Sports press clippings on the 30 April 2008

MAAU To Restrict Athletes From Participating In Commercial Championships

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) will restrict local athletes from participating in commercial championships to enable them to concentrate on world tournaments.

Its vice-president, Karim Ibrahim said many local athletes, especially middle and long distance runners had been taking part in local championships almost every month to earn supplementary income.

"It is good for training as they are pitted against foreign runners. However, if their intention is to earn extra money, then we will have to curtail it," he said when contacted Tuesday.

He added that a monitoring committee headed by former national long distance runner, S. Muthiah would study the matter where possible, athletes might be permitted to take part only in three commercial championships in a year.

Karim, who is also MAAU Coaching Committee chairman, said as not all marathon distance and races held in the country were recognised by MAAU, the association would not settle medical expenses of those athletes who were injured in such races.

MAAU did not want its athletes to be exploited by the organisers, he said.

"I am aware of sponsors who handed over T-shirts and pocket money to our national athletes to lure the public to join the races.

"If the athletes are thinking of big rewards, then they should concentrate on the SEA Games, Commonwealth Games, Asia Games and the Olympics where proposals have been submitted for the reward money to be increased to up to RM1 million," he said.

-- BERNAMA

FAM Secretary-General To Meet Sarawak ACA Director

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) will not leave any stone unturned in their bid to weed out the culprits involved in the bribery scandal that has rocked the nation yet again, especially East Malaysia.

FAM secretary-general Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad said he had been given the mandate by president Sultan Ahmad Shah to ensure that the culprits are brought to book in the bribery scandal that allegedly involved a number of players from Sarawak.

"I am leaving for Kuching Wednesday to meet the state Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) director. We know that the ACA are carrying out investigations and we cannot do much at this point of time but (FAM) will do everything to assist," Azzuddin told reporters after witnessing the launch of Celcom's collaboration with Media Prima Berhad and TM Group to broadcast EURO 2008, here Tuesday.

Azzuddin who heads the FAM task force set up to investigate the scandal, said nobody will be spared during the course of investigations but added that FAM will not conduct a separate investigation.

"We will allow the ACA to do the investigations as we do not have the jurisdiction to conduct an investigation, especially when ACA have already started theirs. We will let the law take its course but if anybody is found guilty, we will take the necessary action," he said.

The ACA hauled up 15 Sarawak players for questioning while one former Sarawak and national player, aged 39, has been remanded on suspicion of being a middleman for a syndicate involved in match-fixing since last week.

Sarawak ACA director Mohammad Yusoff Akope was quoted as saying that no player was detained as the investigation was still at its infancy stage.

The scandal is the latest blow to Malaysian football, which has struggled to recover from a 1994 bribery scandal that let to the ACA and police haul up 126 players for questioning and a substantial number banished.

In that debacle, 21 players and coaches were axed while 58 players were suspended or banished for between one year to life by FAM.

Meanwhile, the collaboration between Celcom, Media Prima and TM will ensure that Malaysian football fans will have the luxury of watching the EURO 2008 live from the comfort of their homes.

According to Celcom's Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Mohammed Shazalli Ramly, Media Prima, through free-to-air channels TV3 and NTV7 will telecast 21 live and 10 deferred matches. EURO 2008 hosted by Austria and Switzerland will be held from June 7 to 29.

-- BERNAMA

CYC: Malaysia Up Against European Giants

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia have been drawn in Group B together with three European football powerhouses -- Ajax Amsterdam of Holland, Chelsea of England and AC Milan of Italy -- in the second edition of the Champions Youth Cup (CYC) to be held from Aug 2 till 16.

Event promoter London-based Gifted Group's chairman Jonathan Price said it was a surprise when Malaysia and Chelsea were drawn in the same group.

"In last year's tournament, Malaysia and Chelsea were in the same group and in their group match at the Sarawak Stadium, Malaysia and Chelsea were locked to a goalless draw. Once again, this year's group match between Malaysia and Chelsea will be an interesting one," he told reporters here Tuesday.

All group B matches will be held in Penang.

Malaysia's opening match will be against AC Milan on Aug 6, followed by Chelsea (Aug 8) and then Ajax Amsterdam (Aug 10).

In last year's tournament, Malaysia, Chelsea and Ajax Amsterdam were out of the tournament after their group matches while AC Milan went through to clinch third place.

As for the other three groups, defending champions Manchester United (England) and last year's finalist, Juventus (Italy) are drawn together with FC Porto (Portugal) and China in Group D with the group matches to be played in Terengganu.

Group A consists of PSV Eindhoven (Holland), Barcelona (Spain), Flamengo (Brazil) and India. The group will play in Kuantan, Pahang.

Group C comprising Lyon (French), Bayern Munich (Germany), River Plate (Argentina) and Qatar will play in Melaka.

The semi-finals and final will take place in Kuala Lumpur.

-- BERNAMA

Atlit Angkat Berat Masih Berpeluang Ke Olimpik

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 April (Bernama) -- Walaupun gagal menempah kedudukan selesa pada Kejohanan Angkat Berat Asia di Jepun hari ini, atlit angkat berat negara, Amirul Hamizam Ibrahim dan Mohd Faerul Talib masih berpeluang untuk bertanding di Sukan Olimpik Beijing Ogos nanti.

Hari ini, Mohd Faerul berjaya mengangkat seberat 132 kg bagi acara snatch ketegori 69 kilogram untuk mengatasi rekod kebangsaan seberat 110 kilogram.

Amirul turut mencipta rekod baru dalam kategori 56 kg snatch dengan angkatan 121 kg yang memecahkan rekod lama seberat 117.5 kg.

Setiusaha Kehormat Persatuan Angkat Berat Malaysia (PABM) Suhaimi Khamis berkata beliau percaya kedua-dua atlit ini masih lagi mempunyai harapan untuk layak ke Olimpik namun keputusaan hanya akan diketahui secara rasmi selepas mesyuarat jawatankuasa pengadilan dan teknikal pertandingan diadakan.

"Jika dinilai dari sudut angkatan individu, saya yakin bahawa Amirul dan Mohd Faerul boleh layak ke temasya yang paling berprestij itu," katanya ketika dihubungi Bernama hari ini.

Katanya keputusaan akan dibuat oleh jawatankuasa tersebut selepas tamat kejohanan pada 1 Mei ini.

Suhaimi juga agak terkilan kerana Muhammad Hidayat Hamidon tidak membuat sebarang angkatan dalam kejohanan itu.

"Saya rasa dia gagal untuk membuat angkatan kerana mengalami masalah berat badan," katanya.

Sebelum masuk pertandingan, setiap atlit angkat berat perlu ditimbang untuk memastikan bahawa berat badan mereka tidak melebihi had berat ketegori yang disertai.

Walaupun kejohanan akan tamat pada 1 Mei, pasukan negara akan pulang esok kerana semua atlit telah menamatkan acara masing-masing.

-- BERNAMA

Kelengkapan Perubatan Di Gong Badak Dijangka Siap Pertengahan Mei

KUALA TERENGGANU, 29 April (Bernama) -- Semua kelengkapan dan peralatan perubatan serta kawalan doping Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) ke-12 di Kompleks Sukan di Gong Badak dekat sini, dijadual siap sepenuhnya pertengahan bulan depan.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kecil Perubatan, Kesihatan dan Kawalan Doping Sukma, Dr Abdul Rahman Mokhtar berkata bilik-bilik rawatan akan disediakan di kompleks yang menempatkan dua buah stadium manakala kes kecemasan akan dirujuk ke Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ) di sini.

"Kita juga menyediakan bilik kawalan doping di kedua-dua stadium berkenaan bagi menguji air kencing atlet yang bertanding pada temasya itu," katanya kepada pemberita selepas mengadakan lawatan di kompleks berkenaan hari ini.

Terengganu akan menjadi tuan rumah Sukma ke-12 dari 31 Mei hingga 9 Jun ini.

Dr Abdul Rahman, yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kesihatan, Perpaduan dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna negeri, berkata air kencing para atlet akan dibawa ke Pusat Kawalan Doping di Wakaf Tapai dekat sini, sebelum dihantar untuk ujian lanjut di Pulau Pinang.

Selain klinik statik yang ditempatkan di kedua-dua stadium itu, beliau berkata pasukan perubatan akan ditempatkan di gelanggang-gelanggang lain.

Kompleks sukan itu, yang menempatkan stadium utama setinggi enam tingkat serta stadium tertutup yang bernilai lebih RM400 juta, dijadual siap akhir bulan ini dan akan dirasmikan Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin pada 10 Mei ini.

-- BERNAMA

MOM bakal ubah perlembagaan

Oleh Lukman Salleh

Beri lebih kuasa untuk selesai masalah ahli

SELEPAS kian dibebani masalah yang membabitkan pertikaian antara ahli gabungannya yang merujuk kepada timbang taranya, Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) bakal mengubah perlembagaannya untuk memberi lebih kuasa kepada mereka menyelesaikan masalah.

Ketika ini timbang tara MOM lebih bersifat 'orang tengah' kerana tiada kuasa untuk menuntut atau mengarahkan pihak yang bertelagah untuk mengadakan serta bersemuka bagi mencari jalan penyelesaian, sekali gus memberi andaian usaha mereka itu hanya sia-sia.

"Sekarang ini memang ada beberapa persatuan sama ada peringkat kebangsaan ataupun negeri yang merujuk beberapa masalah kepada MOM," kata Setiausaha Kehormatnya, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi (gambar).

"Memang MOM sedang meneliti perkara ini dan cuba mencari jalan penyelesaian tetapi ia memerlukan kerjasama antara kedua-dua pihak yang bertelagah untuk duduk bersemuka, berbincang dan kemudian mencari kata sepakat.

"Masalah timbul ialah apabila hanya satu pihak yang hadir dan satu lagi enggan berbuat demikian, sedangkan timbang tara MOM tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk mengarahkan mereka supaya hadir ataupun mengenakan tindakan jika mereka enggan.

"Oleh itu, ada sedikit kelemahan dalam proses timbang tara MOM dan saya berpendapat ada keperluan untuk meminda perlembagaan badan induk ini terutama membabitkan penyelesaian pertikaian, bagi memberikan kuasa kepada MOM menyelesaikan pertikaian," katanya.

MOM kini memikul tugas untuk menyelesaikan pertikaian serta masalah yang membelenggu ahli gabungannya selepas Pejabat Pesuruhjaya Sukan memutuskan tidak mahu terbabit dalam sebarang pertikaian atau masalah membabitkan persatuan sukan kebangsaan.

Sebaliknya persatuan sukan kebangsaan perlu menyelesaikan apa-apa pertikaian yang timbul di kalangan anggotanya atau dengan jawatankuasa atau badan pengelola mengikut prosedur dalaman ditetapkan dalam peraturan seperti yang termaktub dalam Seksyen 23 Akta Pembangunan Sukan 1997.

Bagi MOM pula, Artikel 22 Perlembagaannya mengenai pertikaian (Perkara 1), pula menggariskan sebarang perbalahan antara ahli gabungan dengan MOM, atau dengan ahli gabungan MOM yang lain atau antara ahli gabungan MOM dan sebarang ahli (negeri, kelab atau individu), perlu diselesaikan secara baik melalui proses ADR (an alternate dispute resolution), iaitu, perundingan (orang tengah) dan jika dapat diselesaikan pada peringkat ini, pertikaian itu dianggap berakhir tanpa tindakan susulan.'

Perkara 2 artikel sama pula menyatakan hanya selepas perundingan gagal, maka pertikaian itu akan dirujuk kepada tribunal timbang tara dalam Malaysia di mana seorang penimbang tara dilantik dengan persetujuan kedua-dua pihak. Selepas semua langkah ini diambil, perkara ini mungkin dirujuk kepada Menteri Belia dan Sukan di mana keputusan beliau adalah muktamad (Seksyen 24, Akta Pembangunan Sukan).

'Anggap ini misi terakhir anda'

Oleh Ahmad Khawari Isa

Cara Misbun lancar 'perang psikologi' ke atas anak didik untuk hadapi Piala Thomas

BUNYI pesan Misbun Sidek kepada dua anak didiknya, Lee Chong Wei dan Hafiz Hashim tampak agak aneh: "Anggaplah ini sebagai Piala Thomas terakhir buat anda."

Bekal nasihat itu diluahkan ketika kem negara mengakui kekuatan barisan pemain perseorangan bakal jadi penentu buat merencanakan kemaraan sejauh mungkin pada pusingan akhir Kejohanan Piala Thomas di Jakarta, bermula 11 Mei ini.

Ketua jurulatih, Yap Kim Hock, menegaskan betapa berdasarkan prestasi terkini barisan pemain utama dunia, watak perseorangan kedua dan ketiga jadi penentu di kalangan lima kuasa utama - China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea Selatan dan Denmark.

"Kemampuan pemain utama lima negara ini agak seimbang, dengan peluang 50-50. Malah untuk lawan seperti China, Denmark dan Korea Selatan, peluang dalam acara beregu juga hampir sama.

"Kerana itu pemain perseorangan kedua dan ketiga negara perlu bekerja lebih kuat untuk menyiapkan diri kerana ada kemungkinan itu bakal jadi penentu kemenangan," katanya.

Misbun turut mengakui congakan itu, tetapi turut memasukkan Chong Wei - bakal memikul tugas perseorangan utama - dalam pesannya, bersama-sama Hafiz di posisi perseorangan ketiga, supaya memfokuskan segenap perhatian dan tumpuan sepanjang kem latihan kali ini.

Pemain veteran, Wong Choong Hann � yang dibimbing jurulatih, Wong Tat Meng � adalah pemain perseorangan kedua negara.

"Bagi saya, Chong Wei adalah tonggak harapan utama. Kita tidak boleh lupa bahawa Piala Thomas acara berpasukan dan sudah tentu Chong Wei memikul harapan permulaan semua pemain - perseorangan serta beregu - apabila turun beraksi.

"Hafiz juga tahu apa yang menantinya. Kerana itu saya mahu kedua-duanya menganggap seolah-olah Piala Thomas ini sebagai penampilan terakhir mereka. Ia bermakna peluang yang ada tidak wajar disesiakan," katanya.

Pada masa sama, Misbun 'menikmati' hakikat kedua-dua anak buahnya berkongsi misi sama, bukannya berbeza matlamat untuk saling mengatasi satu sama lain.

"Apa yang menariknya ialah kedua-duanya saling membantu. Saya boleh arahkan Hafiz menggunakan kekuatan serangannya untuk menguji kemantapan benteng Chong Wei dan sebaliknya.

Misbun turut menegaskan betapa dia tidak terlalu memikirkan kekuatan lawan bakal dihadapi kedua-duanya, sebaliknya lebih mahu memfokuskan usaha kepada memperbaiki kelemahan dan memantapkan persembahan masing-masing.

"Tempoh persiapan kali ini tidak panjang. Jadi, daripada terlalu memikirkan mengenai lawan, lebih baik menyiapkan diri sendiri. Jika sudah bersedia, saya percaya mereka mampu menangani apa sahaja bentuk cabaran yang menjelma," katanya.

Pegawai FAM menyisihkan diri

Oleh Mohd Fadzrie Hazis

Majlis undian Piala CYC kecoh tanpa kehadiran seorang pun wakil badan induk

UNDIAN Piala Juara-juara Belia (CYC) mencetus bicara hangat, semalam apabila majlis diadakan tanpa kehadiran seorang pun pegawai tertinggi Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM), sebaliknya ia dikendalikan Penolong Setiausaha Agung Gabungan Bola Sepak Asia (AFC), Carlo Nohra.

Ketiadaan pegawai tertinggi badan induk itu sekadar mengundang pelbagai persoalan, kerana FAM sebelum ini menyuarakan komitmennya terhadap penganjuran kejohanan itu.

Menurut Pengerusi Kumpulan Gifted, Jonathan Price yang juga penganjur kejohanan, pentas saingan ini mendapat kelulusan AFC dan dia berharap FAM akan dapat bekerjasama dengan AFC dalam penganjuran kejohanan itu.

Namun, pembabitan AFC itu dikhabarkan seolah-olah kurang disenangi badan induk berkenaan.

"AFC menawarkan bantuan kepada kami menganjurkan kejohanan CYC kali ini, kami sudah terlebih dulu memberi komitmen kepada AFC dengan menandatangani perjanjian dengan mereka dan kami harus mematuhi komitmen kontrak yang sudah dimeterai.

"Saya sudah menghantar surat memaklumkan perkara ini kepada Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad (Setiausaha Agung FAM), tetapi FAM tidak mahu pembabitan AFC dalam penganjuran CYC dan saya tidak faham mengapa FAM tidak boleh bekerjasama dengan AFC," kata Price.

Azuddin ketika dihubungi mengesahkan sudah menerima surat daripada Price, Jumaat lalu tetapi enggan mengulas lanjut mengenai perkara ini. Penganjuran CYC ini akan dibincangkan di Mesyuarat Exco FAM pada 17 Mei ini.

Sementara itu, Malaysia diundi dalam Kumpulan B yang akan beraksi di Pulau Pinang pada kejohanan kali ini bersama tiga pasukan gergasi Eropah, Ajax, Chelsea dan juga AC Milan. Ini adalah kali kedua berturut-turut Malaysia berada dalam kumpulan sama dengan Chelsea. Pada tahun lalu kedua-dua pasukan itu seri 0-0 pada perlawanan Kumpulan C yang berlangsung di Kuching.

Juara bertahan, Manchester United diundi dalam Kumpulan D bersama naib juara tahun lalu, Juventus, FC Porto dan China di Terengganu manakala Kumpulan C di Melaka membabitkan pertembungan Lyon, Bayern Munich, River Plate dan Qatar.

Saingan Kumpulan A di Pahang membabitkan kelab Belanda, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Flamengo dan India.

Pada edisi kedua CYC tahun ini, Price berkata pihaknya akan berbincang dengan kerajaan negeri Pahang, Pulau Pinang, Melaka dan Terengganu untuk meningkatkan jumlah penonton ke stadium kali ini selepas gagal menarik kehadiran penonton yang ramai ke stadium, tahun lalu.

Saingan peringkat kumpulan akan bermula pada 5 Ogos ini, saingan suku akhir pada 11 dan 12 Ogos, separuh pada 14 Ogos manakala perlawanan tempat ketiga dan final pada 16 Ogos di Kuala Lumpur.

Badminton / Build up to Thomas Cup: Choong Hann, Hafiz hold key

Choong Hann and Hafiz (inset) will play the second and third singles respectively.

NATIONAL chief coach Yap Kim Hock believes that Malaysia's fortunes in the Thomas Cup Finals in Jakarta on May 11-18 will depend on Wong Choong Hann and Hafiz Hashim's form.

Choong Hann, the World No 14, and Hafiz, will play the second and third singles, respectively.

However, Kim Hock admitted that it will be a tall order for them to raise their respective games.

"If you compare their respective forms two years ago at the Tokyo edition, they were better then. Hafiz has failed to find his touch while Choong Hann's problem is more psychological.

"Choong Hann still fears he may aggravate his old injury and this sometimes causes him to avoid certain style of play, while Hafiz has been inconsistent for the past couple of years," said Kim Hock.
"But if they perform in Jakarta, I believe Malaysia will have a chance to fight for the title."

Choong Hann injured himself by snapping an Achilles tendon while facing South Korea in the quarter-final tie of the Thomas Cup in Tokyo, and was forced to rest for the next six months.

But since his return, he has experienced mixed fortunes.

However, he showed glimpses of excellent form when he reached the quarter-finals of the recent Asian Championships in Johor Baru.

"Choong Hann and Hafiz need to raise their respective games and I have advised them to treat the Thomas Cup like it was their last tournament," Kim Hock added.

However, the coach said Malaysia were not the only country with a weak lineup.

"Teams like China, Denmark, Indonesia and South Korea are also either weak in the singles or doubles. We can beat these top teams to the title if we take advantage of their respective weakness."

In the second singles, the four players Choong Hann could meet are World No 3 Bao Chunlai (China), Peter Gade-Christensen (Denmark), reigning Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat (Indonesia) and Lee Hyun-Il (Korea).

Hafiz is likely to face Chen Jin (China), Joachim Persson (Denmark), Simon Santoso (Indonesia) and Shon Seung-Mo (Korea) in the third singles.

Kim Hock also brushed off claims by countries who said the Thomas Cup was not their priority.

"I believe all of them are taking the Thomas Cup seriously as a good showing will give them a boost ahead of the Olympic Games in August," said Kim Hock.

Malaysia have been drawn with South Korea and England in Group C in Jakarta.

Sportcheck: Increased expenditure justified

Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz

NATIONAL Sports Institute (NSI) director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz has acknowledged that the National Sports Council's (NSC) expenditures had ballooned since 2003, particularly in 2006.

The NSC was ticked off by deputy auditor general Azizah Arshad as its audited accounts had shown a significant increase of expenditure from RM6.3 million in 2003 to RM28 million in 2006 for professional services, celebrations and hospitality, coaching and officials, national sports awards and the Malaysia Games.

Ramlan, who was the NSC director-general during that period, said the growth of the organisation, including the restructuring of the entire NSC set-up, were the main reasons for increased expenditure.

However, Ramlan was disappointed that efforts to cast former Sports Minister (Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said) and her management team negatively has been blown out of proportion.

"The deputy auditor general has already looked into it and we have acknowledged. The spending of public funds has been under the microscope and if there was any wrongdoing, the authorities can investigate," said Ramlan at his office in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
"However, what has now become serious is the concerted effort to cast a negative image of the former sports minister and the officers who had served under her.

"All I can say is that there was prior approval for all the projects. Everything was on principle and above board, according to the process and procedures of the government.

"As an organisation, the NSC has grown with new divisions being introduced.

"The concentrated effort to do well in the Doha Asian Games (in 2006), new facilities for the Kedah Malaysia Games, the increase of allowances for national athletes all contributed to the expenditure. There were also more coaches with higher salaries.

"I would be able to give a more detailed explanation on this but I need to have an exact breakdown first."

Ramlan said 2006 was an extraordinary hectic sporting year with the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in Japan and the Asian Games being held besides other regular international events, which caused spending during that year to increase considerably.

The hike in expenses for the Malaysia Games from RM282,987 in Negri Sembilan in 2004 to RM3.37 million in Kedah two years later was due to the fact that venues had to either be built or renovated to help the development of certain sports.

Football: FAM ditches youth cup

THE Champions Youth Cup (CYC) saga took another twist yesterday when it emerged that the FA of Malaysia (FAM) will not be involved in any organisational aspect of the Under-19 tournament on Aug 5-16.

This is sure to invite further criticism for a tournament that costs the Sports Ministry RM17 million a year, especially as FAM cited its unwillingness to work with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) as its reason.

Given the latest development, it will be interesting to see the reaction from the Sports Ministry, considering the amount involved.

The AFC, said Jonathan Price - the chairman of tournament promoter Gifted Group, had offered to work together last year.

"We thought it was a good offer as they (AFC) agreed to help us in terms of football management, referees and the disciplinary committee," said Price.
"During our discussions with FAM officials, we clearly briefed them of the roles they would play. But none were happy or too pleased that AFC is involved."

Price said he had written to FAM on April 25, whose general secretary Lt Jen (Rtd) Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad confirmed having received it.

"The letter will be tabled at the FAM executive committee meeting on May 17," was all that Azzuddin was willing to say.

A copy of Price's letter to Azzuddin, which was made available to Timesport, stated that Gifted Group had an "agreement in place with the AFC to organise the event alongside Gifted.

"Whilst we would be pleased to also have FAM play a full role in this regard and welcome your positive attitude to the tournament, you will appreciate that we cannot renege upon commitments that we have already made to other parties.

"With regret, I must therefore decline your kind offer to assist us with the tournament organisation."

Gifted Group had met FAM officials on March 27 and discussed the possible involvement of the national body in the CYC. However, FAM had subsequently informed Philip Lay, general manager of the CYC that it had no wish to work alongside AFC in the organising of the tournament.

Price said Gifted Group's decision was not based on financial criteria.

"As a gesture of goodwill and and in recognition of the very positive relationship that we have developed with the FAM since your (Azzuddin's) appointment (as general secretary), I can confirm that I still propose to pay to the FAM the US30,000 (about RM96,000) that we had agreed for its services."

Price also confirmed that Gifted Group remained committed to the development programmes that it had constructed with FAM together with the Sports Ministry, National Sports Council and the Education Ministry.

FAM's relationship with AFC has been strained since the Asian body blocked Manchester United's tour of Malaysia which clashed with last year's Asian Cup which Malaysia co-hosted.

Sports Ministry officials could not be contacted for comments.

Yesterday's draw was conducted by AFC assistant general secretary Carlo Nohra and Malaysia were drawn in Group B with Ajax Amsterdam, Chelsea and AC Milan. The group will be based in Penang.

Champions Machester United are in Group D with Porto, Juventus and China and will play their matches in Kuala Terengganu.

Group A, which will be based in Kuantan, has PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Flamengo and India, while Lyon, Bayern Munich, River Plate and Qatar make up Group C which will be based in Malacca.

The semi-finals and final will be in Kuala Lumpur.

The groupings -- Group A: PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Flamengo, India.

Group B: Ajax Amesterdam, Chelsea, AC Milan, Malaysia.

Group C: Olympic Lyon, Bayern Munich, River Plate, Qatar.

Group D: Porto, Manchester United, Juventus, China.

Chew Chan wins silver medal in Asian Championships

PETALING JAYA: Beijing Olympics-bound taekwondo exponent Che Chew Chan was the only Malaysian to get on the rostrum in the Asian Championships in Henan yesterday.

The 25-year-old won the silver medal after losing 1-7 to South Korean An Sae-bom in the final of a four-exponent women's middleweight (below 72kg) competition. Chew Chan had opened accounts with a surprise 5-2 win over China's reigning Olympic champion Luo Wei.

The silver medal-effort by Chew Chan is the best performance by a Malaysian exponent in the biennial championships in recent years.

Having scalped a top ranked opponent who enjoyed home advantage, Chew Chan have put herself in good stead to challenge for a medal in Beijing Games. She earned a debut appearance in the Olympics by winning the Asian qualifiers last December.

The Pontian-born lass was a silver medallist in the World University Games in Bangkok and took gold in the SEA Games last year.

It was not a good outing for another Olympic-bound exponent, Elaine Teo, in the Asian Championships.

Elaine, who also won gold in the Korat SEA Games, suffered a first-round defeat by Su Li-wen of Taiwan in the women's featherweight (below 59kg) category. Li-wen went on to win the competition.

Four other Malaysian exponents also failed to get among the medals.

Injury forced Rusfredy Petrus Tokan to concede a walkover to Athens Olympics gold medallist Chu Mu-yen of Taiwan after he had beaten Mongolian L. Dugree in the first round of the men's flyweight (below 58kg) competition.

The others – Nurul Ashfalina Johari (women's flyweight), Nurul Nadia Mahamat (women's bantamweight) and Ryan Chong (men's flyweight) – failed to clear their first-round hurdles.

Sabrina over the moon after getting Jakarta nod

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Sabrina Chong (pic) is still in a daze over her last-minute inclusion in the team for the Uber Cup Finals.

Sabrina got the nod over Lim Yin Loo as the replacement for Goh Liu Ying, who was ruled out on Monday because of a knee injury.

And Liu Ying's pain is Sabrina's gain. The 21-year-old, who had resigned herself to being a sparring doubles partner in centralised training at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil, will be on the flight to Jakarta in two weeks' time.

“I did not make the team but the chief coach (Yap Kim Hock) called me yesterday and informed me that I am in the squad as one of the doubles players.

“I still do not believe I am going. It is a dream come true to be in the Malaysian team for the Uber Cup Finals,” said the Petaling Jaya-born player from the national back-up squad.

Sabrina forms a doubles combination with Amelia Anscelly and their better results were reaching the Macau Open quarter-finals and Malaysian Satellite Open semi-finals over the past year. She also plays in the mixed doubles, partnering Mohd Razif Abdul Latif.

For the Uber Cup, Sabrina will be listed as the third ranked pair with Woon Khe Wei. The top two Malaysian pairs are Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty and Lim Pek Siah-Ng Hui Lin.

“I have to say thank you to Kim Hock for selecting me. I am also sorry for Liu Ying, who has to miss out on a golden opportunity because of injury,” she said.

Malaysia's strong showing in the qualifying rounds in Vietnam in February where they finished third earned them the fourth seed in the Finals ahead of Indonesia.

China, who have been unbeaten since 1998, are the top seeds followed by Japan and South Korea.

However, it will not be an easy task for the Malaysian women to reach the semi-finals. They have been drawn in Group C with Denmark and New Zealand.

The teams for them to beat in the quarter-finals could be Hong Kong, South Korea or Germany.