Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

PETALING JAYA: World number one Lee Chong Wei made it to the quarter-finals of the men’s singles event in the Macau Open yesterday but the other two Malaysian representatives fell by the wayside. Chong Wei, the number one seed, took only 30 minutes to dump Thai youngster Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk 21-12, 21-19 to set up a meeting against another budding talent – Shon Wan-ho of South Korea. Liew Daren and Wong Choong Hann fought tooth and nail before going down in the third round. Back-up shuttler Daren ran out of luck in the crucial stages in his 12-21, 21-19, 18-21 defeat by unseeded Wong Wing Ki of Hong Kong. He was trailing 18-19 in the decider but a few unlucky shots saw him missing a chance of reaching his first quarter-finals in an Open tournament this year. Choong Hann, however, could not keep up after a good start against Taiwanese Hsing Hsieh-yu. After a narrow 22-20 first game win, he ran out of steam to go down 19-21,10-21. Ran out of steam: Wong Choong Ha...

SINGAPORE: Defending champion Nicol David will get a chance to avenge her British Open defeat by Madeline Perry in the semi-finals of the US$53,000 CIMB Singapore Women’s Masters squash championship at the Kallang Leisure Park here today. In yesterday’s quarter-finals, Nicol made short work of seventh seed Kasey Brown of Australia, winning 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 in 40 minutes. Perry, on the other hand, recovered from a set down to beat Annie Au of Hong Kong 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-4. The other semi-final will be between third seed Alison Waters of England and second seed Rachael Grinham of Australia. Waters sent France’s Camille Serme packing with a 12-10, 11-3, 9-11, 11-6 win while Grinham outclassed American Natalie Grainger 11-5, 11-3, 11-7 in just 20 minutes. Four-time world champion Nicol said her performance against Brown was much better than her first round win over Raneem El Weleily of Egypt. “I played well and my composure was also much better. I took control of the ...

PETALING JAYA: Diver Pandelela Rinong’s appeal to attend only the later part of the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore from Aug 14-26 has been shot down by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) yesterday. The IOC’s requirement is for all athletes to attend the whole duration of the competition to enjoy full payment for travel and accommodation. If not, Malaysia would have to bear the expenses for Pandelela. Pandelela had hoped to be at the Games only during the diving competition from Aug 21-24 to avoid having to skip her intensive training programme in Kunming, China, to prepare for the Commonwealth Games in India in October. The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) had sent a letter to the IOC, appealing to the world body to make an exemption for Pandedela and Ooi Tze Liang and coach Huang Qiang. Surprisingly, the IOC turned down the divers’ request but allowed the coach to attend the later part of the Games. Edwin Chong, the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) se...

HALA tuju skuad Harimau Muda A akhirnya terjawab. Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Razali Ibrahim tampil dengan menyatakan tiga opsyen yang akan dipertimbangkan untuk skuad bola sepak bawah 21 tahun (B-21) negara itu. "Terdapat tiga pilihan. Pertama, menjalani kem latihan sepenuh masa di Slovakia serta bermain seba- nyak 12 perlawanan bermutu dengan kelab-kelab Liga 1 Slovakia berserta empat aksi persahabatan menentang negara-negara jiran Slovakia. "Keduanya, attachment training bersama Persatuan Bola Sepak Korea (KFA) dan Kelab Bola Sepak Cardiff City, manakala yang ketiga ialah mengadakan beberapa sesi latihan di luar negara," katanya dalam satu kenyataan kepada media semalam. Razali bersama-sama Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong dan Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Datuk Azzud- din Ahmad semalam selesai menga- dakan lawatan kerja ke Seoul, Korea Selatan sejak Isnin lalu. Jelas Razali, ketiga-tiga opsy...

ABDUL HALIL (kiri) meluangkan masa bertemu atlet-atlet memanah negara yang akan beraksi pada Sukan Komanwel 2010 di Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur semalam. ATLET negara ke Sukan Komanwel 2010 pada Oktober depan tidak perlu bimbang soal keselamatan kerana pihak berkuasa di New Delhi memberi jaminan terhadap aspek tersebut sepanjang temasya sukan itu berlangsung. Demikian jelas ketua kontinjen negara, Tan Sri Abdul Halil Abdul Mutalib ketika melawat persiapan atlet negara di perkampung sukan di Bukit Jalil semalam. Katanya, atlet tidak seharusnya membiarkan perkara itu mengganggu tumpuan mereka kepada latihan, sebaliknya menyerahkan soal keselamatan kepada pengurusan kontinjen untuk memantaunya. Menurutnya jika soal kesela- matan menjadi serius, kerajaan melalui Wisma Putra pasti memberi nasihat. "Sehingga kini kami belum lagi menerima sebarang nasihat atau amaran dari New Delhi, hos bagi Sukan Komanwel ke-19 yang akan berlangsung pada 3 hingga 14 Oktober depan. "Kita sen...

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 Julai (Bernama) -- Atlet negara ke Sukan Komanwel Oktober depan tidak perlu bimbang soal keselamatan kerana pihak berkuasa di New Delhi memberi jaminan keselamatan semasa temasya sukan itu, kata ketua kontinjen negara Tan Sri Abdul Halil Abdul Mutalib. Katanya atlet tidak seharusnya membiarkan perkara itu mengganggu tumpuan mereka kepada latihan, sebaliknya menyerahkan soal keselamatan kepada pengurusan kontinjen untuk memantaunya. Menurutnya jika soal keselamatan menjadi serius, kerajaan melalui Wisma Putra pasti memberi nasihat. "Sehingga kini, kami belum lagi menerima sebarang nasihat atau amaran dari New Delhi, hos bagi Sukan Komanwel ke-19 yang akan berlangsung dari 3 hingga 14 Okt. "Tetapi kita sentiasa memantau tahap keselamatan di sana terutama nasihat dari pihak kedutaan Malaysia di sana. Sehingga kini, kita difahamkan segalanya lancar," katanya kepada pemberita di sini pada Khamis. Isu keselamatan semasa temasya tersebut timbul ber...

KEMENTERIAN Belia dan Sukan (KBS) disaran supaya memperhalusi semula Akta Pembangunan Sukan 1997 agar ia lebih dihormati serta mempunyai kredibiliti dan bukan dijadikan bahan jenaka oleh persatuan sukan kebangsaan. Saranan itu dikemukakan bekas Naib Presiden Persatuan Taekwondo Malaysia (MTA), Nur Ekmal Buhary yang menyifatkan akta berkenaan terlalu longgar dan tidak relevan menyebabkan ia dipertikaikan dan tidak dihormati. Saya sendiri berpengalaman dalam menghalusi akta ini bersama barisan peguam ketika isu kontroversi membabitkan penggantungan MTA dan mendapati ia terlalu longgar serta boleh dicabar sekiranya sesuatu isu itu dibawa ke mahkamah. Sekiranya akta itu jelas dan terang dari segi peranan serta bidang kuasa Pesuruhjaya Sukan, saya percaya ia tidak akan menimbulkan sebarang masalah dan pertikaian oleh persatuan sukan kebangsaan, katanya, semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- Medals were still elusive for the national paralympic team despite the International Powerlifting Championships entering its fourth day at the Titiwangsa Stadium here Wednesday. The team's coach Jamil Adam said overall he was satisfied with the national powerlifters performance as they were up against the best in the world. "Nervousness also gets the better of them in a championship at this level. This is something we will work on with the help of the National Sports Institute," he told Bernama.

MACAU - Pemain No. 1 dunia, Datuk Lee Chong Wei mudah menundukkan pemain Taiwan, Hsu Jen Hao, 21-15, 21-12 pada pusingan kedua kejohanan badminton Terbuka Macau, semalam. Chong Wei hanya mengambil 27 minit untuk menempah tempat ke pusingan ketiga dan bertemu pilihan ke-14, Saensomboonsuk Tanongsak dari Thailand. Seorang lagi pemain perseorangan negara, Wong Choong Han juga mempamerkan aksi cemerlang apabila menewaskan pemain Hong Kong, Chun Hei Tam, 21-10, 21-12. Pemain muda negara, Liew Daren pula membuat kejutan apabila menyingkirkan pilihan ke-12, Parupalli dari India, 13-21, 21-13 dan 21-19. Namun, seorang lagi pemain negara, Wong Beryno Jiann Tze gagal meneruskan kemaraan, walaupun memberikan tentangan sengit kepada pemain veteran Korea, Lee Hyun Ill sebelum kalah 19-21, 16-21. Sementara itu, di dalam acara beregu lelaki, gandingan Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng menang ke atas beregu Belanda, Ruud Bosch- Koen Ridder, 21-12, 21-18. Satu lagi beregu negara, Chan Peng Soon- ...

SONIA turut terpilih menggalas cabaran negara ke YOG 2010. "INI medan terbaik buat saya membuktikan kemampuan di pentas antarabangsa." Demikian pengakuan Low Wei Sheng yang akan menggalas cabaran negara dalam sukan badminton pada Sukan Olimpik Remaja (YOG) 2010 di Singapura pada 14 hingga 26 Ogos ini. Menurutnya, ini merupakan kesempatan terbaik untuk mengukur kemampuannya berhadapan dengan pemain-pemain dari negara lain. "Ini merupakan kejohanan besar pertama yang saya sertai melibatkan penyertaan daripada semua pemain di seluruh dunia. "Tetapi, saya tidak gentar dan saya akan berusaha untuk tampil dengan prestasi terbaik," katanya ketika ditemui selepas sidang media kontinjen negara ke YOG 2010 di Bukit Jalil, semalam. Wei Sheng turut meletakkan sasaran untuk sekurang-kurangnya layak ke saingan separuh akhir bagi membolehkannya mengutip pingat gangsa. Selain itu, pemain badminton wanita kebangsaan, Sonia Chiah, 17, melabelkan China dan Jepu...

KENG LIAT (tiga dari kiri) akan mengetuai kontinjen negara ke temasya YOG 2010 di Singapura. KONTINJEN negara tidak mahu terlalu yakin pada penampilan sulung di Sukan Olimpik Remaja (YOG) 2010. Meskipun satu pingat menjadi impian, tetapi keutamaan mereka adalah kepada penyertaan serta pendedahan atlet muda yang satu hari kelak menjadi tonggak kekuatan sukan negara. Satu pingat yang mereka impikan itu diramal bakal hadir daripada acara terjun, badminton atau pelayaran. Sukan Olimpik Remaja 2010 dijadualkan berlangsung pada 14 hingga 26 Ogos di Singapura dan ia julung-julung kali diadakan. Ketua kontinjen negara, Alex Lim Keng Liat berkata, impian meraih satu pingat itu adalah sasaran yang realistik kerana mereka tidak dapat menjangkakan kekuatan pasukan lain. Katanya, ini merupakan kali pertama temasya tersebut dianjurkan. "Kita cuma mahu mereka (atlet) membuat yang terbaik dan harap mereka boleh bawa pulang satu pingat tidak kira warna," katanya pada sidang me...

Part of Malaysia’s contingent pose after a press conference in Bukit Jalil yesterday. — Picture by Fariz Iswadi Ismail.    LIM Keng Liat always set high standards as a competitor but as chef-de-mission of Malaysia's contingent to the Youth Olympics, he is hoping for a solitary medal in Singapore on Aug 14-27. According to Keng Liat the sheer nature of the Youth Olympics makes it hard to predict the level of competition in Singapore. "I have faced the media as a swimmer in my 15 years as a competitor but now I'm honoured to be playing this role. "Since this is the inaugural Youth Olympics, it's difficult to predict where we stand and our target is to win at least one medal," said Keng Liat in Bukit Jalil yesterday. "Our medal chances are from badminton, diving and sailing but we also hope the other athletes will bring out their best and surprise although they will be up against some of the best juniors in the world." "This is my first e...

Lee Hup Wei continues to be the only Malaysian athlete to make headway on the international scene. AS Lee Hup Wei blazes a trail across Europe, time is running out for the rest of the national track and field athletes to make the cut for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. So far, only four athletes have qualified for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games in October while the tally for the Guangzhou Asian Games the following month is even worse -- just two athletes plus the women's 4x100m quartet. The paltry representation, however, is in keeping with the declining standard of Malaysian athletics with Hup Wei the only athlete capable of mixing it with the best. The 23-year-old high jumper is the only Malaysian athlete to have qualified for both the Commonwealth and Asian Games and further enhanced his reputation with a second European win of his career in Liege, Belgium on July 10. Hup Wei matched his national record of 2.27m for the second time this year in edging American ...

PETALING JAYA: The FA of Malaysia’s (FAM) indecisiveness and lack of funds are depriving the National Under-21 team of a chance to play competitive football in their build-up to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. The once cash-rich FAM are still mulling whether to send the Harimau Muda squad to compete in the Slovakian National League (Division Two), which has already started. The Slovakian stint was to have been part of the team’s preparations for the London Olympics. But now, after almost two months of waiting for FAM’s answer, their chances of playing in the Slovakian League are as good as gone. Newly-appointed National Under-21 coach Ong Kim Swee said there was nothing much he could do but to play the waiting game with his 24-player squad at the National Sports Council (NSC) Complex in Bukit Jalil. “We are still waiting for confirmation about the trip to Slovakia,” said Kim Swee yesterday. He said the players were continuing with their training sessions “so that...

KUALA LUMPUR: Diver Pandelela Rinong is in a sticky situation ahead of the Youth Olympics in Singapore from Aug 14-26. The rule states that an athlete had to stay the full two-week period to enjoy full boarding and be part of a cultural and educational exchange programme. Pandelela’s diving competition is only from Aug 21-24 and the 17-year-old would rather not disrupt her intensive training in Kunming, China, as part of preparations for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October. Pandelela, who partnered Leong Mun Yee to claim a historic bronze medal for Malaysia at the World Championships in Rome last year in the women’s synchronised 10m platform event, is seen as a medal contender in New Delhi. She is also a potential medallist in the Youth Olympics out of Malaysia’s13 qualifiers. To accommodate the diving gem, the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) have written an appeal letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for an exemption for Pandalela. OCM se...

KUALA LUMPUR: Middle distance runner M. Vadivellan has clinched a place for this October’s New Delhi Commonwealth Games. The 800m runner clocked a personal best of 1:50.36 in a competition in Cologne, Germany, last week to surpass the qualifying mark of 1:50.45, which is the sixth-placing time of the Melbourne Games in 2006. Coach S. Muthiah said in an email yesterday that he was delighted with Vadivellan’s performance in not only clocking a personal best but also in finishing second in the event on Wednesday. “The high-level training-cum-competition in Europe has paid off handsomely for Vadivellan,” said Muthiah, a former international. Muthiah added that Vadivellan needed to take part in at least three more high-level competitions in preparation for the Commonwealth Games. Vadivellan: Beat the qualifying mark during a competition in Germany last week.  

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- National back up athletes competing at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Singapore next month, have vowed to do their best for the country. Women's singles shuttler Sonia Cheah, 17, said she hoped to bring back a medal for the country. "I am competing in this event for the first time. I'll do my best to bring home a medal," she told Bernama after attending the YOG news conference at National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil here Wednesday. Cheah said she was also looking forward to the cultural and educational programmes during the YOG. "I think it's a good opportunity to learn something new because there will be many interesting elements during the games," she added. This year, Cheah participated in several tournaments, including the Uber Cup and the Malaysian Grand Prix Gold. In the recent Asean Schools Games (ASG) here, she won gold medals in the individual and team events. High jumper Navin Raaj said he...

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia expects diving, badminton or yachting to deliver at least one medal at the Singapore Youth Olympic Games (YOG) from Aug 14-26. Chef de mission Alex Lim said this was because Malaysia could not gauge the strength of the other contingents since it was an inaugural event. "We want them (athletes) to do their best and hopefully come back with one medal regardless of colour," he told a press conference at Bukit Jalil Sports Complex on Wednesday. Kim said the Malaysian contingent of 22 including 13 athletes and eight coaches will leave for Singapore on Aug 10. The athletes are Pandalela Rinong (diving), Fatin Atikah Osman (weightlifting), Loh Wei Sheng and Sonia Cheah (badminton), Mohd Amirul Shafiq Md Jais and Khairuneeta Mohd Afendy (yachting). National Sports Council athlete division director Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said YOG's priority was on participation rather than medals while stressing on cultural and educational asp...

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 Julai (Bernama) -- Malaysia mensasarkan untuk membawa pulang sekurang-kurangnya satu pingat menerusi acara terjun, badminton atau pelayaran pada Sukan Olimpik Remaja 2010 di Singapura dari 14 hingga 26 Ogos ini. Ketua Kontinjen negara Alex Lim berkata sasaran itu berikutan pihaknya tidak dapat menjangkakan kekuatan pasukan lain kerana ini merupakan kali pertama temasya tersebut dianjurkan. "Kita mahu mereka (atlet) cuba dan membuat yang terbaik dan harap mereka boleh bawa pulang satu dari mana-mana jenis pingat," katanya pada sidang media mengenai kejohanan itu di Kompleks Sukan Bukit Jalil dekat sini pada Rabu. Beliau berkata kontinjen negara, yang terdiri daripada 22 orang yang merangkumi 13 atlet, lapan jurulatih dan dirinya, akan bertolak ke Singapura 10 Ogos ini. Antara atlet yang terlibat ialah Pandalela Rinong bagi acara terjun, Fatin Atikah Osman (angkat berat), Loh Wei Sheng dan Sonia Cheah (badminton), Mohd Amirul Shafiq Md Jais dan Khairun...

  PETALING JAYA: World number one men’s singles shuttler and defending champion Lee Chong Wei is not the only star attraction in the Kumpoo Macau Open Grand Prix, which began yesterday. There are two other Lees – Hyun-il and Yong-dae from South Korea, who are making a comeback in an Open tournament after a long hiatus. Back in the fray: South Korea’s Lee Hyun-il has not played in any Open tournament since retiring two years ago.   Yesterday, the cool Malaysian superstar justified his favourite’s tag when he steamrolled past homester Chan Io Chong 21-9, 21-19 in just 19 minutes for a flying start. Veteran Wong Choong Hann also joined Chong Wei in the second round after an opening 21-10, 21-5 win over Kazakhstan’s Viktor Govenko. Chong Wei will take on Taiwan’s Hao Hsu-jen, who prevented an all-Malaysian second round match by beating Kedah Open champion Chan Kwong Beng 21-19, 17-21, 21-16.

DOES Malaysian football need new legs, new people with fresh ideas and new enthusiasm? Whatever your call, it is set to be "game over" for many of the old guard this Saturday when the FA of Malaysia (FAM) holds its congress-cum-elections. The local football fraternity can expect "winds of change". I use the phrase "winds of change" because only four incumbents of the 27 nominated candidates will be contesting in the elections. While Sultan Ahmad Shah, the president retains his seat uncontested, an intense battle is brewing for the two deputy presidents and four vice-presidents posts. Five candidates, including incumbent Datuk Seri Redzuan Sheikh Ahmad, will fight it out for the two deputy presidents posts while eight aspirants will contest the four vice-presidents seats. The delegates must think wisely before voting as their decisions will chart the course of Malaysian football at least till 2014. And those elected should deliver in the coming...

PETALING JAYA: Asian Championships silver medallist Fatehah Mustapa is in for another heartbreak this year as the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) have decided to send an all-male cast in their bid to make history at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games from Oct 3-14. Eight track cyclists and three more riders for the road race event have been picked for the Games, meaning there is no place for Fatehah. No passage to India: Fatehah Mustapa has been told to focus on the Asian Games. The 20-year-old who, like two-time World Championships silver medallist Azizul Hasni Awang, comes from Terengganu, has been asked to concentrate on the Guangzhou Asian Games instead. With world and Olympic champions from Britain and Australia competing in the Commonwealth Games, MNCF deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamad felt that it would be hard for Fatehah to make an impression.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Youth and Sports will continue pursuing its hope of setting up an academy for badminton although two previous attempts to acquire land for the purpose had failed. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said since an allocation of RNM24 million has been set aside under the 10th Malaysia Plan, the setting up of the academy would continue. "Our proposed plan is to combine the academies of badminton, cycling and a velodrome under one roof by building a 'Vision Valley' in Labu, Negeri Sembilan," he told reporters after visiting the Paralympics Sports Excellence Centre at the Kampung Pandan Sports Complex here Tuesday. He said the 'Vision Valley' would be set up through a joint effort with a private company. "However, the proposal is still under consideration and yet to be decided," he said. In 2008, the ministry had identified a location at Taman Maluri, Cheras for the setting up...

KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 (Bernama) -- Indonesia, the host for next year's SEA Games, will hold the biennial games in Jakarta and Palembang instead of four provinces as previously announced. Indonesia had earlier announced that the Games from Nov 11-25 next year would be hosted at four provinces -- Jakarta, Bandung, Palembang and Semarang. The Indonesian SEA Games Organizing Committee (Inasoc) sports and venues deputy, Djoko Pramono said the decision to hold the SEA Games in Jakarta and Palembang was made by Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono last week. "These are instructions from above, so Inosoc has to make everything possible," he said in the online-edition of Jakarta Post. Djoko said the move to hold the games in Jakarta and Palembang had forced Inosoc to reorganise its logistics and infrastructure plan. "The two provinces will each host 21 sports," said Djoko adding that the details of the allocation would be disclosed later.

"KALAU masih diperlukan, saya terima saja dan kalau tidak, tak mengapa." Demikian ulasan Tengku Mahkota Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah mengenai pencalonannya untuk bertanding jawatan Timbalan Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) pada Kongres kali ke-47, 31 Julai ini. Tengku Abdullah yang memegang jawatan No. 2 FAM itu selama 13 tahun sebelum melepaskannya pada 2007, menjelaskan bahawa keputusan sama ada baginda akan kembali semula dalam barisan kepimpinan FAM, terletak di tangan Presiden, Sultan Ahmad Shah dan para perwakilan pada kongres tersebut kelak. Malah, baginda menyifatkan pengundurannya berikutan kekalahan skuad negara dalam Piala Asia pada 2007 lalu adalah pilihannya sendiri bagi memberi peluang kepada FAM membuat perubahan. "Selama tiga tahun saya mengundur diri bagi memberi peluang kepada mereka yang ada dalam FAM melaksanakan wawasan dan visi mereka. "Ketika itu saya mungkin agak kecewa kerana skuad Malaysia kalah dalam Piala A...

YEN YEN (tiga dari kanan) hadir pada majlis perasmian Kejohanan Tenis Terbuka Malaysia 2010 di Kuala Lumpur semalam. KEJOHANAN Tenis Terbuka Malaysia 2010 yang akan menyingkap tirainya September depan pasti menjadi tumpuan apabila pemain No. 5 dunia, Robin Soderling mengesahkan akan menyertai kejohanan tersebut. Selain Soderling, juara bertahan, Nikolay Davydenko turut kembali untuk mempertahankan gelaran buat kali kedua menjelang kejohanan siri ke-250 dalam Jelajah Persatuan Pemain Tenis Profesional (ATP) itu. Ia dijadualkan berlangsung pada 25 September hingga 3 Oktober di Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil. Davydenko yang menghuni ranking keenam dunia turut disertai tujuh lagi pemain terkemuka dunia iaitu Tomas Berdych (8), David Ferrer (12), Mikhail Youzhny (14) dan Nicolas Alma- gro (18). Turut beraksi ialah Marcos Bagh- datis (25), bekas juara Wimbledon, Lleyton Hewitt (30) dan pemain terkemuka Asia, Rendy Lu (41). Pengarah kejohanan, Nick Freyer memberitahu, kejohanan pada k...

TENGKU ABDULLAH ANGGOTA Majlis Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) perlu bijak memilih calon yang akan mengetuai barisan kepimpinan badan induk bola sepak negara itu. Salah pilih, FAM akan kembali dengan cerita lama yang tiada kesudahannya. Perwakilan seharusnya sudah tahu siapa calon yang dilihat berpotensi untuk menerajui FAM dan sudah membuktikan kredibiliti pada peringkat negeri. Pengkritik sukan terkenal, Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dr. Khoo Kay Kim turut memberi pandangan serupa khususnya untuk dua jawatan timbalan presiden.

KUALA LUMPUR - Presiden Persatuan Sukan Ekstrem Malaysia (MESA), Tan Sri Darshan Singh Gill telah dipilih sebagai naib presiden Persekutuan Papan Luncur (Skateboarding) Antabangsa (ISF). Pemilihan Darshan sebagai calon pertama dari Malaysia dan juga Asia dilakukan semasa Perhimpunan Agung ISF di Boston, Amerika Syarikat, baru-baru ini. "Perhimpunan Agung itu diadakan sempena Kejohanan Papan Luncur Sedunia di Boston. ISF dianggotai oleh 81 buah negara,” kata Darshan di sini, hari ini. Bekas presiden Persekutuan Berbasikal Asia (ACC) itu berkata, hanya seorang peserta Malaysia, Kieron John Brodie mengambil bahagian pada kejohanan dunia itu. Selepas melepasi pusingan awal, dia layak ke pusingan akhir sebelum menduduki tangga ke-31 daripada 57 peserta pada kejohanan dunia itu, katanya. "Ini membuktikan peserta negara semakin berani untuk menempa nama dalam sukan ekstrem dunia,” katanya. - Bernama

KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN secara terbuka menyatakan sokongan kepada Tengku Mahkota Pahang, Tengku Abdullah dan Tan Sri Annuar Musa untuk mengisi dua jawatan Timbalan Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) pada pemilihan kepimpinan baru badan induk bola sepka negara itu minggu depan. Khairy yang tidak mempertahankan jawatan Timbalan Presiden yang disandangnya berkata, Tengku Abdullah dan Annuar merupakan gandingan terbaik yang mampu memacu perkembangan bola sepak negara. “Tengku Abdullah seorang calon yang menjadi pilihan saya, saya hormat padanya dan yakin Tengku boleh bawa perubahan. Tan Sri Anuar Musa juga calon yang baik dan mereka adalah gandingan terbaik buat masa ini," katanya kepada pemberita ketika ditanya mengenai calon yang akan bertanding jawatan itu menjelang sesi pemilihan pada Kongres Tahunan FAM ke-47, Sabtu ini. Khairy berkata, gandingan tersebut juga diyakini mampu membawa perubahan yang tidak berjaya dilaksanakan oleh kepimpinan terdahulu terutama dari segi pe...

Muhyiddin (tengah) hadir pada majlis perasmian penutup Kejohanan Formula Future Kebangsaaan 2010 di Taman Botani, Putrajaya semalam. KEMENTERIAN Pelajaran dan Kementerian Belia dan Sukan akan mempertingkatkan kerjasama untuk menggalakkan lebih ramai pelajar melibatkan diri dalam bidang sukan di negara ini. Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, jika sebelum ini kerjasama hanya ditumpukan kepada sukan teras sahaja tetapi selepas ini ia akan turut melibatkan sukan yang berteraskan pertandingan (sukan kompetitif).

AZLAN (depan) berjaya meraih tiga gelaran pada tahun ini iaitu Kejohanan Senior Asia, Kejohanan Kebangsaan dan Terbuka Malaysia, Sabtu lalu. SELEPAS menjulang gelaran Terbuka Malaysia CIMB kelmarin, Mohd. Azlan Iskandar kini menumpukan perhatian kepada Sukan Asia di Guangzhou, China, yang akan berlangsung pada November depan. "Tahun ini saya amat sibuk dan Sukan Asia sekali lagi menjadi keuta- maan saya," kata pemain berusia 28 tahun dari Sarawak itu. Sukan Asia buat julung-julung kali- nya menawarkan empat pingat emas dalam acara skuasy iaitu masing-masingnya dua (acara individu dan pasukan) bagi kategori lelaki dan wanita. Mohd. Azlan berkata, ia memang mencabar bagi atlet untuk mencapai sasaran empat pingat emas yang ditetapkan oleh Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN). "Saya berharap MSN membawa jurulatih saya dari England ke sini untuk membimbing pasukan, beberapa minggu sebelum Sukan Asia. "Saya rasa itu amat penting kerana Sukan Asia akan diadakan di Chi...

SKUAD bola sepak kebangsaan membuktikan mereka kini wajar untuk terus digeruni apabila berjaya mengejutkan skuad Olimpik Korea Selatan 1-0 pada aksi persahabatan di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil petang semalam. Gol kemenangan Malaysia dijaringkan oleh pemain tengah Selangor, Safiq Rahim pada awal separuh masa kedua. Perlawanan yang diadili pengadil ke Piala Dunia 2010, Subkhiddin Salleh itu bermula dalam keadaan hujan renyai sambil disaksikan 5,000 penonton kedua- dua negara. Malaysia yang dibarisi pemain B-23 kecuali tiga pemain lebih umur, Sharbinee Allawee Ramli, S. Kunalan dan Norshahrul Idlan Talaha berjaya mengimbangi kekuatan lawan yang dibarisi pemain B-21 pada separuh masa pertama. Seawal minit keempat, Malaysia sudah menguji gawang Korea Selatan tetapi percubaan Nor- shahrul hasil hantaran Zaquan Adha Radzak dari sebelah kanan sedikit sipi. Gawang Malaysia cemas seketika pada minit ke-10 apabila tandukan penyerang Korea Sela- tan, Park Hee-seong berpunca daripad...

MALAYSIA akan melobi untuk menjadi tuan rumah Kejohanan Formula Future Dunia tahun depan. Sebelum ini, Malaysia gagal menjadi tuan rumah pada kejohanan itu dua tahun lalu ekoran penularan wabak Influenza A (H1N1). Pengarah Urusah H20 Sports Sdn. Bhd., Datuk Yahya A. Jalil berkata, beliau sudah berbincang dengan Presiden Badan Dunia Sukan Air Bermotor (Union International Motonautique) bagi menyatakan hasrat Malaysia menganjurkan kejohanan tersebut. Beliau berkata, Putrajaya menjadi pilihan kerana ia mempunyai prasarana yang cukup untuk penganjuran Formula Future. "Kejohanan Formula Future Dunia tahun ini akan berlangsung di Merseyside, England pada 13 hingga 15 Ogos depan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas majlis perasmian Kejohanan Formula Future Kebangsaan oleh Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek di Putrajaya semalam.

"JANGAN pertikaikan calon yang bertanding." Itu amaran daripada calon Timbalan Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Tan Sri Annuar Musa ( gambar ) menjelang sesi pemilihan pada Kongres FAM Ke-47 Sabtu ini. Annuar mengeluarkan amaran itu ketika mengulas dakwaan terdapat pihak-pihak yang meragui keikhlasan calon-calon yang akan bertanding bagi mengisi beberapa jawatan penting dalam FAM bagi penggal 2010/2014. Menurutnya, pencalonan yang ramai bagi jawatan Timbalan Presiden, Naib Presiden dan Ahli Eksekutif (Exco) membuktikan ramai pihak bersedia dan prihatin untuk membantu FAM untuk mengembalikan era kegemilangan sukan No. 1 negara itu. "Jangan lupa, FAM adalah NGO (Badan Bukan Kerajaan) yang bekerja tanpa mendapat bayaran yang mana penjawat jawatan perlu berkorban masa minat dan juga tenaga. Maka situasi ini (ramai pencalonan) harus dilihat dari sudut positif. "Saya kesal ada juga kenyataan yang seolah-olah mempertikaikan calon yang bertandi...

DATUK Nicol Ann David dan Mohd. Azlan Iskandar muncul juara Kejohanan Skuasy Terbuka Malaysia CIMB yang melabuhkan tirainya di gelanggang kaca di The Curve, Mutiara Damansara semalam. Nicol mengesahkan gelaran keenamnya selepas menundukkan pemain No. 2 dunia dari England, Jenny Duncalf 11-6, 6-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-5 dalam masa 72 minit. Mengulas kejayaannya semalam, Nicol berkata, dia sudah menjangkakan laluan getir yang akan ditempuhi apabila berdepan dengan musuh tradisinya itu. "Sebenarnya selepas menewaskan Alison (Water) dalam saingan separuh akhir semalam (kelmarin), saya sudah jangka akan melalui perlawanan lima set bersama Duncalf hari ini (semalam). "Kedua-dua mereka (Duncalf dan Alison) kini merupakan pesaing utama saya kerana mereka semakin hebat dari semasa ke semasa. "Pada set kelima, saya sedar perlu bangkit dan menamatkan perlawanan dengan cepat kerana saya tidak mampu untuk bermain lebih daripada 11 mata. "Dalam masa yang sama, saya lihat...

GENAP seminggu lagi, barisan kepimpinan Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) akan berubah kecuali kerusi presiden. Adakah ia akan menjadi kenyataan atau sebaliknya? Peminat tempatan yang sayangkan bola sepak negara ‘sangat-sangat’ mengharapkan akan ada perubahan, agar cerita lama tidak berulang. Barisan kepimpinan yang akan dipilih nanti hendak diberikan kepada golongan yang betul-betul ‘buat kerja’. Dalam masa seminggu lagi senarai 15 nama untuk menganggotai Jawatankuasa Eksekutif FAM bagi penggal 2010- 2014 akan diketahui pada Kongres badan induk bola sepak negara itu pada 31 Julai ini. Hanya satu kerusi daripada 15 kerusi itu sudah diketahui pemiliknya iaitu Sultan Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah yang kekal sebagai Presiden FAM apabila baginda menang tanpa bertanding. Namun, sesi pemilihan pada Kongres FAM ke-47 itu yang akan berlangsung di Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie, Shah Alam 31 Julai ini bakal mencipta sejarah tersendiri apabila buat pertama kalinya jawatan Timbalan ...

PETALING JAYA, July 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's worlds No. 1 women's squash player Datuk Nicol Ann David advanced to the semi-finals of the 2010 CIMB Malaysian Open Squash Championships after outclassing Camille Serme of France at The Curve shopping mall, here, Thursday night. Nicol took only 29 minutes to win the quarter-final match in 11-4, 11-4 and 11-9. "I just want to start off well as she (Camille) had nothing to lose. It was her first time playing in the glass court and get used to it but at the same time I did not to get in her game," said the 26-year-old Nicol, who is gunning for her sixth consecutive title. Nicol will be meeting Alison Waters of England in tomorrow's semifinals. "I played her for so many times and we had some good matches. Tomorrow, I have to really bring my game up. She will be throwing everything out there and will bring in my game as well," said Nicol on tomorrow's semifinal match. Alison had earlier defeate...

PETALING JAYA, July 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's top men's player Azlan Iskandar has cleared his second hurdle to make his way to the semi-finals of the 2010 CIMB Malaysian Open Squash Championship. Playing as the tournament's fourth seed, Mohd Azlan defeated sixth seeded Pakistan's Aamir Atlas Khan in straight sets of 11-7, 11-8 and 11-2 in 41 minutes in his quarter final match when the championship shifted to the glass court mounted at The Curve shopping mall in Mutiara Damansara near here, Thursday. "Obviously, it is a great game although winning it 3-0. In the second set, three quick errors by me gave him three points. I'm glad that I rectified it quickly and moved on," said Mohd Azlan after the match here today. He will be playing Farhan Mehboob of Pakistan in tomorrow's the semifinals. "I am glad that I am in the top form and tomorrow's game against Farhan will tricky because he has nothing to lose and he is firing on all cylind...

Neville D'Cruz MELBOURNE, July 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian national hockey team, on a training-cum playing visit to Perth, has impressed Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek. Ahmad Shabery who watched the national squad beat Australian club champion West Australian Thunder Stick 3-1 in a practice match in Perth, Wednesday, was impressed with their performance. "Our team has improved a lot and they played really well," said Shabery by phone from Perth. "They showed confidence and played a spirited, attacking game." Malaysia who conceded an early goal, fought back to equalise and went on to win the thrilling match 3-1. Shabery said the visit to Perth was to prepare the Malaysian team for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and the Olympic Games in London. "We want to give our team good exposure and develop their confidence," he said. Malaysia will play several games in Perth before returning to Malaysia. -- BERNAMA

THOSE with self interests should stay out of the FA of Malaysia (FAM). It will be bad for local football if agenda-motivated candidates are elected to helm the association. So, delegates from the 19 affiliates must cast their votes wisely in the July 31 Congress if they hope for a better future for football. In the past, we have seen one-hit wonder candidates make ing their way into FAM by making empty promises, and then And as a result, they failing ed to contribute anything of significance. We (the public) have had enough of them. What we want are is genuine leaders who can take our football to another level, so it’s needless to say that only those with a good track records should hold positions in FAM. And those who are elected to for the new term under the leadership of Sultan Ahmad Shah, must work hard to improve the quality of football. What our football needs is re-branding and the first thing to do is to get ting more sponsors into the sport. FAM must should consider...