Sports Associations Laud RM1 Mln Incentive
KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (BERNAMA) -- "A good and timely move".
This was the general reaction from officials from sports associations to the government's announcement that Olympic-bound athletes would be rewarded RM1 million for each gold they could bring back from the Beijing Games in August.
"It (incentive) will certainly fire up the Malaysian Olympians," National Archery Association of Malaysia (NAM) secretary-general Hamid Hasan told Bernama.
Three national archers -- Muhammad Marbawi Sulaiman, Cheng Chu Sian and Wan Mohd Khalmizan Wan Abd Aziz -- have qualified for the recurve event at the Beijing Games.
Tuesday, apart from the RM1 million reward for the Olympic gold, which Malaysia has never won to date, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also announced incentives of RM300,000 and RM100,000 respectively for each silver and bronze won at the Games apart from a slew of other incentives.
National Shooting Association of Malaysia (NSAM) executive-secretary Major Jasni Shaari said the decision showed the emphasis the government paid to sporting glory.
Malaysian Weightlifting Association secretary Mohd Suhaimi said national Olympians could not have asked for a better reward.
-- BERNAMA
Beijing-Bound Botswana Stars To Rev Up MAAU Pre-Olympics Meet
KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) -- Botswana athletes bound for the Beijing Olympics will be the star attraction during the MAAU Pre-Olympics Athletics Championships on July 4-5 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The Botswana athletes who are here ahead of their trip to Beijing for the Olympics have a strong cast of runners in the men's 200m and 400m.
Malaysia Amateur Athletics Union deputy president Karim Ibrahim said Botswana are among eight countries that have confirmed participation in the meet.
Apart from Botswana, India, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines, Brunei and 2009 SEA Games host Laos have confirmed while Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have yet to do so.
"The Pre-Olympics will be the last avenue for local athletes to try and qualify for the Beijing Olympics and join women's pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu and walker Yuan Yufang plus men's high jumper Lee Hup Wei who have already earned their ticket to the Olympics," Karim told Bernama.
He said among the Botswana athletes, California Molese, will be the one to watch in the men's 400m as he has already qualified for the Olympics with a time of 45.34s which is also his country's national record.
The other prominent names in the squad are Fanuel Kanosi, who has qualified for the men's 200m, with a time of 20.72s, while Obakeng Ngvigwa, who is set to run in both the 200m and 400m had clocked 20.95s and 45.89s, respectively.
"Since July 23 is the final deadline for entries, local athletes like 110m hurdlers -- Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian, Robani Hassan, 400m runners Zaiful Zainal Abidin, Mohd Zafril Zuslaini and 200m hopefuls Mohd Noor Imran and Amran Raj -- must make this meet count," he said.
Rayzam, winner of the SEA Games 110m gold medal in Korat has a personal best of 13.91s, while the qualifying time for the Olympics is 13.72s.
Imran has a time of 21.30s against the qualifying time of 20.82s in the 200m while the qualifying time for 400m is 45.95s but Zaiful's best is 46.42s.
"All states and national athletes will be participating and MAAU hopes by providing a good competition, local athletes will be able to qualify for the Olympics that will be held from Aug 8-24," added Karim.
-- BERNAMA
Kedah Continue Fine Run In Malaysia Cup
KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- Fresh from their FA Cup victory on Saturday, Kedah continued a fine run in the Malaysia Cup Tuesday night, beating Penang 1-0 at the Stadium Negeri in Batu Kawan.
A solitary goal by national striker Mohd Khyril Muhymeen Zambri in the 45th minute was all Kedah needed to collect the three points and positioned themselves in second place behind Johor FC in Group B.
Another match in the group saw Kuala Lumpur collecting full points after beating Sabah 3-2 at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras.
In Group A, Terengganu beat Negeri Sembilan 2-1 at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium through Abdul Manaf Mamat in the 20th minute and Jocian Bento in the 56th, to erase an earlier goal by Negeri Sembilan's S. Kunalan, also in the 20th minute.
At the Shah Alam Stadium, Selangor beat Sarawak 3-1. Frank Seator opened the account for Selangor in the 39th minute followed by Mohd Safee Sali (69th) and Akhmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli in the 90th while Sarawak's only goal was by Saifulaye Camara in the 86th minute.
Meanwhile, Kelantan collected three points after beating Melaka 3-1 at the Stadium Sultan Muhammad IV, in Kota Baharu.
Kelantan's goals came from Mohd Badri Radzi (9th min), Kairul Zal Azmi (50th and Mohd Farisham Ismail (70th) while Kofi Etsiba Shaw scored the only goal for Melaka in the 82nd minute.
UPB-MyTeam dominated Group C after a 2-1 win Tuesday night against Perlis at the Stadium Utama.
Sasa Branezac scored twice for UPB-MyTeam in the 36th and 89th minutes while Philimon Chipeta scored for Perlis in the 72nd minute.
In another matches Pahang drew 2-2 with Perak at the Stadium Darul Makmur and Johor PG beat ATM 3-1 at the Selayang Stadium.
-- BERNAMA
Atlet Botswana Meriahkan Kejohanan Praolimpik MAAU
KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Jun (Bernama) -- Atlet Botswana yang akan menyertai Olimpik Beijing, dijangka menjadi daya tarikan utama pada Kejohanan Olahraga PraOlimpik MAAU pada 4-5 Julai di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil.
Skuad Botswana itu mengandungi ramai pelari hebat bagi acara 200m dan 400m lelaki.
Timbalan Presiden Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (MAAU) Karim Ibrahim berkata Botswana adalah antara lapan negara yang mengesahkan penyertaan pada kejohanan itu.
Selain Botswana, negara yang mengesahkan penyertaan mereka ialah India, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapura, Filipina, Brunei dan Laos, manakala Iran, Korea, Arab Saudi dan Qatar belum berbuat demikian.
"Kejohanan PraOlimpik ini medan terakhir bagi atlet tempatan untuk cuba melayakkan diri ke Olimpik Beijing bagi menyertai atlet lompat bergalah wanita Roslinda Samsu dan pelumba jalan kaki Yuan Yufang serta atlet lompat tinggi lelaki Lee Hup Wei, yang telah menempah tiket ke Olimpik," katanya kepada Bernama.
Beliau berkata dalam kalangan atlet Botswana yang akan menyertai kejohanan itu, California Molese patut diberi perhatian dalam acara 400m lelaki memandangkan atlet ini telah melayakkan diri ke Olimpik Beijing dengan catatan masa 45.34s, yang juga rekod kebangsaan negaranya.
Atlet ternama lain ialah Fanuel Kanosi, yang melayakkan diri bagi acara 200m lelaki dengan masa 20.72s, manakala Obakeng Ngvigwa, yang akan menyertai acara 200m dan 400m, mempunyai catatan masa 20.95s dan 45.89s bagi dua acara itu.
"Oleh kerana 23 Julai merupakan tarikh akhir bagi menghantar penyertaan, maka atlet tempatan seperti atlet lari berhalangan 110m Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian, Robani Hassan, atlet acara 400m Zaiful Zainal Abidin, Mohd Zafril Zuslaini dan atlet yang mempunyai potensi bagi acara 200m iaitu Mohd Noor Imran dan Amran Raj, perlu memanfaatkan sepenuhnya kejohanan ini," kata Karim.
Rayzam, pemenang pingat emas acara 110m pada Sukan SEA Korat, mencatat masa peribadi terbaik of 13.91s, berbanding masa kelayakan Olimpik 13.72s dan Imran mencatat masa 21.30s berbanding masa kelayakan 20.82s bagi acara 200m, manakala masa kelayakan bagi acara 400m ialah 45.95s berbanding masa terbaik Zaiful 46.42s.
"Semua atlet negeri dan kebangsaan akan mengambil bahagian dan MAAU berharap, dengan menganjurkan pertandingan yang baik, atlet tempatan akan dapat melayakkan diri ke Olimpik dari 8 hingga 24 Ogos ini," kata Karim.
-- BERNAMA
Peserta Terengganu Dominasi Pasukan Negara Ke Kejohanan Formula Future Dunia
KUALA TERENGGANU, 25 Jun (Bernama) -- Peserta dari Terengganu mendominasi pasukan negara yang akan bertanding di Kejohanan Formula Future Dunia di Ravenna, Itali dari 18 hingga 20 Julai ini apabila enam daripada 10 pilot yang mewakili negara merupakan anak Terengganu.
Setiausaha Persatuan Sukan Air Terengganu Adlin Massod berkata enam pilot itu dipilih daripada 120 pilot dari 12 negeri yang bertanding dalam sesi pemilihan yang diadakan di Tasik Putrajaya, Putrajaya selama empat hari bermula 19 Jun lalu.
"Pencapaian ini amat membanggakan bagi Persatuan Sukan Air Negeri Terengganu dan untuk Kejohanan Formula Future Dunia di Ravenna, Itali pada 18 hingga 20 Julai ini kita mensasarkan setiap pilot yang dihantar itu dapat menyumbangkan emas," katanya di sini hari ini.
Beliau ditemui selepas majlis penyampaian penajaan pakaian dan sumbangan wang tunai sebanyak RM5,000 kepada enam pilot terbabit di Wisma Darul Iman di sini hari ini.
Sumbangan disampaikan oleh Menteri Besar Terengganu Datuk Ahmad Said kepada peserta yang terlibat iaitu Muhammad Zhareef Amar Mohd Zamri, 9, (Kelas Satu), Muhamed Hanif Ramli, 11 (Kelas Dua), Mohammad Zulhanif Mazlan, 13 dan Nik Daniel Affifudin Nik Kamaruzaman, 12 masing-masing bertanding untuk Kelas Tiga.
Dua lagi perserta dari Terengganu yang layak bertanding dalam kejonan itu ialah Syed Ali Kadzimi Syed Khalid, 17 ,(Kelas Lima) dan peserta tunggal wanita Tengku Hanisah Nur Athirah Tengku Mohd Zainal Abidin Petra, 10, (Kelas Dua).
Adlin berkata, enam pilot terbabit juga akan dihantar untuk melakukan demonstrasi sukan berkenaan di Sukan Olimpik Beijing, Ogos ini.
"Sebagai persiapan untuk menghadapi kejohanan dunia di Itali itu, mereka akan menjalani latihan pusat di Tasik Putrajaya bermula 30 hingga 13 Julai ini di bawah kelolaan Kesatuan Perlumbaan Bot Antarabangsa (UIM) dan H2O Sports Sdn Bhd," katanya.
Di peringkat negeri pula, katanya, latihan intensif diadakan setiap hari pada pukul 4.30 hingga 6.30 petang, dan setiap pagi dan petang hujung minggu tanpa menggangu waktu pembelajaran atlet-atlet terbabit.
Salah seorang pilot, Syed Ali Kadzimi pelajar tingkatan lima Sekolah Menengah Sultan Sulaiman berkata, beliau yakin pasukan negara mampu menyumbang lebih banyak pingat emas dalam kejohanan kali ini.
Sementara Ahmad berkata kerajaan negeri akan menghantar sekumpulan pegawainya ke Kejohanan Formula Future Dunia di Ravenna, Itali nanti dengan diketuai oleh Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Belia dan Sukan negeri, Datuk Abdul Rahin Mohd Said.
Beliau berkata pegawai itu akan meninjau dan mempelajari cara teknologi pembuatan litar yang sesuai untuk pertandingan sukan tersebut kerana kerajaan negeri bercadang untuk mewujudkan sebuah litar khusus buat sukan formula future itu bersebelahan dengan Kompleks Stadium di Gong Badak di sini nanti.
-- BERNAMA
Persatuan Sukan Sambut Baik Insentif RM1 Juta Untuk Pingat Emas Olimpik
KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Jun (BERNAMA) -- Pegawai beberapa persatuan sukan tanah air menyambut baik keputusan kerajaan menawarkan ganjaran kecemerlangan sukan sebanyak RM1 juta kepada atlet yang memenangi pingat emas pada Sukan Olimpik Beijing, Ogos ini dan menganggap ia "satu langkah tepat dan pembakar semangat atlet".
"Keputusan yang dibuat kerajaan adalah tepat kerana bukan mudah bagi seseorang atlet untuk sampai ke Sukan Olimpik kerana mereka terpaksa mengorbankan masa yang lama untuk sampai ke tahap itu," kata Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Memanah Kebangsaan Malaysia (NAAM) Hamid Hasan, yang gembira dengan insentif berkenaan.
Beliau memberitahu Bernama hari Rabu bahawa jumlah pemberian insentif itu mampu menjadi perangsang kepada atlet untuk terus meningkatkan kecemerlangan mereka.
Tiga daripada atlit memanah -- Muhammad Marbawi Sulaiman, Cheng Chu Sian dan Wan Mohd Khalmizan Wan Abd Aziz -- sudah melayakkan diri ke Sukan Olimpik Beijing dalam acara recurve lelaki.
Semalam, Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kabinet Pembangunan Sukan, mengumumkan insentif kemenangan sebanyak RM1 juta kepada pemenang pingat emas dan RM300,000 dan RM100,000, masing-masing untuk pingat perak dan gangsa.
Setiausaha Eksekutif Persatuan Menembak Kebangsaan, Mejar Jasni Shaari menyifatkan keputusan kerajaan itu merupakan tindakan positif yang tepat pada masanya
"Saya percaya bahawa setelah mendengar pengumuman kerajaan ini atlet negara lebih bersemangat untuk menghadapi Sukan Olimpik di Beijing Ogos nanti," katanya.
Jasni berkata keputusan ini turut menggambarkan bahawa kerajaan semakin peka dengan perkembangan sukan di negara ini.
Setiausaha Persekutuan Angkat Berat Malaysia (PABM), Mohd Suhaimi Khamis berkata kenaikan pemberian insentif itu berpatutan sejajar hakikat sekarang.
"Seperti yang diperkatakan oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri, negara jiran kita seperti Singapura dan Thailand juga menawarkan insentif sebanyak S$1 juta untuk atlet mereka yang berjaya meraih pingat emas Sukan Olimpik.
"Adalah berpatutan untuk kita menaikkan ganjaran ini sebagai satu dorongan kepada atlet. Mereka adalah duta kepada negara dan sekiranya mereka mampu meraih sebarang pingat untuk negara ia turut meningkatkan imej negara di persada dunia," katanya.
Suhaimi berkata dengan pemberian insentif itu, atlet negara akan lebih fokus kepada sukan kerana ganjaran yang diperoleh adalah setimpal dan lebih lumayan daripada sebelum ini.
-- BERNAMA
Noraseela's Beijing dream slipping away
NORASEELA Khalid (right) can kiss her Olympic dream goodbye after the hurdler pulled a hamstring again in her aborted comeback from a previous injury at the Asian Grand Prix first leg in Bangkok on Monday.
She last ran the 400m hurdlers in June last year and went to Bangkok to try to beat the Olympic qualifying mark of 56.50 seconds before the injury struck.
Noraseela pulled up after clearing just the first hurdle while clutching her hamstring and with it went any chance she had of making her maiden Olympic appearance.
While the severity of her latest injury is yet to be determined, the nature of a hamstring pull means Noraseela, who holds the national record of 56.02s, is unlikely to recover in time for the July 4-5 Malaysian Pre-Olympic Championships in Bukit Jalil, which is the final meet for national athletes to qualify for Beijing.
"We can't be sure how long she will need to recover but injuries of this kind could mean she may be out for the rest of the year," said National Sports Council's athletics coordinator M. Magendran.
Noraseela's injury problems saw her miss the World Championships in Osaka and the Korat Sea Games last year and she will now have to forego the second and third legs of the Asian GP in Korat today and Hanoi on Monday as well.
Meanwhile, Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian will look to improve on his bronze medal showing in Bangkok when he takes to the lanes for the start of the men's 110m hurdles race in Korat today.
Sabah's Rayzam clocked his 2008 best of 13.95 seconds to finish third on Monday behind China duo Yin Jing (13.70) and Xie Wenjun (13.91) while Robani Hassan finished seventh in 14.13.
Razyzam's time however fell far short of the Beijing Olympic qualification Category B standard of 13.72s.
Zaiful Zainal Abidin will also hope for a far better performance in the men's 400m after running a poor 47.99s in Bangkok despite undergoing a one-month training stint in Bulgaria prior to the meet.
Another athlete bent on making the Olympic cut is M. Vadivellan, who holds the national 1,500m record of 3:45.70 and needs to go under 3:39.00 to book his Beijing ticket.
ASUM questions Aussie invasion
Australian swimmers Eamon Sullivan (left) and Stephanie Rice.
MALAYSIANS will get an early preview of the awesome force of the Beijing-bound Australian aquatic team when they set up base at the national aquatic centre in Bukit Jalil between July 27 and Aug 3.
It is learnt that National Sports Complex wrote to the National Sports Council (NSC) informing it of the Australian swimming team's arrival with head coach Alan Thomson.
The Australian contingent of 45 swimmers, seven assistant coaches, three section managers, two medical doctors and five masseurs and a support team, will have two training sessions a day before they depart for Beijing on Aug 4.
"We only came to know about this arrangement on Monday. We are now trying to find a solution for our swimmers, but definitely this is not the way things should be done especially as the Olympics are around the corner," said Edwin Chong, secretary of the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM).
World 50 metres record holder, Eamon Sullivan, 22, will be in the squad together with other big names like Stephanie Rice, Libby Trickett, Emily Seebohm and 15-year-old diver Sophie Edington, the youngest in the team.
The swimmers will compete in the Telstra Grand Prix 2 meet at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on July 4-6 before heading to Kuala Lumpur.
Timesport tried contacting officials of the National Sports Complex but none were available.
The bottom line, though, is that the priority should have been Malaysians, even if Australia are world class.
RM35 mil forces rethink!
COMPENSATION could cost as much as RM35 million, possibly more, and this indicates there might well be a rethink on the Champions Youth Cup (CYC).
Those familiar with the issue have said this could mean compensating Gifted Group as much as RM35 million and the finding could prompt Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob to ask the FA of Malaysia to reconsider its earlier decision to not sanction the tournament.
Having already disbursed RM14.5 million of the RM17 million Sports Ministry-allocation, Ismail Sabri is now left with what could potentially be more than double the cost.
It is learnt that should Gifted Group, as indicated by chairman Jonathan Price, pursue the issue legally, the odds are in the company's favour.
Compensation will include costs for satellite bookings, television rights and sponsorship deals which had already been signed by Gifted Group.
FAM president Sultan Ahmad Shah has apparently been informed of the findings.
FAM decided against sanctioning the CYC following a decision by Gifted Group to let the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) handle all technical aspects during the tournament.
Matters looked to have been resolved when Price met Sultan Ahmad Shah but the FAM executive committee stood firm a day later in deciding that the association would not sanction the tournament.
The latest development though could well see a rethink, especially as the bill could be even more heftier than initially expected.
Ismail Sabri and FAM officials could not be contacted for details.
Core sports to be performance-based
Sports Ministry assistant director for sports development, Mohsinar Malek (left), presents a certificate of appreciation to Datuk Yahya A. Jalil, managing director of H2O Sports.
THE Cabinet Committee for Sports may have increased the number of core sports from eight to 19 but National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Zolkples Embong has warned that this does not mean unlimited funding.
The original core sports -- aquatics, athletics, badminton, bowling, football, gymnastics, hockey and squash -- will share the initial allocation of RM20 million while the NSC has requested for an additional RM20 million for the 11 who have been upgraded.
Zolkples also warned that associations bogged by internal strife would either be non-starters or dropped if the problems were not solved.
"The inclusion of new sports was inevitable as sports like cycling and archery have shown improvement. So has lawn bowls.
Deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the inclusion of 11 sports into the core sports programme after the Cabinet Committee meeting on Tuesday.
Archery, cycling, lawn bowls, karate, silat, shooting, sepak takraw, taekwondo, sailing, weightlifting and wushu were the new additions.
"Inclusion in the programme is not on a permanent basis. National associations must keep in mind that this will be a performance-based programme and non-performers will be dropped.
"Funding will be based on quarterly performance evaluations and the national rating system will also be taken into consideration.
"I also want to add that sports such as taekwondo where internal problems have not been solved face the risk of being dropped if the infighting doesn't stop."
The Malaysia Taekwondo Association is split into two factions, with one faction having taken the matter to court.
Zolkples added that NSC will also be selective in setting up centres of excellence across the country.
"Previously, we had as many as 800 centres but this won't be the case. We will work with the state sports councils and only districts with excellent programmes will have centres of excellence of their own."
Ministry partnership helps development
OVER 1,000 Formula Future pilots have come through H2O Sports Sdn Bhd's development efforts since 2003, and it's thanks to the co-operation of the Sports Ministry.
H2O Sports managing director Datuk Yahya A. Jalil, who is also vice president of the the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the sport's international governing body, expressed his appreciation for the ministry's assistance in helping to develop Formula Future.
"Besides the energy and thinking put into this effort, they have also contributed financially to ensure the success of this programme. Ministry officials, youth departments and state sports councils have also displayed great commitment," he said.
"We will strive to double our efforts to realise our ambitions and achieve the desired success."
It was also involved in the running of the Formula Future National Selection 2008 at the Botanical Gardens in Putrajaya on June 20-22 where 10 pilots were selected to represent Malaysia at the Formula Future World Championship on July 18-20 in Ravenna, Italy.
The squad: Hadi Irfan Mohamed Rahaizah, Muhammad Zhafree Ammar Mohd Zamry (Class 1), Muhamed Hanif Ramli, Tengku Hanisah Nur Athirah Tengku Mohd Zainal Abidin Petra (Class 2), Nik Daniel Affifudin Nik Kamaruzaman (Class 3), Muhammad Zulhanif Mazlan (Class 3), Mohammad Khairie Asyraf Abd Khalil, Muhammad Faris bin Noor Hamzah (Class 4), Syed Ali Kadzimi Syed Khalid and Muhammad Akmal Kamaludin (Class 5).
Roslinda to revitalise in Europe
AFTER failing to register a mark in her last two competitions, Roslinda Samsu hopes a series of five meets in Europe beginning next week, will put her in the right frame of mind for the Beijing Olympics.
"This trip will involve training and competition which I hope will help improve my performances this year. It will be tough in Beijing as all the top women (pole vaulters) in the world will be there but if I can make the top-12, that would be a tremendous achievement," said Roslinda at a press conference in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday prior to her departure.
Roslinda has only had two successful outings this year when she cleared 4.23m at the Taiwan Invitational Pole Vault competition after taking silver at the Asian Indoor Championships in Doha with a 4.10 effort.
In between, she missed the World Indoor Championships when her poles failed to arrive with her in Valencia, Spain in February while she has yet to get off the mark in the outdoor season after twice failing to set a height at the China Open and Taiwan Open last month.
"At the China Open, it just did not happen for me," added the 2006 Doha Asian Games silver medallist.
Roslinda will hope to make amends when she arrives in Spain where she will compete in international meets in Andorra (Sunday), Salamanca (July 2), Almeria (July 5), Alicante (July 20) and Tenerife (July 28) before returning to Kuala Lumpur on July 31.
"Spain was where I set the national record of 4.40m in 2006 and I hope by returning there I will be able to produce my best again," said Roslinda. -- DEVINDER SINGH
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