Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

PETALING JAYA: The scratch pair of Ow Yao Han-Tan Wee Kiong stole the limelight after playing like men possessed to stun reigning Olympic champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia in the second round of the Indonesian Open GP Gold in East Kalimantan yesterday. Yao Han-Wee Kiong, who had to get through the qualifiers, blew away the second seeds 21-17, 21-13 in just 27 minutes. This result, coming a day after Liew Daren had sent sixth seed Simon Santoso packing in the first round of the men’s singles , is a strong message that Malaysia can still be a force to be reckoned with in the Jakarta SEA Games. Yao Han-Wee Kiong’s impressive win and their ability to strike up a good understanding could now leave national doubles head coach Tan Kim Her with a selection headache. Splendid surprise: Ow Yao Han (above) and Tan Wee Kiong stunned Markis Kido- Hendra Setiawan 21-17, 21-13 in the second round yesterday.   Yao Han’s regular partner Chooi Kah Ming will be...

Lee Chong Wei will not make life easy for China’s Chen Long or Chen Jin in future meetings. CHINA'S shuttlers will go full throttle to deny Lee Chong Wei the Olympic gold but national singles coach Tey Seu Bock is optimistic the World No 1 will not allow his rivals to dictate terms anymore. The first indication came in the Japan Open final where China's Lin Dan, the leader of the pack, handed compatriot Chen Long a walkover in the semis so he would be fresh to battle Chong Wei in the final and it paid off. However, Seu Bock said the result will only motivate Chong Wei to be ruthless in future meetings against Chen Long or Chen Jin. The Lin Dan-Chong Wei rivalry is expected to be intense as usual but Seu Bock expects his charge to prove his superiority in coming tournaments. "Chong Wei is well aware of what China are doing and he is strong enough to disrupt their plan. They will be on a three-pronged attack all the way to the Olympics but Chong We...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29(Bernama) -- Top seeds Nicholas Almagro of Spain reached the quarter-final of 2011 ATP Malaysia Open tennis championship held at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil here Thursday night. The world number 11 edged out his countryman Albert Ramos 7-6(2), 7-6(4) in a tense second round match that lasted an hour and 43 minutes. "It was a tough match. We had practiced together before in Barcelona a few weeks ago, so I know his game and I think Ramos is going to be one of the important players from Spain," Alamagro told the media after the game. Almagro, who will take on eight seeded Japan's Kei Nishikori in the quarter-final match tomorrow, said he would try his best to get past the Japanese player for a place in the semifinal. Meanwhile, Nishikori, who defeated Philipp Petzschner of Germany 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in a stiff match earlier, became the last standing Asian player in the tournament. Commenting on his game against Petzschner, Nishikori adm...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- The venue for the 5th circuit of the national cycling grand prix (GP) scheduled for next month has been changed from Sabah to Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian National Cycling Federation vice president Datuk Naim Mohamad told reporters here today that the change was made to accommodate the OCBC Cycle Malaysia meet which would be held from Oct 14 to 16. Meanwhile, OCBC Cycle Malaysia event promoter, Spectrum Worldwide is expecting a total of 3,000 participants at the inaugural event. "The event will bring together riders of all ages and cycling experience. Having the top Malaysian cyclists blazing through the streets of Kuala Lumpur is an incredibly thrilling prospect and a fantastic addition to the OCBC Cycle Malaysia programme," said Commercial Director, Angus Gordon.

SHAH ALAM, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Former Manchester United player, Jesper Blomqvist has promised to give his best for Selangor when they face a Singapore Selection in the 10th edition of the Sultan Selangor Cup this Saturday at Shah Alam Stadium. Jesper, 37, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur Thursday, said he would all do he could to help Selangor recapture the the trophy from 'The Lions'. "Tomorrow, I will join the training with the Selangor team and meet my team mates first. "Then, I will see what I can contribute to the team," he told reporters, here, today. Asked on his position this Saturday, Jesper said it was up to Selangor coach, P. Maniam to decide.

JOHOR BAHARU, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Golfer Kelly Tan was last night crowned Johor's Sportswoman of the Year 2010. The US based Kelly Tan, 18, beat four other candidates to win the crown at the Johor Sports Award Night held here on Tuesday night. Tan, winner of the women's individual golf gold medal in the Melaka Malaysia Games (SUKMA) last year is also the National Schools and the Asean Schools gold medallist. Only last month, Tan had earned a slot for the US$1.8 million Sime Darby LPGA Championship to be played in Kuala Lumpur next month, after finishing second in the qualifying tournament. The Sportsman of the Year Award was won by 21-year old shooter Muhammad Shahril Sahak from the Bukit Jalil Sports School. The State Women's basketball team won the Best Women's team award for their achievement in winning the gold medal in the SUKMA last year and also the Agong's Cup. It was an evening to savour for basketball when the winner of the Best Spor...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Selangor and Sabah became the last two teams to book their spots in the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals after beating their opponents in group matches Tuesday night. With the wins, Selangor and Sabah will accompany Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu, Kelantan, Felda United and T-Team in the quarter-finals. In their opening quarter-final matches next Thursday, Selangor are pitted against Perak, Felda United against Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu against Kelantan and Sabah against T-Team. Tuesday night, Selangor came back from behind to edge Kuala Lumpur 2-1 in their last Group D encounter at the Shah Alam Stadium. Kuala Lumpur opened scoring in the 37th minute with a header from captain Muhammad Shahrom Abdul Kalam but Selangor drew level in the 66th minute through Mohd Razman Roslan in a goalmouth melee before captain Mohd Amri Yahyah sealed the issue beyond doubt in 10 minutes later. In Group A, Sabah trounced Johor 4-1 at the Tan Sri Da...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- National diver Bryan Nickson Lomas has also qualified for the men's individual 10m platform diving event at the London Olympics. At the 4th Asian Diving Championships which at ended at the National Aquatics Centre here today, Bryan won the gold in the event after collecting 480.50 points, which assured him the ticket in the event in London next year. Compatriot Ooi Tze Liang won the silver with 450.80 points while Indonesia's M. Nasrullah had to settle for the silver after garnering 396.20 points. Bryan had qualified for the 3m men's individual springbaord event in the London Games at the World Championship earlier this year. "I thank the Chinese divers for having pulled out of the event at the eleventh hour. It somewhat reduced the pressure on me in winning the gold medal," he told Bernama. In the women's 3m springboard, Malaysia's contenders Cheong Jun Hoong and Leong Mun Yee only managed to fi...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Active politicians should not interfere or get involved in the management of sports associations in the country, said Malaysian Amateur Athletics Association (MAAU) deputy president Karim Ibrahim. He said that only professionals and those really interested and committed to help promote sports should run sports associations. Active politicians, bogged down with work in the political arena, would be unable to give much attention to the sports bodies and give of their best, he said in an interview on the "Kerusi Panas" (Hot Seat) programme over Bernama Radio24 Monday. "When they (politicians) get involved in both politics and sports, self-interest sets in. As such, it is preferable that they focus fully on the agenda of the people as that is more important," he said. Karim also said that the development of athletics in the country hinged heavily on the cooperation and understanding of many quarters, including pare...

Safee Sali sempat merakamkan kenangan di Stadium Cardiff City, semalam sebelum mengambil penerbangan pulang ke Kuala Lumpur, esok. - BERNAMA CARDIFF CITY - Penyerang kebangsaan Safee Sali akan pulang ke Malaysia, esok selepas menjalani latihan dua minggu dengan kelab bola sepak Cardiff City di bawah kendalian pengurus Malky Mackay. Harapan pemain berusia 27 tahun itu adalah agar dapat diterima sebagai pemain kelab dari Wales itu yang bersaing dalam Liga Inggeris. Safee, yang kini bermain untuk kelab Indonesia, Pelita Jaya berkata, tempo permainan di England lebih pantas. Penyertaan Safee dalam latihan dengan Cardiff City mendapat liputan meluas akhbar tempatan, malahan beberapa penyokong kelab itu turut mendapatkan autograf beliau semalam ketika pasukan itu menentang Leicester City. Beliau tidak bermain dalam permainan itu. "Selepas menyertai pasukan simpanan dan juga pasukan utama dalam latihan, saya dapati permainan di sini lebih pantas. Ia di tahap be...

PETALING JAYA, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- The World Football Federation (FIFA) in association with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is conducting a four-day seminar starting here today to uplift goalkeeping quality for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. FIFA's Course Instructor, Pat Bonner from Ireland, said the seminar would use the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as the case study to analyse current goalkeeping trends and the latest technical and tactical approaches towards improving the skill level of goalkeeping instructors. "The participants will be exposed to what goalkeepers, coaches and instructors do," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the FIFA Goalkeeping Seminar at a hotel here Monday. Bonner, who is also the national coach at Ireland's National Coaching and Training Centre for Goalkeepers, said the seminar was a starting point for the participants to enhance their skills, attitudes and characteristic as instructors when they return to ...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Indonesia will likely be using Malaysian information technology (IT) expertise to register online the 10,000 odd athletes who will be competing in the 26th SEA Games to be held in Jakarta and Palembang in November. Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) honorary-secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said a Malaysian IT company would be working together with the Indonesian SEA Games Organising Committee for the purpose. "I have been told a Malaysian company has been selected to handle IT administration of the Games but an official agreement has not been signed between the two parties yet," he told Bernama here Monday. In other developments, Sieh urged sports associations sending athletes to the Indonesian SEA Games under Category B to refund OCM's advance payments immediately after the Games are over. Unlike Category A where the athletes are fully sponsored, NSAs (national sports associations) have to pay for the trips of Category ...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) - Diver Pandelela Rinong may not defend the two gold medals she won at 2009 Laos SEA Games at Indonesia SEA Games this November. Pandelela said national diving coach from China, Yang Zhu Liang wanted her to concentrate on preparaing for London Olympic Games next year. At the games in Laos, Pandelela won gold medals in the 10M individual platform and synchronised diving event with Leong Mun Yee. "I'm also not sure whether I will feature in both events as the coach is likely to make last minute changes," she told Bernama here today. Pandelela who has qualified for Indonesia SEA Games said Zhu Liang also asked her to execute a more difficult manoeuvre during the dive. "Maybe I will be asked try other events but it is up to the coach," said 18-year-old lass who has qualified for London Olympic Games. Zhu Liang is expected to make the final evaluation before choosing divers who can deliver medals at SEA Games. Pa...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- Diver Yeoh Ken Nee booked a ticket to the 2012 London Olympics after winning the men's 3M Springboard individual gold medal in the Asian Diving Cup at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil today. Yeoh, 28, collected 456.55 points to convincingly beat team mate Ooi Tze Liang who accumulated 387.50 points while Timothy Lee from Singapore collected the bronze medal with 310 points. Ken Nee said he had not set an targets initially but when Chinese divers in his event decided to withdraw from the competition in the last minute, he was confident of a positive result. "Qualifying for the London Olympics was my ultimate goal and having done it today makes me very happy," he told reporters here Sunday. Kee Nee who had seen action in the 2000 Sydney Olympics in Australia, did not win any medals. Apart from Ken Nee, two other national divers Ooi Tze Liang/Pardika Indoma Pamng also checked into the London Olympics after wi...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- World number one shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei suffered an upset when he was defeated in the men's singles final of the Japan Open badminton championships in Tokyo today by a fourth seeded Chinese player. Chong Wei's path to victory was halted by China's Chen Long in an hour and 13 minutes match which resulted in the later winning by 21-8, 10-21, 21-19. The fourth seeded Chen Long advanced to the final after his compatriot and world number two Lin Dan, pulled out of his semifinal yesterday. Chong Wei who lost tamely in the first game 8-21, put up a sizzling display in the second to win 21-10 but the third game was an evenly contested affair with the lead changing hands as often as the shuttle change. The Malaysian who was leading 19-18 in the third game failed to take advantage of the situation and allowed Chen Long to claw back to level the score and go on to win the match.

Timbalan Presiden Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia, Datuk Naim Mohamad (kiri) bersama pengurus pemasaran Air Cab, Tia Wahid (tiga dari kiri) dan Mohd. Azizulhasni Awang yang memegang pas percuma untuk cabutan bertuah menaiki helikopter di Kuala Lumpur, semalam. Turut kelihatan John Beasley. KUALA LUMPUR – Pelumba trek negara, Mohd. Azizulhasni Awang mengakui kecederaan ngeri yang dialaminya pada Siri Piala Dunia Klasik di London, Februari lalu mempunyai hikmah tersendiri terutama tentang teknik kayuhannya. Menurut Azizulhasni, sejak menjalani latihan di atas trek di Melbourne selepas tiga bulan tidak berkayuh akibat kecederaan di betis kirinya, dia mula merasai terdapat perbezaan dari segi imbangan kayuhannya berbanding sebelum ini. “Saya tidak berasa fobia untuk beraksi di atas trek cuma saya merasakan ada hikmah di sebalik kecederaan ini kerana saya dapat melakukan imbangan kayuhan dengan lebih baik,” katanya ketika ditemui media pada sidang akhbar Tab...

KUALA LUMPUR: The retirement of China’s long-serving shuttler Bao Chunlai last week has reminded national chief coach Rashid Sidek of the importance of having a proper succession plan. The 28-year-old Chunlai an­­nounced his retirement from China’s national team during the China Masters in Changzhou last week, ending his decade-long service with the powerful badminton nation. The lanky shuttler cited constant ankle injuries as the reason for hanging up his racquet. In fact, he withdrew from the China Masters because of his nagging ankle injury and submitted an official letter of retirement to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Sept 20. China were able to let Chunlai go ahead of the London Olympic Games next year because of their confidence in several youngsters in their camp. Besides the ever-dependable and four-time world champion Lin Dan, the others currently in the national team are Chen Jin, Chen Long, Du Pengyu and Wang Zhengming. Chen Long, Du Pengyu ...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has set a modest target of 40-50 gold medals for the Malaysian contingent for the SEA Games in Indonesia from Nov 11-22. OCM Honorary Secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said among sports identified to deliver gold medals are aquatics, tenpin bowling, athletics, archery, karate and silat. "The 40 to 50 gold target is realistic based on the current performances of athletes in the country. Our strength is in sports like aquatics and tenpin bowling," he told Bernama here today. Sieh said aquatics has the potential to deliver eight to 10 gold medals, tenpin bowling (6-7), athletics, archery, karate (4-5 each) and silat (2-4). He added that the identified sports should be able to contribute about 30 gold medals while the other sports should deliver the rest, namely boxing, taekwondo, weightlifting and equestrian. Sieh added that a decision on whether national sports associations should send th...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- Top Malaysian track cyclist Mohd Azizulhasni Awang has declared himself ready for competitive action after a long lay off from competition since suffering a freak accident during competition early this year. "I am eager to resume competitive action after the long lay off. But right now I have to concentrate on training. "I will have to wait until the first series of the World Cup to gauge my performance after returning from the injury," he said when met at the Yayasan Sime Darby's Leukemia Charity cycling event here Thursday. Azizulhasni, 23, the two-time World Championships silver medallist, has not raced on track since he suffered a horrific injury in the final leg of the World Cup series in Manchester, England, where his calf was skewered by a 20cm splinter on Feb 19. After recovering and recuperating through a five-month rehabilitation programme under the National Sports Institute (ISN), Azizulhasni, also kn...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- World number one and Malaysia's top singles player Datuk Lee Chong Wei led two doubles pairs - Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong and Goh Wei Shem/Lim Khim Wah - into the quarterfinals of the Japan Open Super Series in Tokyo Thursday. Chong Wei who secured his quarter-final slot after defeating unseeded Wang Zhengming of China 21-19, 21-14, today takes on Japan's rising star Kenichi Tago tomorrow. In the men's doubles, the two Malaysian pairs will meet each other in the quarterfinals, thus ensuring Malaysia's representation in the semifinals even before playing tomorrow. After pulling off an impressive upset by beating world number eight Chai Biao/Guo Zhendong of China 19-21, 21-19, 21-19 today, Goh and Lim (currently ranked 43) will have to battle against their own seniors Koo and Tan in tomorrow's match. Third seeded Koo/Tan were made to work hard before defeating unseeded Yoshiteru Hirobe/Kenta Kazuno of Japan 17...

PENYERANG utama Harimau Malaya, Safee Sali (gambar) merayu kerajaan Malaysia membantunya menyelesaikan masalah birokrasi kerajaan United Kingdom (UK) yang dilihat mungkin akan menyukarkannya untuk beraksi dalam Liga Kejuaraan England di bawah kelab Cardiff City. Safee yang dipetik dari laman sosial Facebook (SafeeSali_10 Official) amat berharap bantuan daripada pihak kerajaan terutama dari Kementerian Belia dan Sukan Malaysia (KBS) dan Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN). “Pelbagai cara telah kami usahakan, namun sehingga kini tiada sebarang tanda-tanda masalah tersebut akan dapat diselesaikan dalam jangka masa terdekat,” katanya. Masalah permit kerja ini dilihat tidak adil hanya kerana Malaysia berada di kedudukan bawah 70, meskipun Safee mempunyai bakat setanding dengan pemain Eropah dan Malaysia merupakan sebahagian daripada negara Komanwel. Berikutan masalah permit yang masih membelenggu David Beckham Malaysia itu, Safee sehingga kini masih belum dapat menyert...

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal yesterday sentenced former athletics coach C. Ramanathan to 12 months' jail for molesting two junior athletes 19 years ago. A three-man bench led by Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus unanimously dismissed Ramanathan's appeal against conviction, but varied the jail sentence of four years to a year, which was to run concurrently. Following yesterday's ruling, Ramanathan, 75, a former teacher, walked out a free man as he had served 10 months in Kajang Prison. Convicts get one-third remission for good behaviour while in prison. However, he will lose his pension. Hishamudin, who sat with Datuk Abdul Wahab Patail and Datuk Linton Albert, said the court found no merit to overturn the conviction. "However, in reducing the sentence, we considered Ramanathan's age and the long years the appeal has taken." Deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud submitted that then High Court judge Tan Sri Abdull Hamid E...

KUALA LUMPUR - Masalah permit kerja menjadi penghalang Safee Sali untuk menyarung jersi Cardiff City selepas jurulatih kelab Malky Mackay mengakui terpikat dengan kemampuan pemain kebangsaan itu. Perkara itu dimaklumkan oleh pengurus peribadi pemain itu, Zakaria Ab.Rahim semalam yang mendedahkan betapa Mackay amat kagum dengan kebolehan Safee. "Menerusi berita yang disiarkan di akhbar-akhbar Wales Selasa lalu, Mackay dilaporkan amat puas hati dengan persembahan Safee, selain berminat terhadap pemain tersebut. "Bagaimanapun Mackay menjelaskan dia tidak mahu menyusahkan dirinya untuk mengikat Safee kerana perlu melepasi halangan di luar padang termasuk urusan permit bekerja di negara itu," katanya. Tambah Zakaria, Safee memberitahu sekiranya ranking pasukan bola sepak negara berada pada kedudukan yang baik, sudah tentu peluang untuknya bermain dengan kelab Eropah lebih terbuka luas. Walaupun menerima perkhabaran tersebut, Zakaria berkata, Safee akan mem...

Razali Ibrahim (kiri) dan PBMM Azman Yaakob menunjukkan trofi Kejohanan Badminton Melayu Malaysia 2011 di Kuala Lumpur, semalam. KUALA LUMPUR - Persekutuan Badminton Melayu Malaysia (PBMM) perlu membuka lembaran baru dalam usaha meningkatkan prestij penganjuran Kejohanan Badminton Melayu Malaysia 2011 pada masa depan. Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Razali Ibrahim berkata, kejohanan tersebut boleh dijadikan platfrom untuk melahirkan lebih ramai pemain badminton Melayu yang berbakat dan mampu memberikan saingan pada peringkat yang lebih tinggi. "Sebelum mencapai ke peringkat itu, PBMM perlu melakukan perubahan terutamanya dalam soal pengurusan sesebuah kejohanan. "Selain itu bagaimana untuk kita mencari pasaran yang lebih baik agar kejohanan yang dianjurkan menerima sambutan yang positif daripada pelbagai pihak," katanya. Beliau melancarkan Kejohanan Badminton Melayu Malaysia 2011 Piala DYMM Sultan-Sultan dan Raja-Raja Yang ke-53 yang bermula...

Lee Chong Wei membalas hantaran pemain England, Rajiv Ouseph pada Terbuka Jepun di Tokyo semalam. – AFP KUALA LUMPUR - Jaguh No. 1 dunia, Datuk Lee Chong Wei dan pasangan negara, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong bermula garang pada kejohanan badminton Terbuka Jepun semalam apabila mudah memenangi halangan awal masing-masing. Begitupun tumpuan utama di Tokyo terarah kepada aksi cemerlang beregu muda, Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah yang turut melangkah ke pusingan kedua. V Shem-Khim Wah, antara pasangan yang cuba diketengahkan sebagai beregu No. 2 Malaysia, selain masih berada pada landasan untuk mencari tiket Sukan Olimpik 2012, menang 22-20, 21-19 ke atas beregu Korea, Kim Ki Jung-Shin Baek Choel hanya dalam masa 37 minit. Ini merupakan kemenangan kedua mereka ke atas pasangan tersebut selepas turut mengalahkan Ki Jung-Baek Choel pada Terbuka Thailand, Jun lalu. Kemenangan semalam bakal membawa beregu No. 43 dunia itu berdepan pasangan berpengalaman China, Chai Biao-Guo Zhe...

PETALING JAYA: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei got off to a flying start in the first round of the Japan Open in Tokyo yesterday. The 29-year-old needed just 25 minutes to brush aside England’s Rajiv Ouseph 21-13, 21-13 to set up a second round clash with China’s Wang Zhengming. Chong Wei, who is seeking to bounce back from losing to Lin Dan in the World Championships last month, skipped last week’s China Masters. This is his first outing since the loss to the China ace. Lin Dan also progressed into the second round in Tokyo but his 21-16, 11-21, 21-12 win over South Korean veteran Lee Hyun-il was far from impressive. The biggest surprise in the singles event came from Taiwanese qualifier Chou Tien Chen, who stunned Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat 21-17, 12-21, 21-18 to set up a second round match against Japan’s Kenichi Tago. This has also made Chong Wei’s road to the final easier, as he was supposed to meet Taufik in the quarter-finals. Seventh seed Nguyen Tien Minh of Vie...

FUKUOKA: Japan were hit by Typhoon Roke yesterday. But it did not dampen the spirits of the “Young Samurai” squad from making a 2-0 winnning start against Malaysia in the opening game of the Asian Zone final round qualifying Group C match for the 2012 London Olympics at the Tosu Stadium last night. Keigo Higashi and substitute Ryohei Yamazaki scored a goal each in the 10th and 76th minutes respectively for the home side. Malaysia had skipper cum goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat to thank for keeping the scoreline respectable against a Japanese side seeking their sixth consecutive appearance in the Olympics. Khairul single–handedly saved the blushes for Malaysia when he stopped more than a dozen attempts from the fleet–footed Japanese players in the one–sided match.. Although Malaysia only trailed by a single goal at half–time, it was one–way traffic all the way. Khairul made at least seven point blank saves, including stopping Japan captain Kazuya Yamamura’s powerful h...

SEBAHAGIAN penyokong pasukan negara yang hadir menyaksikan perlawanan Malaysia bertemu Jepun di Stadium Tosu, semalam.   ‘Pemain Malaysia perlu bekerja keras andai mahu cari sesuatu dalam saingan Kumpulan C’ PENGENDALI skuad bawah 23 negara, Ong Kim Swee mengakui Jepun mendedahkan begitu banyak kelemahan dalam skuad Harimau Muda sepanjang saingan 90 minit di Stadium Tosu, Wilayah Saga di Pulau Kyushu, malam tadi. Pada pengamatannya, pemain Malaysia perlu bekerja keras andai mahu mencari sesuatu dalam saingan Kumpulan C, kelayakan Olimpik bertemu dua lagi seteru, Bahrain dan Syria dalam kumpulan yang sama. “Jepun diakui cukup bagus, pantas dan sukar untuk memberi tentangan. Inilah bezanya antara pasukan yang bagus dengan pasukan yang kurang bagus,” kata Kim Swee. “Banyak yang boleh dipelajari untuk dijadikan bekalan bagi cabaran seterusnya. “Saya berpendapat semua pemain sudah beraksi dengan baik termasuk penjaga gol, Khairul Fahmi (Che Mat) yang...

khairul Fahmi Che Mat (kiri) menafikan percubaan dua penyerang Jepun, Yuya Osako (kanan) dan Keigo Higashi pada Kelayakan Olimpik di Tosu, Saga Jepun semalam. – AFP KUALA LUMPUR - Tewas 0-2 kepada Jepun mungkin bukan satu keputusan yang memalukan. Namun hakikatnya persembahan hambar skuad Olimpik negara ketika berdepan pasukan No.1 Asia pada aksi pembukaan Kumpulan C Kelayakan Olimpik semalam, memberi gambaran tentang tahap bola sepak kita masih ketinggalan berbanding negara tuan rumah. Jika bukan kerana ketangkasan penjaga gol yang juga ketua pasukan, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, skuad negara mungkin dibolosi dengan jumlah jaringan yang jauh lebih besar. Beraksi di hadapan kira-kira 23,000 penyokong Blue Samurai di Stadium Tosu, Fukuoka, Harimau Muda bagaikan kehilangan taring, langsung tidak mengaum. Sejak awal permainan, barisan pertahanan skuad Ong Kim Swee begitu mudah dilepasi oleh rangkaian serangan Jepun yang diketuai tonggak perancang, Hiroshi Kiyotake. Serang...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 (Bernama) - Malaysia lost 0-2 to Japan in the first Group C Olympic qualifying match at Tosu Stadium, Fukuoka, Japan Wednesday night. Japan, gold medal winner at 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, got off to a fine start when striker Higashi Keigo scored in 9th minute. The squad of coach Takashi Sekizuka, famous for their fast and aggressive play, continued to dominate the match with a string of attacks on the Malaysian goal but the squad coached by Ong Kim Swee absorbed them. Japanese strikers Hiroshi, Osaka Yuya and Keigo launched several attacks on the Malaysian goal but the defence led by goalkeeper and captain Khairul Fahmi Che Mat withstood the onslaught. During the first half, only A. Tamil Arasu and Abdul Shukur Jusoh managed to test Japanese goalkeeper Gonda Shuichi. Dominance of the Japanese players forced coach Ong to replace Wan Zaharulnizam Wan Zakaria with Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor who was injured. After the break, Malaysia got the firs...

We have agencies and government bodies to ensure the masses adhere to the laws of the country. But what happens when a government agency does not seem to follow the laws passed by the Parliament?   That is the question on the minds of many when it comes to the National Sports Council (NSC). Let's take a look at the NSC Act 1971. Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Act focus on the Council, its functions and members of the Council. What interests many is Section 5(3)(b) of the Act, which states the Council shall consist of "three representatives nominated by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM)." But the question of who the three representatives are remains one that even OCM is finding difficult to answer. Two — OCM president Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar and vice-president Low Beng Choo — sit on the NSC's Board of Management and not the Council. The Board and Council are two separate entities as clearly distinguished in Section 6 of the same Act. Even if certain...

keadaan permukaan platform acara terjun di Pusat Akuatik Nasional yang terkoyak teruk dan belum diperbaiki. - UTUSAN/Shahril Aizat Ahmad KUALA LUMPUR - Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia sedang mengejar masa untuk menyiapkan venue di Pusat Akuatik Nasional, Bukit Jalil bagi Kejohanan Terjun Piala Asia yang bermula Ahad ini. Dengan baki hanya empat hari lagi, timbul kebimbangan sama ada kerja-kerja membaiki yang melibatkan kemudahan terjun dan bilik persalinan sempat disiapkan. Persoalannya, mengapa ia dilakukan pada saat-saat akhir sedangkan perkara seperti kerosakan pada platform terjun yang karpet anti-licinnya terkoyak, pernah didedahkan media termasuk Utusan Malaysia Mei lalu. Tinjauan ke pusat akuatik nasional semalam mendapati keadaannya masih tidak berubah dan lebih mengejutkan tiada lagi kerja memperbaikinya. Keadaan kesemua platform terjun (5m, 7m, dan 10m) yang sudah usang dilihat amat membahaya untuk penerjun melakukan terjunan dari ketinggian sedemik...

KUALA LUMPUR - Ketika tumpuan terlalu diberikan kepada misi memburu pingat Sukan Olimpik 2012, Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) tidak boleh mengambil ringan satu lagi kejohanan yang memiliki nilai tinggi, Piala Thomas kerana kegagalan melayakkan diri ke pusingan akhir akan dianggap sebagai 'malapetaka' buat badminton negara. Biarpun sudah 19 tahun tidak bergelar juara, iaitu sejak kali terakhir kita menang di Kuala Lumpur pada 1992, Malaysia tidak pernah gagal beraksi di pusingan akhir sejak format baru kejohanan diperkenalkan pada 1984. Justeru, kegagalan melayakkan diri ke pusingan akhir yang bakal berlangsung di Wunan, China dari 20-27 Mei tahun depan akan dianggap sebagai kegagalan terburuk dalam sejarah badminton negara, sesuatu yang cuba dielakkan BAM. Pusingan kelayakan akan berlangsung di Macau dari 14-19 Februari depan, enam bulan sebelum Sukan Olimpik London membuka tirai dari 27 Julai hingga 12 Ogos, dan ketika ini cuma tiga pemain sudah mengesahk...

PASANGAN kelab profesional KLRC, Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari menegaskan mereka terpaksa melupakan seketika hasrat menjalani ‘sparring’ dengan skuad kebangsaan berikutan syarat yang dikenakan Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM). “Buat masa ini kami terpaksa menangguhkan seketika hasrat itu kerana syarat yang dikenakan BAM terutama soal pakaian memang sukar untuk dipatuhi kerana kami juga tertakluk dengan syarat penaja pakaian dan peralatan kami Li Ning. “Lagipun, kami memang memerlukan jurulatih (Razif Sidek) untuk datang bersama-sama bagi memantau ‘sparring’ yang dijalankan bagi membolehkannya mengenal pasti kelemahan dan kesilapan yang dilakukan,” kata Fairuzizuan semalam. Fairuzizuan berkata, bagaimanapun dia dan Mohd Zakry akan cuba berbincang dengan BAM bagi mencari jalan penyelesaian terbaik termasuk meminta badan induk itu melonggarkan syarat bagi membolehkan mereka dapat menjalani ‘sparring’ dengan skuad negara. “Kami kini sibuk...

AZLAN Iskandar marched into the British Grand Prix second round but Ong Beng Hee fell by the wayside in the opening round in Manchester on Monday. National champion Azlan saw off a late fightback by Egyptian qualifier Mohammed Abbas 11-4, 11-3, 12-10 to book a meeting with seventh seed Peter Barker of England today while Beng Hee almost pulled off a remarkable comeback only to fall short 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 7-11, 11-8 against Egypt's Ali Anwar Reda. "In the first two games, I had absolute clarity of what I needed to do on court," said Azlan. "He couldn't find his lengths but he went for it and really played well in the third. "I was lucky to take the third, I had to really scramble and I thank God he tinned the last one."

ByERIC SAMUEL FUKUOKA: National goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat is ready to shut the door on fancied Japan today. Last year, greenhorn Khairul did well to concede only two goals to the Asian giants in a group match at the Asian Games in Guangzhou. Now, a wiser and mature Khairul said he was ready to face the “Young Samurai” squad and hopefully get a better result than at the Asian Games. “I admit that the Japan frontline and their speedy wingers kept me busy throughout that match. The attack came from all corners and I see Japan coming at us hard again,” said Khairul at the team hotel yesterday. Japan’s star striker Kensuke Nagai will be the one to watch as he beat Khairul for the opening goal in the Asian Games. The other strikers are Masato Kudo and Takamitsu Tomiyama. “They will give me hell again but I am more confident now. I more or less know their game and will work hard with the defenders to put up a strong fort at the back,” he said. ...

KUALA LUMPUR - "Jangan jadi pasukan belasahan". Itu peringatan Timbalan Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Tan Sri Annuar Musa kepada pemain-pemain skuad Olimpik negara yang akan berjuang pada Kelayakan Olimpik menentang Jepun di Stadium Tosu, hari ini. Tidak mahu meletakkan harapan terlalu tinggi, Annuar berkata, dia mengharapkan anak-anak buah Ong Kim Swee mampu memberikan saingan memandangkan kualiti tersendiri yang ada pada Jepun, jelas sukar disaingi oleh Malaysia. Bagaimanapun, beliau tetap optimis jika Kim Swee menggunakan strategi yang betul dan pemain mampu mengikut strategi yang diberikan, mereka mampu mengekang tuan rumah dan mencuri satu mata berharga daripada tuan rumah. "Kita terima hakikat Jepun memang merupakan sebuah pasukan yang seimbang daripada segenap posisi dan kekuatan mereka antara terbaik di Asia. "Perasaan khuatir bahawa kita boleh jadi pasukan belasahan itu memang ada, namun saya yakin para pemain Olimpik ma...

Khairul Fahmi Che Mat Apek yakin Harimau jerat Samurai “KAMI lebih arif dengan kekuatan Jepun siapa lawan kali ini dan kami sudah bersedia berdepan Jepun.” Itu kenyataan ringkas bernada cukup yakin daripada mulut kapten dan penjaga gol skuad Olimpik Malaysia, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat menjelang pertemuan penting perlawanan pertama Kumpulan C kelayakan Olimpik di Stadium Tosu, Wilayah Saga, Pulau Kyushu, jam 7 malam ini (8 waktu tempatan). “Kini saya dan rakan-rakan lebih bersemangat dan yakin kerana sudah mendapat sedikit gambaran maklumat daripada jurulatih (Ong Kim Swee). Malah kami juga berpeluang melihat rakaman perlawanan mereka (Jepun) dengan Kuwait pada pusingan kedua lalu. “Apa yang boleh saya katakan ialah mereka pasukan yang pantas, banyak menggunakan pemain sayap dan cukup agresif dan saya jangkakan mereka akan kekal bermain seperti itu esok (malam ini). “Tetapi berkat latihan dan persiapan lebih rapi menghadapi kempen peringkat kumpulan ini, saya yakin ...

SAFIQ (kanan) dihalang pemian T-Team, Tengku Hasbullah Raja Hassan pada perlawanan Piala Malaysia di Stadium Shah Alam, Sabtu lalu.   Kapten negara terima keputusan Rajagobal tapi janji untuk kembali ke skuad KAPTEN pasukan kebangsaan, Safiq Rahim tidak dapat menyembunyikan perasaan kecewa selepas namanya tidak disenarai dalam 26 pelatih bagi menghadapi siri persahabatan antarabangsa menentang Australia di Canberra pada 7 Oktober ini. “Sudah pasti saya kecewa apabila nama saya tidak ada dalam senarai. Sebagai pemain bola sepak kita harus lalui segala rintangan dan ini adalah satu rintangan bagi diri saya. “Saya setuju dengan alasan Rajagobal yang menyebut saya kurang bermain dalam Selangor menjadi faktor kepada keputusannya itu. Kita harus sedar kita masih ada kekurangan lagi dan perlu bekerja keras dan terus fokus terhadap permainan saya,” katanya ketika ditemui selepas sesi latihan Selangor di Padang SUK, kelmarin. Akhbar kelmarin melaporkan pen...

New Selangor coach P. Maniam putting the players through the paces yesterday. — Picture by Osman Adnan.   K. DEVAN has resigned abruptly as Selangor head coach amid the ongoing Malaysia Cup competition. The FA of Selangor (FAS) declined to give the reasons for the coach's sudden decision to quit. It is learnt that the 60-year-old, who tendered his resignation letter to FAS on Monday, stepped down due to pressure from the fans and the team management. Devan had only two months left on his three-year contract. Assistant coach P. Maniam has replaced Devan as the chief coach and the former international took charge of the team for the first time at the Shah Alam training ground yesterday. FAS secretary-general Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said the association persuaded Devan to stay on but nothing could change his mind. "His resignation was agreed upon by mutual agreement. The management and players are saddened but we must continue with our mission in the Malaysi...

P. Maniam (kiri) memulakan tugasnya sebagai pengendali baru Selangor selepas K. Devan mengumumkan peletakan jawatan, semalam. - UTUSAN/Saharuddin Abdullah SHAH ALAM - K. Devan secara persetujuan bersama dengan Persatuan Bola Sepak Selangor (FAS) meletakkan jawatan sebagai ketua jurulatih pasukan Merah Kuning berkuatkuasa semalam, ketika anak buahnya masih 'tersepit' untuk ke suku akhir Piala Malaysia dengan baki dua perlawanan Kumpulan D. Devan membuat keputusan melepaskan jawatan yang disandangnya sejak 2009, selepas mengadakan perbincangan dengan pengurusan FAS kelmarin, sekali gus menamatkan kontraknya lebih awal daripada yang dijadualkan berakhir pada 30 November ini. Kedudukan Devan, yang membantu Selangor menjuarai Liga Super dan Piala FA 2009 dan Liga Super 2010, diambilalih penolong jurulatih, P. Maniam sementara Rosedy Nadzir dinaikkan pangkat membantunya dan jurulatih penjaga gol, Azmin Azram Aziz dikekalkan. Setiausaha Agung FAS, Datuk Ham...