Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

KUALA LUMPUR - Pelumba trek negara, Azizulhasni Awang terus mendapat pengiktirafan antarabangsa apabila dijemput khas menyertai liga keirin terbesar dunia di Jepun pada bulan April ini. Presiden Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM), Abu Samah Wahab berkata, jemputan khas itu diterima pihaknya beberapa hari lalu daripada Persekutuan Keirin Jepun. "Ini merupakan kali pertama Azizulhasni menerima jemputan istimewa seperti ini dan akan pergi bertanding di sana bersama Josiah Ng. "Bagi pihak PKBM, ia satu pengiktirafan yang membanggakan kita kerana perlumbaan itu hanya menjemput pelumba keirin terbaik dunia sahaja," ujarnya ketika dihubungi, semalam. Selain menawarkan hadiah wang tunai yang lumayan, liga keirin Jepun ini dianggap paling berprestij dan terbaik di dunia. Sebanyak enam siri perlumbaan akan dipertandingkan pada liga keirin tersebut di mana Azizulhasni hanya akan menyertai siri pertama sebagai permulaan. Liga keirin Jepun itu dijadual bermula selepas ...

TWO senior athletes have called for the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) leadership to step down if there is to be any hope of saving Malaysian athletics. Pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu and sprinter Siti Fatima Mohamad want to see a new line up of office bearers installed as the current MAAU leadership has lost the trust of the elite athletes. The final straw for the athletes was the appointment of a state official at the centre of a sexual harassment allegation last year to the MAAU coaching and development committee. The MAAU executive committee last September found the official guilty of "unwarranted behaviour" at an international meeting and banned him from any involvement with national athletes. Roslinda, speaking on behalf of all senior national athletes, said MAAU acted in bad faith by appointing him to the committee as he would still come into contact with athletes. "When I first found out about this, I was furious. We made it clear when we l...

Kim Hock is in charge of the boys’ doubles in BJSS. THE much debated topic of whether Yap Kim Hock will take over as the head coach of the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) will be put to rest by the BA of Malaysia's (BAM) coaching and training committee today. The indication is that Sun Chenghua, the current BJSS head coach, will retain his position while Kim Hock will continue doing what he was entrusted with -- to churn out world class boys' doubles. There have been suggestions that Chenghua be promoted to the senior squad in a direct swap with Wong Tat Meng but the committee has to decide whether the former has the credentials to guide the back-up players to a higher level. Chenghua's promotion to the senior squad needs the backing of singles chief coach Rashid Sidek and his recommendation will seal the fate of the former. Tat Meng's experience with the senior squad could be taken into consideration and he may be asked to train the back-up players w...

Chong Wei will have to choose tournaments if he wants to stay at the top until the 2012 Olympics. WORLD No 1 Lee Chong Wei is one of several shuttlers earmarked for the 2012 London Olympics but he can only realise that if he starts picking his tournaments wisely. If he does that, then national singles chief coach Rashid Sidek believes Chong Wei will have a second chance at landing the gold which eluded him in Beijing last year. As Rashid sees it, there is dearth of talent on the international circuit and Chong Wei, with China's Lin Dan, should continue ruling the roost for the next three years. However, whether Chong Wei can keep pace with Lin Dan depends on the Malaysian's priorities. "Lin Dan has already started being picky about the tournaments he plays in since winning gold in the Olympics. In fact, he has only competed twice since then," said Rashid yesterday. Chong Wei, meanwhile, has played in seven -- five international and two local -- ...

(from left)Roslinda and Siti Fatima STATE AAAs turned their back on the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) yesterday when more than half of the state secretaries failed to show up for a special council meeting. MAAU deputy president Karim Ibrahim hurriedly sent an e-mail to the 14 state associations on Monday calling for a special council meeting to discuss the Kuala Lumpur International Marathon (KLIM) issue. But the short notice period fell foul of the MAAU constitution which requires a 14-day notice to be given, resulting in yesterday's meeting being called off for lack of quorum. Only four state secretaries, general manager Sri Murigak Madhavan, treasurer Saleh Masil and Karim turned up at the MAAU office in Bukit Jalil when 12 were required for a quorum. "I sent a protest note to Karim as he did not give sufficient notice for the meeting. I told him we are not bound by any decision made at this illegal meeting," said Perak AAA honorary secretar...

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) will immediately investigate any official complaint made on the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union's (MAAU) controversial move to reappoint an official involved in a molest case in Taiwan last year, for an important coaching position. OCM honorary secretary, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said, athletes who were not satisfied could bring up the matter to the association first before filing a complaint with the OCM. "We are ready to hear the laments of athletes and follow up with action if the MAAU management keeps quiet and sticks to its decision," he said when contacted by Bernama, here, today. Kok Chi said the OCM would not hesitate to form a special committee to investigate and fight for the rights of national athletes, especially the women athletes. "Athletes have the right to demand their rights because they are the ones bringing home the medals, not the association or sports officials," he said....

niera@nstp.com.my PASUKAN remaja negara yang rancak melakukan persiapan menjelang Piala Dunia Remaja, Jun depan, dilihat sebagai pilihan terbaik Persekutuan Hoki Malaysia (PHM) untuk memenuhi kuota penyertaan Piala Sultan Azlan Shah, April ini. Ini berikutan penarikan saat akhir oleh skuad gergasi hoki Asia, Korea Selatan, minggu lalu selain faktor kelembapan ekonomi dunia menyebabkan kebanyakan pasukan utama dunia memutuskan untuk tidak menyertai saingan pada 3 hingga 12 April ini. Sehingga kini, hanya lima pasukan mengesahkan penyertaan - India, Pakistan, New Zealand dan Mesir yang menyertai buat julung kalinya selain Malaysia - kurang satu pasukan lagi buat memenuhi kuota enam pasukan. Setiausaha Kehormat PHM, Hashim Mohamed Yusoff, berkata pihaknya kini masih menunggu pengesahan dua pasukan lain iaitu Ireland dan Jepun selepas tarikh penyertaan yang sepatutnya berakhir 31 Disember lalu dilanjutkan sehingga Sabtu ini. “Kami menghantar jemputan ke...

bhsukan@bharian.com.my CHU Sian kekal berada sebagai pemanah nombor satu negara dengan berada pada kedudukan ke-19. Gambar kecil Muhamad Marbawi. KEJAYAAN meraih beberapa kejuaraan sepanjang tahun lalu, membolehkan skuad memanah lelaki negara berada pada kedudukan ranking kelima dunia, naik dua tangga daripada sebelum ini. Malaysia kini berada di belakang Korea Selatan, Taiwan, Itali dan India selepas mengumpul 249,000 mata keseluruhan berbanding Korea yang mengumpul 337,000 mata, Taiwan (294,750 mata), Itali (287,000 mata) dan India (254,000 mata). Setiausaha Kehormat Persatuan Memanah Kebangsaan Malaysia (NAAM), Hamid Hassan, berkata mata keseluruhan diperoleh menerusi kejayaan pemanah Olimpik, Cheng Chu Sian, Wan Mohd Kalmizan Wan Abd Aziz, Muhamad Marbawi Sulaiman dan Nazrin Aizad Mat Nasir meletakkan diri masing-masing dalam kelompok 120 pemanah terbaik dunia. Berdasar kepada ranking dunia yang dikeluarkan Persekutuan Mema...

bhsukan@bharian.com.my MOM gesa lebih ramai atlit tampil luahkan bantahan pelantikan pegawai TIMBALAN Presiden Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) Karim Ibrahim tampak 'cuci tangan' dalam isu pelantikan pegawai yang didakwa terbabit dalam 'perlakuan meragukan' sebagai anggota jawatankuasa kejurulatihan dan pembangunannya apabila menyerahkan kepada presidennya, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim untuk menjawab. Ini di sebalik kenyataan terdahulu Karim yang dipetik sebagai berkata akan hanya mengulas mengenai perkara itu apabila ada atlit yang menyuarakan perasaan mereka kepada akhbar. "Saya tidak mahu mengulas apa-apa mengenai perkara ini," kata Karim. "Saya tidak ada apa-apa lagi yang mahu diperkatakan. Lebih baik persoalan ini diajukan kepada Presiden KOAM." Karim mengeluarkan kenyataan itu ketika diminta mengulas kenyataan jaguh lompat bergalah wanita, Roslinda Samsu, kelmarin yang membidas tind...

Oleh Lukman Salleh lukmsal@bharian.com.my Isu perbalahan penganjuran Maraton Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur KESATUAN Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) tidak mahu perbalahan mengenai penganjuran Maraton Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur berpanjangan dan akan mencari jalan penyelesaian terbaik membabitkan penaja dan ahli gabungannya, Persatuan Olahraga Amatur Wilayah Persekutuan (POAWP). Sambil menegaskan hak penganjuran Maraton Antarabangsa di Kuala Lumpur adalah milik syarikat pengurusan acara, Octagon dan Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), Timbalan Presiden KOAM, Karim Ibrahim mahu mencari situasi 'menang-menang' yang akan menggembirakan semua pihak terbabit. "KOAM tidak mengambil hak sesiapa termasuk hak POAWP," kata Karim. "Penganjuran Maraton Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur adalah membabitkan DBKL, Octagon serta KOAM dan ia tiada ada kaitan langsung dengan POAWP. "Oleh itu, tidak timbul soal mengambil hak yang dimiliki POAWP. Mereka bol...

ahmadkhawari@bharian.com.my Tujuh jurulatih badminton masih belum tandatangani sambungan kontrak ADA 'gangguan' menjelma di sebalik janji Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) tidak memotong peruntukan kepada tiga jenis sukan - badminton, memanah dan berbasikal - yang dikenal pasti mampu mencipta gemilang pada Sukan Olimpik 2012 nanti. Ianya timbul menerusi perkhabaran tujuh jurulatih badminton negara masih belum menandatangani sambungan kontrak ketika seorang lagi belum menerima tawaran kontrak baru. Hanya dua jurulatih - Rosman Razak dan Jeremy Gan - sudahpun menandatangani kontrak, itupun selepas masing-masing menerima kenaikan gaji ekoran pertambahan tanggungjawab yang diberikan. Ia mewujudkan kemungkinan tambahan bahawa lapan jurulatih itu mungkin terlewat menerima bayaran gaji untuk tugas dilaksanakan bulan ini - sehingga isu kontrak mereka diselesaikan. Daripada kelompok belum menyatakan persetujuan itu, majoritinya terbabit dalam penstrukturan s...

radiah@kosmo.com.my REXY (kiri) sekali lagi menyandarkan harapan kepada Boon Heong (tengah) dan Kien Keat bagi memburu gelaran Seluruh England. PERSEDIAAN rapi telah diatur dan kini, hanya situasi sewaktu perlawanan sahaja yang bakal menjadi penentu. Menurut ketua jurulatih beregu negara, Rexy Mainaky, berdasarkan prestasi semasa, semua pemain berada pada keadaan terbaik menjelang Kejohanan Badminton Seluruh England, Mac depan. Tambahnya, melihatkan situasi tersebut, pastinya barisan negara berpeluang untuk merangkul gelaran pada kejohanan paling berprestij di dunia itu. "Kami telah menyediakan pelan persediaan yang cukup baik buat semua pemain negara," kata Rexy semalam. "Saya boleh katakan, persediaan pemain pada ketika ini memang sempurna dan semua pemain memiliki masa yang mencukupi untuk memastikan mereka berada pada prestasi terbaik menjelang Seluruh England. "Malah bagi memastikan mereka benar-benar bersedia dan bagi mengelakkan sebarang kecederaan, s...

sukan@kosmo.com.my PEMINAT bola sepak Perak akan mula menikmati harga tiket baru mulai 10 Februari ini. KINI sudah sah harga tiket perlawanan bola sepak di Stadium Perak diturunkan. Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Perak (PAFA), Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin ( gambar kecil ) berkata, penurunan harga tiket itu akan berkuat kuasa mulai 10 Februari depan. Justeru, peminat bola sepak Perak akan mula menikmati harga tiket baru itu pada perlawanan Liga Super ketika Perak menentang Kelantan. Mohammad Nizar memberitahu bahawa harga tiket tempat duduk berbumbung dikurangkan sebanyak RM5 daripada RM20kepada RM15. "Harga tiket tempat duduk tidak berbumbung pula dikurangkan sebanyak RM2.00 daripada RM10 kepada RM8," jelas Mohammad Nizar di Ipoh semalam. Terdahulu, beliau yang juga Menteri Besar Perak telah mengumumkan penurunan harga tiket itu ketika meraikan pemain Liga Super dan Piala Presiden serta pegawai PAFA di kediamannya di Ipoh malam kelmarin. Mohammad Nizar m...

SHUN TING bakal membuat penampilan kali keempat pada temasya Sukan SEA di Laos, Disember depan. ATLET bola tampar pantai kebangsaan, Beh Shun Ting berharap kedatangan tahun baru ini akan memberi kejayaan lebih bermakna buat dirinya. Ketika ini, hanya satu impian yang mahu dilaksanakan Shun Ting iaitu menyumbang pingat buat negara pada Sukan SEA di Laos, Disember depan. Graduan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perancangan Perniagaan Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) itu berkata, dia amat berbangga sekiranya mampu sekali lagi beraksi pada temasya terbesar di Asia Tenggara itu. "Tahun ini merupakan penampilan keempat saya selaku pemain bola tampar pantai negara. "Tiada misi yang lebih besar melainkan usaha untuk menyumbang kilauan pingat untuk Malaysia pada temasya di Laos nanti. "Itu sememangnya impian saya sejak bergelar atlet negara," kata Shun Ting ketika dihubungi Kosmo! semalam. Atlet berusia 24 tahun itu berkata, meskipun impian itu bukan satu misi mudah tetapi dia ...

MAJLIS Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) akan membuat siasatan segera jika ada pihak membuat aduan rasmi berhubung tindakan kontroversi Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) melantik semula pegawai yang didakwa terlibat dalam salah laku seksual, menduduki kerusi penting kejurulatihan. Setiausaha Kehormat MOM, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi berkata, atlet yang tidak berpuas hati perlu mengemukakan bantahan kepada pihak persatuan terlebih dahulu sebelum membuat aduan kepada MOM. "MOM sedia untuk mendengar keluhan dan rasa tidak puas atlet terbabit dan seterusnya mengambil tindakan yang sewajarnya sekiranya pihak pengurusan KOAM terus berdiam diri dan tidak berganjak dengan keputusaan tersebut," katanya semalam. Kok Chi berkata, MOM tidak teragak-agak untuk menjalankan siasatan dengan menubuhkan sebuah jawatankuasa khas bagi memperjuangkan hak atlet khususnya atlet wanita di negara ini. "Atlet berhak untuk menuntut haknya kerana mereka dan bukannya persatuan ataupun pegawai sukan yang berj...

PETALING JAYA: Seasoned campaigners Aaron Kong and Daniel Lim failed to make the cut for the USBC Masters, which will be held in Las Vegas from Feb 9-13. But national chief coach Holloway Cheah is more concerned with the performance of Aaron, who has been struggling to get his act right for some time now. Last week, seven national men’s elite bowlers went through a special selection roll-off at the Pyramid Mega Lanes to vie for the five slots for the trip to the United States. The five who made it were Mohd Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek, Adrian Ang, Alex Liew, Zulmazran Zulkifli and Mohd Nur Aiman Khairuddin. Daniel and Aaron finished sixth and seventh respectively. Holloway said that Aaron showed a distinct lack of confidence in his game. “I am not too worried about Daniel. He missed the cut for the Las Vegas trip after losing by just one pin. His performance wasn’t that bad,” said Holloway. “But Aaron has been having some difficulties. I have given him some room to change the way ...

By RAJES PAUL KUALA LUMPUR: The smile was back on Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif’s face after two days of training at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara on Wednesday. The pain in his knee has eased and Zakry’s confidence is high again. He is determined to do well with his partner Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari in their first international tournament this year at the All-England, which will be held in Birmingham from March 3-8. Zakry was floored with a knee injury after the Super Series Masters Finals in Kota Kinabalu last December. He was forced to skip the first two Super Series events — the Malaysian and South Korean Opens this month. That resulted in Zakry-Fairuizizuan dropping one rung to fifth spot behind compatriots Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong in the world rankings. Zakry said he was demoralised after sustaining the knee injury for the first time in his career. “I had to use a walking stick after picking up the injury. At that time, I thought my hopes of featuring in the Al...

© IOC/Richard Juilliart Representatives of the Olympic Movement, led by the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge, today met with Ján Figel', European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, and his delegation at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne. The meeting came as a follow-up on the action points specified in the recent European Council Declaration on Sport, which was presented in the Conclusions of the French Presidency of the European Union (EU) in mid-December 2008. In the Declaration, the heads of state call on the European Commission to strengthen its dialogue with the IOC, besides underlining the values of sport and its specific characteristics above its economic dimension. The promotion of the autonomy of the Olympic and Sports Movement as well as the protection of the integrity and fairness of the competitions has been high on the IOC's agenda over the years. Topics of today's discussions included: - the specificity...

By : M.P. BABU, Johor Baru NST Letters Malaysian football has to improve standards to regain its former glory. MALAYSIA was once ranked 73rd in the world of football; today it stands at 156. Coaches, administrators, players, politicians and other interested parties have given various reasons for the decline in Malaysian football standards. Some blame the coaches, some blame the administrators, some blame the players and others blame the M-League for being not competitive enough to form a strong national team. Former national coach Abdul Rahman Ibrahim says Malaysian football is in a mess because the system is not working at all levels ("Rectify the flaws and there may be hope yet"-- NST, Jan 25). This is partially true but I think even if we change the system at all levels, we may not achieve any significant differences because ultimately it's about the players. If players don't want to perform or can't perform, whatever structure or s...

I CANNOT help but respond to V.L. of Klang ("A case of too much too soon" -- NST, Jan 23) about his comment on sports in schools. As far as I know, there is no directive given to schools to hold all sports meetings before the first-term holidays. The usual deadlines for athletics and other games are laid down early in the year by the Malaysian School Sports Council and divided into two "seasons". The first season would be the first break and the second the second break. This has being going on for as long as I have been involved in sports in schools, which is close to 20 years. My point is that any coach worth his salt knows that there is no such thing as last-minute preparation for a meet or tournament. Training begins in the off season (the latter half of the previous year). So I really don't see what V.L. is upset about. Athletes who pull out of the competition are, in my opinion, useless athletes, if they haven't prepared themselves. ...

I AGREE with V.L. of Klang that the scheduling of school sports meets leaves much to be desired ("A case of too much too soon" -- NST, Jan 23). Back in the 1960s, the inter-school games were scheduled towards the end of the school year and the school sports meet in the middle of the year. This gave the teachers and trainers ample time to train and select the best to represent their houses at the annual school sports meets, and thereafter, to represent their schools in the inter-school meet at district level. This well-planned schedule ensured that the best were selected from school to district to state and, finally, at national level. Thus, those who represented the nation at international level were the cream of the crop. Events were always planned to avoid clashes of schedules. Even at school level, morning schools had sports practice in the evenings and afternoon schools had sports practice in the mornings. Students had time for their studies and to tak...

Oleh FERZALFIE FAUZI ferzalfie.fauzi@utusan.com.my KUALA LUMPUR - Kemelut yang melanda atlet angkat berat remaja negara mengenai isu jurulatih selesai apabila campur tangan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob selepas berjumpa dengan wakil Persatuan Angkat Berat Malaysia (PABM) semalam. PABM dilanda masalah selepas lima atlet angkat berat remaja yang dinaik taraf menjadi atlet pelapis elit memulaukan sesi latihan apabila membantah tindakan PABM yang memaksa mereka mengikuti latihan di bawah kendalian jurulatih Bulgaria, Stefan Stefanov. ''Perkara ini sudah selesai apabila saya berjumpa dengan mereka (atlet angkat berat remaja) dan membincangkannya dengan lebih mendalam,'' katanya selepas perjumpaan itu. Sehubungan itu katanya, empat atlet elit dan lima atlet pelapis elit akan dilatih jurulatih dari China, Lin Xin Hui buat sementara waktu selepas Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) dan Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) meminta PABM mendapatkan seorang l...

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) has received two new foreign applications for the national senior team coaching job but the parent body wants to stick with interim chief coach Tai Beng Hai (pic) for the time being. MHF deputy president Nur Azmi Ahmad said an Australian and Spaniard have applied for the job but the coaching committee will need to check on their credentials before making a decision. "As for now, Beng Hai will be given a chance to prove himself. The Azlan Shah Cup (April 3-12) will be his first test," said Nur Azmi yesterday. "Beng Hai will be a strong candidate for chief coach if the team do well in the tournament. The new applicants have submitted impressive resumes but are not in the same league as the previous candidates we had approached." Several foreigners have been linked to the job since last November but MHF has so far drawn a blank. Nur Azmi said after the Azlan Shah Cup, the team will be evaluated and changes ...

THE Equestrian Association of Malaysia's (EAM) Annual General Meeting (AGM) has been postponed for a second time and will now be held in April. Sports Commissioner Datuk Nik Mahmud Nik Yusof made the decision so as to allow EAM to amend certain ambiguities in its constitution. EAM had written to the Sports Commissioner's Office (SCO) for an extension last December as it is still in the midst of amending its constitution. The AGM-cum-election was supposed to be held today after the association requested for a postponement last July. On July 17 last year, EAM president Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis had adjourned the AGM owing to disputes in the interpretation of nominations. In the meeting, several delegates -- including Datuk Abdul Razak Latif who offered himself for the president's post -- disputed EAM's decision to reject candidates in the AGM. EAM secretary Lau Choo Seng stated last year the amendments were mainly on election nominations to avoid d...

IN a bid to give Malaysia's push for an Olympic gold medal an added boost, the National Sports Council (NSC) will stage a multi-games event specifically for Olympic sports in August. While the details are still being worked out, the "mini-Olympics" will not have any limitations as to age or experience and will feature all the country's top athletes. Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, in announcing the staging of the mini-Olympics, said the event will only feature Olympic sports and be held every alternate year to the Malaysia Games. "The NSC is preparing a working paper, which will be completed in two weeks time, for the staging of a mini-Olympics in August. "It will only feature Olympics sports with no age restrictions. It will be open to all," he said after presenting incentives to Malaysian athletes who won medals at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) and last week's Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) in Bukit ...

KERATAN Kosmo! semalam. WALAU apa jua alasan, setiap persatuan bola sepak (FA) negeri harus menghantar laporan perancangan pembangunan masing-masing kepada Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) selewat-lewatnya Sabtu ini. Setiausaha Agung FAM, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad berharap semua FA negeri dapat mematuhi arahan yang dikeluarkan dalam satu pekeliling minggu lalu. "FAM telah faks pekeliling itu pada Khamis lepas dan kita tetapkan mereka (FA negeri) untuk kemukakan laporan selewat-lewatnya Sabtu ini. "Apa sekalipun alasan mereka, saya harap mereka dapat hantar juga laporan Sabtu ini. Hantarlah apa yang ada," kata Azzuddin ketika dihubungi Kosmo! semalam. Semalam, Kosmo! melaporkan beberapa wakil FA negeri membidas FAM yang didakwa memberi tempoh masa terlalu singkat untuk mereka menyediakan laporan seperti yang diarahkan. Ada juga yang mendakwa bahawa mereka tidak menerima apa-apa surat pekeliling daripada FAM selain tidak tahu tentang laporan apakah yang dikehendaki...

drahman@kosmo.com.my SEMUANYA sudah selesai. Mungkin tanpa campur tangan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob masalah yang timbul dijangka berlarutan. Segala-galanya tercetus apabila lima atlet pelapis elit angkat berat negara memulaukan sesi latihan baru-baru ini sebagai membantah keputusan Persatuan Angkat Berat Malaysia (PABM). Difahamkan, tindakan mereka memulaukan sesi latihan tersebut kerana tidak mahu 'berguru' dengan jurulatih dari Bulgaria, Stefan Stefanov. Sebaliknya, mereka lebih cenderung berlatih di bawah bimbingan Lin Xinhui serta Zakaria Yusof buat sementara waktu. Alasan yang diberikan mereka - Stefanov yang menjadi pilihan PABM gagal meningkatkan prestasi mereka. Kemelut itu berpanjangan apabila PABM didakwa cuba meminggirkan Xinhui yang sebelum ini terbukti mampu melahirkan jaguh angkat berat. Bagi mengelak kemelut itu daripada menjadi semakin buruk, semalam Ismail Sabri tampil sebagai 'orang tengah'. "Xin Hui akan me...

KOK CHI mahu persatuan sukan mengehadkan penyertaan atlet ke kejohanan antarabangsa. MAJLIS Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) meminta semua persatuan sukan di negara ini berjimat cermat dalam menguruskan dana yang disalurkan Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) sebagai langkah menghadapi krisis ekonomi global. Setiausaha Kehormat MOM, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi berkata, persatuan sukan terutama yang kurang popular perlu bijak menguruskan dana kewangan mereka agar tidak menjejaskan aktiviti atlet negara khususnya dalam persiapan menghadapi beberapa kejohanan antarabangsa termasuk Sukan SEA di Laos, Disember ini. "Persatuan yang hanya bergantung kepada peruntukan dana daripada MSN perlu amalkan perbelanjaan berhemah dalam menganjurkan aktiviti mereka bagi mengelak berlakunya pembaziran," katanya semalam. Kok Chi berkata, antara langkah penjimatan itu ialah mengehadkan penyertaan atlet ke kejohanan antarabangsa dengan hanya memilih kejohanan yang dirasakan perlu. Beliau berkata, kegagalan persatuan dal...

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Mohd Azlan Iskandar’s fine run in the Tournament of Champions came to end in the quarter-finals in New York on Tuesday. The 13th-seeded Azlan went down 15-11, 6-11, 2-11 to second seed Karim Darwish of Egypt in 27 minutes. It was still a good outing for Azlan as he managed to score an upset win over eighth seed Wael El Hindi of Egypt in the second round on Monday. Darwish will face fourth seed Gregory Gaultier of France in the semi-finals. The Frenchman came back from a set down to beat sixth seed David Palmer of Australia 6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 13-11 in 68 minutes. The other semi-final is between 10th seed Nick Matthew of England and third seed Ramy Ashour of Egypt. The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Back-up and elite athletes would have to compete among themselves in a Mini-Olympics to earn their tickets to the Olympic Games once the National Sports Council (NSC) introduces the system in August. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said unlike SUKMA (held every two years), the Mini-Olympics would become an annual sporting event featuring only Olympic sports. “The focus will be on Olympic sports that Malaysia can win medals, like archery, shooting and weightlifting,” said Ismail Sabri after handing out special incentives to junior athletes yesterday. In the long term, foreign contingents may be invited to participate so that the event will become more competitive as the SUKMA cannot be used for such purposes because many of the sports featured like silat, netball or sepak takraw are not Olympic sports, he said. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) want all National Sports Associations (NSAs) to be prudent in spending the funds provided by the National Sports Council (NSC) in view of the global economic crisis. OCM honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi urged the NSAs to be careful and prudent in managing their funds so that financial constraints would not derail their preparations for the Laos SEA Games in December. “NSAs who solely depend on funds from the NSC should avoid unnecessary spending,” he said yesterday. One way to reduce expenditure, he said, was for NSAs to be selective on athletes’ participation in international competitions. “In this current economic situation, the lesser known sports will find it difficult to attract sponsors or contributions from the corporate sector,” he said. The NSC’s allocation for this year has been reduced by RM60mil — from RM230mil to RM170mil. In line with the reduction, NSC director general Datuk Zolkples Embong has also u...

Jurang lebar dengan remaja 'LONE Ranger.' Watak koboi popular dalam cerita barat itu seharusnya kini menjadi milik perseorangan lelaki negara, Lee Chong Wei dalam mengejar kejuaraan berprestij Seluruh England, awal Mac ini. Jika dalam watak 'Lone Ranger', wiranya dibantu 'tonto', tetapi bagi Chong Wei dia harus menggalas misi mengejar kejuaraan yang diidamkan ini secara berseorangan kerana tiada watak sokongan diberi daripada pemain kebangsaan yang lain dalam erti kata sebenar. Inilah hakikat yang diakui sendiri ketua jurulatih Rashid Sidek, betapa jurang antara Chong Wei dengan pemain kebangsaan yang lain begitu jauh, hingga sukar untuk rakan sepasukan beraksi di Seluruh England, meninggalkan jaguh kebangsaan ini berseorangan di berdepan dengan barisan pemain China, Indonesia dan Denmark. Tidak dinafikan bahawa Wong Choong Hann, Sairul Amar Ayub dan Lee Tsuen Seng mungkin beraksi di Seluruh England, tetapi mereka bukan daripada kem latihan kebangsaan se...

Pegawai didakwa terbabit dalam 'perlakuan meragukan' dilantik jawatankuasa kejurulatihan TERKEJUT, kecewa, terkilan dan sedih. Tiada lagi perkataan selain daripada apa yang tertera di atas untuk menyatakan perasaan jaguh lompat bergalah wanita, Roslinda Samsu dengan keputusan Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) melantik pegawai yang didakwa terbabit dalam 'perlakuan meragukan" di Terbuka Taiwan, tahun lalu ke jawatankuasa kejurulatihan dan pembangunan dipengerusikan Timbalan KOAM, Karim Ibrahim. Malah, Roslinda dan rakan-rakan berasa diri mereka seperti dipermainkan dan dalam keadaan amat kecewa itu pelbagai perkara berlegar dalam kotak fikirannya, termasuk menarik diri daripada pasukan kebangsaan atau pun bersara terus daripada acara lompat bergalah. "Kami sebagai atlit tampak seperti ditindas," kata Roslinda ketika dihubungi semalam. "Memang saya rasa sedih, terkilan serta terkejut dengan tindakan KOAM melantik pegawai...

Pastikan niat murni nak bantu FAM tak disalah erti: Ismail SASARAN utama pertemuan di antara Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) dengan wakil Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) adalah bagi membantu menyelamatkan sukan bola sepak negara yang terus-terusan menanggung aib. Pada masa sama, KBS terpaksa berhemat memastikan niat murni yang ingin membantu membela maruah sukan ini, tidak dilihat oleh Persekutuan Bola Sepak Antarabangsa (Fifa) sebagai cubaan campur tangan kerajaan dalam badan sukan negara. "Itu sebabnya kita ingin mengadakan pertemuan dengan FAM Rabu depan. Ini perbincangan rasmi yang pertama (menyusuli pertemuan tidak rasmi sebelum ini)," kata menterinya, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob selepas menyampaikan insentif kecemerlangan sukan kepada atlit remaja negara di Kompleks Majlis Sukan Negara, Bukit Jalil, semalam. Ditanya ke mana hala tuju rundingan terbabit, Ismail Sabri membayangkan betapa terlalu banyak perkara yang dilihat membelenggu...

ISMAIL Sabri (kiri) ketika mempengerusikan mesyuarat bersama sebahagian atlit angkat berat di MSN Bukit Jalil, petang semalam. BADAI yang ditempuh badang negara, berakhir indah seperti diidamkan apabila Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) serta merta menyahut panggilan kecemasan mereka lalu menokhtahkan segala permasalahan. Menterinya, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, semalam berkata kementerian mengambil keputusan bahawa semua atlit elit, termasuk senior kebangsaan kini dilatih oleh jurulatih dari China, Lin Xin Hui. "Saya sudah bertemu dengan wakil atlit, wakil persatuan (Persatuan Angkat Berat Malaysia PABM) serta pegawai jurulatih dan membuat keputusan bahawa jurulatih dari China akan melatih atlit elit dan senior kebangsaan. "Pada masa sama, persatuan perlu mengemukakan seorang calon jurulatih yang berkelayakan untuk mengisi satu lagi kekosongan jawatan jurulatih untuk pasukan angkat berat negara," katanya di Kompleks Sukan Bukit Jal...

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Safuan Said, ranked number one in the men's world lawn bowls ranking list hopes to stamp his mark against the best field of bowlers at the Australian Open from Feb 15-21. The Open which offers AUS$18,000 to the winner and held at Shepparton Park and Mooroopna Bowls Club in Victoria, would feature 128 world class players in the singles event. "The Australian Open is one of the most challenging tournaments in the world as all the best bowlers in the world will assemble there. My target is to reach the semi-finals but it will certainly be a bonus if I reach the final," Safuan told Bernama. The 26-year-old from Perak had a blazing 2008 when he won the World Cup and World Championships singles titles in addition to reaching the semi-finals of the World Bowls Singles Champion of Champions tournament. In the Australian Open last year, Safuan reached the semi-finals but failed to advance any further. He added that after competing in the Natio...

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Chinese coach Lin Xin Hui who was sidelined by the Malaysia Weightlifting Federation (MWF) was today reinstated as the national head coach after six national weightlifters decided to boycott training after his removal. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who met MWF and the weightlifters, decided to reinstate Xin Hui as the head coach, replacing Bulgarian Stefan Stefanov. "I have also asked MWF to appoint another coach to beef up the sport of weightlifting," he told reporters after discussing the matter with MWF and the six athletes here. Stefanov will now take charge of the back up squad. On Saturday, six weightlifters decided to boycott training when MWF sidelined the Chinese coach, citing lack of results, and replaced him with Stefanov. Among the weightlifters undergoing training are Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim, Hidayat Hamidun, Mohd Hafifi Mansor, Abdul Mubin Rahim, Khairul Ridhwan Amra and Aricco Jumite. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Back up and elite athletes would have to compete among themselves in a Mini-Olympics to earn their tickets to the Olympic Games once the National Sports Council (NSC) introduces the system in August. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said unlike SUKMA (held every two years), the Mini-Olympics would become an annual sporting event featuring only Olympic sports. "The focus will be on Olympic sports that Malaysia can win medals, like archery, shooting and weightlifting," said Ismail Sabri after handing out special incentives to junior athletes here Wednesday. In the long term, foreign contingents may be invited to participate so that the event will become more competitive as the SUKMA cannot be used for such purposes because many of the sports competed like silat, netball or sepak takraw are not Olympic sports, he said. Ismail Sabri handed out incentives to a tune of RM20,800 to 24 athletes who won medals at the Austral...

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) urged all National Sports Associations (NSAs) to be prudent when spending funds provided by the National Sports Council (NSC) to weather the global economic crisis. OCM honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said NSAs, especially associations of less popular sports, must be careful and prudent in managing their funds so that financial constraints would not derail their preparations for the Laos SEA Games in December. "NSAs that solely depend on funds from NSC should avoid unnecessary spending," Kok Chi told Bernama when contacted here today. Kok Chi added that as a step to reduce expenditure, NSAs must reduce athletes' participation in international competitions and only select events that can really benefit athletes. He added that if the NSAs are not careful in their spending, it will be the athletes who will suffer in the end. "In the current economic situation, lesser known sports will also ...

sukan@utusan.com.my TIGA pemanah negara (dari kiri) Muhammad Marbawi Sulaiman, Cheng Chu Sian dan Wan Mohd. Khalmizam Wan Abd. Aziz kini lebih bersedia untuk bertarung dalam Kejohanan Dunia di Korea dan Sukan SEA Laos pada tahun ini. - BERNAMA KUALA LUMPUR - Tatkala aksi hambar bola sepak tempatan mengundang seribu satu persoalan, lain pula masalah di benak jurulatih memanah negara dari Korea Selatan, Lee Jae-Hyung. Masalah yang ditanggung Jae-Hyung sebenarnya mungkin mampu menjadi penawar buat rakyat Malaysia yang masih berduka dengan aksi longlai skuad bola sepak kebangsaan. Masakan tidak, ketika diminta menamakan pemanah terbaik negara kala ini, jurulatih itu seakan teragak-agak berikutan prestasi para pemainnya kini berada di tahap yang amat memuaskan dan lebih kurang sama. "Cheng Chu Sian, Muhammad Marbawi Sulaiman dan Wan Mohd. Khalmizam Wan Abd. Aziz serta beberapa pemain lain semuanya berada di prestasi terbaik. Agak sukar untuk menentukan yang terbaik di kalangan ...

PEMAIN Malaysia, Mohd. Azlan Mubin (kiri) akan menjalani pembedahan lutut kanan yang semestinya memerlukan rehat yang panjang. KUALA LUMPUR - Usaha untuk memantapkan skuad sepak takraw kebangsaan menjelang Sukan SEA di Laos penghujung tahun ini tampak terjejas setelah dua apit kanannya bakal berehat panjang akibat kecederaan. Skuad bimbingan Haris Abd. Rahman itu tidak akan dapat menggunakan khidmat pemain apit kanan berpengalaman, Mohd. Azlan Mubin untuk tempoh sekurang-kurangnya setengah tahun. "Dia baru sahaja menjalani pembedahan di lutut sebelah kiri dan akan menjalani pembedahan untuk lutut kanan dalam masa terdekat yang semestinya memerlukan tempoh rehat yang panjang," katanya di sini, semalam. Haris berkata, ketika pemain berusia 26 tahun itu mewakili negara pada Sukan Universiti ASEAN bulan lepas, dia telah pun mengalami kecederaan. "Selain Azlan seorang lagi pemain apit kanan yang juga saya anggap sebagai 'killer' yang berpotensi ialah Helmi Her...