Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

Sazali Samad crowned 2014 Sportsman of the Year again. Sportswoman of the Year? Yes. @nicoldavid of course! pic.twitter.com/IUMmIX7ZSt — My Malaysia (@MyMalaysia_) April 29, 2015 KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- Ten times Mr Universe title winner Sazali Abd Samad who was crowned National Sportsman of the Year last night is out to prove that age will not be a barrier in his quest for a 11th Mr Universe title. Sazali, 47, crowned 2014 Sportsman of the Year for the fourth time said he would work extra hard to lay a claim for his 11th Mr Universe title at the World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand from Nov 15-21. Sazali, a sub-inspector in the police force had also won the award in 2006, 2010 and 2013, thus giving bodybuilding a podium finish yet again since Datuk Malek Noor set the tone by winning the award in 1986. The cop is no stranger to titles since he has won the Mr Universe title a record 10 times, the last being the World Body Building Championship ...

KUALA LUMPUR - “Tak perlulah orang lain nak tahu siapa wanita yang membekalkan kap­sul cordyceps itu. Isu ini sudah lepas, ada baiknya kita pandang ke hadapan”. Itu ulasan Timbalan Presiden Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM), Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria berhubung seorang wanita yang dilaporkan turut terlibat dalam kes doping Datuk Lee Chong Wei. Laporan panel perbicaraan kes Chong Wei mendedahkan bahawa terdapat seorang isteri kepada seseorang yang berpengaruh telah memberikan bekas pemain No. 1 dunia itu kapsul cordyceps yang kemudiannya didapati tercemari dengan bahan terlarang dexamethasone tanpa disedari. Mengakui mengetahui siapa individu tersebut, namun Norza me­negaskan bahawa cordyceps yang diberikan oleh wanita itu merupakan produk makanan semula jadi dan suplemen herba yang bermanfaat. Bagaimanapun katanya, kes tersebut adalah luar biasa kerana terdapat beberapa kapsul telah dicemari oleh dexamethasone. “Seperti apa yang telah dikatakan oleh Menteri...

Congrats Sazali Samad Athlete of the Year. 10 time Mr Universe. Sado like you won't believe. #AnugerahSukanNegara pic.twitter.com/BQh4BYnJIe — Khairy Jamaluddin (@Khairykj) April 28, 2015 PETALING JAYA, 28 April (Bernama) -- Ratu skuasy negara Datuk Nicol David mencipta rekod baharu apabila dinobatkan sebagai Olahragawati Kebangsaan buat kali ke-10 pada majlis Anugerah Sukan Negara (ASN) 2014, malam ini. Menerusi pencapaian itu, beliau muncul atlet negara yang paling banyak memenangi ASN sejak anugerah itu diperkenalkan pada 1966. Atlet kelahiran Pulau Pinang itu, sebelum ini pernah dinobatkan sebagai Olahragawati Kebangsaan pada 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 dan 2013. Pencapaian itu juga mengatasi rekod yang dicatat dua atlet tersohor negara, Nurul Huda Abdullah dalam acara renang dan Shalin Zulkifli dalam acara boling. Nurul Huda pernah mencipta rekod memenangi anugerah itu sebanyak lima kali berturut-turut dari 1985 hingga 1989 mana...

Congrats Sazali Samad Athlete of the Year. 10 time Mr Universe. Sado like you won't believe. #AnugerahSukanNegara pic.twitter.com/BQh4BYnJIe — Khairy Jamaluddin (@Khairykj) April 28, 2015 PETALING JAYA, April 28 (Bernama) -- Squash queen and world number one Datuk Nicol David and bodybuilder Sazali Abd Samad who has won numerous Mr Universe titles were Tuesday crowned National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year at the 2014 National Sportsman Awards. Nicol set a new perfect record in the annals of Malaysian sports by winning the National Sportswoman of the Year award for the 10th time while Sazali won it for the fourth time. The Penangite who also holds the record for the most successful sports personality in the country had won the award in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013. Two other women who have won the award on multiple occasions were swimmer Nurul Huda Abdullah from 1985 to 1989 (five times) and bowler Shalin Zulkifli in 1994...

God answered my prayers. I will be back in court in 4 days. TQ all, especially @Khairykj , #BAM for believing in me. pic.twitter.com/UijUDJoVE0 — Dato' Lee Chong Wei (@LeeChongWei) April 27, 2015 KUALA LUMPUR - Jaguh badminton negara, Datuk Lee Chong Wei perlu segera bekerja keras dengan melayakkan diri sekurang-kurangnya ke separuh akhir dalam empat atau lima kejohanan bertaraf Grand Prix untuk memperbaiki ranking dan mengumpul mata kelayakan Sukan ke Olimpik 2016. Jurulatih perseorangan negara, Hendrawan berkata, bekas pemain No.1 dunia itu perlu memberi tum­puan penuh kepada setiap kejohanan yang akan disertai kerana bermula 4 Mei ini, proses mengumpul mata Olimpik Rio akan bermula dan dia sudah jauh ketinggalan. Bagaimanapun, dia membe­ritahu, pemain berusia 33 tahun itu sudah pasti tidak dapat menyertai semua kejohanan kerana segala-galanya bergantung kepada kea­daan fizikal, selain dirinya yang semakin berusia. “Buat masa ini kami belum membuat sebarang...

KUALA LUMPUR: Glory days beckon for Malaysian badminton again. Lee Chong Wei was given the green light to play competitively again after a seven-month absence due to a doping violation. Kini trending #LeeChongWei ... welcome back Dato @LeeChongWei 👏 #badminton bawa bertenang & terus berjuang #DemiNegara pic.twitter.com/8sc5UsVLPu — Man Olimpik (@ManOlimpik) April 27, 2015 Chong Wei’s non-appearance proved to be a bane with Malaysia groping in the dark searching for a winner. Four legs of this season’s prestigious Superseries circuit have been contested to date with the Malaysians all knocked out in the early rounds. Chong Wei was a winner of six men’s singles titles in 2013 and four in 2014, making him the most successful sportsman in the country. National coach Hendrawan believes the 32-year-old Chong Wei has the character to reach the top again. “Chong Wei will catch up soon although his rivals are one step ahead of him now. He will bounce back an...

PUTRAJAYA, 27 April (Bernama) -- Tanggal 1 Mei ini merupakan hari keramat bagi Datuk Lee Chong Wei kerana tarikh itu membawa pengertian bermakna dalam hidupnya sebagai suami dan pemain badminton profesional. Kini trending #LeeChongWei ... welcome back Dato @LeeChongWei 👏 #badminton bawa bertenang & terus berjuang #DemiNegara pic.twitter.com/8sc5UsVLPu — Man Olimpik (@ManOlimpik) April 27, 2015 Tarikh itu merupakah hari beliau bebas daripada penggantungan lapan bulan atas kesalahan doping dan juga ulang tahun hari kelahiran ke-32 isterinya Datin Wong Mew Choo. Mew Choo, yang sedang mengandung cahaya mata kedua bakal menyambut ulang tahun hari kelahirannya itu pada tarikh yang sama penggantungan Chong Wei tamat. Pasangan yang mula berumahtangga pada 9 Nov 2012, dikurniakan seorang anak lelaki, Kingston Lee, pada 12 April 2013. "Beliau (Mew Choo) memang stres, tapi banyak benda saya tidak cakap dengannya, hari ini bila saya dapat tahu keputusan, saya ...

PUTRAJAYA, 27 April (Bernama) -- Kapsul Cordyceps yang mengandungi dexamethasone menjadi punca utama kepada penggantungan bekas pemain nombor satu dunia, Datuk Lee Chong Wei. Kini trending #LeeChongWei ... welcome back Dato @LeeChongWei 👏 #badminton bawa bertenang & terus berjuang #DemiNegara pic.twitter.com/8sc5UsVLPu — Man Olimpik (@ManOlimpik) April 27, 2015 Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Khairy Jamaluddin berkata Cordyceps merupakan produk makanan semulajadi dan suplemen herba yang diamal pengambilannya oleh beliau sejak berumur 13 tahun. "Chong Wei mengambil Cordyceps sejak berusia 13 tahun kerana keluarganya percaya ia bermanfaat untuk kesihatan beliau," kata Khairy kepada pemberita di pejabatnya ketika mengumumkan keputusan Persekutuan Badminton Dunia (BWF) menggantung pemain itu selama lapan bulan, di sini Isnin. Khairy berkata Chong Wei telah mengikuti arahan pakar pemakanannya di Institut Sukan Negara (ISN) berhubung suplemen yang boleh dan...

PUTRAJAYA, April 27 (Bernama) -- Cordyceps capsules containing dexamethasone was the main factor that caused the eight months suspension of former world number one badminton player, Datuk Lee Chong Wei. Kini trending #LeeChongWei ... welcome back Dato @LeeChongWei 👏 #badminton bawa bertenang & terus berjuang #DemiNegara pic.twitter.com/8sc5UsVLPu — Man Olimpik (@ManOlimpik) April 27, 2015 Minister of Youth and Sports, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar said Cordyceps is a natural food product and a form of herbal supplement that was taken by Chong Wei since he was 13 years old. "Chong Wei has been taking Cordyceps since he was 13 years old because his family believed that its was beneficial for his health," Khairy told press conference on the outcome of the ace's doping hearing, at the KBS Office in Putrajaya, Monday. Also present was Badminton Association of Malaysia deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria. Khairy said Chong Wei followe...

PUTRAJAYA, 27 April (Bernama) -- Jaguh badminton negara Datuk Lee Chong Wei dikenakan hukuman penggantungan selama lapan bulan berhubung kesalahan kes doping oleh Persekutuan Badminton Dunia (BWF) berkuatkuasa 30 Ogos 2014. Kini trending #LeeChongWei ... welcome back Dato @LeeChongWei 👏 #badminton bawa bertenang & terus berjuang #DemiNegara pic.twitter.com/8sc5UsVLPu — Man Olimpik (@ManOlimpik) April 27, 2015 Mengikut Panel Pendengaran Doping BWF, tempoh penggantungan tersebut akan berakhir 30 April ini dan bekas pemain nombor satu dunia itu layak bermain semula pada 1 Mei ini. Keputusan BWF itu diumumkan oleh Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Khairy Jamaluddin di pejabatnya di sini Isnin. Hadir sama pada pengumuman itu ialah Chong Wei dan Timbalan Presiden Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM), Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria. Berikut keputusan BWF itu, Chong Wei layak bertanding dalam tiga kejohanan utama iaitu Piala Sudirman di Dongguan, China dari 10 hingga 17 ...

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- Former world number one shuttler, Datuk Lee Chong Wei received eight months suspension for an anti-doping regulation violation, starting from August 30 last year. Kini trending #LeeChongWei ... welcome back Dato @LeeChongWei 👏 #badminton bawa bertenang & terus berjuang #DemiNegara pic.twitter.com/8sc5UsVLPu — Man Olimpik (@ManOlimpik) April 27, 2015 According to a Badminton World Federation (BWF) statement, the sanction, imposed by the BWF Doping Hearing Panel, had resulted from an Adverse Analytical Finding of Lee's sample taken at the BWF World Championships the same day in Denmark. The Doping Hearing Panel has deemed it "correct and fair" to backdate the period of ineligibility to the date of sample collection, thereby ending his sanction on 30 April, 2015, and making Lee Chong Wei eligible to resume his badminton career on 1 May, 2015. The sample contained Dexamethasone, a Specified Substance prohibi...

PUTRAJAYA, April 23 (Bernama) -- The findings and conclusions of 6th International Sports Medicine and Sports Science Conference which comes to a close today will be applied to grassroot level programmes of the National Sports Institute, said its chief executive officer, Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz. Many great insights & examples of best practice over past 3 days. Thank you to our speakers & delegates! https://t.co/Qa4jgL0dER #SMSS2015 — #TeamISN (@isnmas) April 23, 2015 "Sports medical science and technology is one field related to the performance of athletes. We have the responsibility to build on the knowledge in the form of research with the cooperation of institutes of higher learning locally and abroad. "Findings from the conference will benefit not only athletes but should also be relevant to the people in general," he said when met by Bernama after his special session with participants at Marina Putrajaya, here Thursday. A total ...

PUTRAJAYA, 21 April (Bernama) -- Penganjuran Persidangan Antarabangsa Perubatan Sukan dan Sains Sukan ke-6 adalah selaras dengan usaha pendekatan sukan prestasi tinggi yang diambil oleh Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS). Minister of Youth and Sports YB @Khairykj is welcoming the attendees in #SMSS2015 opening dinner. @KBSMalaysia pic.twitter.com/UK3ApA9ywM — #TeamISN (@isnmas) April 21, 2015 Menteri Belia dan Sukan Khairy Jamaluddin berkata persidangan itu bersesuaian dengan transformasi Institut Sukan Negara (ISN) dan Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) dalam membentuk program podium yang banyak bersandarkan kepada sains dan perubatan sukan. "Kali ini kami telah berjaya himpunkan pakar dalam perubatan dan sains sukan bukan sahaja dari Malaysia tapi dari seluruh dunia untuk datang selama seminggu kongsi pengalaman dan hasil penyelidikan mereka. #TeamISN hosts the 6th ISN International Sports Medicine & Sports Science Conference 2015 at Marina Putrajaya.... http...

A phone grab shows Malaysian diving pair Muhd Syafiq Puteh (left) and Loh Zhiayi on the top step of the podium after winning the 3m springboard synchro mixed event at the Puerto Rico Diving Grand Prix. PETALING JAYA: Newcomer Muhd Syafiq Puteh partnered Loh Zhiayi to a historic gold for Malaysia when they won the 3m springboard synchro mixed event at the Puerto Rico Diving Grand Prix in San Juan. Syafiq-Zhiayi amassed 292.86 points to pull off a stunning win in the World Grand Prix Diving Circuit, finishing ahead of Chinese juniors Hu Qiyuan-Liu Lingrui who garnered 277.20. Sebastian Villa Castaneda-Diana Pineda of Colombia collected 267.99 points to take the bronze. It was Malaysia’s first-ever gold in the synchro mixed event of the World Grand Prix Circuit. Prior to Puerto Rico, Malaysia’s only participation in the syn...

PETALING JAYA: Heidi Gan has made Malaysia proud once more in the international open water swimming scene. On Saturday, the 26-year-old splashed her way to a commendable fourth-place finish in the third leg of the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Noumea, New Caledonia. The Perth-based Heidi completed the gruelling race at the Anse Vata Bay in 2’12:34.12, just two seconds behind third-placed Coralie Codevelle of France. Heidi earned US$1,200 (RM4,300) for her efforts. Aurelie Muller of France emerged victorious, crossing the finish line in 2’09.18.70. Hungarian Anna Olasz clocked 2’09:45.80 to take the silver. The fourth place was Heidi’s best-ever outing in the prestigious World Cup. In her two previous appearances, she finished 17th in Hong Kong in 2013 but failed to finish the race in Portugal after suffering from hypothermia at the Setubal Bay. “I’m pleased with how I finished in New Caledonia,” said Heidi, who defended her elite wo...

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian SEA Games petanque squad to the Singapore SEA Games in June will be hoping to end their gold medal drought since 2011. Malaysian Pentaque Federation honorary secretary Zanilisa Mohamad said Malaysia's gold medal hopes would hinge on World Cup bronze medallist Mohamad Nuzul Azwan Ahmad Termizi who competes in the shooting event. "We are confident Nuzul Azwan can end our gold drought in the SEA Games since he had won a bronze medal in the event at the World Cup in France, last year. "In previous SEA Games we have only managed to win a silver or bronze. We are hoping to end the jinx," she told Bernama, here Sunday. Zanilisa said the SEA Games squad would be made up of seven men and six women who compete in the shooting, singles, doubles, triples, mixed triple and mixed doubles. Malaysia has competed in two SEA Games (2011 in Palembang, Indonesia and 2013 in Myanmar) and have only managed t...

Nora Lyana and Rafiq Ismail with their trophies at the Thailand International Open in Bangkok. PETALING JAYA: Teen titans Rafiq Ismail and Nora Lyana Nastasia completed a clean sweep for Malaysia at the Thailand International Open bowling championships in Bangkok. The men’s competition was an all-leftie final between Rafiq and compatriot Muhd Nur Aiman Khairuddin. In-form Rafiq came back from a match down to beat Aiman 185-197, 256-216 in the step-ladder final to land his first Thailand Open title. It was his 10th win out of 11 events in four tournaments this season. Rafiq, a four-gold medallist at the Asian Youth Tenpin Championships in Macau last month, received 300,000 Thai baht (RM33,802) while Aiman took home 150,000 Thai baht (RM16,901). It was also an all-Malaysian affair in the women’s final with 17-year-old Nora edging Esther Cheah 247-214 to bag her maiden senior title in her first senior tournament. Esther also finished second in 2006...

Kuala Lumpur: Kesakitan akibat kecederaan lutut kiri memaksa ratu terjun negara Pandelela Riong untuk lebih berhati-hati dalam setiap terjunan dilakukan. Pemenang pingat gangsa Sukan Olimpik London itu kini memberi lebih tumpuan kepada terjunan berbanding meraih pingat dalam usahanya layak ke Sukan Olimpik Rio tahun depan. Mengulas kegagalan membawa pulang pingat pada Kejohanan Terjun Siri Dunia FINA 2015 di Beijing dan Dubai, Pandelela berkata, dia hanya fokus pada terjunan. “Kecederaan saya semakin pulih namun ada kalanya masih sakit tapi ia terkawal,” katanya. Atlet kelahiran Sarawak itu gagal berada dalam kelompok tiga terbaik dua siri pertama kejohanan dunia itu namun dia masih berpeluang menghadiahkan pingat pada siri ketiga di Kazan, Russia 24-26 April ini, London (1-3 Mei), Windsor Kanada (22-24 Mei) dan Merida, Mexico (29-31 Mei). Pandelela, 22, mengalami kecederaan lutut kiri ketika menjalani latihan di Guangzhou, China, sebulan sebelum beraksi di Sukan ...

JOHOR BAHRU - Presiden persatuan bola sepak di negara ini dicabar untuk tidak bersikap pengecut sebaliknya menjadi berani atau berundur sekiranya tidak memahami tanggungjawab yang digalas. Gesaan itu dibuat oleh Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Negeri Johor (PBNJ), Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim kerana menyifatkan seseorang presiden persatuan bola sepak perlu menyelesaikan permasalahan dalam sukan itu. Menurut Tunku Mahkota Johor, seseorang presiden persatuan bola sepak tidak sewajarnya hanya go­yang kaki dan meraih popula­riti tanpa berani menyuarakan apa yang perlu seperti dalam soal pembahagian honorarium penyiaran televisyen. “Kenapa saya seorang sahaja yang bersuara pasal hal itu seolah-olah saya menegakkan untuk semua pasukan yang bertanding dalam negara, saya tidak jumpa presiden lain kecuali saya yang berbuat demikian. “Anda perlu faham hak penyiaran akan membantu semua pasukan yang bertanding dalam negara de­ngan mengurangkan beban dari segi kewangan semua pa...

Lee Chong Wei in training at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara on Tuesday. - M. AZHAR / The Star PETALING JAYA: Lee Chong Wei’s ranking has taken a nosedive. Ranked as world No. 1 at the end of last year, the 32-year-old shuttler is now ranked 30th in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings list released on Thursday. He was No. 17 the previous week. The massive drop was expected as Chong Wei was not able to defend his points at last week’s Singapore Open where he was a runner-up last season. Chong Wei has not played since November last year. He was suspended by the BWF after he tested positive for the banned substance dexamethasone during the World Championships in Copenhagen last August. He went to a BWF hearing in Amsterdam on April 11, but was told the decision would only be known within three weeks’ time. In Chong Wei’s absence, Chen Long of China now rules the world following wins at the All-England and Malaysian Open. Jan O...

Kuala Lumpur: Mungkin bukan tiga minggu tetapi lebih awal buat bekas pemain nombor satu dunia, Datuk Lee Chong Wei mendapat keputusan penghakiman Persatuan Badminton Dunia (BWF). Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) kini berusaha keras mendapatkan keputusan secepat mungkin selepas perbicaraan Sabtu lalu di Amsterdam. Timbalan Presiden Datuk Mohamad Norza Zakaria berkata, BAM bukan mahu mendesak ahli panel BWF namun pihaknya menggunakan setiap saluran yang ada untuk mendapatkan keputusan secepat mungkin. “Ia bagi membolehkan Chong Wei kembali beraksi ketika tarikh tutup kelayakan ke Kejohanan Dunia bakal berakhir 30 April ini selain kelayakan ke Sukan Olimpik 2016 bermula 1 Mei depan,” katanya. Ujar Norza, mereka melakukan yang terbaik agar Chong Wei kembali beraksi segera. “Kita tidak menyalahkan BWF dalam hal ini. Mungkin mereka memerlukan masa kerana ini kes berprofil tinggi dan seperti saya katakan kita akan mencari jalan selain berusaha untuk mengetahui kepu...

National badminton singles coaches Hendrawan (left) and Tey Seu Bock at training in Bukit Kiara on Tuesday. KUALA LUMPUR: Former world champion Hendrawan is the man who can inspire badminton ace Lee Chong Wei to greater heights. That’s the opinion of Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost. The Dane is set to reveal his plans for the three-man singles coaching team – Hendrawan, Tey Seu Bock and He Guo Quan – at a press conference on Monday. His plans will see the 42-year-old Indonesian, who was previously the back-up coach, being given a bigger role in mentoring Chong Wei – should the shuttler be cleared of his doping charge. Chong Wei is waiting for a decision from the three-member Badminton World Federation panel regarding his doping offence. He tested positive for banned substance dexamethasone during the World Championships in Copenhagen last August, “I will disclose more details next Monday ......

Pahang's new player. Matthew Davies, 20y/o. Malaysian-Australia. Right back & Right Wing. Previous club, Perth Glory. pic.twitter.com/MrzhMkF6Bz — Borak Bola Sepak (@borakbola) April 8, 2015 Putrajaya: Menteri Belia dan Sukan Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar memberi ‘lampu hijau’ kepada Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM) seandainya badan induk itu mahu mendapatkan pemain asing yang mempunyai hubungan kekeluargaan dengan negara ini. Menurut Khairy, bukan saja bola sepak malah pendirian itu turut merangkumi sukan lain ketika beliau menjelaskan Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) sendiri sentiasa memantau individu berbakat yang berada di luar negara. “Saya di Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) menggalakkan FAM untuk melakukannya walaupun mereka belum mengumumkannya secara rasmi. “Saya sendiri juga mencari bakat seperti itu. Saya minta semua pihak bergiat secara aktif bagi mencari atlet dan mencungkil bakat Malaysia yang berada di luar negara. “Baru-baru ini saya sendi...

PUTRAJAYA, April 14 (Bernama) -- The National hockey squad to produce consistent results and performance to have any chance of qualifying for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil. Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) must look at the consistency of the squad after ending as wooden spoonist in the just concluded Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament. Malaysia lost 1-3 to Canada on penalties, just 24 hours after beating the same team 4-1. "We regard the loss as another lesson...once again...what very important for the MHC to re-look at the consistency of the team. Naturally we are disappointed with the result and performance. "There seems to be a consistency problem in the hockey team. They turned on the style to win the World Hockey League Second Round in Singapore in January but failed miserably in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup at our own backyard," he said after opening the Young Worke...

PUTRAJAYA, 14 April (Bernama) -- Menteri Belia dan Sukan Khairy Jamaluddin mahu skuad hoki negara mengekalkan konsistensi bagi memastikan hasrat mereka layak beraksi pada Sukan Olimpik 2016 di Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, menjadi kenyataan. Beliau berkata Konfederasi Hoki Malaysia (MHC) perlu melihat kepada konsistensi, selepas skuad Malaysia berada pada kedudukan tercorot edisi ke-24 Kejohanan Hoki Piala Sultan Azlan Shah, yang berakhir Ahad lepas. Malaysia tumpas 1-3 kepada Kanada menerusi penentuan pukulan penalti selepas terikat 4-4, pada aksi tempat kelima dan keenam. "Kita anggap kekalahan ini satu pengajaran...sekali lagi...tetapi amat penting bagi MHC untuk melihat semula konsistensi pasukan kita. Sudah pasti kita rasa kecewa dengan prestasi baru-baru ini, memang saya nampak hoki ada masalah mengekalkan konsistensi. "Sebelum ini, kita lihat prestasi yang baik pada Hoki Liga Dunia pusingan kedua di Singapura tetapi bila beraksi pada Piala Sultan Az...

PUTRAJAYA, April 14 (Bernama) -- Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin did not mice his words when informed that Malaysia has dropped from 153rd to an alarming 164th in the FIFA World ranking list within a period of two months. The National team's current FIFA ranking does not make sense, because in February, Malaysia were in 153rd position. Khairy said Malaysia's position in the FIFA ranking list defies logic because Malaysia are ranked lower than some Asean countries although the squad under Dollah Salleh were able to reach at least the semifinal or final in the SEA Games or the AFF Suzuki Cup. "We can't say Malaysia are the worst ranked country in Asean but rankings are based on the kind of tournaments chosen to play. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has its own plans. "Maybe the tournaments chosen by the FAM are tough tournaments that resulted in losses and affected the ranking. FAM had clarified that choosing better te...

KUALA LUMPUR, 15 April (Bernama) -- Inisiatif penubuhan akademi bola sepak di Malaysia bertujuan mencungkil bakat baharu di peringkat akar umbi, namun wujud kebimbangan ia sekadar mahu mengaut keuntungan semata-mata. Penubuhan akademi yang ibarat cendawan tumbuh selepas hujan kini menjadi persoalan sejauh mana bakat muda yang dilahirkan dapat membantu imej bola sepak negara yang semakin tercalar. Ranking terbaru Persekutuan Bola Sepak Antarabangsa (FIFA) menyaksikan skuad negara berada di tangga ke-164 iaitu di bawah pasukan Bhutan dan Bangladesh. Kebimbangan itu dilahirkan bekas pemain kebangsaan, Lim Chan Yew yang mempersoalkan objektif penubuhan akademi bola sepak yang menggunakan nama kelab-kelab ternama dari Eropah itu. "Sebenarnya saya nak tahu apa tujuan individu yang tubuhkan akademi? Adakah mereka hendak melahirkan seseorang pemain yang akan menyarung jersi kebangsaan untuk menolong negara satu hari nanti atau sebagai perniagaan...dah banyak akad...