Kedah Team Members Get RM350,000 Windfall
ALOR STAR, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- The officials and players of the Kedah team will receive rewards totalling RM350,000 on Friday for successfully defending the FA Cup title this season.
FA of Kedah president Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said the incentive was being given earlier to further motivate the team when they take on Selangor in the Malaysia Cup final at the National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
He said the official and players will receive their rewards at a special dinner to be held at the hotel they would be staying Kuala Lumpur.
"More is in store for them if they win the Malaysia Cup as well," he told reporters here Wednesday.
-- BERNAMA
Chong Wei Pays Tribute To Coach Misbun For Success
BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- Lee Chong Wei, who bagged the badminton men's singles silver at the Beijing Olympics, said he was indebted to Misbun Sidek for the sacrifices the coach put to help him rise to be a top player in the world."He (Misbun) sacrificed a lot for me and was with me in Beijing even though his wife was hospitalised when the Olympics got underway," he told reporters at the reception to celebrate his win in Beijing at the Berapit Badminton Hall here Wednesday night.
Chong Wei, 26, who will soon be awarded with a "Datuk" title, said was always by his side to support him no matter how tired he was.
At the function, the Penang-born player and currently ranked World No 2, received a cash reward of RM300,000 from the government for the Olympic feat. The government is also rewarding in a monthly pension of RM3,000 from Sept 1 for the success.
Although, he lost to Lin Dan of China in the final, Chong Wei created history by becoming the first Malaysian men's singles player to reach the final in an Olympics.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who was also present, said Chong Wei was a role model for Malaysians and hoped many more Malaysian athletes would follow in his footsteps.
-- BERNAMA
Malaysia's Pandelela Placed 27th In Women's Platform Dive
By Tham Choy Lin
BEIJING, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- Young Pandelela Rinong, out to gain experience, was a bundle of nerves in making her Olympics debut in the women's 10m platform and finished 27th out of 29 contestants with 249.20 points.
The Malaysian, the youngest on the platform, got off to a wobbly start with a low of 36.45 points and was placed 29th after the first dive.
She recovered six rungs to 23th in her second dive with 53.65 points and in her third -- despite posting her best show of the night with 67.50 from a forward three an a half somersault -- she slid to 26th spot.
By the fourth she was in 25th place after marking 57.60s. In the fifth and last jump of the qualifying round, a nervous Pandelela could not hold herself together as she flailed into the waters with her worst of 34 points.
Behind the Malaysian were Natalia Goncharova of Russia who had 240.45 points and Annett Gamm of France with 234.20.
China's Chen Ruolin stunned with a 96.90 in the fifth round with a back two and one half somersault with one and a half twists to lead the field of 18 into the semifinals with a total of 428.80 points.
China have already grabbed six golds from the diving board and are tipped to wrest both the men's and women's 10m platform for a clean sweep.
Malaysia's platform ace, Bryan Nickson Lomas, hits the dive board on Friday, with hopes of making the last 18 to qualify for the semifinal.
He was placed 19th in Athens and was ranked seventh in the World Diving Championships last year.
-- BERNAMA
Poom In The Lead, With Chan Closing In
By Dan Guen ChinJOHOR BAHARU, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- Chan Tuck Soon kept Malaysia in the hunt as the 100 Plus Malaysian Junior Golf Open at the Palm Resort Golf and Country Club enters its final round Thursday.
He shot a two under 70 in the second round Wednesday to give him a two-day total of 147, five strokes adrift of the leader Poom Saksansin of Thailand who soared with an eagle and six birdies.
Poom's four under 68 Wednesday, helped by an eagle on the par 4 17th hole and add that to his 74 on the opening day, the Thai teenager is now on a two-round total of 142 for the outright lead.
But for Poom, the celebration had begun as his two-day contribution, together with that of his teammate, Paveenuch Srtitrakul, for a two-day total of 298 was just enough for Thailand to win the Mixed Team title on a countback from Hong Kong with Steven Lam and Tiffany Chan in their line-up.
Both teams ended with an identical score but it was Poom's 68 today which made all the difference with Malaysia, comprising Gavin Green and Sharon Lau finishing third on 312.
"I guess I was lucky to score an eagle and it got me all excited, so much so that when I teed off at the 18th, I was trembling and in the end, I ended up with a bogey," said Poom who was a member of the Thai team which won the Asean Junior Invitational team gold in Kuala Lumpur, early in the year.
For Tuck Soon, Malaysia's best finisher for the day with a two under 70 including six birdies, still harbours hopes of a final round fightback.
"Five strokes seem a lot but in golf, you can never tell. It was a good day for me. Everything went well and I hope it will be same tomorrow."
Overnight leader South Korea's Kim Dong Hyun who went into day's play on a 73, came back with a 74 to end up joint second, alongside Tuck Soon.
Lying fourth is Thailand's Jirapat Pattaranavik on a two round total of 148 and Hong Kong's Steven Lam, one stroke adrift on 149.
In the girl's Open, Hong Kong's Tiffany Chan is on top of the leaderboard on a two-day total of 149 with India's Shamilla Nicolet, two strokes adrift on 151 to cling onto to second place.
Singapore's Kristle Koh is third on 153, with Malaysia's Isza Fariza Ismail, joint fourth on 156, together with Pavvenuch Sritrakul of Thailand and Malaysia's Jaqueline Lau.
Scores - Boys: 2nd rd- 142- Poom Saksansin (Thai) 74-68; 147-Chan Tuck Soon(MAS) 77-70, Kim Dong Hyun (Kor) 73-74; 148- Jirapat Pattaranavik (Tha) 73-75; 149- Steven Lam (HK) 74-75;151- S.Chikkarngappa (Ind) 77-74, Muhd Wafiyuddin Manaf (MAS) 76-75, Kenneth De Silva (MAS) 75-76, Mohd Iylia Jamil(MAS) 74-77.
Girls- 149- Tiffany Chan (HK); 151- Shamila Nicolet (Ind) 79-72; 153-Kristle Koh (Sin) 78-75; 156- Isza Fariza Ismail (MAS)-81-75, Pavenuch Sritrakul (Tha) 80-76, Jaqueline Lau (MAS) 80-76.
-- BERNAMA
Inaugural Beach Soccer: Acid Test For National Squad
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- The inaugural beach soccer tournament, Raja Muda Johor Cup, which will kick off on Aug 26 in Desaru, Johor, will be the 'acid test' for the Malaysian squad as national coach Ismail Zakaria prepares them for the Asian Beach Games in Bali in October.
The 47-year-old Selangor-born said the five-day tournament which is held in conjunction with the Merdeka celebrations, would enable him to gauge the strength of his players.
"Most of the players were picked at random from the various state teams in the last three weeks. As such, we cannot expect too much from these players. It is more of an exposure for the players," said Ismail, who was Selangors futsal coach from 2002-2004.
Currently, 15 players are undergoing training in Morib, Selangor and Ismail and his assistant Rusdi Suparman, 33, will finalise the 10-man squad by this Friday.
Besides Malaysia, the Raja Muda Johor Cup tournament has attracted nine other teams, including Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Brunei, Timur Leste, Oman and the Philippines.
Tournament organising chairman Hardev Pannu said the beach soccer pitch, measuring 37m by 28m, was being constructed on an unused tennis court at the Desaru Golden Beach Hotel.
"The pitch is being laid according to strict international standards to ensure the surface is free of pebbles and shells," said Pannu, adding that 480 cubic metres of sand equivalent to 32 truck loads were deposited onto the court.
On the format, Hardev said that five teams were divided into two groups in the preliminary round of the round-robin system and the top two teams from each group would qualify for the semi-final stage.
Champions will receive RM28,000 (US$8,000), while runners-up and third placed teams will walk away with RM17,550 (US$5,000) and RM10,530 (US$3,000), respectively.
Malaysia's Beach Soccer Squad:
Coach: Ismail Zakaria and Assistant Coach: Rusdi Suparman.
Players: Zulkifli Che Zainol, Sufian Ngah, Mohd Zulkanain Zakaria, Mohd Abdul Kadir, Ilias Murat, Wan Adremy Indra Wan Adnan, Mazlan Suid, Mohd Shukri Mohd Razali, Abdullah Mohd Noor, Khairul Azizi Norwawi, Mohd Hamidi Mohd Alias, Mohd Mustafli Mustaffa, Mohd Roziri Ahmad, Zulhairi Shubri, and Abdul Hadi Tahir.
-- BERNAMA
Taekwondo Girls In Final Kick For Medals
By Tham Choy LinBEIJING, Aug 20 (Bernama) - They passed each other at the weighing-in Wednesday but no words were exchanged.
Surprise could play the decider when Malaysia's Elaine Teo faces former European number one Azizi Tanrikulu of Turkey in their opening bout of the Olympics taekwondo below 57kg class Thursday.
Teo and teammate, Che Chew Chan, are Malaysia's last chance of a medal in the Games after shuttler Lee Chong Wei returned with the men's singles silver medal.
Che is in the above 67kg contest that will be determined on Saturday, also at the Beijing Science and Technology University gymnasium.
Teo is shorter and lighter than her Turkish opponent but she is counting on the fact that neither knows much of the other.
"We don't know each other, so there may be a surprise. Much will depend on tomorrow... if my feeling is good, everything will be good," said Teo who made her debut in the Athens Olympics in the light flyweight category of below 49kg and exited after the first round.
A mistake in her entry for the Asian qualifying tournament marked her for the higher class and since the SEA Games in December, the 27-year-old who is ranked fifth in Asia has had to pile on four more kilogrammes to tip the scales at 54kg.
Putting on weight was the easy part, turning the extra into muscle meant more weight training, she said.
Tanrikulu, younger by five years, was fifth in the European Championships this year. She stands at 1.72m, as compared to her 1.65m Malaysian rival and weighs closer to 57kg.
Melaka-born Teo said Athens had been a good experience.
"I can control my feelings better, and better handle tension and nervousness. I am not thinking ahead but one bout at a time," she said.
If she wins, she will move into a quarterfinals bout against Diana Lopez of the United States or Chonnapas Premwaew of Thailand.
Lopez was the 2005 featherweight world champion and number three in the same tournament last year. The Thai girl was number two in the Asian championships, two years ago.
-- BERNAMA
Gelaran Datuk iringi RM300,000
Oleh Tuty Haryanti Ahmad Rodzi dan Norakmah Mat Youb
bharian.com.my
 TIMBALAN Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menyampaikan cek berjumlah RM300,000 kepada Lee Chong Wei yang memenangi pingat perak dalam pertandingan badminton Olimpik Beijing,sambil diperhatikan Datuk Ismail Sabri, Datuk Liow Tiong Lay dan calon BN Permatang Pauh, Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah (kanan) di sini, semalam. - Foto Rahim Rahmat |
Chong Wei terkejut besar dapat pengiktirafan Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang
TIDAK terlintas dalam kotak fikiran Lee Chong Wei bahawa dia akan menerima gelaran Datuk selepas berjaya menyumbang pingat perak untuk kontinjen Malaysia dalam acara badminton Sukan Olimpik, baru-baru ini.
Tetapi, ia adalah satu hakikat kini apabila jaguh perseorangan negara itu bakal menerima anugerah Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN) daripada kerajaan Pulau Pinang itu pada 30 Ogos ini sebagai pengiktirafan ke atas keringatnya di temasya terbesar dunia itu.
Dalam sesi temuramah di sidang video bersama Chong Wei di Kuala Lumpur, semalam, jagoan negara itu menyuarakan rasa amat terkejut dengan segala usaha dilakukan kerajaan di atas kejayaan dilakarnya di Beijing, baru-baru ini.
Namun, dia berkata perkara yang lebih bermakna lagi selepas berjaya mengharumkan nama negara adalah apabila diberi gelaran Datuk oleh kerajaan negeri.
"Secara jujur saya memang terkejut sangat. Saya diberitahu mengenai perkara ini oleh abang saya (Lee Choong Hoon). Pada mulanya saya ingat dia hanya mahu bermain-main dengan saya" katanya yang gembira dan berterima kasih kepada kerajaan negeri kerana memberikan gelaran itu.
Chong Wei berkata dia berjanji akan terus berusaha untuk mengharumkan nama negara dalam sukan badminton dalam setiap kejohanan yang disertainya nanti.
Jaguh badminton menerima ganjaran RM300,000 daripada Kerajaan Pusat, semalam di atas kejayaannya. Dia juga memperoleh pencen RM3,000 sebulan sepanjang hayat berkuatkuasa bulan depan.
Dalam perlawanan akhir perseorangan lelaki, Chong Wei yang diramal akan memberi saingan sengit jelas meleset apabila tewas kepada pemain China dan nombor satu dunia, Lin Dan.
Terdahulu, Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Lim Guan Eng mengumumkan anugerah berkenaan kepada pemain itu di Bukit Mertajam, pagi semalam.
Menteri Belia dan Sukan Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob pula berkata dengan pelbagai pengiktirafan kepada ahli sukan, atlit muda akan mendapat semangat untuk terus mencapai kecemerlangan di peringkat paling tinggi.
Setiausaha Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM), P Ganga Rao berkata persatuan itu berbangga dengan apa yang dicapai oleh Chong Wei.
"Chong Wei adalah satu-satunya pemain badminton yang mendapat gelaran Datuk ketika masih aktif. Dia layak mendapatnya," katanya.
Katanya BAM juga akan memberi ganjaran kepada pemain itu.
Badminton adalah sukan tunggal yang menyumbang pingat kepada negara di Sukan Olimpik sejak 1992 kejayaan Razif-Jalani Sidek memenangi pingat gangsa di Barcelona. Rashid Sidek juga meraih gangsa pada Sukan Olimpik Atlanta 1996 manakala gandingan Yap Kim Hock-Cheah Soon Kit mendapat perak pada temasya yang sama.
Pandalela tercicir
Daripada Norbakti Alias di Beijing
norbakti@nstp.com.my
249.20 mata sekadar singgah di tangga ke-27
KEGUGUPAN pada penampilan sulung di pentas Sukan Olimpik jelas ketara pada Pandalela Rinong yang gagal melayakkan diri ke separuh akhir acara 10 meter platform wanita di Pusat Akuatik Nasional, malam tadi.
Catatannya pada 249.20 mata sekadar cukup untuk berada di tangga 27 daripada 29 peserta yang beraksi di peringkat kelayakan pada ketika hanya 18 atlit saja layak ke pusingan seterusnya.
Pandalela, pemenang emas acara 10m seirama bersama Cheong Jun Hoong di Sukan Sea Korat, jelas gugup pada terjunan pertama dengan gaya reverse 2 1/2 somersault, apabila sekadar mencatat 36.45 mata, untuk berada di tangga terakhir.
Gadis Bidayuh berusia 15 tahun itu kemudian tampil lebih yakin dengan gaya back 2 1/2 somersault pada terjunan kedua untuk mencatat 53.65, bagi melonjakkan kedudukannya kepada 23.
Pandalela atau lebih senang dikenali dengan Lela, kemudian menghidupkan peluang mencari tiket ke separuh akhir apabila melonjak ke tangga ke-12 pada terjunan ketiga gaya forward 3 1/2 somersault apabila mengutip 67.50 mata � kutipan tertinggi selepas tiga daripada lima terjunannya.
Namun kedudukan Pandalela turun sedikit selepas terjunan keempat dengan gaya inward 3 1/2 somersault apabila sekadar mengutip 57.60 mata untuknya berada di posisi ke-18.
Segala sisa harapan Pandalela mencipta sejarah atlit pertama terjun negara ke separuh akhir, berakhir apabila terjunan kelima dengan gaya back 2 1/2 somersault 1 1/2 twist hanya mengutip 34 mata, catatan terendahnya malam tadi.
Kini, hanya tinggal Bryan Nickson Lomas yang tinggal untuk mendukung cabaran negara dalam acara terjun apabila dia turun ke gelanggang dalam acara 10m platform lelaki, esok.
Yufang diharap mampu menyinar
Daripada Norbakti Alias dari Beijing
norbakti@nstp.com.my
Sasar pecah rekod kebangsaan sambil perbaiki pencapaian di Olimpik
TANPA ada tekanan, peserta lumba jalan kaki 20 kilometer wanita negara, Yuan Yufang diharap mampu memecahkan rekod kebangsaan sambil memperbaiki pencapaiannya di Sukan Olimpik.
Pengurus pasukan olahraga negara, Datuk Tham Sieu Khai berkata, itu adalah sasaran terbaik buat atlit kelahiran China itu yang mara ke temasya sukan paling besar ini secara merit selepas melepasi had kelayakan 1 jam 32 minit 48.
Rekod kebangsaan acara itu adalah pada 1:32.25s yang dilakukan Yufang pada 2001.
"Yufang sudah bekerja keras sepanjang persediaannya menghadapi Sukan Olimpik ini termasuk sejak tiba di Beijing.
"Jika segalanya berjalan lancar, saya harap Yufang dapat melakukan sesuatu khususnya untuk mengatasi rekod kebangsaannya sendiri," kata Tham.
Ini adalah penampilan ketiga Yufang dalam Sukan Olimpik. Pada edisi 2000 di Sydney dia mendapat tempat ke-15 dan di Athens, empat tahun lalu dia sekadar berada pada posisi ke-35. Di Beijing, dia akan bersaing dengan 47 peserta lain bagi cuba mengatasi pencapaian lebih baik.
Anderson calon pilihan Piala Super
WAKIL Perak, SMK Anderson kini menjadi calon pilihan untuk menjuarai Kejohanan Sekolah-Sekolah Piala Super 100PLUS selepas membelasah Melaka 4-0 di peringkat suku akhir di Padang Victoria Institution, semalam.
Dalam satu lagi pertarungan suku akhir, SMK Sri Gading dari Johor meneruskan kemaraan apabila menyingkirkan wakil Pahang, SMK Beserah 5-3 menerusi sepakan penalti penentuan selepas terikat tanpa jaringan.
Begitupun, Sri Gading yang menundukkan pasukan pilihan SMK Guar Perahu dari Pulau Pinang 4-0 dalam saingan peringkat kumpulan kelmarin, berdepan tugas sukar di peringkat separuh akhir apabila bertemu Anderson.
SMK Putera dari Kelantan pula mengatasi wakil Terengganu, SMK Bukit Nenas 2-1 untuk memenuhi slot terakhir empat pasukan semifinalis.
Lawan SMK Putera nanti ialah wakil Selangor, SMK Seksyen 11 Shah Alam yang menyingkirkan wakil Kedah, SMK Kuala Nerang 1-0 di saingan suku akhir semalam.
Perlawanan separuh akhir yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada sebelah petang semalam, terpaksa ditunda berikutan hujan lebat sebaik aksi babak kedua disambung.
Sehubungan itu, perlawanan separuh akhir akan diadakan pada sebelah pagi hari ini manakala penentuan tempat ketiga dan keempat diadakan pada jam 3 petang manakala perlawanan akhir menyusul sejam kemudian.
Bagi SMK Anderson, mereka hampa sebaik perlawanan ditangguhkan kerana sedang mendahului 1-0 menerusi sepakan penalti Mohd Hakim Roslee pada minit ke-19.
Namun Sri Gading, juara Piala Nike tahun ini, ia memberi kelegaan dan berharap dapat menebusnya dengan persembahan lebih baik hari ini.
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