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KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad finally has his shot at restoring Malaysian athletics to its glory days. Zainal, who defeated incumbent Malaysian Athletic Union (MAU) president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim by two votes at the annual general meeting yesterday, however, faces a stiff challenge in lifting the battered image of the association and sport. But he had been so confident of winning that he came prepared with his victory speech to outline his plans for the future. The 71-year-old Zainal, who has been Negri Sembilan AA president since 1992, said he had long wanted to get athletics back on track. Zainal had served as MAU secretary from 1969-1972 and vice-president from 1980-2001. He was also the coaching committee chairman from 1979-1990. Victory yesterday has thrust him into the hot seat and he is looking forward to repairing the damage done to the sport in recent years. “I will have to deliver now that the baton has been passed to me. I don’t have a magic ...

KUALA LUMPUR - Laporan membabitkan Timbalan Presiden Kesatuan Olahraga Malaysia (KOM) Datuk Karim Ibrahim yang didakwa terlibat dalam kes enam atlet olahraga melarikan diri daripada ujian antidoping tahun lepas akan diputuskan oleh anggota majlis KOM selepas mesyuarat agung tahunan (AGM). Presiden KOM Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim berkata salinan laporan akan diberikan kepada anggota majlis KOM untuk diteliti sebelum dibincangkan seminggu selepas mesyuarat yang akan berlangsung esok di Dewan Komanwel, Majlis Sukan Negara di Bukit Jalil. "Saya telah menerima laporan daripada Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Siasatan Datuk V.C George pada Khamis lepas. Laporan tersebut bukan muktamad kerana Anggota Majlis KOM akan putuskan tentang tindakan yang harus diambil, selepas itu baru kita bawa untuk penyataan umum. "Perkara ini adalah melibatkan undang-undang dan masa depan seseorang. Perkara yang melibatkan undang-undang ini tidak boleh dibuat secara tergesa-gesa. Laporan itu akan dibincangkan ...

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

ROSLINDA mahu tumpu kepada karier olahraga. JAGUH lompat bergalah wanita negara, Roslinda Samsu tetap tenang walaupun status latihannya masih belum terjawab. Begitupun, dia tetap menanam azam untuk mencipta sesuatu yang lebih membanggakan tahun ini. Pemegang rekod kebangsaan dengan catatan 4.40 meter itu menjadi bahan perdebatan segelintir pihak ekoran tawaran yang diterimanya untuk menjalani latihan di Pusat Latihan Berprestasi Tinggi (HPTC) di Fomia, Itali. "Biarlah orang berpolitik di surat khabar mengenai kedudukan saya asalkan karier olahraga saya tidak terjejas," jelas Roslinda. "Saya juga bersyukur kerana sudah matang untuk melalui semua ini. "Sudah 10 tahun saya menceburkan diri dalam bidang ini dan rasanya ia telah menjadikan saya lebih dewasa untuk berdepan apa juga kemungkinan," tambahnya. Begitupun, Roslinda berharap segala isu yang timbulkan ketika ini tidak akan menjejaskan peluangnya untuk menyertai sebarang kejohanan tempatan mahupun a...

THE Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) will be holding it first board meeting following its elections two weeks ago on Monday with only one item on the agenda. At a time when there are so many pressing issues facing Malaysian athletics, president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (left) and his officials do not appear to have grasped the urgency of the situation at hand. Instead, MAAU is getting ready for a round of horse-trading with the chairmanship of the various sub-committees up for grabs at the board meeting in Kangar. The Laos Sea Games are only 12 months away but no thought is being given to discussion of programmes for national athletes next year nor does anyone have any idea which athletes are being targeted for the Sea Games, the Asian Track and Field Championships and the World Championships. Also missing from the agenda is the membership application of the Armed Forces Athletic Association and the revised constitution approved at an extraordinary general me...

Oleh HISYAMUDDIN AYUB Roslinda Samsu KUALA LUMPUR - Ratu lompat bergalah negara, Roslinda Samsu sehingga kini masih tertanya- tanya mengenai tawaran berlatih di Pusat Latihan Prestasi Tinggi (HPTC) di Itali. Atlet kelahiran Kuala Nerang itu berkata, dia sehingga ini tidak mendengar sebarang perkhabaran terbaru mengenai perkara tersebut. "Saya langsung tidak mengetahui perkembangan selanjutnya mengenai tawaran tersebut dan masih tertanya-tanya adakah ia masih ditawarkan kepada saya. "Saya sememangnya berminat untuk berlatih di sana (Itali) dan ia merupakan peluang terbaik untuk menimba ilmu serta beraksi di peringkat Eropah," katanya yang dihubungi di sini, semalam. Katanya, dia kadang-kala berasa malu apabila ditanya oleh orang ramai mengenai latihan di Itali, sedangkan tidak mengetahui butiran lanjut mengenai tawaran itu. Ditanya mengenai dakwaan dia telah menolak tawaran itu sebelum ini, Roslinda berkata, dia tidak menolaknya, sebaliknya sekadar menyoal kena...

sukan@kosmo.com.my RATU lompat bergalah negara, Roslinda Samsu (gambar) tidak menghadapi masalah untuk meraih pingat emas pada hari terakhir acara olahraga Sukan Universiti Asean (SUA) XIV di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil semalam. Roslinda melakukan lompatan dengan ketinggian 4.00 meter, sekali gus mengetepikan atlet Filipina, Buenaventura Riezel (3.60m) dan rakan senegaranya, Kathleen Ong (3.50m) yang masing-masing meraih perak dan gangsa. Roslinda berkata, dia gembira dengan pingat emas yang diperoleh meskipun gagal mengatasi catatan peribadinya iaitu 4.40m yang dilakukan pada Kejohanan Olahraga Dunia di Barcelona tahun ini. "Saya puas hati dengan pencapaian hari ini (semalam), memandangkan saya baru turun menjalani latihan," kata Roslinda semalam. Roslinda menambah, dia menaruh harapan untuk terpilih mewakili Malaysia pada Kejohanan Sukan Universiti Dunia di Serbia tahun depan. "Ramai atlet yang beraksi pada Sukan Olimpik masih lagi menuntut di Univer- siti. ...

Empat calon bertanding rebut dua kerusi naib presiden DATUK Seri Shahidan Kassim terus diberikan mandat untuk menerajui Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) apabila menang tanpa bertanding jawatan nombor satu itu bagi pemilihan mesyuarat agung tahunan (AGM) ketujuh Ahad ini. Shahidan yang mula memegang jawatan itu apabila menang pemilihan pada September 2006 mengalahkan Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, menerima 13 daripada 14 pencalonan dari ahli gabungan KOAM dengan Persatuan Olahraga Amatur Pulau Pinang tidak mengemukakan sebarang calon. Namun, tumpuan kini terarah kepada jawatan naib presiden apabila empat calon akan merebut dua kerusi yang ditawarkan selepas semua kertas pencalonan dibuka semalam. Mendahului senarai calon ialah Pengerusi Hal Ehwal Wanita KOAM, Datuk Paduka Mumtaz Jaafar yang menerima tujuh pencalonan diikuti penyandang, Rajemah Sheikh Ahmad. Dua lagi nama dicalonkan ialah Setiausaha Persatuan Olahraga Amatur Perlis (POAPs), M Iyaru serta K Yogeswaran dari Selan...

Oleh MUSTAPA LAKAWA mustapa@kosmo.com.my PENGURUS Besar Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM), Aminuddin Nasir mahu semua pihak menerima secara positif peletakan jawatannya dalam badan sukan olahraga negara itu. Sambil menyifatkan ia sebagai keputusan terbaik demi masa depan sukan tersebut, Aminuddin bagaimanapun enggan menyalahkan mana-mana pihak di sebalik keputusan mengejut yang dibuatnya itu. "Dalam sukan, apa-apa boleh berlaku dan mungkin rezeki saya tiada di sini (KOAM)," jelas Aminuddin kepada Kosmo! semalam. "Secara jujurnya, biarlah saya tinggalkan kesatuan ini dengan cara baik tanpa mahu menimbulkan sebarang masalah kepada pihak lain. "Mungkin juga dengan keputusan ini, pertelagahan yang sering berlaku dalam KOAM akan menjadi semakin kurang." Aminuddin dilantik sebagai Pengurus Besar KOAM bagi menggantikan Lt. Kol (B) Hamid Barkat pada Januari 2007. Menurutnya lagi, surat peletakan jawatan telah dihantar kepada Presiden KOAM, Datuk Seri Sha...

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- Although she has yet to receive the offer letter of sponsorship from the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), the national woman pole-vaulter, Roslinda Samsu has already prepared for the Asean Universities Games (AUG) to be held here next month. The IAAF's sponsorship will enable Roslinda to have a training stint at the high performance training centre (HPTC) in Formia, Italy. "So far, I haven't received any official letter or news pertaining to the matter. So, right now I just continue with the usual training and my study in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). "At the same time, I'm also looking for the opportunity to participate in any athletics meet in Europe, especially those to be held in June or July next year," she told reporters at the Pole-Vaulter Talents Camp, organised by the Scout Division of the National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil, here Wednesday. Roslinda, however, said that she would onl...

FOR a sport that produces little by way of success, Malaysian athletics sure knows how to manoeuvre itself into the spotlight. Be it personality clashes, power struggles or cries for funding, the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union's (MAAU) propensity for conflict and controversy never cease to amaze sports watchers. In more recent times MAAU has found itself embroiled with the Armed Forces AAA in its drive to be registered as a sports body and regain membership of the national body. MAAU deputy president Karim Ibrahim has also seen his bitter personal feud with IAAF High Performance Training Centre Asia director Musa Mohd Noor burst out into the open. And MAAU's secretive sponsorship deal announced recently has left many scratching their heads as to how, when and to whom the money will be disbursed. Let's not even mention grassroots development. The turn out, or rather lack of it, at this year's National Championships in Bukit Jalil is ample proof that t...

DATUK NIK MAHMUD NIK YUSOF SPORTS Commissioner Datuk Nik Mahmud Nik Yusof is prepared to sign off on the registration of the Armed Forces Amateur Athletic Association without any further delay. Nik Mahmud is giving the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) until today to submit any reason why the Armed Forces AAA should not be allowed to register as an official body, failing which the registration process will move on to the next stage. MAAU was initially given until Nov 12 to revert with its feedback on the Armed Forces AAA's registration but has failed to do so. "Based on our practice, we write to the national governing body to seek their view on the registration process or whether they have any objection," said Nik Mahmud when contacted yesterday. "I have instructed my officers to check with them tomorrow (today) and if they say okay, we will register the Armed Forces. "If they are not satisfied, we will look into the reason given. ...

Shahidan belum umum pertahan jawatan, timbalan dakwa ada sokongan KETIKA Presiden Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM), Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim masih belum menyatakan hasrat sama ada mempertahankan jawatannya ataupun tidak pada pemilihan bulan depan, namun timbalannya, Karim Ibrahim lebih awal tampil menyokong ketuanya itu. Malah, Karim tampak bertindak sebagai jurucakap Shahidan, menyatakan bekas Menteri Besar Perlis itu akan mempertahankan jawatannya dan sudah pun mendapat enam sokongan lisan daripada ahli gabungan walaupun pencalonan secara rasmi belum diterima ibu pejabat KOAM. Namun, Karim menafikan tindakannya itu menunjukkan wujud kebimbangan pada pihaknya kemungkinan Shahidan akan dicabar, sebaliknya membuktikan sokongan daripada ahli gabungan yang gembira dengan kepimpinan Shahidan. "Setakat ini, enam ahli gabungan sudah melahirkan sokongan kepada Shahidan untuk mempertahankan jawatannya," kata Karim. "Mereka menyatakan sokongan a...

KANGAR, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) President Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim has offered to defend his post at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) next month. The former Perlis Menteri Besar said he wants to prove that he can still lead the Union although there were individuals who are rumoured to be interested in the post. Though he did not disclose the identity of the individual who was rumoured to challenge him, Shahidan said it would be difficult for someone from outside MAAU to mount a serious bid. Speaking to Bernama here today, Shahidan who took over the presidency from Datuk Syed Aidid Syed Murtaza in 2006 said his deputy Karim Ibrahim would also defend his post if challenged. "We both have formed a very good working relationship and wish to continue together as there is still a lot to be done for the development of athletics in the country," he said. Candidates who wish to contest for posts during the MAAU AGM, expected to be held...

PRESIDEN Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM), Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim akan mempertahankan jawatannya pada mesyuarat agung tahunan persatuan itu bulan depan. Bekas Menteri Besar Perlis itu berkata, dia masih berupaya memimpin persatuan itu walaupun ada pihak menunjukkan minat untuk merebut jawatan berkenaan. Tanpa menyatakan calon yang berhasrat untuk merebut jawatan itu, dia menjelaskan bahawa perkara itu mungkin sukar dilakukan kerana mereka yang berhasrat masih berada di luar KOAM. Bercakap kepada Bernama di Kangar semalam, Shahidan yang menerajui KOAM sejak 2006 berkata: "Timbalannya, Karim Ibrahim juga akan mempertahankan jawatan itu jika ada pertandingan. "Kami telah membentuk gandingan mantap dan ini bermakna saya serasi dengan Karim. Oleh kerana kami serasi maka kami akan mempertahankan jawatan." KOAM dijadualkan mengadakan mesyuarat agung tahunan pada 14 Disember ini dan pencalonan ditutup 5 Disember. Shahidan berkata, KOAM adalah penyumbang ping...