuk sama-sama merangka strategi serta berterus terang mengenai masalah yang dihadapi dalam usaha kita membangunkan sukan dengan lebih menyeluruh.
“Setiap tahun kita mengadakan sidang dan seminar untuk persatuan sukan, namun mereka yang hadir lebih suka mendengar laporan MOM daripada turut sama berbincang, membuat dasar atau memberikan pandangan,” katanya.
Kok Chi berkata, pada tahun ini, persatuan akan menganjurkan seminar tahunan pada pertengahan Jun dan cuba mendapatkan pakar strategi, Profesor Datuk Zakaria Ahmad membentangkan ucap tama.
“Kami harap wakil persatuan yang hadir, tampil lebih aktif bagi melontarkan pandangan dan menyuarakan kehendak mereka kepada MOM bagi memastikan badan induk sukan ini dapat dibantu dengan lebih berkesan atau menyediakan dasar yang terbaik buat mereka.
“Mereka juga boleh menyuarakan apa yang terbuku di hati terhadap sistem rating yang diperkenalkan selain berbincang bentuk bantuan membolehkan persatuan terbabit mendapat bintang lebih baik,” katanya.
Beliau berkata, banyak perkara memerlukan persatuan sukan lebih akrab dengan MOM terutama membabitkan persoalan bentuk penyertaan dan dana berhubung penyertaan dalam pertandingan antarabangsa bukan tradisi.
“Kini selain Olimpik, Sukan Asia dan Sukan Sea, kita sudah mempunyai Sukan Dalam Dewan dan Sukan Pantai. Selain itu, banyak kejohanan dunia seperti Olimpik Remaja dan Kejohanan Olimpik Belia Australia.
“Oleh itu kita perlu berbincang, sukan mana yang memerlukan bantuan dana untuk membolehkan atlit negara bertanding kerana sebelum ini sukan bukan tradisi diletakkan di bawah Kategori B. Belum ada dasar yang pasti mengenainya,” katanya.
'Tiada pingat bermakna gagal'
Oleh Lukman Salleh
 BERKENALAN: Ismail Sabri yang diiringi Zolkples (kanan) bertanya khabar kepada atlit bowling, Shalin Zulkifli ketika mengadakan lawatan ke Majlis Sukan Negara di Bukit Jalil, semalam. |
Semua pihak harus menerima hakikat tanpa perlu memberi pelbagai alasan: Ismail
PINGAT, tidak kira apa warnanya sudah cukup di Sukan Olimpik Beijing, Ogos ini dan tanpanya kontinjen negara dianggap gagal sekalipun hadir dengan kemungkinan jumlah terbanyak atlit yang berjaya melayakkan ke temasya berprestij itu.
Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob, berkata hakikat itu harus diterima kerana Indeks Petunjuk Prestasi (KPI) sukan negara bagi Sukan Olimpik ialah memenangi apa juga pingat di temasya itu.
“Jika atlit tidak membawa pulang sebarang pingat maka kontinjen negara dianggap gagal dan semua pihak harus menerima hakikat tanpa perlu memberi pelbagai alasan.
“Sebaliknya kita perlu membetulkan semua kelemahan untuk memastikan kita akan berjaya pada masa akan datang,” katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas lawatan ke Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) dan Institut Sukan Negara (ISN), di Bukit, Jalil semalam.
Turut hadir Timbalannya, Wee Jeck Seng, Ketua Pengarah MSN, Datuk Zolkples Embong dan Ketua Pengarah ISN, Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz.
Ismail Sabri dilantik Menteri Belia dan Sukan yang baru bagi menggantikan Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, yang berpindah ke Kementerian Pelancongan.
Serentak dengan itu juga, Ismail Sabri akan memikul tugas selaku Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Khas Sukan Olimpik Beijing, bagi memantau persiapan kontinjen negara menghadapi temasya itu.
“Hari ini saya hanya diberi taklimat ringkas mengenai persediaan atlit menghadapi Sukan Olimpik dan saya juga akan memanggil mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Khas ini untuk mengetahui tahap persediaan kita,” katanya.
Sehingga kini, 16 atlit sudah mengesahkan tempat ke Beijing dan kemungkinan jumlah itu akan meningkat kepada 30 dengan MSN menjangkakan badminton (10 atlit) dan lumba basikal (empat atlit) akan turut layak.
Ditanya sama ada beliau berdepan cabaran sukar selaku Menteri Belia dan Sukan memandangkan menjawat jawatan itu ketika Sukan Olimpik hanya kira-kira empat bulan bulan saja lagi, Ismail Sabri menganggap ia bukan rintangan besar.
“Bagi saya Sukan Olimpik bukan cabaran besar buat saya kerana KPI adalah mudah iaitu perlu menang pingat di Beijing, jika tidak bererti gagal. Sebaliknya cabaran utama saya adalah menangani masalah belia.”
Mengenai masa depan sukan di negeri-negeri dikuasai pembangkang, Ismail Sabri berkata terlalu awal untuk membuat rumusan sebaliknya pihaknya akan memantau situasi di negeri terbabit.
Amaran terakhir buat Kien Keat-Boon Heong
KETUA Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) Datuk Zolkples Embong tidak akan lagi 'memberi muka' kepada pasangan emas Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong jika beregu itu berterusan membuat perangai yang menjejaskan prestasi mereka.
Peringatan itu dikeluarkan selepas Zolkples untuk kesekian kalinya terpaksa mengambil inisiatif mengadakan pertemuan dengan pasangan itu serta jurulatihnya Rexy Mainaky, berikutan persembahan hambar di beberapa kejohanan antarabangsa sejak kebelakangan ini.
Bagi Zolkples, jika Kien Keat-Boon Heong sekali lagi membangkitkan masalah, beliau tidak akan teragak-agak untuk memberi restu kepada Rexy jika jurulatih berasal dari Indonesia itu bertindak menggugurkan pasangan itu daripada skuad Sukan Olimpik Beijing 2008.
“Saya tidak mahu lagi dengar dan lihat timbul masalah dengan pasangan ini,” kata Zolkples semalam. “Jika wujud juga, saya tidak akan lagi menyelesaikan sebaliknya saya akan memberi sokongan penuh kepada Rexy untuk mengambil apa saja tindakan.
“Malah saya akan memberi restu kepada Rexy jika dia mahu menggugurkan pasangan ini daripada Sukan Olimpik Beijing, jika mereka berterusan menyajikan persembahan tidak konsisten dan menimbulkan masalah.
“Pada masa sama, saya juga akan terus memantau mereka ketika latihan sekarang ini dan daripada maklum balas yang saya terima, setakat ini kedua-duanya kembali menunjukkan komitmen positif berbanding sebelumnya,” kata Zolkples.
Jumaat lalu, Ketua Pengarah MSN itu mengadakan pertemuan dengan Kien Keat-Boon Heong dalam usaha menyelongkar misteri prestasi merudum pasangan itu yang menimbulkan kebimbangan memandangkan mereka adalah sandaran utama pingat di Beijing.
Ini kali kedua Zolkples mengadakan pertemuan dengan pasangan itu dengan kali pertama ialah selepas kehambaran yang ditunjukkan mereka di Kejohanan Dunia di Kuala Lumpur, tahun lalu.
“Saya harap pertemuan terbaru saya ini adalah yang terakhir dan saya berharap tidak akan mendengar lagi masalah sama ada disiplin atau sebagainya membelenggu pasangan ini,” kata Zolkples. “Saya juga berharap mereka dapat menumpukan sepenuhnya kepada badminton.
“Apapun kita lihat bagaimana prestasi mereka dalam aksi akan datang iaitu Kejohanan Asia dan saya akan memantau prestasi mereka dengan teliti.”
Rush kenal pasti 3 kelemahan
Oleh Mohd Fadzrie Hazis
Skuad negara kurang tumpuan, kecergasan dan tiada komunikasi dengan rakan
NAMA penyerang negara, Safee Sali serta dua bekas penyerang kebangsaan - Akmal Rizal Rakhli dan Liew Kit Kong - meniti di bibir legenda bola sepak, Ian Rush yang menyuarakan betapa dia terpikat dengan kemampuan teknikal dipamerkan mereka.
Pada sesi klinik bola sepak kendaliannya, semalam, bekas penyerang Liverpool itu beranggapan ketiga-tiga pemain itu memiliki keistimewaan sendiri serta berada setahap tinggi berbanding penyerang lain dan berharap klinik itu dapat membantu meningkatkan lagi keupayaan mereka.
“Penjaring terbanyak liga anda (Safee) adalah seorang penyerang agresif, Akmal pula mempunyai tindakan penyudah yang baik sebagai seorang penyerang dan Liew mempunyai gerakan baik tanpa bola.
“Ketiga-tiga mereka ada keistimewaan masing-masing dan ini memisahkan mereka daripada penyerang lain,” kata Rush.
Dia turut menyuarakan tiga kelemahan yang masih wujud pada penyerang tempatan iaitu kekurangan tumpuan, tahap kecergasan dan kurangnya komunikasi dengan rakan sepasukan selain daripada sifat kurang yakin terhadap diri sendiri.
Selepas dua hari mengendalikan klinik bola sepak khas buat penyerang tempatan di Bukit Jalil, Rush berasa penyerang tempatan harus memperbaiki tiga faktor itu apabila beraksi di peringkat tertinggi apatah lagi dengan permainan bola sepak kini yang menerapkan permainan pantas.
“Sebagai penyerang seorang pemain itu harus memiliki daya tumpuan yang baik bagi membantunya cepat mengesan peluang keemasan untuk menjaringkan gol, dan ini penting kerana dengan menyudahkan peluang tercipta ia mampu membantu pasukan dalam waktu tertekan.
“Saya juga merasakan tahap kecergasan penyerang tempatan anda boleh ditingkatkan lagi, seorang penyerang wajib mempunyai tahap kecergasan tinggi dalam tempoh 90 minit perlawanan dan mereka juga harus lebih banyak berkomunikasi bersama rakan sepasukan lain dalam perlawanan,” kata Rush.
Rush juga menasihatkan penyerang tempatan memiliki sikap tidak mengenal erti putus asa, kerana seorang penyerang harus kerap melakukan percubaan dalam usaha mencari jaringan.
PHM tak buat kejutan besar
Oleh Hasnira Hassan
18 pemain dinilai terbaik menyahut cabaran kelayakan Olimpik bulan depan
SEPERTI diramalkan, pengurusan Persekutuan Hoki Malaysia (PHM) tidak banyak membuat kejutan besar apabila mengumumkan senarai 18 pemain skuad negara yang bakal menyahut cabaran di kejohanan kelayakan Olimpik di Jepun, bulan depan.
Namun tamparan hebat adalah pemain tonggak pertahanan, Megat Azrafiq Megat Termizi digugurkan gara-gara kecederaan tulang kering kaki kiri yang belum pulih begitu juga penjaga gol, Khairulnizam Ibrahim yang turut berada dalam senarai pemain tercedera.
Kini, tanggungjawab besar mengemudi benteng pertahanan di Kakamigahara nanti akan digalas oleh tiga pemain yang digugurkan selepas Sukan Asia Doha iaitu S Kuhan, Madzli Ikmar Mohd Nor dan Mohd Amin Rahim.
“Kami sudah memilih barisan terbaik dan saya berharap mereka akan turun berjuang di bumi ‘samurai’ seperti pahlawan sehingga ke titisan keringat terakhir.
“Pihak pengurusan tidak meletakkan harapan tinggi dan cukup andai pasukan ini dapat layak ke perlawanan akhir,” kata Presiden Persekutuan Hoki Malaysia (PHM), Tan Sri Laksamana Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor selepas mengumumkan senarai nama, semalam.
Pada kejohanan yang bermula 5 sehingga 13 April itu, Malaysia diundi bersama tuan rumah, Jepun selain Itali, Poland, Switzerland dan juara Piala Dunia 2006, Jerman.
Sementara itu, jurulatih negara, Sarjit Singh berkata dia hanya mensasarkan layak ke final berikutan hanya satu tiket diberi untuk layak ke Sukan Olimpik di Beijing, Ogos ini.
Pada kejohanan kelayakan sebelum ini, New Zealand menewaskan Argentina ketika Britain menundukkan India bagi memenangi tiket yang sama.
“Pada pemerhatian saya, ini adalah kumpulan kelayakan paling hebat dan sengit kerana kami bukan saja berdepan pasukan tuan rumah (Jepun) tetapi juga Jerman. Ketika sama kita tidak boleh memandang memandang remeh kekuatan skuad Eropah lain,” kata Sarjit.
Mengulas mengenai skuad yang disediakan, Sarjit mengakui berpuas hati dengan tahap kecergasan setiap pemain yang disifatkan terbaik dan bersedia menghadapi lawan masing-masing.
“Setiap pemain yang terpilih sudah menunjukkan keupayaan dan komitmen masing-masing sepanjang latihan dan perlawanan,” katanya yang dijadual berlepas ke Jepun bersama skuadnya pada 30 Mac ini.
"Tiada perlawanan persahabatan diatur dan kami percaya skuad ini benar-benar sudah bersedia,” tambahnya.
Meskipun syarat kejohanan hanya membenarkan hanya 18 pemain dipilih, tetapi PHM menambah dua pemain lagi sebagai ganti sekiranya berlaku kecederaan sebaik tiba di Jepun.
SKUAD NEGARA
PENJAGA GOL: S Kumar, Mohamed Hanafi
PERTAHANAN: Madzli Ikmar, Jiwa Mohan, S Kuhan, Amin Rahim, Baljit Singh Charun Singh
TENGAH: Mohamed Shukri Mutalib, Azlan Misron, Sharun Nabil, Kelvinder Singh, Ahmad Anuar
PENYERANG: Chua Boon Huat, Jivan Mohan, Ismail Abu, Razie Rahim, S Selvaraju, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin
Simpanan: Engku Malek dan Baljit Singh Sarjab Singh
Rayzam: I'll go to Europe alone if I have to
Rayzam says he is prepared to run in any competition anywhere in his quest to improve and to qualify for the Olympics.
HURDLER Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian has no qualms about going to Europe to make his Olympics dream come true even if he has to travel alone.
"If I hope to improve and qualify for the Olympics I cannot hope to just stay here. I would jump at the chance to go to Europe even if it means my coach (Raymie Bakar) cannot go with me. I'll go alone if I must," said Keningau-born Rayzam from Kota Kinabalu by telephone yesterday.
Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) deputy president Karim Ibrahim said on Monday that Rayzam had turned down a proposal to go to Europe and lamented the 20-year-old Sabahan's decision to remain in his home state rather than avail himself to the multitude of facilities at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil.
"It is not that I turned down the offer. I just do not know what are the details involved. I'm happy to run in any competition and in any place because I want to get as much experience as possible," said Rayzam, who has so far run only in the 60m hurdles this year at the Asian Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar and the World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain.
"I am comfortable here and see no reason to move to Kuala Lumpur.
"I know there are more facilities there but there are too many distractions there as well.
"I don't want to fall into that trap which is why I prefer to remain in Sabah," added Rayzam, who has a personal best of 13.91s which he clocked in Korat.
MAAU has proposed sending Rayzam to the Thailand Open (April 26-29), China Open (May 22-25) and Kazakhstan Open (June 7-8) besides the three-leg Asian GP in Bangkok (June 23), Korat (June 26) and Hanoi (June 30).
Ismail: Focus on Beijing
(From left) NSI director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz, Sports Ministry secretary Datuk Mohd Yassin Salleh, Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Deputy Sports Minister Wee Jeck Seng observe P. Vikneshwaran undergoing treatment at Bukit Jalil yesterday. Pic: HASAN ISMAIL.
DATUK Ismail Sabri Yaakob, in his first press conference as Sports Minister in a packed National Sports Council (NSC) hall in Bukit Jalil, made no bones about the fact that he is serious about developing sport in the country.
Ismail reiterated that if no medals are won then the NSC and National Sports Institute (NSI) have failed in their Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
"If the NSC and NSI KPI's are based on winning any medal in the Olympics, then we must prepare towards that. But should we fail, we must not be ashamed to say we failed," said Ismail.
"Very often sports officials give all sorts of excuses when they fail to deliver but still hold onto their positions. That must change.
"If we fail we must find out why we failed. We spend a lot of money on sport and we must be accountable on where and why we spend.
"Also, I am very open to suggestions on ways to improve sport in the country."
Ismail, who also met officials of the national sports associations (NSAs) on Monday, said he had received some feed back and will look into their situations too.
But Ismail was firm when he said that looking into the youth programmes will be his priority.
"We have a huge social problem among youths which we have to solve and this is just as important as winning an Olympic medal. We must have enough sports facilities, especially in the outskirts of the big towns.
"If we expect youths to take up sports we must have sufficient facilities. I will give my attention to both areas." said Ismail.
Sportcheck: Minister gets to know NSC, NSI
SPORTS Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob did not waste time getting to know the Malaysian sports agencies.
During the first part of his visit to NSC, director general Datuk Zolkples Embong briefed the minister on the organisational structure of the NSC and its different roles.
Ismail was also informed that this year's major preparation is geared towards the Olympics, where to date 16 athletes have qualified for Beijing and NSC hopes to have another 14 qualify by May.
Next was NSI's turn and its director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz briefed the Bera Member of Parliament on the support services his agency provides the athletes and the programmes developed for the grassroot level.
"We will review certain policies but at this point I am still learning.
"I was briefed by the Sports Ministry officials yesterday (Monday) and I will meet the Stadium Board on Thursday (tomorrow). I want to get feed back from all those who are involved in sport before coming out with plans and policies," the minister added.
Badminton: Final warning for Kien Keat
NSC director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong will monitor Kien Keat-Boon Heong’s performances at the Asian Badminton Championship in Johor Baru.
NATIONAL Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Zolkples Embong has given a final warning to doubles player Koo Kien Keat (pic) that he must fully concentrate on his game and improve.
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"I met with the player (Kien Keat) on Friday and I had a chat with him. I told him that I don't want any problems not just from him but from any player in the squad.
"In the midst of preparing for the Olympics we can't be spending time solving problems.
"I will stick by Rexy if the players fail to buck up." said Zolkples at the NSC yesterday.
"I know people say that I always bring players in when they have problems and the change is only temporary. But I only do this because I don't want the talent of these athletes to be wasted.
"We spend lot of money on them but that does not mean they can take us for a ride," Zolkples added.
"I have asked my officers to keep track of them especially all those preparing for Olympics. We want them to remain focused and do their best."
Zolkples added that they will monitor Kien Keat-Boon Heong's performances at the Asian Badminton Championship in Johor Baru on April 16-20.
Meanwhile, Kien Keat has been showing commitment in training as was noticed by Rexy.
"He has been showing up early for training and works harder now," said Rexy.
"He also stays back to work on his footwork as he has become a bit slow now.
"At this point in time he is showing commitment and discipline. I just hope he keeps going on like this.
"He has also started talking to me which is a good sign."
Kuhan, Amin recalled for Olympic qualifiers
KUALA LUMPUR: The selectors opted for the experience of S. Kuhan and Mohd Amin Rahim in naming the final squad of 18 for the Olympic qualifying tournament in Kakamigahara, Japan, from April 5-13.
Utility Jiwa Mohan, who decided to quit the team in January but answered a call to help in the Malaysian cause, was also named as a defender in the team.
There were 32 players in the squad preparing for the qualifiers, including those who were injured. And defender Megat Azrafiq Megat Termidzi, who is still recovering from a shin injury he suffered in January, will not make the trip to Japan.
The Malaysia Hockey Federation (MHF) president, Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor, in naming the final squad at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday, said that they still needed the services of Kuhan, Amin and Jiwa.
“They have vast experience and will be an asset to the team,” he said.
Kuhan and Amin were recalled to the national training squad last December after the country's top penalty corner flicker, Zulkifli Rejab, was forced out in November because of a knee injury. The duo were among the several seniors axed from the side after Malaysia's dismal performance in the 2006 Doha Asian Games.
The other defenders selected were Mohd Madzli Ikmar and Baljit Singh Charun.
Seasoned campaigner S. Kumar was named as the first choice goalkeeper. And for the reserve goalkeeper slot, Mohd Hanafi Hassan got the nod over Khairulnizam Ibrahim, who featured in the Champions Trophy last December. Khairulnizam was dropped because he injured his knee during the fitness test.
The only surprise inclusion was Ahmad Anuar Sham Kamar in midfield. He is in the team for the first time for a major tournament. Previously, he only got to go onplaying tours.
Mohd Anwar added that defenders Engku Abdul Malek Engku Mohamad and Baljit Singh Sarjab would also make the trip to Japan as reserves to cover for injuries to players in the final 18.
“We have an experienced side and our target is to reach the final,” he said.
The team will leave for Japan on Sunday and they will open their campaign against Poland on April 5. Malaysia's other matches are against Italy (April 6), two-time world champions Germany (April 8), Switzerland (March 10) and Japan (March 12).
The classification matches will be played on April 13.
The champions will take the last ticket to Beijing for a 12-team Olympic tournament in August.
Badminton: Early scare for Kay Bin
ALOR STAR: National senior shuttler Yeoh Kay Bin almost paid the price for underestimating a young opponent in his opening Group D match in the Proton National Grand Prix Finals at the Kedah BA Hall here last night.
Kay Bin, who was expected to cruise to the final after being drawn in the opposite half from both Lee Chong Wei and Mohd Roslin Hashim, came up against a battling 18-year-old Teo Kok Siang and had a hard time winning the match 21-15, 20-22, 21-18.
The unheralded Johorean had led 11-10 at the changeover in the third game. But Kay Bin pulled his act together at the crucial moment to sail through in the 50-minute battle.
“I was not focused and could not produce my usual shots. Perhaps I had believed all the talk that I had been handed an easy draw and would sail through to the semi-finals,” said Kay Bin.
“It is a timely wake-up call that there are no easy matches in the national championships. I will not make the same mistake of taking it easy in my next two group matches (against Zulfari Abdullah and Liew Daren).”
Kay Bin also needed three games to overcome Kok Siang in the group stage in last year's edition of the Finals in Kuala Terengganu.
Top seed Lee Chong Wei opened his campaign in Group A with a 21-14, 21-6 win over 15-year-old Zulfadli Zulkifli of Selangor.
Chong Wei, who is seeking a sixth straight national crown, acknowledged that he still needed to be wary despite facing one of his easiest national championships this week.
The absence of Wong Choong Hann, Mohd Hafiz Hashim and Lee Tsuen Seng in Alor Star has made the world number two the overwhelming favourite for the title.
“Yes, it does seem straightforward but my job is to continue playing and to win regardless of who else is in the competition. But I would not treat the two other senior players in the tournament, Roslin (Hashim) and Kay Bin, lightly. I don't want to be caught short because I had let my guard down,” said Chong Wei.
Roslin also got through his opening hurdle without much difficulty, defeating Johor's Iskandar Zulkarnain 21-11, 21-15.
An interesting contest is brewing in Group B with both second seed Tan Chun Seang and Asian junior runner-up Mohd Arif Latif notching straight-game victories over Mohd Sharizal Abdul Latip and Vountus Indra Mawan respectively.
With only the group champions advancing to the semi-finals, the Chun Seang-Mohd Arif match-up tomorrow could well decide who tops the group.
New Sports Minister does not want a repeat of the last two Olympics
KUALA LUMPUR: Anything less than a medal would be considered a failure for the Malaysian contingent in the Beijing Olympics in August.
Newly-appointed Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this after a briefing with officials of the National Sports Council (NSC) and the National Sports Institute (NSI) at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Malaysia returned home empty-handed from the last two outings in the Olympics – in Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004).
Ismail, who took over the reins from Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, said that the target was to end a 12-year medal drought in Beijing.
“That is key performance index (KPI) we have set for the contingent. If we failed to come back with at least a medal, we have to accept the fact that we failed in our mission,” he said.
“No one should be offering any excuses if we cannot win at least one medal,’’ he said.
“I also want all the respective sports association whose athletes are going for the Olympics to have their own KPIs as well.”
Accompanying Ismail on his first visit to the sports complex in Bukit Jalil was the new Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Wee Jeck Seng.
Malaysia last won medals in the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 through the badminton men's doubles pair of Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock (silver) and men's singles player Rashid Sidek (bronze).
Only badminton has brought Olympic medals for Malaysia. The first winners were Razif-Jalani Sidek, who took bronze when the sport made its Olympic debut in Barcelona in 1992.
Badminton realistically offers Malaysia the best chance to bag a medal in the Beijing Games but the NSC believe that athletes from archery and track cycling, who have made significant progress, stand an outside chance to get on the rostrum.
Ismail also hoped that Malaysia would be able to improve on their number of Olympic qualifiers. A total of 26 athletes featured for Malaysian at the last Games in Athens.
“Sixteen athletes have qualified thus far. We hope that 10 more will make it from badminton and four more from cycling to make it a total of 30 before May,” he said.
And asked whether the development of sports in the states run by the Opposition parties are going to be affected, Ismail said that he hoped to get a clearer picture after meeting officials from the respective state sports council.
“There is fear that development of sports may cease in a state governed by the Opposition party,” he said.
“We will study whether to disburse the funds directly to the sports association or do what we have done for Kelantan, the state government of which was not that keen on sports. What we did there was to set up the Kelantan Sports Council and it was run directly by the NSC.”
‘Kita mesti rangkul pingat’
KUALA LUMPUR – Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob tidak gentar untuk mengakui kegagalan sekiranya kontinjen negara pulang dengan tangan kosong daripada Sukan Olimpik di Beijing, Ogos ini sebagaimana pencapaian hambar di Athens, empat tahun lalu dan Sydney 2000.
Tegasnya, kegagalan bukanlah sesuatu yang perlu dimalukan sekiranya masih berulang di ibu kota China itu malah ia lebih baik daripada kementerian cuba mengelaknya dengan memberikan pelbagai alasan yang kadangkala sukar diterima oleh orang ramai khususnya peminat sukan tanah air.
Dalam sidang akhbar di Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Bukit Jalil, semalam, katanya: “Kita mesti menang pingat tanpa mengira warna kerana ia indeks prestasi utama (KPI) atau sasaran kontinjen ke Beijing. Jika tidak mencapainya, kita perlu akui telah gagal.
“Sebarang kegagalan juga bererti kita mesti cuba berusaha lebih gigih dan bukannya memberikan banyak alasan,” katanya yang menganggap memenangi pingat Olimpik bukanlah satu cabaran yang sukar baginya selepas menerajui kementerian ini sejak 18 Mac lalu.
Masalah
Ismail Sabri yang sebelum itu mendegar taklimat dengan MSN dan Institut Sukan Negara (ISN) berkata, cabaran yang lebih besar ialah menghadapi dan menyelesaikan masalah belia sedangkan satu pingat Olimpik sahaja sudah dikira mewakili kejayaan sukan negara.
Turut hadir ialah Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Wee Jeck Seng; Ketua Pengarah MSN, Datuk Zolkples Embong dan Ketua Pengarah ISN, Datuk Dr. Ramlan Aziz.
Kali terakhir Malaysia memenangi pingat Olimpik ialah pada temasya 1996 di Atlanta, Amerika Syarikat dengan sebutir perak (Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock) dan gangsa (Rashid Sidek) – kedua-duanya daripada sukan badminton.
Ismail Sabri yang dilantik menggantikan Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said bagaimanapun meramalkan peluang Malaysia mencapai pingat Olimpik banyak bergantung kepada sukan badminton yang dijangka menampilkan 10 pemain ke Beijing selewat-lewatnya Mei ini.
“Ketika ini kita ada 16 atlet yang telah layak ke Olimpik dan menjangkakan mendapat 14 lagi iaitu 10 daripada badminton dan empat pelumba berbasikal selain masih menunggu skuad hoki (20 pemain) namun badminton masih menjadi harapan kita (meraih pingat),” jelasnya.
Karnival Pra Sukma 1 Mei
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| KERJA-KERJA menyiapkan stadium utama di Kompleks Sukan Gong Badak, Terengganu giat dijalankan bagi membolehkan karnival Karnival Pra Sukma XII diadakan Mei ini. |
KUALA LUMPUR – Biarpun Terengganu kini ‘bergolak’ dengan isu pemilihan Menteri Besar yang hangat diperkatakan, ia sedikit pun tidak mengganggu perjalanan persiapan Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) 2008 yang akan berlangsung di negeri itu pada 31 Mei hingga 9 Jun akan datang.
Pengurus Promosi, Publisiti dan Tajaan Sekretariat Sukma XII Terengganu 2008, Khairol Azmie Embong berkata, pihaknya tidak menghadapi masalah untuk menganjurkan sukan terbesar di negara ini dan menjangka ia akan berlangsung dengan meriah.
Katanya, jawatankuasa penganjur telah merancang lebih banyak promosi acara sambutan untuk kejohanan sukan tersebut, termasuk mengadakan Karnival Pra Sukma XII Terengganu bermula 1 Mei ini.
Menurutnya, Karnival Pra Sukma XII Terengganu itu akan menggabungkan pelbagai acara termasuk hiburan, keagamaan dan kebudayaan bagi menarik minat di kalangan pelancong dari dalam dan luar negara.
“Karnival itu akan berlangsung selama enam hari bermula 1 Mei dan pelbagai acara akan dilangsungkan termasuk mengadakan persembahan pentas, nasyid, sukan neka, pertandingan sukan rakyat dan Forum Perdana,” katanya pada sidang akhbar sempena karnival itu di sini, semalam.
Kata Khairol, apa yang lebih menarik, karnival itu diadakan di sekitar stadium baru iaitu di Kompleks Sukan Gong Badak Negeri Terengganu.
Katanya, kompleks sukan itu mempunyai keluasan 2 kilometer x 1.5 kilometer dan adalah sebuah kompleks sukan terbesar di negara ini.
Kompleks itu juga menempatkan sebuah stadium bola sepak yang mempunyai ketinggian tempat duduk penonton sembilan tingkat.
Menurutnya, kompleks sukan itu sendiri akan menjadi daya penarik terkuat kepada kehadiran pelawat kerana ia masih belum dibuka kepada orang ramai.
“Ini adalah peluang terbaik kepada pengunjung untuk menyaksikan sendiri kompleks sukan terbesar di negara ini yang mempunyai empat buah padang bola sepak, dua padang hoki, satu padang ragbi, gelanggang boling dan sebuah tasik yang cantik.
“Ia merupakan sebuah kompleks sukan yang mempunyai pelbagai fungsi dan mempunyai banyak stadium dalam dewan,” katanya.
Sehubungan itu, pihaknya menjangka akan menerima kunjungan orang ramai antara 10,000 hingga 20,000 pada setiap hari pada Karnival Pra Sukma XII Terengganu itu.
Menurut beliau, pihaknya juga menyediakan sebanyak 200 gerai jualan semasa karnival itu berlangsung.
Tambahnya, dengan kedudukan kompleks sukan baru itu yang begitu hampir dengan lapangan terbang Terengganu yang hanya mengambil masa selama satu minit dan mengambil masa selama 15 minit melalui jalan raya biasa, ia memudahkan lagi kehadiran orang ramai dari luar Terengganu.
Ditanya mengenai kehadiran kontinjen dari Brunei, beliau berkata, Terengganu akan menerima kunjungan terbesar dari negara jiran itu iaitu sebanyak 196 atlet untuk 26 acara.
Dengan slogan ‘Jupe dinung...’, Khairol berkata, pihaknya yakin dapat menarik sehingga 50,000 pada enam hari karnival tersebut.
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