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By LIM TEIK HUAT PETALING JAYA: Hosts Malaysia succeeded in their mission to become overall champions for the first time in the Asean University Games, which ended yesterday. Malaysia raked in a total medal haul of 90-78-47 after eight days of competitions to exceed their target of 80 gold medals. While the statistics suggested a massive improvement, considering that the haul of 7-19-37 from the previous contingent for the Games in Vietnam in 2006, the haul is hardly worth gloating over considering the presence of a big number of national athletes in the fray. There were even athletes who had competed in the Beijing Olympics four months earlier. Record breaker: Swimmer Khoo Cai Lin shattered three national marks. In athletics, Malaysia had Roslinda Samsu while archery had the likes of Cheng Chu Sian. Swimming had Daniel Bego and Khoo Cai Lin while taekwondo had Elaine Teo. The swimmers provided the biggest buzz for Malaysia by not only delivering the biggest numb...

IDRIS (kanan) menyampaikan bendera kejohanan kepada Niyomreks pada majlis penutup SUA XIV di Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil semalam. MERIAH. Itu gambaran yang dapat disaksikan pada majlis penutup temasya Sukan Universiti Asean (SUA) XIV yang melabuhkan tirainya di di Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil semalam. Dengan disaksikan hampir 3,000 penonton yang rata-ratanya pelajar institut pengajian tinggi selain kontinjen terlibat, majlis gilang-gemilang ini ternyata memberi 1,001 pengertian buat mereka yang hadir. Acara dimulakan dengan tarian kebudayaan sebelum upacara simbolik memadam obor temasya SUA XIV berlangsung. Majlis diteruskan dengan nyanyian oleh Eja yang menyanyikan lagu tema SUA XIV, Menggapai Bintang. Ia diikuti dengan penyerahan bendera kejohanan kepada Duta Thailand ke Malaysia, Piyawat Niyomreks oleh Timbalan Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Idris Haron berikutan Thailand bakal menjadi tuan rumah temasya SUA 2009. Dalam pada itu, temasya kali ini bukan sahaja berjaya memupu...

Oleh ZULHILMI SUPAAT BANGGA... Skuad hoki lelaki negara menyumbang pingat emas pada temasya kali ini. KONTINJEN Malaysia membuktikan kehebatan sebenar mereka apabila muncul juara keseluruhan Sukan Universiti Asean (SUA) XIV yang berakhir semalam. Selepas 11 hari SUA XIV berlangsung di 22 gelanggang di sekitar Lembah Klang, Malaysia merangkul keseluruhan 90 emas, 79 perak dan 47 gangsa untuk muncul buat kali pertama sebagai juara keseluruhan sejak temasya dwitahunan ini diadakan julung kali pada tahun 1981 di Thailand. Bagaimanapun, jumlah kutipan pingat emas kurang 10 daripada 100 yang disasarkan pada awalnya. Malaysia yang sebelum ini menjadi tuan rumah sebanyak dua kali, pada edisi 1984 di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) dan 1993 di Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), kali ini menghantar kontinjen terbesar terdiri daripada 400 atlet dan 98 pegawai. Pada penyertaan edisi ke-13 temasya berkenaan di Vietnam dua tahun lepas, kontinjen negara berada di tangga keempat keseluruhan...

By Farhanah Azmi KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 (Bernama) -- The 14th Asean University Games (AUG 2008) closed in a spectacular fashion in the spirit of Asean friendship and cooperation at the Putra Stadium here Sunday. Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Idris Haron announced the Games officially closed after 11 days where 10 countries competed for 222 gold medals in 22 sports. Representing Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Idris said besides reaching for the gold, the Games had promoted goodwill and understanding among the younger generation in Asean. "It has provided an opportunity for the university communities to integrate, communicate and collaborate through sporting activities," he said. Malaysia finally managed to achieve the target of becoming the overall champion with 90 gold, 79 silver and 47 bronze since the inception of the Games in 1981. Former champion Vietnam were relegated to the second spot with 45 gold, 28 silver and 23 bronze follow...

By Hilary Sebastian KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 (Bernama) -- The gold for national Olympian Roslinda Samsu was a breeze in the pole vault event in the 14th Asean University Games at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil Thursday. Roslinda, 26, cleared 4.0m en route to the gold. Filipina Riezel Buenaventura won the silver (3.6m) and national pole vaulter Kathleen Ong the bronze (3.5m). "I am satisfied with my performance though I did not train that hard after participating in the Olympics," the Business Management student of Universiti Putra Malaysia told Bernama. Wong Boon Syian also shrugged off four other challengers for the gold when she cleared 1.68m. Thailand's Chalinee Kaeniam took the silver (1.66m) and Ika Puspa Dewi of Indonesia (1.61m). Malaysia also won three silver through Mohd Hasrulnizam Yaakob (men's discus), Noor Amira Mohd. Nafiah (triple jump) Ghanthi Mathi Kumarasa (women's 1500m). Mohd Jironi Riduan supplied the sole bronze of the day in the men...

yasmin.raman@kosmo.com.my PENEMBAK negara mendominasi saingan hari ketujuh acara menembak pada temasya Sukan Universiti Asean (SUA) XIV yang berlangsung di Lapang Sasar Negara, Subang semalam. Mereka meraih tiga pingat emas menerusi acara 25 meter Rapid Fire Pistol individu dan berpasukan lelaki serta acara 50 meter Raifal Prone wanita. Penembak kebangsaan, Hafiz Adzha menghadiahkan emas pertama acara apabila menjuarai acara 25m Rapid Fire Pistol lelaki individu setelah mengumpul 563 mata mengatasi rakan senegara, Mohd. Syawal Othman yang mengutip 549 mata untuk pingat perak. Pingat gangsa juga menjadi milik Malaysia menerusi Ahmad Zafri Ahmad yang mengumpul 489 mata. Menurut Hafiz, saingan tersebut tidak memberi sebarang tekanan kepadanya kerana acara tersebut tidak disertai oleh kontinjen luar. "Pertandingan hari ini (semalam) bagi saya tidak begitu sukar kerana tiada saingan daripada kontinjen lain. Saya juga sudah biasa menjalani latihan dengan Syawal dan Zafri. Jadi say...

AKSI Nor Syakira Yeoh selepas melakukan balingan ketika beraksi dalam acara berpasukan wanita semalam. SKUAD boling negara terus menaruh harapan untuk menambah jumlah kutipan pingat emas pada Sukan Universiti Asean (SUA) XIV. Selepas berakhirnya acara boling berpasukan semalam, Malaysia hanya mampu memperoleh pingat perak menerusi pasukan wanita manakala pasukan lelaki hanya sekadar meraih pingat gangsa. Pada aksi tersebut, pasukan wanita yang dibarisi oleh Zatil Iman Abdul Ghani, Nor Syakira Yeoh, Nur Hanisa Salam, Ziran Nadiah Ghazali, Siti Nur Syakilla Mardyanna Aminuddin dan Aressa Melanie ketinggalan 95 pin untuk tewas kepada Singapura yang mengumpul 5,702 jatuhan pin. Pingat gangsa pula diraih gandingan Thailand yang mengumpul 5,273 jatuhan pin. Menurut Zatil, saingan yang ditonjolkan oleh pasukan lawan pada perlawanan tersebut terlalu sengit, namun dia tetap berbangga dengan aksi yang ditonjolkan rakan sepasukannya. "Kami cuba mengekalkan rentak permainan namun s...

drahman@kosmo.com.my GELANGGANG olahraga agak suram semalam. Kontinjen negara sekadar meraih dua pingat perak dan satu gangsa pada hari ketiga acara olahraga Sukan Universiti Asean (SUA) XIV yang berlangsung di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil semalam. Dua pingat perak itu hadir menerusi Nurul Huda Mohd. Akhir dalam acara merejam lembing wanita dengan rejaman sejauh 39.66 meter. Ganthi Mathi pula melakukannya dalam acara 800 meter wanita selepas dia mencatat masa 2 minit 12.23s. Pingat gangsa negara pula diraih oleh S. Mathialagan dalam acara 800 meter lelaki dengan catatan masa 1:57.53s. Pengurus kontinjen olahraga negara, Mohd. Firdaus Abdullah berkata dia agak kecewa kerana atlet negara gagal meraih sebarang pingat emas meskipun sasaran semalam ialah untuk menggenggam sekurang-kurangnya satu daripada lapan emas yang ditawarkan. Begitupun, biar pun gagal meraih sebarang emas semalam, Firdaus tetap menaruh keyakinan kepada skuad olahraga negara untuk mencapai misi meraih 11 pingat e...

SKUAD Karate negara hanya meraih satu pingat emas daripada enam yang ditawarkan pada hari kedua acara karate yang berlangsung di Dewan Canselor Tun Abdul Razak UKM, Bangi semalam. Pingat emas negara diraih oleh L. Kunasilan dalam acara kumite lelaki 55kg selepas menewaskan atlet Vietnam, Huu Dien Tran. Kontinjen karate negara juga meraih dua pingat perak menerusi Chan Keng Ann daripada acara kumite lelaki 60kg dan Nagatheeban Govindasamy (kumite lelaki 70kg). KUNASILAN Pengurus pasukan, Chong Kong Yu berkata, dia tidak berpuas hati kerana skuad karate negara gagal melepasi sasaran tiga pingat emas pada hari kedua acara karate dilangsungkan. Menurutnya, semua atlet telah melakukan yang terbaik namun gagal mengekang atlet Indonesia dan Vietnam. "Esok (hari ini) saya juga meletakkan sasaran tiga pingat emas daripada tujuh yang ditawarkan dan berharap kami mampu melakukannya," katanya. Setakat ini skuad karate negara sudah meraih empat pingat emas, lima pingat perak, dua ...

CAI LIN (kiri) dan Daniel bersama pingat emas yang dimenangi mereka pada hari pertama acara renang yang berlangsung di Pusat Akuatik Nasional, Bukit Jalil semalam. PUSAT Akuatik Nasional di Bukit Jalil menjadi lubuk emas kepada skuad renang negara. Semalam, lima pingat emas berjaya dibawa pulang pada saingan hari pertama acara tersebut yang menawarkan 10 pingat emas. Perenang negara turut mencipta kejutan dengan mencatatkan tiga rekod baru Sukan Universiti Asean (SUA) XIV. Pingat emas pertama diraih oleh Khoo Cai Lin menerusi acara 100 meter gaya bebas wanita dengan catatan 58.16 saat. Cai Lin turut memperbaharui rekod lama 59.08s yang dilakukan oleh atlet Thailand, Paritchat Wongpila pada temasya yang sama di Hanoi, Vietnam dua tahun lalu. Selain itu, Daniel Bego turut memecah rekod kejohanan menerusi acara 100m gaya bebas lelaki setelah mencatatkan masa 51:.97s. Raja renang negara itu, memperbaharui rekod yang dicatatkan oleh atlet Filipina, Kendrick Lim Uy (53:29s) pada SUA ...

By Farhanah Azmi KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysian swimmers, Khoo Chai Lin and Daniel Bego broke the Asean University Games records for gold in the women's 100m freestyle and men's 100m freestyle Wednesday. Chai Lin erupted the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil when she splashed he way to clock 58.16s, thus erasing the record set by Jiratida Phinyosophon (Thailand). Jiratida came in second in 59.53s while Nancy Suryaatmadja (Indonesia) in third in 1:01.24s. "I am satisfied with this win although it is below my personal best (58.15s)," said Chai Lin, a Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) student who aimed to bag four gold at the meet. Daniel Bego sent the partisan crowd into a frenzy of screams when he finished the race in 51.97s to clip Kendrick Lim Uy's (the Philippines) record (53.29s). On the other hand, despite improving his time, Lim Uy had to settle for silver when he clocked 52.51s. Glenn Victor Sutanto (Indonesia) collected bronze with 53.18...

By Zulhilmi Supaat KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia strengthened their lead in the medal standing on the seventh day of the 14 Asean University Games Wednesday. Malaysia now have an overall 33 gold, 31 silver and 26 bronze and are followed by Vietnam (23, 18, 10), Indonesia (14, 22, 18), Thailand (13, 10, 27), Singapore (9, 7, 15), Philippines (3, 5, 8), Timor Leste (two bronze), Brunei(a single bronze ), Cambodia (a single bronze) and Laos (a single bronze). Malaysia collected 17 gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze Wednesday. The aquatics centre in Bukit Jalil was the goldmine contributing five gold, a silver and a bronze. National Olympian Daniel Bego contributed two in his pet events, the men's 100m and 200m freestyle, while Khoo Cai Lin was no match for the other swimmers in the women's 100m freestyle. The other two swimming gold were supplied by Kevin Yeap (men's 200m butterfly) and Rachel Lim (women's 100m breast stroke). Shooting which was held at the...

SKUAD badminton lelaki negara meraikan kejayaan selepas menewaskan Indonesia dalam perlawanan akhir acara berpasukan di Stadium Badminton Cheras semalam. PASUKAN badminton negara menyapu bersih dua pingat emas yang dipertandingkan dalam acara berpasukan pada Sukan Universiti Asean (SUA) XIV. Mereka melakukannya dalam acara berpasukan lelaki dan wanita yang berlangsung di Stadium Badminton Kuala Lumpur, Cheras semalam. Bagi acara berpasukan lelaki, Malaysia menang tipis 3-2 ke atas Indonesia pada perlawanan yang penuh sengit semalam. Manakala bagi acara berpasukan wanita pula, Malaysia menang mudah setelah menewaskan Indonesia 4-1. Pada perlawanan pertama, pemain negara yang diketuai Arif Abdul Latif tidak menghadapi masalah menunduk pemain Indonesia, Ariyanto Haryadi Putra 21-17, 21-17. Mata kedua negara diperoleh menerusi beregu Razif Abdul Latif/Tan Wee Kiong yang menewaskan gandi- ngan Lingga/Kurniawan Fernando 21-15, 18-21, 26-28. Bagaimanapun, perlawanan ketiga melibatkan...

kosmo.com.my ROBANI (depan) tidak mendapat tentangan untuk meraih pingat emas dalam acara 110m lari berpagar. DUA rekod kejohanan dan empat pingat emas diraih pada hari kedua acara olahraga Sukan Universiti Asean (SUA) XIV yang berlangsung di Stadium Nasional di Bukit Jalil, semalam. Rekod kejohanan dicatatkan oleh Robani Hassan menerusi acara lari berpagar 110 meter dengan catatan 14.07 saat sekali gus mengatasi rekod lama 14.08s. Rekod kedua kejohanan dicatatkan oleh atlet lompat bergalah lelaki negara, Mohd. Hafizuddin Sahadan yang melepasi ketinggian 4.60 meter sekali gus menggenggam pingat emas. Dia berjaya mengatasi rekod lama 4.40 meter. Pingat emas ketiga negara semalam diraih menerusi acara lontar peluru wanita oleh pelajar Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Asik Asrenny yang berjaya mencatatkan 13.10 meter. Emas keempat disumbangkan oleh Abdul Halim Yatim menerusi acara baling tukul besi lelaki dengan catatan 40.31 meter. Sementara itu, empat pingat perak dimenangi ole...

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia opened their campaign in the men's basketball event in the 14th edition of the Asean University Games (AUG) with a walk over win against Asia's powerhouse, the Philippines in Group A at the Malaysian Basketball Association (MABA) Arena Thursday. Team manager of Malaysia Prof Dr Teng Tjoon Pow said the Filipinos were unable to compete in the Games because of a lack of sponsorship. "Although I am happy with the two points, we still have the other contenders to reckon with," he told reporters at the MABA Arena at Jalan Hang Jebat here. Asked about the team's target, Dr. Teng said Malaysia were good for a bronze. Earlier, Thailand had defeated Singapore 82-62. Malaysia's Basketball Team: Mohd Zulkarnaen Amirul Effendy, Cheng Xin You, Chin Teck Wei, Lee Kiat Kee, Moh Jian Wei, Poo Siang Loang, Tan Tuan Yau, Yong Yen Fai, Alexander Teoh Thye Khoon, and Ooi Beng Seang. Group A Fixtures: All matches at MABA Arena Dec 12...

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- Five Asean university contingents arrived here today for the Asean University Games 2009 (AUG2009) from Thursday to Dec 21. They are from Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and the Philippines, said Malaysian University Games Council's promotion and sponsorship committee secretary Nur Ekmal Buhary. He said the Indonesian and Singaporean contingents would arrive tomorrow. The opening ceremony of the AUG2009 Games Village at the IOI Palm Garden Hotel in Putrajaya will be held tomorrow morning, he said when contacted today. The Malaysian contingent, comprising 400 athletes and 98 officials, will be the largest team to participate in the Games. Thailand is the second largest team with a 306-member contingent, followed by Singapore (277), Indonesia (264), the Philippines (163), Vietnam (125), Brunei (90), Timor Leste (61), Laos (26) and Cambodia (10). Nur Ekmal said the hockey and lawn bowl teams from Timor Leste were the first to arrive two weeks ago...

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu and taekwondo athlete Elaine Teo are determined to do well at the 14th ASEAN Universiti Games (AUG) here on Dec 11-21. Roslinda, a Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) student who competed at the Beijing Olympics in Aug is the national record holder at 4.4m and Asia's second best. "I treat it just like any other international championship. My closest rivals are from Philippines and Thailand," she told reporters at a Jalur Gemilang handing over ceremony at Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) here Tuesday. The 26 year-old lass from Kuala Nerang, Kedah said he would be using AUG as a stepping stone to qualify for the World Championship next year. Elaine who competed at the Athens and Beijing Olympics said she took every championship seriously. "I have never taken any championship lightly," said the Universiti Putra Malaysia student who would be competing in the under 51kg category. Malaysia, the A...

Masum Official In The Dark Over Thai Contingent Transportation KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian University Sports Council (Masum) is in the dark on how Thailand, the second largest contingent after Malaysia, will ferry its 306 athletes and officials to participate in the 14th Asean University Games (AUG) which will kick off from Dec 11 to 21. A Masum technical official who is in-charge of handling the nine participating countries, said Thai officials had been in touch with him daily, enquiring about the AUG preparations and related matters. "However, they have not informed us about how they would ferry their large contingent due to the current closure of the airports (in Bangkok)," the official, who requested anonymity, told Bernama here Wednesday. On Nov 24, the Suvarnabhumi Airport was closed after protesters seeking Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's ouster stormed the airport. In the past week, over 300,000 foreigners were stranded throughout the cou...

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian contingent, comprising 400 athletes and 98 officials, will be the largest team to participate in the Asean Universities Games (AUG) 2008. The games will be held at 22 venues in Klang Valley, between Dec 11 and 21. Malaysian Universities Games Council's promotion and sponsorship committee secretary Nur Ekmal Buhary said Thailand would be the second largest team with a 306-member contingent, followed by Singapore (277), Indonesia (264), the Philippines (163), Vietnam (125), Brunei (90), Timor Leste (61), Laos (26) and Cambodia (10). "Myanmar could not participate at the AUG 2008 due to its domestic problems," he told Bernama here Thursday. He said that throughout the games, the contingents would stay at 10 hotels in the Klang Valley. On the preparation of the Malaysian athletes, he said they would start the final round of training today, until Dec 6, at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Nur Ekmal said, apart from nur...

HOSTS Malaysia are aiming for their best medal haul at the 14th Asean University Games on Dec 11-21 even if they have had to become more frugal in their spending in preparation for the biennial event. Malaysian Universities Sports Council (Masum) chairman Prof Dr Omar Osman said a budget of RM28 million allocated by the Higher Education Ministry is all they have to work with in preparing athletes, venues and other organisational requirements. "Although the amount seems high, the better part of the budget has gone to meet organisations costs such as for venues, medics, equipment and other items. We have managed to stay within the budget and we are confident of emerging as overall champions," said Dr Omar after a main committee meeting at Universiti Putra Malaysia in Serdang on Monday. Malaysia are looking at an ambitious return of 80 gold medals with the guaranteed participation of a number of national athletes after only returning from the 2006 Games in Vietnam w...