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ANOTHER bunch sprint ended the third stage of the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) yesterday, and again the peloton found no answer to the power of Andrea Guardini who powered to his second consecutive triumph. The Italian's seventh LTdL stage win came after his Farnese Vini team were again stretched as a four-man breakaway pushed clear of the peloton after 16km of the 187.6km stage and opened up a gap of over five minutes before the remnants of it were pulled back 20km from the finish.    Escapees Shinichi Fukushima of the Terengganu Cycling Team, Taiji Nishitani of Aisan Racing Team, Alex Coutts of RTS Racing Team and Malaysia's Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi swept the intermediate sprints on offer between them. In the third intermediate sprint after 136.2km in Chaah, Fauzan decided to resign from the breakaway group and dropped back into the peloton, stating he was instructed to do so by coach Syed Mohd Hussaini Syed Mazlan in order to preserve himself for the Ge...

BEBERAPA pelumba, termasuk peserta negara, Ahmad Fallanie Ali ditimpa kemalangan semasa beraksi di peringkat ketiga dari Melaka ke Parit Sulong, semalam. – Utusan/ MOHD. NAJIB MOHD. NOR BATU PAHAT – Episod tahun lalu kembali berulang pada Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2012, apabila pelumba handalan negara, Anuar Manan dari pasukan Champion System dan Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) memulakan persaingan hebat sebaik tamat peringkat ketiga dari Melaka ke Parit Sulong semalam. Biarpun Guardini berjaya menjuarai perlumbaan, namun Anuar tidak membiarkan pelumba muda Itali itu berada dalam kedudukan selesa apabila menjadi pelumba ketiga (empat jam 30 minit 11 saat) melepasi garisan penamat, di belakang Raymond Kreder dari Garmin Barracuda. Malah, Anuar kini menjadi pencabar utama Guardini untuk menyarung jersi biru dalam acara pecut selepas mengumpul 26 mata, hanya empat mata ditinggalkan di belakang Guardini. Tahun lalu, Anuar dan Guardini bersaing sen...

BATU PAHAT: Champion System sprinter Anuar Manan ( pic) went one step better in the race yesterday as he notched a third place finish in the third stage of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL). Although he bettered his fourth place finish from Saturday, Anuar still found himself behind Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini) who took his second win yesterday. Champion System principal Edward Beamon, said the team’s lead-out train are still perfecting their moves i and it would take some time before Anuar would get a perfect lead-out. “This is the first time these guys have been in a race but compard to teams who have been together for three or four years, we were not that bad,” said Beamon. “Anuar had to fend for himself in the final kilometre on Saturday because Chris (Butler) had fallen ill recently and is not in top form while Aaron (Kemps) just didn’t have the legs for it. But we will work hard for him to get a stage win especially here in LTdL.” Commenting on his third place f...

ANUAR (kanan) bersama Guardini (tengah) dan Kreder berada di podium selepas tamat peringkat ketiga LTdL 2012 di Parit Sulong, Johor semalam. PELUMBA sensasi negara, Anuar Manan hampir berjaya merealisasikan misinya memenangi satu peringkat perlumbaan Kejohanan Lumba Basikal Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2012 apabila menduduki tempat ketiga pada saingan ketiga dari Melaka ke Parit Sulong, Johor semalam. Selepas menamatkan peringkat kedua di tempat keempat kelmarin, Anuar, 26, akhirnya berjaya menebus kekecewaan tersebut dengan melakukan henjutan menarik kira-kira 100 meter sebelum garisan penamat untuk menaiki podium buat kali pertama pada perlumbaan edisi ke-17 itu. Pelumba pasukan Champion System itu jelas sekali berpuas hati dengan kejayaannya hasil bantuan rakan-rakan sepasukannya - Adiq Hussainie Othman dan Jaan Kirsipuu yang mengemudinya untuk terus mengekori rapat juara peringkat tersebut, Andrea Guardini daripada pasukan Farnese Vini-Selle Italia yang mencatat 4...

ZULKIFLI Sidek will not stand in his son, Zulfadli's way if he is asked to train with the Thomas Cup team by the BA of Malaysia (BAM). Zulkifli used to be apprehensive when BAM offered Zulfadli the chance to join the national junior team on several occasions but he now feels that his son can  progress faster by training with the national players. The BAM coaching and training committee (CTC), which met on Saturday, has already given approval to  KLRC Berhad's Hafiz Hashim to join the national training session beginning today. But the CTC hasn't given a clear indication on Zulfadli who is also with the same club. It is understood that BAM officials have already had discussions with KLRC chairman Datuk Seri Andrew Kam a few days ago and he has  given permission for the national body to recruit Hafiz and Zulfadli for training if their services are needed. "I am not going to stand in my son's way. He can join the training sessions wit...

LEE Chong Wei is still the king of the local circuit as he asserted his invincibility by winning the mixed doubles crown with Vivian Hoo following a 21-15, 27-25 win over World No 9 Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying in the Selangor Open at Juara Stadium yesterday. Chong Wei's last mixed doubles event was in 2000 when  he partnered Chin Eei Hui to win one of the junior legs but he produced a vintage performance with Vivian against  Peng Soon-Liu Ying.  It was probably an embarrassing moment for Peng Soon-Liu Ying, who will be playing in the German Open beginning tomorrow and also the All England on March 6-11, but Chong Wei came to their defence, saying that their-must win situation may have cost them the title. "It's nice to win the title and it's not the singles after 10 straight years. I was 18 when I last won a junior mixed doubles title but this one was really surprising. Peng Soon-Liu Ying had to win but we didn't have any pressure and that actuall...

AKSI Lee Chong Wei (depan) bersama Vivian Hoo dalam beregu campuran mencuri tumpuan peminat pada Terbuka Selangor di Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara semalam. KUALA LUMPUR - Dia menarik diri daripada acara perseorangan lelaki kerana mahu memberi laluan buat pemain muda, namun Datuk Lee Chong Wei tetap terlalu unggul apabila masih mampu menjuarai acara beregu campuran sekalipun tujuan asal penyertaannya hanya untuk berseronok. Gandingan bersama Vivian Hoo membolehkan Chong Wei melakar kejutan terbesar ke atas beregu No. 1 negara, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ging pada final Terbuka Selangor di Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara semalam. Chong Wei, yang sudah 10 tahun tidak beraksi dalam acara beregu campuran menang 21-15, 27-25. Ternyata, kelibat Chong Wei dalam acara baru itu menjadi tumpuan ratusan peminat yang membanjiri stadium. Dan seperti biasa, dia tidak mengecewakan, malah menghiburkan peminatnya dengan gerakan lincah di gelanggang, pukulan drop shot tajam, smash kencang da...

PERSATUAN dan kelab sukan di negara ini diminta mencari sumber kewangan sendiri dan tidak hanya mengharapkan bantuan kerajaan bagi menjalankan aktiviti masing-masing. Menurut Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, banyak persatuan dan kelab sukan tempatan didapati masih bergantung kepada peruntukan daripada pihak kerajaan. "Pengurus sesebuah kelab dan persatuan yang perlu mengambil inisiatif untuk mencari sumber kewangan untuk kelab mereka. "Sehubungan itu, mereka boleh mengadakan promosi produk kelab sendiri dengan menjual barangan, antaranya jersi, topi, beg dan lain-lain lagi untuk menjana pendapatan bagi memajukan kelab masing-masing," katanya. Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas majlis perasmian Kejohanan Taekwondo Peringkat Kebangsaan anjuran Malaysia Global Taekwondo Federation di Stadium Chin Woo di Kuala Lumpur semalam. Pada masa yang sama, Ahmad Shabery juga meminta masyarakat tempatan bergiat aktif dalam acar...

Pandelela Rinong became the second Malaysian diver to qualify for three Olympic events when she and Cheong Jun Hoong earned the country's ninth quota ticket through the 3-metre springboard synchro at the World Cup in London on Saturday.   Coach Yang Zhuliang's gamble in opting for Pandelela-Jun Hoong ahead of the more experienced Leong Mun Yee-Wendy Ng Yan Yee, paid off with a Malaysian pair breaching the 300-point barrier for the first time to secure qualification.   They finished sixth in the final with a 300.90 total. Prior to the event, Pandelela secured Olympic berths in the 10m platform individual and synchro.   China's He Zi and Wu Minxia grabbed the title with 345.30 points ahead of Canada's Jennifer Abel-Emilie Heymans (321.90) and Italy's Tania Cagnotto-Francesca Dallape (317.40).  Pandelela-Jun Hoong's success meant that the national team have earned three quota spots in synchro disciplines for the first time in Olympic history, wher...

KUALA LUMPUR - Ketua jurulatih skuad terjun kebangsaan, Yang Zhuliang membuktikan dia adalah perancang strategi yang bijaksana, apabila membantu Malaysia meraih satu lagi tiket Sukan Olimpik pada Piala Dunia FINA di London semalam. Kuota ketiga bagi disiplin seirama yang juga kesembilan keseluruhan buat kontinjen Malaysia itu diperolehi menerusi Pandelela Rinong-Cheong Jun Hoong, biarpun digandingkan buat kali pertama dalam aksi 3 meter papan anjal seirama wanita. Acara itu biasanya diwakili gandingan Leong Mun Yee-Wendy Ng yang pernah merangkul pingat perak Sukan Asia 2010 dan emas Sukan SEA tahun lalu, namun keputusan Zhuliang mempertaruhkan Pandelela-Jun Hoong kali ini ternyata tepat. Mereka berdua berganding mantap untuk mencatat kutipan mata keseluruhan300.90, dan menduduki tempat keenam pada final . Seperti dijangka, pasangan China sukar digugat apabila meraih emas menerusi He Zi-Wu Minxia dengan mengumpul 345.30 mata, menewaskan Jennifer Abel-Emilie Heymans d...

SHOOTER Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi, whose two gold medals at the Indonesia Sea Games last year started a gold rush, was named the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM)-100Plus Athlete Of The Year 2011 in Petaling Jaya yesterday. Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek presents Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi with a mock cheque for being crowned the Athlete of the Year yesterday. Pic by Goh Thean Howe The 29-year-old Navy officer won the 50m rifle three-position and 10m air rifle events, which helped Malaysia seal a record breaking 59 gold medals in Jakarta and Palembang. Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek presented the award to the shooter, who also won RM10,000.   "I honestly didn't expect to win this award as the other candidates were all very strong," said  Nur Suryani. "This is one of the best moments of my career and I will treasure the award."    The other athletes shortlisted were world squash cham...

AHMAD SHABERY menyampaikan replika cek serta trofi kepada Nur Suryani pada majlis Anugerah SAM-100Plus-KBS 2011 di Petaling Jaya semalam. NAMA penembak wanita, Nur Suryani Mohd. Taibi mula menjadi sebutan apabila dia muncul penyumbang pingat emas pertama kontinjen Malaysia pada Sukan SEA 2011 di Indonesia, November lalu. Lapor SHANIKA ABDULATIB. Tidak lama kemudian, Nur Suryani meneruskan momentum kejayaannya apabila mengesahkan slot pada temasya Sukan Olimpik 2012 di London, Julai depan. Ia merupakan satu pencapaian yang cukup membanggakan kerana Nur Suryani, 29, muncul penembak wanita raifal pertama negara layak bertanding di temasya Olimpik. Kejayaan penuh bermakna itu dicapai dalam acara 10 meter Air Rifle pada Kejohanan Menembak Asia di Doha, awal Januari lalu. Rentetan kejayaan yang dicipta, Nur Suryani dinobatkan sebagai pemenang Anugerah Atlet Terbaik Persatuan Penulis-Penulis Sukan Malaysia (SAM)-100Plus-Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) 2011. "Terh...

PENEMBAK kebangsaan, Nur Suryani Mohd. Taibi bersama trofi atlet terbaik SAM-100 Plus 2011 di Petaling Jaya, semalam. UTUSAN/Amin Farij Hasan PETALING JAYA - Tanpa diletakkan sebarang ramalan, ratu menembak negara, Nur Suryani Taibi berjaya mencipta kejutan apabila muncul pemenang Anugerah Atlet Terbaik SAM 100Plus 2011 dengan mengetepikan nama besar lain seperti Datuk Lee Chong Wei dan Datuk Nicol David, semalam. Pemenang dua pingat emas Sukan SEA XXVI Indonesia itu turut menewaskan dua lagi calon, pemain boling wanita negara, Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore dan pelumba berbasikal wanita yang semakin meningkat, Fatehah Mustapa. Meraih undian tertinggi daripada penulis sukan media cetak dan elektronik, Suryani secara jujur mengakui langsung tidak menduga akan meraih gelaran itu biarpun mengetahui namanya berada dalam senarai pencalonan. ''Saya benar-benar terkejut sebab memang tidak jangka akan menang untuk anugerah kali ini kerana saya datang ke majlis ini ...

PETALING JAYA, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- National shooter Nur Suryani Taibi was crowned 2011 SAM-100Plus Sports Personality of the Year beating heavyweights Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Datuk Nicol David. Nur Suryani who had also won the 2011 Olympian of the Year award swept aside squash queen Nicol, Chong Wei (badminton), Mohd Azizulhasni Awang (cycling), and Pandelela Rinong (diving). The award which came with a trophy and RM10,000 cash was presented by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek. "I am surprised with the announcement because those shortlisted were all heavyweights. I did not expect to win this award and the reason I came today was to celebrate the event with other athletes," she told reporters here today. She added that the win would inspire her to do well in the 2012 London Olympics come July. Nur Suryani, winner of two gold medals in the SEA Games last year, became the first shooter from Malaysia to book a ticket to the Olympics in...

BATU PAHAT, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- National rider Anuar Manan is closing the gap on leader Andrea Guardini from Farnese Vini-Selle Italia team in the sprint category vying for the blue jersey in Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2012. After completing the third stage from Melaka to Parit Sulong Sunday, Anuar, who represented the Hong Kong-based Champion System finished with only four points behind the Italian rider. Anuar, 25, has so far collected 26 points while Guardini took the lead with 30 points after three stages of the race. In the third stage covering 187.6km, Anuar was adjudged the best Malaysian rider when he finished third while Guardini who claimed his second victory.

BATU PAHAT, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- The blazing heat along the 187.60km from Melaka to Parit Sulong did not deter Italy's Andrea Guardini of the Farnese Vini-Selle Italia team to claim the third stage win in the 2012 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) race. The Italian young star, who also retained the blue jersey for the sprint competition, ended today's stage in 4 hours 30 minutes 11 seconds to claim his second stage win. Finishing in a mass bunch in today's race, Guardini displayed his sprinting skills in the final kilometres to cross the finishing line first. "With 10km to go, the Colnago riders tried to make the race difficult. They tried to push me to the back but my team mates helped me. They brought me back. My team worked very well again today just as I had wanted," said the 22-year-old rider. Following him close at the finishing line were Netherland's Raymond Kreder of Garmin Barracuda and Malaysia's Anuar Manan of Champion System. ...

MELAKA, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- Local ace Anuar Manan, riding for Hong Kong based Champion System, believes he can win a stage in the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) with better team work and support from his team mates. The rider who finished fourth in today's 151km stage (Stage 2) from Putrajaya to Dataran Pahlawan, Melaka said he could have even won the stage with better support from his fellow riders. "I was disappointed for not winning the stage today. I had to work all by myself to stay with leader Andrea (Guardini) and during the sprint to the finish line. The only consolation today for Anuar was finishing as the best Malaysian rider in the stage won by Italian rider Andrea Guardini from Team Farnese Vini-Selle Italia.

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- A burst of energy propelled Garmin Barracuda rider David Zabriskie to snatch the first stage of the 2012 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) which was held here Friday. The rider, making his debut in the tour, completed the one lap 20.3km race by clocking 24 minutes 34.18 seconds to lead the race and snatch the Yellow Jersey, as the current overall leader. Meanwhile, the recent 32nd Asian Cycling Championship (ACC) Individual Time Trial silver medallist Kazakhstan's Dmitriy Gruzdev of the Astana Pro Team clinched the White Jersey as the best Asian rider after posting a time of 26:07.73s. After completing the first stage, the Pro Tour team Garmin Barracuda topped the leaderboard in the team general classification after accumulating 1 hour 16 minutes 38 seconds, while Astana Pro Team emerged as the current leader in the Asian team overall classification with 1:19:32s. The race continues with stage two Saturday from Putrajaya to Melaka, invo...

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- This year's Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL), a prestigious cycling event in Asia, promises to stage another exciting race just like previous editions. It has various challenges in store for riders gunning for the Yellow Jersey, the priced jersey that will be worn by the overall winner in the competition. In addition to the coveted Yellow Jersey, from this year onwards, the champion's title comes with the honour of lifting the LTdL Challenge Trophy, conceptualized from the iconic eagle monument at Dataran Lang in Kuah, Langkawi, which symbolizes the birthplace of the race and also to honour the contributions of its founder, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The teams have arrived and started their training to get acclimatized with the hot and humid Malaysian weather. A total of 22 teams including two pro-tour teams -- Astana Pro Team and Garmin-Barracuda -- adding more glitter to the cycling championship, which will...

David Zabriskie of Garmin Barracuda won Stage 1 - LTdL2012 Individual Time Trial today at Putrajaya. Results - Stage 1: 1st David Zabriskie of Garmin Barracuda 2nd Adam Phelan of Drapac Cycling 3rd Darren Lapthorne of Drapac #LTdL2012

HIGH performance committee member Datuk James Selvaraj has proposed that the BA of Malaysia (BAM) has a four-year programme aimed at the 2016 Olympics and Thomas Cup. Selvaraj said although Malaysia  had achieved the target of qualifying for the Thomas Cup Finals in Wuhan in May with limited resources,  a comprehensive programme -- which should start this year -- will give them the opportunity to win the prestigious team event again. He added that the focus should be on identifying potential young singles players as the doubles department has a big talent pool to replace Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong by 2016. Although Lee Chong Wei may not be around by then, Selvaraj said emphasis on the current group of players like Zulfadli Zulkifli, Misbun Ramdan Misbun, Goh Soon Huat and even Liew Daren, who will be 27 in 2016, should be pushed while BAM continues to nurture young players.  "There had been doubts  whether Malaysia could qualify but we m...

KUALA LUMPUR - Proses pemilihan pemain yang 'rapuh' adalah punca Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) dilihat tidak telus dan sering terdedah kepada kritikan setiap kali mengumumkan barisan pemain untuk kejohanan besar, termasuk kelayakan Piala Thomas di Macau, minggu lalu.  Biarpun badan badminton kebangsaan itu menegaskan bahawa barisan pemain yang disenaraikan di Macau adalah yang terbaik di negara ini, namun definasi atau kriteria terbaik dari pandangan pakar mereka tidak sehaluan dengan pakar badminton yang berada di luar BAM. Justeru, BAM perlu menukar kaedah pemilihan apabila mengumumkan skuad yang akan membawa cabaran pada pusingan akhir Piala Thomas di Wuhan, 20-27 Mei ini atau mereka akan dipersalahkan jika kita gagal pulang bersama keputusan terbaik, kata bekas ketua jurulatih kebangsaan, Razif Sidek. Mengadakan kejohanan pemilihan khas, kaedah yang telah lama digunakan oleh negara jiran, Indonesia tetapi tidak pernah dipraktikkan Malaysia, antara pi...

KUALA LUMPUR: An engrossing battle for the 2012 Tour of Langkawi (LTdL) title begins today with the 20.3km individual time trial in Putrajaya. Two World Tour teams, Garmin-Barracuda and Astana, will join the fray with 21 other teams over 10 days until the final stage in Kuala Terengganu on March 4. With six former champions, the 17th edition of the race will be one of the keenest in recent years. Androni Giocattoli boasts three former winners – Jose Rujano, Jose Serpa and defending champion Yonattha Monsalve – in a line-up even Garmin’s Tom Danielson calls “a terrifying team”. Danielson himself was a previous winner, grabbing the title in 2003 while racing with Saturn. Anthony Charteau of Europcar won with Credit Agricole in 2007 while Freddy Gonzalez took the yellow jersey in 2004 with Colombia-SelleItalia. The 37-year-old Gonzalez is now racing with Azad University Cross where he has local rider Ng Yong Li for company. The six former champions will be gunning f...

ALEXANDRE Vinokourov (tiga dari kiri) bakal menjadi tumpuan dalam acara ujian masa yang bermula di Putrajaya hari ini. KEJOHANAN lumba basikal Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2012 akan membuka tirainya hari ini dengan peringkat pertama melibatkan saingan ujian masa individu di Putrajaya. Meskipun saingan hari pertama ini hanya melibatkan perlumbaan di sekitar Putrajaya, namun semua mata peminat basikal tempatan sudah pasti tertumpu kepada pemenang empat peringkat perlumbaan Jela- jah Perancis, Alexandre Vinokourov. Pelumba Kazakhstan dari pasukan Astana itu akan turun buat kali kedua dalam LTdL dan sudah pastinya mahu membuktikan reputasi sebenarnya dalam kalangan pelumba-pelumba lain di hadapan peminat tempatan. Begitupun, Vinokurov, 39, sedar cuaca panas di Malay- sia mungkin menjadi penghalang buatnya, sekali gus menjejaskan misinya meskipun mengakui pasukannya menurunkan barisan terkuat pada LTdL 2012 ini. “Perasaan saya gembira sekali apabila dapat kembali semula unt...

KUALA LUMPUR - Melihat kepada senarai pelumba Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2012, sebanyak 14 daripada 132 pelumba adalah anak tempatan yang bakal membawa cabaran baik untuk pasukan kebangsaan mahupun profesional. Mengetuai senarai pelumba tempatan, ialah bekas Raja Pecut LTdL 2010, Anuar Manan bersama pasukan pro benua, Champion System dan pelumba kelahiran Kuala Ibai, Terengganu itu bercita-cita untuk merampas semula jersi biru yang dimenangi oleh Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini). "Saya akan menyasarkan perlumbaan di laluan landai terutama sekali apabila perlumbaan ini memasuki Terengganu pada tiga peringkat terakhir nanti. Saya mahu menggunakan peluang yang ada sebagai anak kelahiran Terengganu sekali gus menghadiahkan kemenangan di hadapan rakyat Terengganu," katanya. Turut bersama Anuar dalam pasukan Champion System ialah seorang lagi pelumba kelahiran Terengganu, Mohamad Adiq Husainie Othman yang juga pemenang pingat perak bagi acara lebuh raya bawah 23 tahun...

FOR statisticians,  it seems imperative that Tom Danielson should start the 17th    Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) today with some ambitions of becoming the first man to win   Asia's biggest cycling race twice.    Statistics, however, don't matter  to the other five former winners. Androni-Venezuela start as the hot favourites, as 2010 overall winner Jose Rujano admitted, with the Venezuelan's team  including compatriot and defending champion Yonnatha Monsalve and 2009 winner Jose Serpa of Colombia.    Europcar's Anthony Charteau, the first French winner of LTdL, returns for the first time since his 2007 triumph which launched his international career capped by his mountains classification victory in last year's Tour de France.     Azad University Cross team of Iran will start this race with not only local hope Ng Yong Li, but 2004 overall winner Freddy Gonzalez in a squad packed with climbing prowes...

PETALING JAYA: Leong Mun Yee earned her place in Malaysian sporting history after partnering Pandelela Rinong to secure a coveted Olympic spot in the women’s 10m platform synchro final at the FINA Diving World Cup held on a cold London night. The Malaysian pairing survived a nerve-jangling fight to finish seventh with 307.86 points but it was enough to give them a place in an elite eight-nation field for the discipline at the London Olympics in August. More significantly, it makes 27-year-old Mun Yee the first Malaysian female athlete to qualify for four Olympics. Sailor Kevin Lim is the only Malaysian athlete to feature in four consecutive Olympic campaigns stretching back to Atlanta in 1996 before his Beijing swansong in 2008. Mun Yee was only a young lass of 15 when she made her Olympic debut in Sydney in 2000 but it will be a major difference this time. Mun Yee competed in individual disciplines in three previous Olympics but she is likely to focus on the synch...

Kiri Pandelela Rinong, Leong Mun Yee KUALA LUMPUR – Penerjun wanita veteran, Leong Mun Yee memastikan dirinya tidak kempunan penampilan terakhir Olimpik apabila dia dan rakan segandingannya, Pandelela Rinong menepati ramalan menempah kuota dalam acara 10 meter platform seirama di Piala Dunia FINA, London, semalam. Kejayaan itu bermakna Mun Yee, 28, telah memahat sejarah selaku atlet negara kedua membuat penampilan terbanyak di temasya sukan terbesar dunia itu, iaitu sebanyak empat kali, sekali gus menyamai rekod Kevin Lim dalam sukan kapal layar (Atlanta 1996 hingga Beijing 2008). London 2012 berkemungkinan besar adalah yang terakhir buat Mun Yee, yang tidak pernah gagal mewarnai kontinjen Malaysia semenjak temasya Sydney 2000. Dia dijangka tidak meneruskan cabaran sehingga Rio De Janeiro 2016 memandangkan faktor usianya. Apa yang pasti, penerjun jelita kelahiran Ipoh itu, kini sudah boleh memasang impian untuk menoktah karier Olimpik dengan positif. Kalau dalam ...

Mun Yee eyes perfect swan song in London Olympics    LEONG Mun Yee will emulate sailor Kevin Lim's record of four Olympics Games after  she qualified for the London edition in the women's 10-metre platform synchro along with Pandelela Rinong at the World Cup in London on Wednesday.    Mun Yee, who featured in  Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and  Beijing 2008,  will  make her fourth and final appearance in London in July before she retires.    The 27-year-old and Pandelela,  bronze medallists in the same event at the 2009 World Championships, finished seventh by earning 307.86 points but it was enough to earn one of the four quota Olympic spots.    All hopes were on them to make an impact in the final after a blazing performance in the preliminaries where they finished third on 318.42.    However, average dives in the third, fourth and fifth rounds saw them plunge  out of the medals.  ...

SULTAN AZLAN SHAH (sembilan dari kiri) dan Tengku Abdullah (lapan dari kiri) bergambar bersama skuad hoki negara selepas sesi latihan mereka di Stadium Hoki Nasional, Bukit Jalil semalam. SKUAD hoki negara kini berada di landasan terbaik untuk memenangi slot Kelayakan Olimpik 2012 London di Dublin, Ireland pada 10 hingga 18 Mac depan. Demikian keyakinan yang diluahkan jurulatih Malaysia, Tai Beng Hai mengenai peluang anak-anak buahnya pada kempen yang diibaratkan misi hidup dan mati skuad negara itu. Selepas dua kali gagal layak ke temasya sukan terbesar itu di Athens 2004 dan Beijing 2008, skuad negara yang memenangi pingat perak pada Sukan Asia 2010 Guangzhou ini dilihat berkemampuan menghapuskan badi tersebut. Justeru, Beng Hai optimis anak-anak buahnya berada dalam keadaan terbaik ketika ini dan berpotensi menggenggam slot kelayakan tersebut pada kempen kelayakan kelak. "Persiapan kita berjalan dengan lancar dan saya rasa kita berada dalam landasan terb...

 A SULTAN, a prince and a former top cop were on hand at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil to lend moral support to the team who will be playing at the Dublin Olympics Qualifier on March 10-18.     Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) president Sultan Azlan Shah, Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and AHF secretary Tan Sri P. Alagendra watched the team train before 18 players were named for the Qualifier.    The only surprise was the inclusion of youngsters Izzat Rahim, 22, with eight caps, and Fitri Saari, also 22, with only two caps.    Fitri will be playing alongside his established brother Faizal for the first time in a tournament.    Coach Tai Beng Hai decided on 16 players from the Asian Games silver medal-winning side and the two youngsters.    Sultan Azlan Shah was the first to advise the players.     "I have been watching the team closely an...

Sultan Azlan Shah (duduk) memberi kata-kata semangat kepada skuad kebangsaan yang akan ke kelayakan Olimpik 2012 di Dublin. Turut berada di Stadium Hoki Bukit Jalil, semalam Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara, Datuk Zolkples Embong dan pegawai-pegawai MHC. KUALA LUMPUR - 'Jangan pisang berbuah dua kali', itu pesanan Presiden Konfederasi Hoki Malaysia (MHC), Tengku Abdullah Ahmad Shah kepada barisan pemain hoki negara yang akan beraksi di Dublin, Ireland bagi menghadapi kelayakan Olimpik 2012. Berharap nasib dan rezeki akan berpihak kepada Malaysia pada kali ini, beliau mengingatkan para pemain mampu menampilkan rentak permainan yang terbaik dan konsisten sehingga perlawanan terakhir sambil mahu menjadikan kegagalan meraih pingat emas di Sukan Asia 2010 sebagai satu pengajaran berguna. ''Mereka telah beraksi dengan baik sekali semasa di Sukan Asia tetapi apabila berada di perlawanan akhir, mereka tidak menampilkan per...

   THE hearing into the positive dope tests of two Malaysian athletes at the Indonesia Sea Games could begin as early as next week.    Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar said he hoped the athletes can be called for the hearing as soon as the Indonesia Sea Games organising committee (Inasoc) gives its go-ahead after speaking with its chairman Rita Subowo yesterday.    Relay runner Yunus Lasaleh and weightlifter Firdaus Abdul Razak both failed doping tests after winning a gold and a bronze medal respectively in Palembang in November.    "I have just spoken with Inasoc's chairman Rita Subowo 10 minutes ago and she will discuss it with her people in Jakarta and get back to us. They may be agreeable with our suggestion to have OCM handle the hearing.    "Once we hear from her and get the go-ahead to conduct the hearing into the two athletes who tested positive, we will do it as soon as pos...

KUALA LUMPUR - Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) akan mengarahkan dua atlet pemenang pingat emas dan gangsa negara, Yunus Lasaleh dan Firdaus Razak yang disahkan positif dalam ujian doping pada Sukan SEA Indonesia, November lalu, hadir memberikan keterangan pada sesi pendengaran khas yang akan dikendalikannya. Presiden MOM, Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar berkata, sesi itu bertujuan memberikan peluang yang adil untuk kedua-duanya membela diri dan menjelaskan keadaan sebenar serta bagaimana boleh terlibat atau sama ada pihak lain turut memaksa mereka mengambilnya. Namun, MOM tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk menjatuhkan sebarang hukuman. Sebaliknya, kata beliau, hasil penemuan daripada sesi pendengaran itu akan dilaporkan semula kepada Persekutuan Sukan SEA (SEAGF) dan Jawatankuasa Pengelola Sukan SEA Indonesia (Inasoc) selaku pihak yang bertanggungjawab mengendalikan temasya dwitahunan ke-26 itu di Palembang dan Jakarta. "Sebarang hukuman pun hanya akan dikenakan oleh badan...

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- The SEA Games Federation (SGF) has given the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) two weeks to conduct a hearing on national weightlifter Firdaus Abdul Razak and 4x400 runner Mohd Yunus Lasalleh who failed their dope tests after winning medals at the Indonesia SEA Games last November. OCM President Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar said the President of SGF who was the president of the Indonesian SEA Games Organising Committee (Inasoc) Rita Subowo has also instructed OCM to present a full report on the the hearing to SGF. "We will call both athletes, whose sample A and B had tested positive, for a hearing soon," he told reporters after chairing the an OCM special meeting here, Thursday. On Dec 21, Inasoc had informed OCM that the Sample A of Mohd Yunus, a member of the 4x400m gold medal winning quartet and Firdaus, winner of a bronze medal in the 105kg weight category, had tested positive while the result of their B Samp...

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Local cycling ace Anuar Manan who created history by becoming the first Malaysian to win a stage during the Le Tour de Langkawi in 2010, hopes to accomplish a similar feat when the 2012 edition kicks off tomorrow. The 25-year-old rider from Kuala Ibai, Terengganu and now riding for Champion System, based in Hong Kong, said apart from winning a stage, claiming the 'Green Jersey' was his other goal. Apart from Anuar, silver medal winner at the recent Asian Cycling Championships, Adiq Hussainie Othman will also be part of the Champion System team.

KOTA KINABALU, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- The Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) move to implement its touch base programme at every state is aimed to identify talented young players as well to meet fans of the national team. FAM vice president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said the touch base programme would also include Sabah and Sarawak, two states that were responsible for producing players like Datuk James Wong, Hassan Sani and Matlan Marjan in the 80s. "The national squad's visit to Sabah is the first being held show our appreciation to the fans for their continuous support to the national team. We also want to give fans an opportunity to meet the national players from close range," he told reporters after announcing the scheduled friendly match between the national squad and Sabah at the Likas Stadium tomorrow.

LANGKAWI, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- National back up squad sailor Ahmad Latif Khan fought back to regain top spot from teammate Mohd Farhan Hamid in the Laser 4.7 category of the Asian Sailing Championships (ASC) after today races. Ahmad Latif who was trailing Mohd Farhan yesterday tightened his grip on the title with 18 penalty points compared with Mohd Farhan's 25 penalty points while Allison Maher of Indonesia was a distant third on 31 penalty points. The highlight of the fourth day which saw nine races completed, was the action in the 29er Open category which saw second placed Hong Kong sailor Grelon Cosmas pip Thailand's Napakao Poonpat who has been leading the race for the past three days. After today's races, Cosmas accumulated 14 penalty points and Poonpat had collected one extra penalty point while India's Ganapathy Kelapanda remained in third position. Malaysian women sailors were also in splendid form to clinch the top two spots in the Laser...