Push For Beijing Paralympians To Get Same Incentives As Olympians
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) -- The National Sports Council (NSC) has taken the initiative to enable Malaysian paralympians who will be competing in the Beijing Paralympics in November get the same rewards as their Olympic counterparts if they are able to bring glory to the country.
NSC director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong said a proposal that they get the same rewards as normal athletes who perform well at the Beijing Olympics under the Sports Excellence Reward Scheme (SHAKAM), had been submitted to the Cabinet Committee for Sports Development for consideration.
"A decision on it will be known when the committee, which is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, meets on June 24," he told reporters here Tuesday.
Zolkples said presently the Paralympics did not come under SHAKAM.
If the green light is given, Malaysian paralympians will be richer by RM160,000 by winning a gold at Beijing while for silver and bronze, they will get RM80,000 and RM40,000 respectively.
Zolkples said 13 paralympians qualified for the Beijing Games, which will be held from Sept 6 to 17, but two of them pulled out owing to family and education priorities.
Those going will participate in five types sports involving nine events.
The last time Malaysia won a medal at a Paralympics was in 1992 when P.Mariapan captured a silver in powerlifting.
The Beijing-bound paralympians: Zul Amirul Sidi Abdullah, Yusup Dewa (aquatics), Mohd Salam Sidik, Zulkifli Mat Zin (archery), Mohd Raduan Emeari (athletics), Al Mustakin Matrin, Loke Sin Ying (sailing), P.Mariapan, Cheok Kon Fatt, Siow Lee Chan, Sharifah Raudzah Syed Akil (powerlifting).
-- BERNAMA
Atlet Malaysia Ke Olimpik Beijing Digesa Perbaiki Prestasi, Elak Kecederaan
Oleh Kenny Teng Khoon Hock
KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Mei (Bernama) -- Atlet Malaysia yang terpilih menyertai Sukan Olimpik Beijing Ogos ini dinasihati berusaha meningkatkan prestasi dan mengelakkan diri daripada kecederaan semasa membuat persiapan akhir.
Chef-de-mission Malaysia Datuk Hoh Kok Chye berkata ini kerana mereka yang cedera, menghadapi risiko tidak akan dihantar menyertai sukan itu.
"Saya harap atlet akan terus memperbaiki prestasi masing-masing dan mengelakkan diri daripada kecederaan," katanya ketika ditemui di Bukit Jalil di sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata setakat ini, 32 atlet telah melayakkan diri mewakili Malaysia ke Olimpik Beijing bagi acara akuatik, badminton, lumba basikal, memanah, menembak, olahraga, lumba perahu dan taekwondo.
Katanya, antara sukan yang disertai Malaysia pada sukan itu, badminton memberi harapan paling cerah untuk meraih pingat emas.
"Selain badminton, atlet Malaysia juga mampu memberi saingan hebat dalam acara memanah serta lumba basikal dan oleh itu, saya harap penyertaan mereka pada sukan itu akan membawa hasil," katanya.
Dalam acara badminton, pasangan adik-beradik Razif dan Jalani Sidek memperoleh pingat pertama Olimpik bagi Malaysia apabila mereka memenangi pingat gangsa bagi acara beregu lelaki pada Sukan Olimpik Barcelona 1992.
Cheah Soon Kit dan Yap Kim Hock memperoleh pingat Olimpik kedua bagi Malaysia apabila memenangi pingat perak bagi acara beregu lelaki pada Sukan Olimpik Atlanta 1996, manakala Rashid Sidek menang pingat gangsa bagi acara perseorangan lelaki.
Bagaimanapun, pada sukan Olimpik di Sydney 2000 dan Athens, pemain badminton Malaysia tidak memenangi sebarang pingat.
Acara renang dan badminton mencatat jumlah penyertaan Malaysia paling besar pada Sukan Olimpik Beijing iaitu sembilan, manakala empat bagi acara lumba basikal, tiga olahraga, tiga memanah, dua taekwondo dan masing-masing satu bagi acara menembak dan lumba perahu.
Bryan Nickson Lomas (lelaki platform 10m) mengetuai pasukan terjun, bersama Leong Mun Yee dan Elizabeth Jimie (papan anjal 3m wanita) dan Pandelela Rinong (platform 10m wanita).
Pemain nombor dua dunia Lee Chong Wei mengetuai pasukan badminton negara, yang barisan pemainnya akan diumumkan Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) Jumaat ini.
Pemenang pingat emas Sukan SEA Korat Daniel Bego, Khoo Cai Lin, Siow Yi Ting, Lew Yih Wey dan Leung Chii Lin mengetuai senarai skuad renang Malaysia, manakala barisan pemanah pula dianggotai Cheng Chu Sian, Wan Mohd Khalmizam Wan Abdul Aziz dan Mohd Marbawi Sulaiman.
Pasukan lumba basikal akan diketuai Azizul Hazni Awang (pemenang pingat emas bagi acara keirin dan pecut 200m), Rizal Tisin, (pemenang pingat emas acara ujian masa 1km) dan Fatihah Mustapa (pemenang pingat perak acara ujian masa 500m), di samping pakar keirin Josiah Ng dan Junaidi Nasir.
Atlet taekwondo Elaine Teo dan Che Chew Chan, Roslinda Samsu (lompat bergalah) Yuan Yufang (olahraga), Lee Hup Wei (lompat tinggi), Hazli Izwan Amir Hasan(menembak) dan Kevin Lim (lumba perahu) turut terpilih mewakili Malaysia ke sukan itu.
-- BERNAMA
Kok Chi persoal lesen penganjuran kejohanan CYC
Oleh Lukman Salleh
KETIKA isu pembatalan dan tuntutan semula pembayaran kejohanan bola sepak Piala Juara-Juara Belia (CYC), hangat diperdebatkan, timbul isu baru yang dikaitkan dengan pertandingan kontroversi itu iaitu sama ada promoternya, Gifted Group Limited, pernah mengemukakan permohonan lesen kepada Pesuruhjaya Sukan untuk mengelolakannya.
Ini berdasarkan kepada artikel 36 fasal 1 Akta Pembangunan Sukan 1997, yang menyebut sesuatu syarikat tidak boleh terbabit dalam apa-apa aktiviti sukan atau dalam apa-apa aktiviti lain yang berkaitan dengan sukan, yang ditetapkan Menteri (Belia dan Sukan) dalam peraturan-peraturan, melainkan jika ia dilesenkan untuk berbuat demikian oleh Pesuruhjaya.
Jika Gifted Group, tidak memohon sebarang lesen kepada Pesuruhjaya Sukan - sama ada secara terus kepada Pejabat Pesuruhjaya Sukan ataupun melalui Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) - ketika menganjurkan kejohanan 2007, secara tidak langsung ia sudah melanggar peraturan yang terkandung dalam Akta terbabit.
Tetapi benarkah artikel 36 (1) itu terpakai dalam penganjuran CYC, dan jika ya, pernahkah Pejabat Pesuruhjaya Sukan menerima sebarang permohonan daripada Gifted Group untuk mengelolakan kejohanan ini dan juga sama ada Pejabat itu, yang terletak di bawah Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS), merujuknya kepada FAM untuk mendapatkan persetujuan?
"Bagi saya artikel 36 (1) ini terpakai kepada semua promoter yang ingin menganjurkan atau mengelolakan sebarang kejohanan sukan di Malaysia," kata Setiausaha Kehormat Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM), Datuk Sieh Kok Chi. "Sepatutnya tiada syarikat atau promoter yang dikecualikan daripada Akta ini.
"Artikel 36 (1) itu dengan jelas menyatakan mana-mana syarikat syarikat yang mahu membabitkan diri dalam aktiviti sukan seperti menganjurkan sesuatu kejohanan perlu mendapatkan lesen daripada Pesuruhjaya Sukan.
"Ada dua cara untuk dilakukan iaitu memohon secara terus kepada Pesuruhjaya Sukan ataupun melalui badan induk sukan kebangsaan. Dengan cara ini, hak dan kepentingan badan sukan kebangsaan akan terpelihara dan tidak diketepikan, seperti apa yang berlaku ketika ini.
"Saya tidak tahu sama ada promoter CYC mengemukakan sebarang permohonan kepada Pesuruhjaya Sukan untuk mendapatkan lesen atau tidak, dan jika tidak, maka kejohanan pada 2007 boleh dianggap melanggar peraturan walaupun ia mendapat pengiktirafan FAM," kata Kok Chi.
Menurut Kok Chi, artikel 36 (1) ini, bertujuan melindungi kepentingan badan sukan kebangsaan dengan Pejabat Pesuruhjaya Sukan sudah tentu akan merujuk setiap permohonan kepada mereka dan persatuan kebangsaan boleh memberikan persetujuan atau terbabit secara aktif dalam pengelolaan dan sama sekali tidak dipinggirkan.
Seterusnya, artikel 36 fasal 2, menyebut lesen yang disebut dalam subseksyen (1) boleh dikenakan fee (yuran) dan apa-apa syarat yang difikirkan oleh Pesuruhjaya patut dikenakan.
'Tidak timbul soal pampasan'
Oleh Meor Hisham Zulkifli
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Belum ada pihak yang bersalah dalam kes pembatalan CYC: Yassin
"TIDAK timbul soal pampasan". Itulah pendirian Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bersama Kejohanan Bola Sepak Piala Juara-Juara Belia (CYC), Datuk Mohd Yassin Salleh sambil menekankan, Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) tetap memelihara kepentingan kerajaan dan negara.
Ketika laporan menyatakan kemungkinan KBS terpaksa 'mengeluarkan belanja mahal' dengan andaian lebih RM56 juta terpaksa dileburkan kepada Gifted Group Limited akibat pembatalan CYC, Mohd Yassin menegaskan, andaian sebegitu tidak wajar diketengahkan.
"Perkara ini akan dibawa kepada penasihat perundangan. Malah, KBS berpendapat belum ada pihak yang bersalah dalam hal ini dan ia bermakna tidak timbul soal pampasan atau bayaran," katanya.
Beliau mengulas mengenai pendirian tegas Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) yang tidak berganjak, menolak permohonan mendapatkan pengiktirafan CYC tahun ini, menyaksikan hasrat mengadakan pertandingan itu terkubur.
Ketika ini, KBS masih punya baki RM9 juta - berdasarkan ikatan kontrak dengan Gifted Group Limited - yang perlu dibayar untuk CYC tahun ini. Tempoh kontrak itu pula disahkan hanya berakhir tahun depan, bermakna masih ada kemungkinan jumlah RM17 juta lagi terpaksa dikeluarkan selain jumlah pampasan lain.
Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ismail Sabri, kelmarin menegaskan kerajaan akan mengkaji perkara itu dengan teliti termasuk mendapatkan nasihat Peguam Negara dengan matlamat memastikan sama ada kerajaan berhak mendapat kembali wang pendahuluan RM8 juta yang sudah diberikan kepada Gifted Group pada tahun ini.
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| BEKAS Menteri Belia dan Sukan Datuk Azalina Othman Said (tengah) ketika sidang akhbar mengenai Kejohanan Bola Sepak Piala Juara-Juara Belia (CYC), selepas melancarkannya di Kuala Lumpur, pada bulan Mac yang lalu. Turut hadir (dari kiri) Pengarah Urusan G-14 Thomas Kurth, Setiausaha Kementerian Belia dan Sukan Datuk Mohd Yasin Mod Salleh, Pengerusi Gifted Group Limited yang juga promoter kejohanan Jonathan Price dan Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) Datuk Seri Ibrahim Saad. - Foto Bernama |
Mohd Yassin berkata, antara persoalan utama yang menjadi perhatian adalah menentukan sama ada Gifted Group sudah memenuhi semua syarat kontrak mereka terutama membabitkan isu mendapatkan pengiktirafan menganjurkan kejohanan.
"Sebenarnya dalam kontrak menegaskan kementerian hanya akan membantu mereka mendapatkan pengiktirafan. Ini bermakna, mereka yang sewajarnya mendapatkan pengiktirafan itu kerana KBS hanya membantu dan memberikan sokongan.
"Menjadi tanggungjawab promoter ini untuk memenuhi segala prosedur dan berunding dengan semua pihak yang terbabit termasuk FAM bagi menguruskan segala aspek berkaitan," katanya.
Beliau berkata, mesyuarat jawatankuasa bersama yang dipengerusikan beliau dengan Gifted Group hanya akan berlangsung selepas KBS menerima segala nasihat perundangan termasuk daripada pejabat Peguam Negara.
KOAM mahu seorang lagi atlit ke Beijing
Oleh Azidan Nahar
Yakin ada lagi calon mampu lepasi had kelayakan Sukan Olimpik
TIGA atlit sudah menempah tiket ke Sukan Olimpik Beijing, dan Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) mensasarkan akan ada sekurang-kurangnya tambahan seorang lagi atlit yang mampu layak ke temasya terbesar di dunia itu.
Berbaki hanya dua bulan lagi, empat atlit diharapkan mampu mengiringi Roslinda Samsu (lompat bergalah wanita), Yuan Yufang (20 kilometer jalan kaki) dan Lee Hup Wei (lompat tinggi) yang terlebih awal sudah menempah tiket.
Pengurus Besar KOAM, Aminuddin Mohd Nasir, berkata empat atlit berkenaan kini diberi peluang untuk layak dengan pelbagai kejohanan sudah dirancang untuk mereka mengatasi had kelayakan.
Antara kejohanan itu adalah Grand Prix Asia yang akan dilangsungkan di Bangkok pada 23 Jun, Pusingan 2 di Korat pada 26 Jun dan diikuti Pusingan 3 di Hanoi, Vietnam pada 30 Jun.
Selain itu, medan terakhir untuk semua atlit kebangsaan cuba untuk layak ialah pada kejohanan Pra Olimpik-Kejohanan Olahraga Terbuka Malaysia pada 2-5 Julai ini di Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Bukit Jalil.
"GP Asia adalah kejohanan utama yang kami sasarkan supaya mereka dapat mengatasi had kelayakan ke Olimpik Ogos ini. Selain itu, beberapa atlit kini berada di luar negara seperti Zaiful yang masih berada di Eropah.
"Noraseela juga akan ke Eropah pada 31 Mei ini untuk menyertai latihan dan kejohanan di sana selain lapan lagi atlit kebangsaan baru berlepas untuk menyertai Terbuka Taiwan," katanya.
Aminuddin menjelaskan, KOAM berharap jumlah atlit yang akan layak ke Beijing kali ini akan berganda berbanding hanya dua pada temasya Athens menerusi Nazmizan Mohammad (100m) dan Yufang.
"Kami juga sudah menjemput beberapa negara untuk turut sama pada kejohanan terakhir di Bukit Jalil nanti, kami mahu wujudkan saingan lebih kompetitif supaya semua atlit kebangsaan mampu melepasi sasaran itu," katanya.
Antara nama yang sudah disenaraikan ke GP Asia ialah, Zaiful (400m, 4x400m), M Vadivellan (1500m), Rayzam dan Robani (110m berpagar), Hup Wei (lompat tinggi).
Selain itu, kuartet 4x100m (Mohd Latif Nyat, Danial Azuan Amar Nand, Mohammad Noor Imran Hadi, Zabidi Ahmad, Mohd Zabidi Ghazali, Ariff Naim Jeffry) serta kuartet 4x400m (K Amran Raj, Zaiful, S Thipan, Mohd Zafril Mohd Zuslaini, S Narendran dan S Mathialagan).
Malaysian games / Football: Dollah sees no favourites
Perak’s football players undergoing training at the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu yesterday. Perak will meet Terengganu today in their Group A match. Pic: HAIRUL ANUAR ABD RAHIM.
SELANGOR coach Dollah Salleh believes it is premature to install anyone as the favourite for the football gold medal at the Malaysia Games when play begins today in Kuala Terengganu.
"People think of us as one of the favourites as we have players from the Super League side. The names may make us look good on paper but you must bear in mind that most of them were actually reserves and President's Cup players," Dollah said at the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu training ground in Gong Badak yesterday.
Selangor open their Group D campaign with an evening clash against Kelantan while Kedah, another of the early favourites, meet Sabah in the same group.
Defending champions Terengganu, who are looking to reach the final for the third successive Games, hope to get off to a winning start against Perak in Group A, while Negri Sembilan face Malacca in their quest for gold in Group C.
"We cannot look too far ahead. We must be focused on our first opponents. We've got a tough group, including Kedah, so we have to tread with caution," added Dollah, who also handles the senior side.
The football tournament kicks off two days ahead of the opening ceremony but has already run into trouble.
One football pitch at the Gong Badak Sports Complex is not ready and has forced the re-scheduling of some matches.
Only the final will be held at the main stadium, the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak on June 8, with all other matches being held at the open fields in Gong Badak and the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu.
With the preliminary matches scheduled for the early morning and early evening, the weather, which has been hot and humid in recent days in Kuala Terengganu, could also have a bearing on the matches.
FIXTURES -- Today: Group A: Terengganu v Perak (Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium, 4.45pm); Group B: Kedah v Sabah (Gong Badak Sports Complex Field A, 4.45pm); Selangor v Kelantan (Gong Badak Sports Complex Field B, 4.45pm); Group C: Negri Sembilan v Malacca (Gong Badak Sports Complex Field A, 8am); Perlis v Federal Territories (Gong Badak Sports Complex Field B, 8am); Group D: Brunei v Johor (Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium, 8.45pm); Sarawak v Penang (Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium, 8am).
Gymnastics: Jonathan keen to make an impression
AMID the galaxy of national athletes set to grace the gymnastics events, Sarawak's Jonathan Chien is set to upset the form book at the Malaysia Games in Kuala Terengganu.
The Australia-based gymnast missed the last Games in Kedah after the age limit for gymnastics was lowered but is cautious of his chances this time owing to a shoulder operation he underwent late last year.
"I only returned to training after having surgery on my shoulder seven months ago. It's still very sore so I'm not sure how it will hold up," said Jonathan, who trains and studies in Adelaide, at the Gong Badak Indoor Stadium yesterday.
Sarawak are looking at Jonathan to deliver two medals, including one gold, in any of the apparatus after coming up empty-handed in 2006 but Jonathan is keen to play down expectations.
Malaysian games: Terengganu in rush to get things going
Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium is yet to be dusted down with finishing touches still being put into place.
TERENGGANU is in a frantic race to be ready to host the 12th edition of the Malaysia Games which opens officially in two days.
Many of the venues have not been able to hold test events and will jump straight into action after being completed. For the spectators, finding these venues within the main complex is also difficult as signages have yet to be put up.
Refurbishment works at the State Aquatics Complex also seemed just completed without any sign of having been tested, while the Kuala Terengganu City Council Hockey Stadium next to it was also still undergoing refurbishment.
The signs are that the general elections and the Terengganu Menteri Besar crisis that followed, resulting in Datuk Ahmad Said taking over from Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh two months ago, has taken its toll on the event. Everything is said to have been left hanging with uncertainty over the leader of the state government.
"There's no doubt that we're in a race against time. But the target date is not May 28, but May 31. There won't be any activity in the main stadium until the 31st (of May), which is the opening ceremony and athletics only begins competion on June 4," said Arpin.
Officials stated that signages within the main stadium complex will be up today.
Malaysian games / Fencing: TAFA has point to prove
Kamarul (left) and Tengku Dzulkifli make last-minute checks to the scoring equipment at the Gong Badak Indoor Stadium yesterday.
IF there was a need to identify the spirit of the Malaysia Games in this 12th edition of the biennial event, then it would be about the spreading of the sporting culture, the emergence of facilities in host States and, like what the Terengganu Amateur Fencing Association (TAFA) has gone through, the combination of both which results in the beginning of better things to come.
Within just 14 months after TAFA was formed, it had indentified and produced young fencers, beefed up facilities in the State, got a development programme running and won its first gold medal in an international event. It seemed like a breeze.
Not only that, the association was tasked with preparing the venue and all facilities for the Malaysia Games, something that had never been done in Terengganu before.
"This was made easier thanks to funds made available for the purpose by the Malaysia Games secretariat.
"We set up a protem committee, chaired by Datuk Mohd Rozi Abdul Rahman (Terengganu State executive committee chairman for sports) and got moving," said TAFA development committee chairman Ahmad Kamarul Idrus.
"We brought in some fencers from other States and started to groom our own home-grown talent just for the Malaysia Games."
The State Sports Council was the main backer of the development programme, which also saw them bringing in Indonesian coach Badrul Alam to take charge of the fencers.
"Most of our fencers are based at the Bandar Penawar Sports School right now, but, hopefully, in the future when our own Bukit Nenas Sports School is up and running, they can be based there," said Ahmad Kamarul.
And the programme has seen early success in the Danga Bay International Games in February when the Terengganu women's team epee squad of Che Ku Nur Aida Che Ku Rahim, Nazirah Mohd Adzeman and Nor Fazlin Atan bagged the gold medal, beating other teams from around South East Asia.
Terengganu also bagged two silver and two bronze medals in that Games.
"We're happy to say that in such a short time, we've managed to put up a full squad to compete in all 12 events at the Malaysia Games.
"We have targeted one gold medal from the women's team epee which would be the icing on the cake for all the hard work and the great support from the Terengganu Sports Council," said Ahmad Kamarul.
MALAYSIAN SCHOOLS SPORTS COUNCIL ROUND-UP
ALIF Ihsan Din of Kedah knocked a total of 769 pinfalls to win the Boys' Under-15 singles title at the Malaysian Schools tenpin bowling championship at the Ampang Bowl in Ipoh yesterday.
Nazira Nasir clinched Pahang their first gold medal when she won the Girls' Under-15 title with a 1107 score.
Lim Hsu Zen of Negri Sembian (1094) was second and a close third was Perak's Nor Syazana Mohamed Rosli with a 1084 score.
RESULTS -- Boys' Under-12 Singles: 1 Ahmad Aidil Abdul Halim (KL) 1409, 2 Muhammad Rafiq Ismail (Sel) 1387, 3 Abang Azlan Yunus (Sar) 1320); Doubles: 1 Jasun Syow-Muhammad Hareez Ismail (Mal) 1335, 2 Rafiq-Muhammad Hafiz (Sel) 1331, 3 Wan Nadzmi-Emir Azim (Sel) 1275.
Girls' Under-12 singles: 1 Natasha Roslan (Sel) 1399, 2 Noor Afiqah Halim (Pah) 1348, 3 Stefira Greater ((Sab) 1345; Doubles: 1 Natasha-Noor Syariah (Sel) 1403, 2 Afiqah-Faten Majiah (Pah) 1357, 3 Nur Saidatul Azmi-Siti Nur Ismail (KL) 1319.
Under-15 singles: 1 Nazira Nasir (Pah) 1107, 2 Lim Hsu Zen (NS) 1094, 3 Nor Syazina Rosli (Pk) 1084. -- R.G. RAJ
l DEFENDING champions Sarawak finished top of Group A and moved into the quarter-finals of the Boys' Under-18 Malaysian Schools volleyball competition at the Indera Mulia Stadium in Ipoh yesterday.
Sarawak won both their matches yesterday with identical 3-0 wins over Sabah and Terengganu. Sabah went on to beat Terengganu 3-0 to also make the last eight.
Penang and Negri Sembilan are also poised to make the quarter-finals after both teams beat Selangor by 3-0 margins yesterday morning.
They will now play each other to decide who tops Group B.
Johor won all their matches in Group C matches to advance while Kelantan or Pahang will join them in the last eight.
In Group D Perak are virtually through leaving Kuala Lumpur and Malacca to fight for the second place.
In the Girls' Under-18 category Sarawak and Penang are through to the last eight from Group A.
RESULTS -- Boys' Under-12: Malacca 2 Penang 0, Sabah 2 Kuala Lumpur 0, Pahang 2 Selangor 0, Perak 2 Negri Sembilan 1, Sarawak 2 Kedah 0, Kelantan 2 Labuan 0, Johor 2 Malacca 0.
Under-18: Johor 3 Perlis 0, Penang 3 Selangor 0, Sarawak 3 Terengganu 0, Johor 3 Kelantan 0, Sarawak 3 Sabah 0, Kuala Lumpur 3 Kedah 0.
Girls' Under-12: Perak 2 Perlis 0, Johor 2 Pahang 0, Johor 2 Malacca 0, Negri Sembilan 2 Sabah 0.
Under-18: Malacca 3 Selangor 0, Johor 3 Kelantan 0, Sarawak 3 Perlis 0, Malacca 3 Kedah 1, Sarawak 3 Penang 0, Terengganu 3 Sabah 0. -- R.G. RAJ
l PERAK, the defending champions, were first into the quarter-finals after two days of competition in the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Boys' Under-18 tennis team competition.
Perak, who beat Penang 2-1 on the opening day, edged Selangor, also 2-1, at the Universiti Sains Malaysia Tennis Complex in Minden, Penang yesterday.
In Girls' Under-18 play, defending champions Sarawak also made it to the last eight after beating Perlis 2-1 at the Chinese Recreation Club Tennis Complex in George Town. -- K. KANDIAH
l DEFENDING champions Kelantan Schools Sports Council (SSC) and Kuala Lumpur SSC qualified for the quarter-finals from Group A in the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Boys' Under-12 hockey competition.
Both teams are on equal points after a win and a draw at the Universiti Sains Malaysia Stadium in Minden yesterday.
Hosts Penang also made it to the last eight together with Terengganu from Group C.
In their final group match yesterday Penang beat Sarawak 3-0.
The other quarter-finalists from Group B are Perak and Johor, while Malacca and Selangor advance from Group D.
RESULTS -- Boys' Group A: Kelantan 5 Pahang 0; Group B: Johor 2 Kedah 1; Perak 2 Putrajaya 0; Group C: Penang 3 Sarawak 0; Terengganu 2 Perlis 0; Group D: Sabah 0 Selangor 0; Malacca 6 Negri Sembilan 0.
Girls' Group A: Terengganu 5 Perlis 0; Group B: Johor 3 Selangor 2; Group C: Malacca 2 Pahang 2, Perak 3 Sabah 0; Group D: Kuala Lumpur 2 Negri Sembilan 0, Kelantan 1 Sarawak 0.
Nursheena gunning for a personal best in the hurdles
KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor hurdler Raja Nursheena Raja Azhar (pic) is not satisfied with her gold medal-winning performance in the SEA junior athletics championships in Phuket on Saturday.
The 17-year-old Kajang lass clocked 14.94 in the 100m hurdles and it was way off her personal best of 14.54, which she set in the national junior championships in Kangar last September.
Nursheena, who trains under former Olympian Ishtiaq Mobarak, said that her target in Sukma in Kuala Terengganu was to improve on her personal best.
“I have been training hard under coach Ishtiaq for two years now and I want to keep on improving on my timing every year. I want to win my first Sukma gold medal and I will go all out to beat (national hurdler) Azizah Ibrahim (of Terengganu),'' she said.
Nursheena made her Sukma debut in Alor Star in 2006 but did not compete in the 100m hurdles. She took part in the 200m and finished fifth.
Early last month, Nursheena competed in the Islamic women's athletics championships in Jordan and upstaged senior hurdlers to win the gold in 15.00.
Two weeks later, she retained the national schools Sports (MSSM) Under-18 gold medal with a time of 14.81. Last year, Nursheena was the MSSM 400m hurdles gold medallists.
“Since returning from Phuket, I have been focusing more on my techniques in clearing hurdles and on speed. I have promised my coach that I will improve on my time in Sukma,'' said Nursheena, who bagged the silver medal in the Asean schools championships in Jakarta last August.
Nursheena, who will also be competing in the 400m hurdles, said that besides Azizah, she has to be wary of the challenge from Ishtiaq's daughter, Shaniz.
Hui Lin aims to make up for two forgettable outings in Sukma
PETALING JAYA: National shuttler Ng Hui Lin limped out of Sukma in Kedah two years ago with a torn ligament.
This time in Terengganu, Hui Lin will be teaming up with younger sister Hui Ern to make her third outing in the Games for Selangor a memorable one.
The badminton competitions will be played at the Berlian Utama Hall in Kemaman from June 1-8.
Besides Hui Lin, Selangor have two other national players in their girls team – fellow Uber Cuppers Sabrina Chong and Woon Khe Wei. The others are Yang Lilian, Yap Harn Xin, S. Premalatha and Kwan Suk Lee. All the players except for Lilian have competed in previous Games.
The 17-year-old Hui Lin, who has shown great improvement in her game since training with the elite squad under the charge of Rexy Mainaky this year, is determined to make an impact in the Games.
At the recent Uber Cup Finals in Jakarta, she gave creditable performances partnering seasoned campaigner Lim Pek Siah.
“I don't have anything good to remember from the previous two outings in Sukma. I did not fare well in my debut in Seremban,” said Hui Lin.
“It was worse in Alor Star. I tore a ligament and had to pull out of the competition. It was a painful episode. I had to go for surgery and was out for six months. I am glad that my badminton career is back on the right track again. I want to give my best and hope to win a gold medal for Selangor.”
Hui Lin is relishing the prospect of playing together with her younger sister.
“We have a strong team this time. My sister also did well recently in the doubles event. She has beaten several top players (at the national schools championships) and that will be the extra motivation for her in Sukma.”
The other states with the ability to spoil the party for Selangor are Penang, powered by Tee Jing Yee; Malacca, led by Julia Wong; and Kuala Lumpur, headed by Lydia Cheah.
A total of seven gold medals are at stake and Selangor are aiming to nail three of them.
National players can only feature in two events – one individual and the team competition.
In the men's competitions, Selangor have Sharizal Latif, Shawal Ismail, S. Naresh, Zulfadli Zulkifli, Chong Zhen Wei, Chang Jian Shiang, Haqim Ayub and Rumli Ali in their ranks.
Hup Wei owes it to his late dad for soaring to greater heights
KUALA LUMPUR: High jumper Lee Hup Wei has dedicated his national record and a place in the Beijing Olympics to his late father.
Hup Wei soared over 2.27m to win the gold medal at the China Open in Beijing on Sunday and the effort broke the 13-year-old national record of 2.24m, set by Loo Kum Zee in the Chiang Mai SEA Games in 1995. It also met the qualifying mark for the Beijing Games in August.
The Selangor athlete said in a telephone interview from Taiwan yesterday that it was also the dream of his father, Lai Yap, that he did well in athletics and made it to the Olympics.
“I have fulfilled his dream but I am sad that he would not get to see me compete in the Olympics. He died of cancer in February last year,'' he said.
The 21-year-old Hup Wei, who has three sisters, added that his father was the sole breadwinner and there was financial burden on them after he died.
“But I continued to train hard under the circumstances and I am delighted to have broken the national record and qualify for the Olympics.
“I have to thank Cuban coach Antonio (Yznaga Ibar) for helping me make tremendous progress since the beginning of last year,'' he said.
Under the guidance of Ibar, Hup Wei recorded 2.24m to win the Asian Track and Field (ATF) championships gold medal in Jordan last July.
He went on to win the SEA Games gold medal in Korat last December with a height of 2.19m.
A hamstring injury suffered at the Korat Games put him out of action for four months. He made a return to competition in the Thai Open last month and managed 2.05m for sixth place.
Hup Wei said that he would continue to train hard to improve on the national record at the Olympics.
“I am not setting any target for my next assignment at the Taiwan Open, starting on Thursday,” he said.
Hup Wei will also compete in three Asian Grand Prix next month – in Bangkok (June 23), Korat (June 26) and Hanoi (June 30)Sarawak out to end Selangor’s 12-year domination
PETALING JAYA: Sarawak have in their Sukma contingent several prominent national athletes and they are looking at ending Selangor's 12-year domination at the 12th edition of the biennial Games in Terengganu.
Selangor have topped the standings since 1996 when they ended Sarawak's reign. Sarawak were the champions for three consecutive editions since 1990 when they were the hosts.
The champions of the Games in Terengganu will be decided by the gold medal count instead of points as in previous editions. Sarawak finished second in the standings at the last Games in Kedah and they had a medal haul of 36-42-55. Selangor had a tally of 53-44-56.
The Games in Terengganu are offering 404 gold medals, Sarawak have a contingent of 605 athletes and they will compete in 29 of the 31 sports in the programme.
The Sarawakians, who will not be represented in equestrian and petanque, are strong in athletics and aquatics – the two sports offering many gold medals. There are 45 gold medals at stake in athletics while aquatics offer 48 (38 in swimming and 10 in diving).
A national athlete can compete in a maximum of two individual event and Sarawak have Beijing Olympics-bound Daniel Bego to get gold medals in the men's 200m freestyle and 200m butterfly races. And his presence should help Sarawak challenge strongly for three relay gold medals.
In the women's swimming competitions, Sarawak can bank on two promising youngsters – Erika Kong and Hii Siew Siew in the breaststroke races and 200m butterfly respectively.
Sarawak have in their ranks Beijing-bound diver Bryan Nickson. They also have Elizabeth Jimie and Pandelela Rinong and are odds on favourites to grab the lion's share of the gold medals at stake.
Wushu offers 20 gold medals and this is another sport where Sarawak will be banking on to add to the golden count.
Leading their charge are World Championships silver medallist and Korat SEA Games champion Diana Bong and Loh Jack Chang, who took silver in the Asian Championships in Macau last week.
Sarawak earned four gold medals in Alor Star two years ago but their wushu chief coach James Ting said they were hopeful of a much better haul in Terengganu.
“While the competition now is equally spread out because most of the other states also have Chinese coaches, we will be happy if we can secure a repeat of our performance in 2004 in Kedah where we took home seven gold medals,” he said.
Sarawak athletes have traditionally excelled in field events of the athletics programme and this is expected to continue in Kuala Terengganu while national paddler Chai Kian Beng will lead their charge to extend domination in table tennis.
Other national athletes expected to shine are recurve archer Noor Aziera Taip and golfer Michelle Ting.
Sarawak also have national triathlete and two-time SEA Games champion Kimbeley Yap to help their cause and she will also compete in the women's road cycling time trial.
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