Thursday, September 27, 2007

Athletics: Shahidan targets more than 10

Ngew Sin Mei is expected to deliver a gold medal in the women’s triple jump event in the upcoming Korat games.
Ngew Sin Mei is expected to deliver a gold medal in the women’s triple jump event in the upcoming Korat games.

THE Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) is hopeful of improving on its eight gold-haul at the Korat Sea Games on Dec 6-15 after the Olympic Council of Malaysia approved a huge contingent of 52 track and field athletes.

They will compete in 35 of the 45 events on the athletics programme, falling short of MAAU president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim's ambitious target of having a Malaysian competing in every event in Korat.

But realistically only a handful are gold medal prospects with 17 athletes having qualified on merit while the rest will be heading to Korat for development and exposure purposes.

MAAU has set a 10-gold target but Shahidan has challenged the athletes to surpass that target in what would be MAAU's most successful Sea Games since the 12-gold haul in Brunei in 1999.

MAAU vice president Karim Ibrahim said athletes who did not meet the qualifying mark were selected based on their performance throughout the year and their potential to excel in the future.
“We went through each athlete's case in detail. We are sending a number of junior and promising athletes as we believe the Sea Games offer a perfect opportunity to expose them,” he said.

Karim said Malaysia will be unrepresented in the men's 5,000m, 10,000m, javelin, discuss and hammer and the women's 3,000m steeplechase, javelin, shot put, heptathlon and marathon.

“We are looking at winning 10 gold medals which we believe is within our reach. But our president has challenged the athletes to go higher than 10 gold,” he said.

MAAU has yet to decide who will run the men's sprints and relays, which will only be known after the MAAU-NSC All-Comers Meet on Nov 12-13 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, but national junior champion Zabidi Ahmad is a certainty having clocked 10.51s, the best time by a Malaysian in the 100m this year.

Among the 10 athletes included in Category B, men's 200m runner S. Narendran, S. Vikram (3,000m steeplechase) and women's walker Yap Kwee Kee will have to improve on their times at the Thai Open next month to be confirmed.

Seven of the eight gold medallists at the 2005 Games in Manila - Robani Hassan (men's 110m hurdles), Mohd Shahrulhaizy Abdul Rahman (men's 20km walk), Moh Siew Wei (women's 100m hurdles), Roslinda Samsu (women's pole vault), Ngew Sin Mei (women's triple jump), Siti Shahida Abdullah (women's hammer throw), and Yuan Yufang (women's 20km walk) - are expected to repeat their feats in Korat.

Shahadan Jamaludin, who was a surprise winner in the men's 400m hurdles in 2005, has been in poor form this season but Asian high jump champion Lee Hup Wei is another hot favourite to win gold.

MAAU is also banking on the men's 4x400m and either K. Amran Raj or Zaiful Zainal Abidin in the one-lap sprint to win gold while there could be a surprise from dark horse Josbert Tinus (men's long jump).

Hurdler Robani's place in the squad is dependent on his recovery from a hamstring injury with Muhd Faiz Muhammad on stand-by as a replacement.

With home-ground advantage, Thailand are expected to improve significantly on the 11-gold haul in Manila and dominate the men's and women's sprints, leaving Malaysia and the Philippines to duel for second in the athletics medal tally.

New Straits Times

Sea Games: Zolkples believes in young athletes


DATUK ZOLKPLES EMBONG
DATUK ZOLKPLES EMBONG

Sea Games: Zolkples believes in young athletes
NATIONAL Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Zolkples Embong is up to Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said's challenge that Malaysia perform better in December's Korat Sea Games compared to Manila two years ago.

New Straits Times

Cycling: Fauzan, Yong Li boost Sea Games hopes

News pix

Cycling: Fauzan, Yong Li boost Sea Games hopes

IT wasn't the desired result, but Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi and Ng Yong Li boosted Malaysia's hopes of ending the individual time trial gold medal drought in the Sea Games with their performances in Stuttgart, Germany yesterday.

New Straits Times

Korat sedia sambut atlit

Oleh Lukman Salleh

Tuan rumah Sukan Sea beri jaminan pesta sukan berjalan lancar

KETIKA Malaysia memuktamadkan kontinjennya ke Sukan Sea XXIV, tuan rumah temasya Korat, Thailand mengumumkan semua prasarana sudah hampir siap serta sedia digunakan apabila sukan serantau itu menyingkap tirainya pada 6 Disember ini.

Sebelum ini, keadaan gelanggang menjadi tanda tanya daripada negara anggota termasuk Malaysia sendiri yang tidak mendapat sebarang perkhabaran sama ada ia akan dapat disiapkan mengikut jadual ditetapkan.

Tetapi berita terbaru dari Bangkok menyatakan pembinaan perkampungan sukan, kemudahan awal dan juga stadium utama kini 99 peratus siap dan hanya memerlukan sedikit sentuhan kecil sebelum diserahkan kepada jawatankuasa penganjur awal bulan depan.

Stadium utama untuk temasya di wilayah Nakhon Ratchasima itu boleh menempatkan kira-kira 30,000 penonton dan ia juga menjadi arena untuk upacara pembukaan serta penutup, bola sepak dan olahraga. Ia akan siap sepenuhnya sebelum 30 September ini.

Hanya pembinaan stadium renang dan trek pemanas badan mengalami sedikit kelewatan dan dijangka siap sepenuhnya Oktober ini.

Wilayah Nakhon Ratchasima akan menganjurkan 29 jenis sukan antaranya olahraga, badminton, bola sepak, renang, lumba basikal, angkat berat dan wushu manakala Bangkok akan mengelolakan sembilan sukan termasuk bowling, hoki dan skuasy.

Bagi sukan air pula yang membabitkan perahu layar, lumba perahu, basikal bukit dan ekuestrian, ia akan diadakan di Pattaya.

Malaysia dijangka menghantar hampir 750 atlit ke Korat dan mensasarkan untuk melepasi pungutan 61 pingat pada temasya 2005 di Manila.

"InsyaAllah, pungutan pingat kali ini akan lebih baik dari Manila," kata Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) Datuk Zolkples Embong. “Sudah pasti kami mahu memastikan penampilan kali ini akan lebih berjaya dan terbaik berbanding temasya lalu.

"Tetapi jumlah sebenar sasaran MSN masih belum dipastikan kerana ketika ini kami masih memperhalusi dan menilai kekuatan setiap atlit sebelum dapat tampil dengan jumlah tepat sasaran pingat emas.

"Bagi saya, dalam apa juga temasya yang dihadapi, sudah tentu ada tekanan tetapi bagi saya perkara seperti ini sudah dilalui dalam setiap temasya yang diharungi, maka kami harus sahut cabaran yang dilontarkan ke atas kontinjen negara," katanya.

Sukan Sea Korat akan menyaksikan sejumlah 43 sukan dipertandingkan dengan 472 pingat emas menjadi rebutan.

Berita Harian

Olahraga paling ramai dalam Kategori A

OLAHRAGA menjadi antara sukan yang paling ramai dapat menyenaraikan atlit mereka menerusi kategori A iaitu 42 orang daripada keseluruhan 52 atlit disenaraikan Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) kepada Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM).

Daripada 10 atlit untuk kategori B pula, dua daripada mereka masih berpeluang naik taraf ke kategori A iaitu atlit lompat jauh, Mohd Shahrul Amri Mohd Suhaimi dan S Vikkram dalam acara 3,000 meter berhalangan, jika mereka berjaya melakukan catatan terbaik pada Terbuka Thailand, Oktober ini.

Selain 12 atlit yang layak secara merit apabila melepasi syarat kelayakan, 13 atlit lagi turut disenaraikan dalam kategori berkenaan termasuk juara bertahan acara 400m berpagar, Shahadan Jamaluddin selain Muhd Faiz Mohammad (110m berpagar) yang hanya akan mengesahkan penyertaan jika juara bertahan Sukan Sea Manila, Mohd Robani Hasan gagal pulih daripada kecederaan.

Setiausaha Kehormat MOM, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, berkata bagi olahraga, mereka dibahagikan kepada dua kumpulan iaitu mereka yang layak secara automatik dan kumpulan atlit yang hampir melepasi tahap kelayakan dan menunjukkan prestasi yang bagus.

“Kali ini lebih ramai atlit dalam Kategori A kerana kami rasa Sukan Sea ialah pertandingan untuk mencungkil bakat-bakat, paling penting untuk atlit muda menonjolkan prestasi mereka. Seperti olahraga, mereka ada ramai atlit bawah 20 tahun. Ada berumur 18 dan 19 dan yang paling muda berumur 16 tahun.

“Tetapi ramai antara mereka masih cedera dan kurang cergas untuk pertandingan, kerana itu kita akan pilih selepas Hari Raya. Nama sebenar mereka akan disenaraikan pada 8 Oktober, ketika ini nama mereka boleh ditolak atau ditukar,” katanya.

Kelmarin 14 persatuan sukan iaitu bagi bola sepak lelaki, judo, taekwondo, bola sepak wanita, besbol, berbasikal, tenis, lawn bowl, pelayaran, bola tampar, triathlon, lawan pedang, olahraga dan angkat berat mengemukakan rayuan kepada MOM untuk menyenaraikan atlit mereka di bawah kategori A.

Bagi acara judo, hanya seorang atlit wanita diletakkan dalam kategori A, taekwondo lapan atlit iaitu empat lelaki dan wanita, seorang pemain tenis wanita, skuad lawn bowl (tujuh lelaki dan tujuh wanita) dan seorang atlit perahu layar dalam acara Supermoth.

Selain itu, pasukan 10 atlit bagi acara lelaki sabre, epee dan foil individu turut disenaraikan dalam Kategori A manakala hanya dua atlit wanita turut dimasukkan dalam kategori sama.

Lima atlit angkat berat turut disenaraikan dalam kategori A dengan hanya seorang kategori B manakala tiada atlit lelaki acara berbasikal bukit disenaraikan dalam kategori itu dengan hanya pelumba wanita, Mazziyaton Mohd Radzi disenaraikan dalam kategori A.

Acara berpasukan yang gagal naik taraf ke kategori A termasuk bola sepak lelaki dan wanita, besbol serta bola tampar pantai lelaki.

Berita Harian

Mew Choo, beregu utama wanita ke Sukan Sea

DI sebalik langkah menunjangi usaha pendedahan pemain muda, Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) tampak belum sedia membenarkan tradisi rangkulan emas pada temasya Sukan Sea dinoktahkan di Korat, Disember ini.

Lantas, skuad kali ini dirombak dengan nama pemain wanita utama, Wong Mew Choo serta beregu, Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui, hampir pasti diselitkan untuk memastikan rentetan emas itu mampu diteruskan.

Mew Choo punya rekod baik dalam penyertaan Sukan Sea, dengan mencipta bangga hasil kejayaan meraih pingat emas perseorangan pada temasya 2003 di Vietnam sebelum meraih perak di Filipina, dua tahun lalu.

Pei Tty-Eei Hui pula menamatkan penantian 30 tahun untuk emas dalam acara beregu wanita apabila mengungguli saingan dua tahun lalu di Manila.

Kemungkinan penyertaan nama Mew Choo dan Pei Tty-Eei Hui itu diakui Pengurus Besar BAM, Kenny Goh, selepas permintaan untuk memastikan badminton mampu terus menyumbang emas disuarakan Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong.

"Mengambil kira permintaan yang dikemukakan Datuk Zolkples, BAM akan mendapatkan pandangan serta maklum balas daripada jurulatih sebelum memuktamadkan senarai pemain, esok," katanya.

Selepas langsung gagal menyumbang pingat emas pada temasya 1997 di Jakarta, badminton kemudiannya tidak pernah menghampakan kontinjen negara, termasuk dua kilauan emas dua tahun lalu - menerusi Pei Tty-Eei Hui dan berpasukan lelaki.

Namun penyertaan nama Mew Choo dan Pei Tty-Eei Hui tampak tidak akan dituruti langkah sama dalam pasukan lelaki, apabila nama-nama utama seperti Lee Chong Wei, Hafiz Hashim, Wong Choong Hann serta beregu Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong dan Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah pasti tidak turut serta.

"Ketika ini, sasaran utama kita ialah menyaksikan pemain-pemain negara bertanding dalam Siri Super Dunia dan meraih mata untuk layak ke Sukan Olimpik di Beijing nanti.

"Memburu pingat emas Olimpik adalah sasaran utama. Pemain tidak boleh hanya melayakkan diri kerana sasaran untuk mereka ialah membawa pulang pingat emas," kata Zolkples.

Lantas, cabaran bakal dipikul pemain muda dikendalikan jurulatih, Rashid Sidek, yang menyifatkan peluang pendedahan itu sebagai 'ruang terbaik untuk peningkatan pemain secara jangka panjang.'

Berita Harian

Yachtsmen Targeting Four Gold At Korat Games

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Yachting Association has set a target of four gold medals from 12 yachting events at the SEA Games in Korat, Thailand in December.

The manager of the yachting team to the Games, Lt Cdr Malik Sulaiman said if the target could be achieved, it would be the second best gold tally for yachting after the 2001 edition in Kuala Lumpur where the Malaysians grabbed five gold medals.

"Ever since Malaysia competed in yachting at the SEA Games, beginning in 1961, the best achievement by the Malaysians was in 2001 in Kuala Lumpur with five gold medals.

"Malaysia's best achievement in the biennial Games abroad was in 1997 in Jakarta with two gold. So in Korat, the association hopes to exceed that number," he told Bernama, here Tuesday.

Malik said Malaysia would participate in the optimist (men, women, team), laser (men, women), super moth, international 420 (men, women), international 470 (men, women), windsurfing and Keelboat.

Declining to disclose the events that would contribute to Malaysia's gold tally, he said the squad, comprising 25 yachtsmen and assisted by five coaches, were now in the final phase of training held at three venues.

Training for the optimist and laser events are held in Port Dickson, Keelboat in Port Klang and windsurfing in Penang.

"Four coaches, Abdul Rani Idris, Zaidi Amin Pardi, Hamdan Rozi and Shahril Razak, who are assisted by Ronald Van Vierman from Holland, are responsible for the training of all the yachtsmen," Malik said.

The yachting events in Thailand will be held at the Ocean Marina Yatch Club in Pattaya.

-- BERNAMA

Yong Back For SEA Games


JOHOR BAHARU, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Five years after he successfully battled the deadly cancer, Yong Kein Foot, is back in the SEA Games squad again.

There was a period in Kein Foot's life when everything seemed hopeless after he was diagnosed with testicles cancer but thanks to the National Sports Council's help he was operated on and recovered.

That was in 2002 just before the Pusan Asian Games where the 39-year-old Pontian-born Kein Foot was a member of the National snooker squad.

But his Asian Games dream was shattered and instead he had to endure chemotherapy and the subsequent recuperation period before he could make a return.

And on Monday, his name was accepted by the Olympic Council of Malaysia together with Moh Keen Ho and Thor Chuan Leong for the Korat Sea Games snooker squad.

"It's nice to be back again representing the country. Of course, I had suffered so much when I was diagnosed with cancer but the treatment I had and the help given to me by the NSC made me more determined to do well at the snooker table again," said Kein Foot.

The last time he represented the country was in the 1995 SEA Games in Chiangmai where he was a member of the snooker gold medal winning team together with Sam Chong and Liew Kit Fatt beating Thailand 2-1 in the final.

And his recent form in the local tournament since last year has been so impressive that the Malaysian Snooker and Billiards Federation (MSBF) drafted him into the National training squad four months ago.

"Kein Foot has all the international experience and his current form suggest that he can provide the depth we needed for the assault at the gold medals in Korat," said MSBF secretary Melvin Chia.

Kein Foot together with Keen Ho, the former Asian Junior champion and a recent quarter-finalist at the World Junior Meet in India, will play in the singles and form the doubles combination.

-- BERNAMA

Back-up Shuttlers To Represent Malaysia At SEA Games


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- The National Sports Council (NSC) and Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) today announced that Malaysia will be represented by the back-up squad for badminton at the Korat SEA Games in Thailand in December.

NSC director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong said Malaysia's squad will be made up of Bukit Jalil Sports School and Project 2010-12 players.

"We are confident of their ability to bring back gold, as we have done in past SEA Games", he told a press conference at Bukit Jalil, here.

However, he said discussions were ongoing with the BAM as well as the coaches on the possibility of sending a senior squad for the women's team.

Meanwhile, the chief coach of the Project 2010-2012 squad, Rashid Sidek, said senior players in the project like Kuan Beng Hong, Gan Teik Chai/Lin Wooi Fui and Lydia Cheah would be part of the back-up squad to Korat to provide guidance for the more junior shuttlers.

He believed that his players would be able to upset the more senior and experienced players from Indonesia and Singapore at the Games.

-- BERNAMA

Bola sepak kita kategori A -- Sukan SEA, Korat 2007

KUALA LUMPUR – Rayuan Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) agar skuad bola sepak kebangsaan bawah 23 tahun (B23) ditempatkan dalam kategori A pada Sukan SEA di Korat, Thailand dari 5 hing-

ga 16 Disember ini, diterima oleh Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM).

Jawatankuasa Pemilihan Sukan SEA, MOM yang bersidang semalam dipengerusikan oleh Presidennya, Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar telah menerima permohonan itu sebulat suara.

Menurut sumber, panel yang bersidang membuat keputusan tersebut berdasarkan kejayaan skuad bimbingan B. Sathiananthan menjuarai Kejohanan Pesta Bola Merdeka Edisi ke-39, bulan lalu selepas menewaskan Myanmar 3-1 pada perlawanan akhir.

Bagi kategori A, semua perbelanjaan ke temasya itu akan ditanggung oleh MOM sementara perbelanjaan bagi sukan yang diletakkan di bawah kategori B akan ditanggung oleh persatuan masing-masing.

Berdasarkan rekod Sukan SEA, kali terakhir bola sepak menyumbang pingat kepada Malaysia ialah pada edisi 2003 di Vietnam dengan meraih pingat gangsa.

Dalam perkembangan yang sama, MOM menangguhkan ke hari ini untuk mengumumkan senarai muktamad kontinjen negara ke Sukan SEA ke-24 di Korat dari 6 hingga 15 Disember ini biarpun selesai menimbangkan proses rayuan, perubahan kategori dan penggantian atlet 14 jenis sukan, semalam.

Tunku Imran berkata, mereka perlu memaklumkan persatuan sukan kebangsaan berkenaan terlebih dulu kerana beranggapan bahawa tidak adil bagi mereka dengan hanya mendapat tahu jawapannya menerusi media.

‘‘Kami menimbangkan permohonan 14 jenis sukan yang antaranya merayu disenaraikan semula ke Korat, bertukar kepada Kategori A daripada B dan menggantikan atlet mereka atas pelbagai sebab,” katanya selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat jawatankuasa tersebut.

Menurutnya, persatuan sukan yang berbuat demikian dalam mesyuarat hampir tiga jam itu ialah olahraga, judo, taekwondo, bola sepak, besbol, berbasikal, tenis, boling padang, bola tampar, triatlon, lawan pedang dan angkat berat.

Dibiayai

Kategori A membolehkan atlet sukan berkenaan dibiayai sepenuhnya oleh MOM manakala Kategori B memerlukan persatuan sukan berbelanja sendiri dan hanya boleh menuntut balik jika atletnya memenangi sekurang-kurangnya pingat perak.

‘‘Badminton diberi tempoh hingga 8 Oktober ini biarpun Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) khabarnya cuma mahu menyenaraikan skuad kedua ke Korat (supaya pemain utama dapat memberikan tumpuan memburu mata kelayakan Olimpik),” katanya.

Mengenai sasaran pingat emas Malaysia di Korat, katanya, MOM cuma meramalkan kutipan yang mengatasi pencapaian 61 emas pada temasya ke-23 di Filipina dua tahun lalu dengan mengambil kira kualiti persaingan dalam sukan tertentu yang ada di antaranya sudah bertaraf dunia.

‘‘Mungkin ramalan MOM ini berbeza dengan MSN (Majlis Sukan Negara) tetapi ada kalanya perak dalam sukan tertentu seperti badminton yang bertaraf dunia, lebih tinggi daripada emas sesetengah sukan yang hanya disertai empat atau lima negara.

‘‘Kami di sini melihat ramalan emas di Korat dari senario keseluruhannya,” katanya yang bagaimanapun enggan menjelaskan angka ramalan emas untuk kontinjen negara daripada MOM.

Malaysia akan menyertai sebahagian besar daripada 43 jenis sukan yang dipertandingkan pada Sukan SEA Korat termasuk akuatik, memanah, bola keranjang, biliard dan snuker, boling, tinju, kenu, ekuestrian dan polo.

Utusan

MABF confident of bagging at least one gold in Korat

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia are hoping to end a six-year gold medal drought in SEA Games boxing.

But the Malaysia Amateur Boxing Federation (MABF) secretary, Maulud Othman, admitted that it would be a tall order for their six-man team to get one in Korat in December.

“Thailand are the powerhouse in this sport. But we are confident one of our men will be in the final,” said Maulud yesterday.

The team comprise Mohd Zamzai Azizi (48kg), Eddy Kalai (57kg) Paunandes Paulus (60kg), Mohd Ali Abdul Karim (61kg), Mohd Farhan Harun (69kg) and Zulkarnain Mustaffa (75kg).

“Our boxers are no pushovers. We have a team of experienced boxers and new hands and they have the ability to get among the medallists,” said Maulud of the team who are now in centralised training under the charge of Kalen Asanov from Kyrgyzstan and Ramli Yahya.

Malaysia last won gold at the KL Games in 2001 through Zainuddin Siddi and Adnan Yusoh. At the 2003 Vietnam Games, Malaysia managed only a bronze and in their last outing in Manila in 2005, Zamzai, Eddy and Paunandes were bronze medallists.

Zamzai, the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, is the most experienced boxer in the team. He also took bronze in the 2001 SEA Games. In 2005, he was the gold medallist in the Kyrgyzstan Open and bronze medallist in the Kazakhstan Open.

The Star

Submission of entries hampered by last-minute appeals

KUALA LUMPUR: The submission of entries of Malaysian athletes for the SEA Games in December have been held up after 13 sports made eleventh hour appeals for the inclusion of their athletes under Category A.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) selection committee met yesterday but they were unable to come up with the final list of athletes.

The 13 sports are athletics, football, judo, baseball, cycling, tennis, lawn bowls, sailing, triathlon, fencing, volleyball, taekwondo and weightlifting.

However, the OCM president, Tuanku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja'afar, allayed fears that the registration process would be held up.

“We should be able to finalise most of the entries by tomorrow. There is still time. We have to officially submit entries by names to the organisers by Oct 8,” he said.

“Some sports have appealed for their athletes to go under Category A. For example, the men's football team felt they should go under Category A because they won the Merdeka Tournament last month.

“In the case of lawn bowls, they have submitted six-member teams earlier.

“They are now optimistic of a clean sweep of six gold medals and wanted us to consider allowing them to bring one extra athlete.”

Category A athletes are fully funded by the OCM. Under Category B, the OCM will reimburse the costs of the expenses of an athlete in full if he wins at least a silver medal. A 50% reimbursement will be given to a team winning at least a bronze of a competition involving more than five countries.

The Malaysian contingent of more than 600 athletes will compete in a total of 37 sports in the Games, which will be held in Korat, Pattaya and Phuket.

The Star

OCM to consider national associations requests

Publish Post
Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar.
Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar.

THE Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) selection committee met yesterday to deliberate the requests of 13 national associations to either be upgraded from Category B to A or for additional athletes to be included.

The 13 sports that had made the requests are men's and women's football, judo, baseball, cycling, fencing, weightlifting, volleyball, triathlon, tennis, taekwondo, lawn bowls, athletics and sailing.

“The selection committee went through all the requests, and we will make the decision tomorrow (today),” said OCM president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar after chairing the meeting at Wisma OCM.

“We would like to inform the national associations first of whatever decision we may have made.”

FA of Malaysia, represented by Gen (R) Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad, made the request for football to be upgraded from Category B to A on the grounds that they won the recent Merdeka Tournament.
Lawn bowls, tipped to win six gold medals in December's Sea Games, requested for another member to be included.

“The final entry by name will take place on Oct 8 and we should complete all the entries by then,” Tunku Imran added.

He also confirmed that the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have yet to submit their list of players.

“We have given the BAM until Oct 8 to submit their list. Badminton is an important sport for us and we are a key player in the Games with Indonesia.”

BAM will be sending their back-up squad to the Dec 6-15 Games.

Tunku Imran also said that OCM will bid to host the International Masters Games in 2011.

“We were asked by the International Masters Games Federation (IMGF) if we would like to host the 2011 edition since Singapore has withdrawn, and we thought we can have the event in Malaysia.”

The International Masters Games, which is an open age group competition for athletes aged 35 years and above who have to meet their own travelling expenses, board and lodging, involves over 40 countries.

“The cost of organising the event is very minimal, so we will make the bid since we have the facilities and expertise.”

New Straits Times

More exposure for athletes at Korat

Junior cyclist Syamil Baharum poses with his incentive mock cheque. Pic: HASAN ISMAIL.
Junior cyclist Syamil Baharum poses with his incentive mock cheque. Pic: HASAN ISMAIL.

INSPIRED by the recent show of strength by athletes under development programmes, Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said wants a look at the possibility of a larger pool of such athletes being blooded at the Sea Games.

That, she said, would not be at the expense of meeting the earlier target of beating the previous haul of 61 gold medals, on top of a possible largest ever contingent for this year's Sea Games in Korat, with 659 athletes currently on the list.

The fact that young archer Wan Mohd Khalmizam Wan Abdul Aziz had last week made the cut for next year's Olympics well before he was expected to, said Azalina, proved the development athletes can already deliver.

“The challenge I threw to (National Sports Council director general) Datuk Zolkples Embong was to beat the previous haul. And he is a good manager, so he has to manage this and deliver,” said Azalina.

The Sports Minister was speaking after hosting a ‘buka puasa’ function at the Juara Stadium last night where she also launched the Youth Financial Management booklet.
At the function, junior cyclist Syamil Baharum and the victorious junior badminton team received their incentives for conquering their Asian Championships recently.

Badminton's senior doubles pair Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah also received RM5,000 incentive for their bronze medal in the World Championships, while the Women's World Bowling (Amateur) Championship winning team took home RM90,000.

The national hockey team received a RM36,000 incentive for their bronze medal feat in the Asia Cup last month.

On the Sea Games, Azalina said, the trend for the future could be to look at the biennial event as a platform solely to blood athletes under the development programmes.

NST

FAM rayu skuad sertai Kategori A




Sertai 13 persatuan lain mohon semua perbelanjaan ke Korat ditanggung MOM

PERSATUAN Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) adalah antara 14 persatuan sukan kebangsaan yang memohon untuk menyenaraikan skuad mereka berdasarkan Kategori A di Sukan Sea hujung tahun ini.

Selain bola sepak, 13 persatuan lain yang berbuat demikian ketika mesyuarat terakhir pemilihan ke Sukan Sea Korat di Wisma Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) semalam ialah judo, taekwondo, bola sepak wanita, besbol, berbasikal, tenis, lawn bowl, pelayaran, bola tampar, triathlon, lawan pedang, olahraga dan angkat berat.

Presiden MOM, Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar (gambar), berkata mesyuarat berkenaan adalah yang terakhir untuk pemilihan ke Sukan Sea hujung tahun ini dengan kebanyakan persatuan kebangsaan, meminta rayuan untuk menukar atlit dan mengubah kategori, selain memohon semua perbelanjaan ditanggung MOM.

Bagaimanapun, katanya mengikut prosedur MOM, pihaknya perlu memberitahu keputusan berkenaan terlebih dulu kepada persatuan kebangsaan sebelum membuat hebahan kepada media.

"Sebanyak 14 persatuan sukan kebangsaan membuat rayuan untuk disenaraikan dalam Kategori A termasuk bola sepak. Kita juga minta semua kontinjen memberikan nama atlit sebelum tarikh akhir 8 Oktober mengikut acara yang akan disertai," katanya.

Mengenai sasaran badan induk sukan negara itu, Tunku Imran menjelaskan pihaknya lebih berminat untuk melihat peningkatan dan kualiti saingan atlit negara dalam kejohanan dwitahunan itu dan ia mungkin berbeza dengan sasaran persatuan sukan.

"Kerana itu kami akan lihat secara keseluruhan (sebelum membuat sebarang sasaran)," katanya.

Sementara itu, Setiausaha Agung FAM, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad ketika ditemui menjelaskan pihaknya menemui MOM untuk menimbangkan kemungkinan meletakkan bola sepak lelaki dan wanita dalam Kategori A.

"Berdasarkan pencapaian pasukan lelaki yang menang Pestabola Merdeka baru-baru ini, mungkin ia boleh dipertimbangkan untuk naik taraf tetapi bagi bola sepak wanita, pencapaian terbaik mereka hanya tempat keempat Kejohanan Bola Sepak Wanita Asean (AFF) di Myanmar sebelum ini," katanya.

Kehadiran bekas Setiausaha Agung FAM, Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad sebagai Ahli Majlis MOM mungkin memberi sedikit kelegaan buat bola sepak kerana beliau lebih arif mengenai sukan berkenaan, seterusnya mampu memberikan kelebihan bagi bola sepak diletakkan dalam kategori A.

Bagaimanapun, Azzuddin menjelaskan jika pun mereka hanya tersenarai dalam kategori B, FAM akan tetap menghantar skuad pemain Bawah 23 tahun kendalian B Sathianathan menerusi pembiayaan sendiri ke Korat.

Ditanya mengenai sasaran pingat persatuan berkenaan, Azzuddin dalam nada sederhana, berkata sasaran mereka sekurang-kurangnya mara ke peringkat separuh akhir.

"Kerana itu kita hantar mereka (berlatih) ke Perth, Australia untuk bertemu lawan-lawan yang handal di sana, kita mahu mantapkan lagi kualiti pemain ini. Pada 20 Oktober mereka akan bertemu pula Bahrain dalam kelayakan Piala Dunia 2010," katanya.

Berita Harian

FAM Hopes SEA Games Squad Placed Under Category A

FAM Hopes SEA Games Squad Placed Under Category A

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) hopes the Sea Games Selection Committee will place its squad for the Korat Games in December under Category A.

FAM secretary-general Lt Gen (R) Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad said the team was previously placed under Category B based on the poor performance of the senior squad in the Asian Cup campaign in July.

"For the Sea Games, the FAM is sending under-23 players who have proved their worth by winning the Merdeka Football Tournament last month.

"In fact, the squad's target is actually to shine at the Games in Korat, Thailand," he told reporters after meeting the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM)'s Sea Games Selection Committee here Tuesday.

The meeting was held to plead the FAM's case for the team be placed under Category A. The committee's decision is expected to be known tomorrow.

Sea Games athletes sent under Category A will have all their expenses paid by the OCM.

However, sports associations will have to bear costs of theirs' sent under Category B and they will be reimbursed if the athletes bring home at least a silver.

Based on the Sea Games' record, the last time Malaysia won a medal in football was in 2003 in Vietnam when they got a bronze.

-- BERNAMA

Full List Of M'sian Athletes To SEA Games Out On Oct 8

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The full list of Malaysian athletes competing in the biennial SEA Games in Korat, Thailand will only be sent to the organisers on October 8.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) said this was because 14 sports associations had forwarded their appeals at the OCM Selection Committee meeting Tuesday.

The associations involved athletics, football (men and women), judo, taekwondo, baseball, cycling, tennis, lawn bowls, sailing, volleyball, triathlon, fencing and weightlifting.

"The decisions on the appeals will be conveyed to the respective associations through email later today. However, they can still appeal again until Oct 1.

"The appeals include moving from category B to A and increasing the number of athletes," OCM president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Jaafar told reporters here after chairing the Selection Committee meeting at Wisma OCM here today.

He however declined to comment further on the associations making the appeals, adding that a press statement on the matter would be issued tomorrow.

In the Korat SEA Games, Malaysia will be taking part in 43 of the 47 events listed for competition.

-- BERNAMA

PSM Sets No Gold Medal Target For Korat Sea Games


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Sepak Takraw Association (PSM) which is sending 18 men and five women players to the SEA Games in Korat, Thailand has set no gold medal target.

The national men's squad will enter the team, regu and double events while the women players will take part in the regu event only.

"We have set no gold medal target this time because the present squad are being trained and prepared for the Asian Games in China in 2010," PSM president Datuk Ahmad Ismail told Bernama when contacted Tuesday.

He said PSM had selected 18 players from the 22 undergoing training at the National Sports Council complex in Keramat here in preparation for the Korat Games.

"Most of them are young, and the Sea Games will be the best exposure for them after taking part in a number of international tournaments this year," he added.

Ahmad said all 22 players would, however, undergo the final training in Langkawi from Oct 18 to Nov 23, with the players in each regu to be decided there.

Meanwhile, PSM Training Committee chairman, Tengku Adnan Tengku Burhanudin, said although PSM had set no gold medal target, the national squad would still provide stiff competition to their traditional rival, Thailand.

"We must avoid defeat to rising teams like Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam," he said.

In the 2005 SEA Games in Manila, the Malaysian squad won a gold medal in the regu event, ending Thailand's 12-year dominance in the category.

The men's squad to the Korat SEA Games: Mohd Syazwan Hussain, Mohamad Hamikhairi Roslan, Mohamad Arif Busu, Fadlanshah Ibrahim, Sulaiman Salleh, Mohd Azlan Mubin, Zulhafizuddin Rosslan, Ahmad Farhan Helmi Mohamad, Azri Aziz, Mohd Hafizie Manap, Norshahruddin Mat Ghani, Mohd Taufik M. Saad, Farhan Adan, Affandi Abdul Rahman, Mohd Khairuddin Adnan, Nazirul Ikram Rozali, Ahmad Sufi Mohamed Hashim, Mohd Syafiq Abdul Rahman.

The women players: Lawi a/k Sanggap, Siti Zubaidah Che Abdul Wahab, Nor Fairuz Azinan, Rohaya Yaakob, Roashidah Rashid.

--BERNAMA

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

KOAM sasar 10 pingat emas Sukan SEA di Korat

KUALA LUMPUR – Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) menetapkan sasaran untuk mengutip 10 pingat emas pada Sukan SEA di Korat, Thailand dari 6-16 Disember ini.

Presiden KOAM Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim berkata, selepas menilai sasaran pingat yang ditetapkan jurulatih masing-masing, beliau yakin sasaran itu akan dapat dicapai.

“Pada Sukan SEA lepas di Manila, kami memenangi lapan emas dan selepas dua tahun, adalah lebih adil kami sasarkan untuk memungut lebih banyak emas, terutama setelah banyak wang dan usaha dibuat untuk persediaan menghadapi kejohanan itu,” kata Shahidan kepada Bernama selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat majlis (KOAM) di sini semalam.

Beliau berkata, 17 atlet layak untuk Sukan SEA Korat berdasarkan merit tetapi KOAM akan turut mencadangkan atlet yang berpotensi mendapatkan pingat bagi Malaysia dan beberapa atlet lain untuk pendedahan.

“Selain dari 17 yang layak, kami akan mencadangkan nama 33 atlet lelaki dan 25 wanita yang dikemukakan jurulatih masing-masing bagi diberi pendedahan bertanding di peringkat serantau.

“Daripada 58 yang dicadangkan, 50 peratus daripada mereka adalah atlet baru dan nama-nama mereka akan diserahkan kepada Jawatankuasa Pilihan Malaysia Majlis Olimpik yang akan bermesyuarat esok,” kata Shahidan.

Pada Sukan SEA 2005 di Manila, Malaysia memenangi tiga pingat emas dalam acara lelaki - Robani Hassan (110m berpagar), Shahadan Jamaludin (400m berpagar), Mohd Shahrulhaizy Abdul Rahman (20km jalan kaki) dan lima wanita melalui Moh Siew Wei (100m berpagar), Roslinda Samsu (lombat bergalah), Ngew Sin Mei (lompat kijang), Siti Shahida Abdullah (baling tukul besi), Yuan Yufang (20km jalan kaki).

Dengan pengecualian Siew Wei, yang mengalami masalah kecederaan, kesemua yang lain layak berdasarkan merit.

Selain daripada pemenang pingat emas lalu, kemasukan atlet lari berpagar 400m Norasheela Khalid, yang tidak bertanding di Manila, dan pemenang pingat emas acara lompat tinggi kejohanan olahraga Asia Lee Hup Wei, dijangka memberi suntikan kepada Malaysia dalam mencari pingat emas.

Dengan lapan pingat emas, Malaysia menduduki tempat ketiga keseluruhan dalam acara olahraga di belakang Thailand yang memperoleh 11 pingat dan Filipina yang mendapat sembilan.

Atlet yang layak mengikut merit:

Lelaki: Robani Hassan, Rayzam Shah (110m berpagar), Lee Hup Wei, Ahmad Najwan (lompat tinggi), Lo Choon Sieng, Teoh Boon Lim, Mohd Shahrulhaizy, B. Thirukumaran (20km jalan kaki), M. Vadivellan (1,500m), Zabidi Ahmad (100m), 4x100m berpasukan.

Wanita: Yuan Yufang, Tan Song Hwa (20km jalan kaki), Roslinda Samsu (lompat bergalah), Siti Shahida Abdullah (baling tukul besi), Norasheela Khalid (400m berpagar), Ngew Sin Mei (lompat kijang).

– Bernama

Sasaran Kata: Korat medan cari pengalaman

BAM wajar guna peluang dedahkan skuad wanita sebelum kempen Piala Uber

KIRA-kira dua bulan lagi sebelum Sukan Sea Korat di Thailand bermula dan biarpun 'demam' temasya sukan dwitahunan itu belum begitu terasa, persiapan semua atlit negara boleh dikatakan lancar sehingga kini.

Sebagai sukan serantau terbesar, pastinya semua persatuan sukan kebangsaan mahukan keputusan terbaik apa lagi dengan sistem ranking yang bakal diperkenalkan Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) tidak lama lagi bagi menentukan peruntukan yang akan diterima kemudian.

Pada masa sama, persatuan sukan kebangsaan turut mempunyai tanggungjawab besar dalam memberikan pendedahan kepada atlit muda kerana Sukan Sea adalah satu-satunya pentas sukan terbesar bagi mereka sebelum mengimpikan peluang beraksi di Sukan Asia, Komanwel mahupun Olimpik.

Tidak hairan juga, kontinjen negara kali ini boleh dikatakan besar dengan angka atlit dikatakan akan melebihi 700 orang yang pastinya gabungan atlit muda dan senior.

Pada ketika MSN khususnya Ketua Pengarahnya, Datuk Zolkples Embong dicabar Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Azalina Othman untuk mengatasi pungutan emas di Manila pada 2005, tentunya kontinjen negara terdiri daripada senior dan remaja itu tidak boleh memberi alasan sekadar mencari pendedahan.

Ketika ini, penulis difahamkan Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) turut akan menampilkan skuad pelapis ke Sukan Sea bagi memberikan pendedahan awal buat mereka bagi persiapan di kemudian hari.

Secara peribadi, keputusan menghantar skuad pelapis bagi kategori lelaki masih boleh diterima sebagai langkah 'mengurung' barisan elit daripada acara berpasukan menjelang persiapan pusingan kelayakan Piala Thomas awal tahun depan.

Ini kerana pencabar utama, Indonesia biarpun beberapa tahun lalu pernah menyuarakan akan menghantar pemain muda untuk Sukan Sea, dijangka tetap mengirimkan barisan terbaik mereka kerana itulah satu-satunya acara yang pasti menjanjikan emas buat mereka.

Namun, penulis tetap mengharapkan BAM akan mengirimkan barisan utama wanita ke Korat. Berbanding dengan pemain lelaki termasuk pemain pelapis yang banyak menerima pendedahan di pertandingan, skuad wanita masih memerlukan pendedahan yang mencukupi.

Difahamkan skuad wanita yang mahu dihantar adalah campuran daripada pasukan pelapis bimbingan Rashid Sidek serta pemain daripada Sekolah Sukan Bukit Jalil.

Pemain senior wanita negara sebenarnya kurang beraksi dalam acara berpasukan dan Sukan Sea adalah pentas terbaik mereka di mana pemain setidak-tidaknya boleh duduk sama rendah, berdiri sama tinggi dengan pasukan lain di rantau Asia Tenggara ini.

Malah, pemain utama, Wong Mew Choo, juara perseorangan wanita Sukan Sea 2003, masih ada peluang menjuarai acara itu tahun ini, begitu juga dengan peluang pasangan Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui.

Langkah menghantar barisan utama wanita juga tidak keterlaluan kerana skuad itu juga mempunyai pemain muda seperti Julia Wong dan Lydia Cheah. Sebab itu pengalaman beraksi dalam acara berpasukan adalah sesuatu yang jauh lebih menguntungkan kepada skuad utama wanita.

Setidak-tidaknya 'remaja' yang sudah ada dalam skuad senior sudah diuji dan boleh diharapkan memberikan sumbangan yang lebih bermaksa.

Walaupun pemain remaja negara muncul juara pada Kejohanan Remaja Asia dalam acara berpasukan campuran baru-baru ini, bagi mendedahkan pemain muda wanita di pentas Sukan Sea, tanpa kehadiran rakan sepasukan yang lebih senior, dikhuatiri lebih mendatangkan kesan negatif.

Malah kecetekan pendedahan menerusi acara berpasukan itu sebenarnya dapat dilihat ketika Sukan Asia di Doha, Disember lalu. Ketika skuad wanita negara sebenarnya berpeluang layak ke separuh akhir dan mencipta sejarah meraih pingat gangsa buat julung kalinya, faktor itu jadi penghalangnya.

Manakan tidak, selepas Mew Choo dan beregu Pei Tty-Eei Hui - yang kerap terdedah kepada saingan peringkat tinggi - mengutip dua mata awal negara, kemaraan ke separuh akhir hampa di tangan Indonesia kerana barisan pelapis lainnya tidak punya kemampuan untuk bersaing dan memungut mata.

Pemain wanita negara perlu melepasi tembok keyakinan yang selama ini menghalang kemajuan mereka. Sukan Sea adalah pentas terbaik dan peluang untuk meraih gelaran adalah langkah terbaik dalam membina keyakinan mereka untuk mengharungi saingan antarabangsa yang lain.

Berita Harian

Nafzahizam, Elvinn To Shoulder Men's Squash Challenge At SEA Games


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- Nafzahizam Adnan and Elvinn Keo have been chosen to shoulder Malaysia's challenge in the men's category in squash at the 24th SEA Games in Korat, Thailand in December.

After three days of national selection trials from Thursday at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil here, the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) picked the two juniors to represent Malaysia at the meet.

Apart from the duo, the others who underwent the trials were Choong Kam Hing, Kamran Khan, Valentino Bong, Asyraf Azan and Asfar Azan.

They will join Sharon Wee and Tricia Chuah who will represent Malaysia in the women's category.

"I am beyond excitement to be chosen. This is the first time I will be representing Malaysia at the SEA Games," Nafzahizam told Bernama.

Just as the previous SEA Games in Manila, the Korat Games will only have the men's and women's singles events for squash. Malaysia, being the regional powerhouse in squash, are expected to romp home easily in the event.

-- BERNAMA

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Malaysia tak ke Korat jika Thailand bergolak

Oleh Mohd Hamizar Hamid

KERAJAAN tidak akan menghantar atlit negara menyertai temasya Sukan Sea di Korat, Thailand, hujung tahun ini jika keadaan di negara itu yang menghadapi pilihan raya pada 23 Disember boleh mengancam keselamatan dan nyawa mereka, kata Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman.

"Kita tidak akan menggadaikan nyawa dan keselamatan atlit hanya kerana pingat. Bagaimanapun ketika ini, kita belum dapat apa-apa maklumat... tetapi bagi saya keutamaan kerajaan adalah keselamatan atlit," katanya selepas melancarkan kempen tandatangan Malaysia Boleh Sukan Sea ke-24 di Menara Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) di Putrajaya, semalam.

Hadir sama, Setiausaha Kementerian Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Mohamed Yassin Mohamed Salleh; Chef-de-Mission kontinjen negara ke Sukan Sea, Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad, dan Pengarah Urusan Nestle (M) Sdn Bhd, Sullivan O'Carroll.

Jumlah kontinjen Malaysia ke Sukan Sea tahun ini dijangka melebihi 1,139 atlit dan pegawai, sekali gus menjadikannya penyertaan terbesar Malaysia dalam sejarah temasya dwitahunan itu sejak 1959.

Sebelum ini, Jawatankuasa Sukan Sea Bangkok melaporkan 6,500 atlit dijangka berkampung di Thailand, 6 hingga 15 Disember ini untuk merebut 485 pingat emas yang dipertaruhkan dalam 485 acara daripada 45 jenis sukan.

Mengenai penghantaran pasukan kedua bagi acara badminton Sukan Sea kali ini, Azalina menyifatkan keputusan itu sebagai baik kerana menyediakan peluang kepada pasukan pelapis negara.

"Bagi saya, penghantaran pasukan pelapis ini menunjukkan satu peningkatan sekali gus menunjukkan keyakinan Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) terhadap kebolehan pasukan berkenaan," katanya.

Sementara itu, O�Carroll berkata kempen mengumpul tandatangan penduduk bagi menyokong kontinjen negara itu adalah inisiatif Nestle sebagai pengeluar minuman Milo sejak Sukan Sea ke-17 di Singapura.

Beliau berkata, menerusi kempen berkenaan, dianggarkan lebih 2.5 juta tandatangan dari seluruh rakyat akan dikumpulkan sebagai tanda sokongan kepada kontinjen negara.

"Sebanyak 20 van Milo akan bergerak ke seluruh negara bagi memudahkan orang ramai menurunkan tandatangan mereka.

"Kempen ini diharap dapat menghidupkan semangat kontinjen negara untuk terus mengibarkan Jalur Gemilang serta membawa pulang lebih banyak pingat pada Sukan Sea kali ini," katanya.

Berita Harian

SEA Games: Seven squash men vie for two places

KUALA LUMPUR: The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) will conduct trials to pick two men's players for the Korat SEA Games.

The SRAM secretary, K. Sivanesen, said that seven players would be involved in the three-day trial, starting today at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil.

“The back-up players will feature in the SEA Games (Dec 6-15) as our top three men will be competing in the world team championships in Chennai,” he said.

Sivanesen added that they would name a third player to join Mohd Azlan Iskandar and Ong Beng Hee for the world team championships scheduled for Dec 7-15.

The place in the team is likely to go to Nafiizwan Adnan, who is currently playing in the qualifying rounds of the British Open in Manchester.

The seven involved in the trials for the SEA Games are Nafzahizam Adnan, Elvinn Keo, Choong Kam Hing, Kamran Khan, Valentino Bong and the Azan brothers, Asyraf and Asfar.

Sivanesen added that they were confident that the second stringers would be good enough to retain the gold medal for Malaysia.

At the 2005 Manila Games, Nafiizwan defeated team-mate Timothy Arnold to bag the men's title. Timothy has quit the game.

Nafzahizam, the elder brother of Nafiizwan, said that he would be out to make up for the disappointment of not getting a place to play in the Manila Games.

“I turned professional in 2004 and was the most senior player among the five who were involved in the trials in 2005. But I lost to two juniors.

“I want to play in the SEA Games for the first time and I will go all out to win the trials this time,” said Nafzahizam, who is ranked 123rd in the world.

The 22-year-old Terengganu player added that he would face a strong challenge from Elvinn, who defeated him in the NSC Satellites this year.

The women players for the SEA Games are Sharon Wee and Tricia Chuah, who won the gold and silver medal respectively in the Manila Games

The Star

Pasukan takraw gugur dua pelatih skuad elit

Oleh Meor Hisham Zulkifli

DISIPLIN, komitmen dan semangat juang tinggi menjadi aspek utama yang ditekankan oleh Persatuan Sepak Takraw Malaysia (PSM) yang menegaskan mereka tidak teragak-agak menggugurkan pelatih yang bersikap sambil lewa.

Sambil mengumumkan dua lagi pelatih elit digugurkan, Pengerusi Kejurulatihan PSM, Tengku Adnan Tengku Burhanuddin, berkata PSM sentiasa menitik beratkan soal disiplin dan komitmen pemain kerana ia menjadi teras kejayaan.

"Pemain perlu sedar mereka dipilih dan diberikan gaji serta imbuhan yang tinggi dengan harapan dapat meraih kejayaan dan mengharumkan nama negara. Oleh itu, kita tidak mahu ada pemain yang mengambil sikap sambil lewa dan tidak mempunyai semangat juang tinggi.

"Kita tidak teragak-agak menggugurkan pemain berbakat atau sudah mempunyai nama besar dalam sepak takraw jika mereka tidak menunjukkan tahap disiplin dan komitmen tinggi ketika berlatih atau menyertai kejohanan kerana ia boleh menjejaskan semua," katanya.

Tengku Adnan berkata, dua lagi nama yang bakal digugurkan itu akan dibentangkan dalam mesyuarat jawatankuasa PSM dengan salah seorang daripadanya terbabit dalam masalah disiplin kerana menghilangkan diri daripada latihan pusat di Keramat selepas bercuti.

"Seorang lagi pelatih menarik diri atas alasan peribadi. Sebelum ini dia mengadu tidak dapat memberikan tumpuan kepada latihan serta pelbagai alasan lain sedangkan, PSM sudah pun menguruskan elaun bulanan serta menanggung semua kos latihannya," katanya.

Berita Harian difahamkan salah seorang daripada pelatih yang akan digugurkan itu adalah Mohd Shukri Jamal.

Minggu lalu, Mohd Saifuddin Hussin yang membawa pulang pingat perak di Doha dalam acara berpasukan selaku tekong digugurkan kerana kemerosotan prestasi manakala Mohd Saufi Salleh yang dikalungkan gangsa menerusi acara beregu, dibenarkan keluar kem latihan untuk menyertai polis.

Turut digugurkan dua pelatih muda, Mohd Nasiruddin Manjur Ahmad dan Nor Akmal Fir daus. Nor Akmal sebelum ini disebut-sebut mampu menghadirkan sinar untuk takraw negara, namun kemerosotan prestasi ketika latihan, mengundang padah.

Berita Harian

KOAM pening pilih dua pejalan kaki

Empat atlit lepasi had kelayakan ke Sukan Sea

BERMULA dengan dua, kemudian tiga dan kini empat - skuad pejalan kaki negara tampak mewujudkan saingan paling kompetitif bagi merebut tempat ke temasya Sukan Sea Korat, hujung tahun ini apabila empat atlit melepasi syarat ke kejohanan dwi-tahunan itu.

Gambaran sengit siapakah bakal memenuhi kuota hanya dua pejalan kaki itu bagaimanapun mewujudkan senario bahawa negara tidak pernah ketandusan atlit berbakat dalam acara itu dan pastinya ia mampu membawa kepada kilauan emas sekali lagi seperti yang tercipta sejak temasya 1991 di Manila.

Juara dua kali Sukan Sea, Shahrulhaizy Abd Rahman akur hanya pejalan kaki terbaik akan mendapat tiket ke sana dan dia kini terpaksa bersaing dengan Loh Choon Seng, V Thirukumaran dan terbaru, Teoh Boon Lim yang layak pada saat akhir menerusi Kejohanan Kebangsaan di Serindit, Melaka, dua minggu lalu.

�Saya yakin dengan kemampuan saya kerana saya menang kejohanan terakhir di Melaka. Saya sudah melepasi had kelayakan dua kali sepanjang tahun ini,� katanya yang menjuarai acara berkenaan di Melaka dengan masa 1 jam, 32 minit 0.45 saat selain sudah melepasi kelayakan itu sewaktu menyertai kejohanan di Krakow di Poland sebelum ini.

Apapun seharusnya kejohanan di Melaka itu seperti yang dilabel sebelum ini, adalah ujian terakhir buat semua pejalan kaki dengan dua yang terbaik saja akan dipilih, tampak tidak lagi menjadi kriteria pemilihan apabila Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) dikatakan masih belum memilih dua peserta terbaik seperti dijanjikan sebelum ini.

Seperti dikatakan jurulatih acara jalan kaki, V Subramaniam, dia masih belum mendapat kepastian daripada KOAM siapakah yang akan terpilih dan keputusan berkenaan hanya dijangka diketahui dalam tempoh beberapa hari lagi.

Shahrulhaizy melepasi had kelayakan dengan catatan 1:36:01s di Poland, Julai lalu walaupun sebelum itu berehat kira-kira dua tahun manakala Choon Seng dan Thirukumaran layak lebih awal menerusi Kejohanan Jalan Kaki Asia di Neagari, Jepun apabila melepasi had kelayakan ke Korat 1:36:27s.

Keazamannya itu dibantu dengan peningkatan dalam tekniknya apabila pernah beberapa kali mengalahkan tiga lagi peserta negara yang sudah layak itu dan kini sudah bersedia sepenuhnya untuk memikul tanggungjawab selaku calon pilihan untuk meraih pingat.

Berita Harian

Kita mampu kutip lebih banyak pingat emas

KUALA LUMPUR – Walaupun menghantar kontinjen campuran pada Sukan SEA Korat, Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said percaya atlet negara mampu melepasi pungutan pingat emas dua tahun lalu.

Pada Temasya XXIII di Manila 2005, Malaysia pulang bersama 61 pingat emas, 49 perak dan 65 gangsa, sekaligus melepasi sasaran 55 emas yang ditetapkan Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM).

Bagaimanapun pencapaian negara ketika itu disumbangkan oleh sebahagian besar atlet utama, berbanding pendekatan yang bakal digunakan oleh Malaysia kali ini, iaitu menghantar skuad campuran muka lama dan atlet pelapis.

‘‘Kami belum meletakkan sebarang sasaran spesifik pada Sukan SEA kali ini, namun saya percaya dan berharap kita mampu memperbaiki pencapaian temasya terdahulu.

‘‘Saya yakin pada atlet pelapis kita dan saya percaya mereka mampu memberikan keputusan yang baik walau pun ada yang kali pertama akan beraksi.

‘‘Lagi pun, saya difahamkan kebanyakan negara lain mengambil keputusan untuk mengetengahkan pasukan kedua mereka kerana mahu menjadikan Sukan SEA sebagai landasan pendedahan.

‘‘Malah, saya diberitahu kontinjen seperti Singapura mempertaruhkan sebahagian besar atlet pelapis, namun Malaysia belum lagi berani mengambil risiko seperti itu, sebab itu kita mahu mengimbangi pasukan dengan campuran atlet lama dan baru,’’ katanya selepas melancarkan kempen tanda tangan Malaysia Boleh! di Putrajaya, semalam.

Menurut Azalina lagi, Sukan SEA masih mempunyai standard yang tinggi untuk acara tertentu, malah rakyat negara ini juga meletakkan harapan yang besar untuk kita membawa pulang kejayaan pada temasya itu.

Utusan Malaysia

Malaysia tarik diri jika tidak selamat -- Sukan SEA Ke-24, Korat

Oleh NORZIE MOHD. KHASBI


AZALINA Othman Said menurunkan tandatangannya pada papan tulis sempena pelancaran kempen tanda tangan Malaysia Boleh! di Sukan SEA ke-24 dalam satu majlis di Putrajaya, semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia tidak teragak-agak membatalkan penyertaan kontinjennya ke Sukan SEA Ke-24, Disember ini jika mendapat amaran mengenai keselamatan di Thailand.

Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said menegaskan, keutamaan Malaysia adalah keselamatan atlet dan pegawainya, malah kerajaan tidak akan menggadaikan nyawa mereka jika keadaan tidak mengizinkan.

Bagaimanapun, Azalina berkata, setakat ini pihaknya tidak menerima sebarang amaran mengenai keselamatan di Thailand yang sebelum ini mencetuskan pelbagai kebimbangan kerana pilihan raya umum negara itu akan berlangsung pada 23 Disember ini.

Pilihan raya umum itu diadakan hanya lapan hari selepas Sukan SEA ditutup pada 15 Disember iaitu 10 hari selepas ia dirasmikan pada 6 Disember.

‘‘Pada kerajaan, keutamaan kita adalah keselamatan rakyat dan dalam kes ini, jika keadaan di Thailand disahkan tidak selamat kita akan membatalkan penyertaan pada Sukan SEA.

‘‘Kita tidak akan menggadaikan nyawa atlet semata-mata untuk mengambil bahagian pada temasya itu.

‘‘Bagaimanapun setakat ini belum ada sebarang maklumat atau amaran dikeluarkan, jadi apa yang kami maklum keadaan di sana adalah selamat,’’ kata Azalina selepas melancarkan kempen tanda tangan Malaysia Boleh! Sukan SEA 2007, anjuran Nestle di Menara KBS, Putrajaya, semalam.

Tahap keselamatan di Thailand ketika temasya sukan terbesar di Asia Tenggara itu berlangsung menimbulkan tanda tanya berikutan keadaan politik di negara itu yang kurang stabil sejak kebelakangan ini.

Sedar akan kebimbangan negara anggota mengenai keadaan sepanjang temasya itu, Thailand pada Julai lalu menghantar delegasi yang diketuai Setiausaha Agung Jawatankuasa Olimpik Thailand (NOT), Jeneral Charouck Arirachakaran untuk meyakinkan Malaysia mengenai keselamatan negara itu.

Dalam kunjungan tersebut, Charouck menegaskan, kebanyakan insiden keganasan berlaku di selatan Thailand dan tidak melibatkan tiga lokasi temasya - Korat, Bangkok dan Chonburi.

Malah, katanya, pihak keselamatan tempatan, yang terdiri daripada tentera dan polis juga telah diarahkan untuk memberi kawalan keselamatan maksimum.

Lebih 6,500 atlet dijangka membanjiri Thailand sepanjang edisi ke-24 temasya berlangsung untuk merebut 485 pingat emas yang dipertandingkan daripada 45 acara.

Malah, Malaysia sendiri dijangka menghantar kontinjen besar yang terdiri daripada 858 atlet.

Utusan Malaysia

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Athletics: Yufang wants China stint in bid to retain gold medal

KUALA LUMPUR: Walker Yuan Yufang wants to go to China for one-month stint to prepare for the SEA Games.

The Manila SEA Games gold medallist said that she had not been clocking good times in competitions and was in dire need of high-level training in Kunming.

“My aim is to retain the 20km walk gold medal in Korat. I am a bit worried about my performance and needs to buck up. High-level training will help,” she said.

The 29-year-old Yufang clocked a slow time of 1'51:28 in the Asian Track and Field (ATF) in Amman in July and it was way off her personal best of 1'30:33.

The Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) coaching and development committee chairman, Karim Ibrahim, said that the National Sports Council (NSC) had requested Yufang to submit her training programme in China.

“Yufang is the gold medal prospect in the Korat Games and we are confident that NSC will allow her to train in China. To date, 20 athletes have qualified for the Games and Yufang is the only one to request for overseas training,'' said Karim.

Yufang has delivered gold for Malaysia in the walk event of every SEA Games since 1999 in Brunei.

Karim added that they would switch their SEA Games training camp from the NSC training track in Bukit Jalil to Kota Kinabalu after Hari Raya.

“The athletes have been training in Bukit Jalil since beginning of the year and they need a new environment,” he said. “They will train for a month in Kota Kinabalu.''

Three male walkers have met the Games qualifying mark.

They are Mohd Shahrulhaizy Abdul Rahman, Lo Choon Sieng and B. Thirukumaran but only two of them will get to go to Korat.

The MAAU will also pick their two representatives for the men's 100m from seven who have met the qualifying mark – Mohd Noor Imran Hadi, Mohd Latif Nyat, Danial Azuan Amar Nand, Mohd Zabidi Ghazali, Zabidi Ahmad, Mohd Asyraf Afendi and Mohd Arif Naim.

The others who have qualified for the Games are hurdlers Mohd Robani Hassan, Mohd Rayzam Shah, Noraseela Khalid; high jumpers Lee Hup Wei and Ahmad Najwan; pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu; triple jumper Ngew Sin Mei; hammer thrower Siti Shahida Abdullah and 1,500m runner M. Vadivellan.

The Star

Swimming: Coach Urquhart returning to Australia after SEA Games

PETALING JAYA: Australian coach Gavin Urquhart is leaving the Malaysian swimming team after the SEA Games in Thailand in December.

Urquhart, in a surprise move, informed the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) and National Sports Council (NSC) of his intention to quit recently. His two-year contract expires after the 2008 Beijing Olympics but either party can terminate it.

Urquhart: Wants to settle down with his fiancee.
Urquhart said that he wanted to return home to settle down with his fiancee, Coleen Taylor.

“She got a good job back in Australia and it is a good time I start thinking about settling down. I want to leave on good terms and it is only appropriate that I clear my responsibilities first,” said Urquhart, who has 15 years of experience as a coach and is affiliated to the Western Australia Institute of Sport.

“The SEA Games is important and I want to put my focus on guiding all the swimmers going to achieve good results.”

Urquhart, who initially came to Malaysia on a six-month contract, has done a creditable job to bring up the standard of the Malaysian swimming team over the last few months.

Daniel Bego, Melvin Chua, Eric Chang and Khoo Cai Lin were the only full-time swimmers based at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil when Urquhart took charge last year. But the squad have been expanded to 14 swimmers.

Daniel has made tremendous progress since the end of last year and recently qualified for the Olympics in two events – the 200m distances of butterfly and freestyle.

Daniel was Malaysia’s most outstanding performer in the World Youth Championships in August last year when he won two silver medals (100m and 200m butterfly) and earned two fourth-place finishes.

And there is hope on Cai Lin and Melvin to earn tickets to the Olympics as well.

Cai Lin beat the Olympic B qualifying mark of 4:20.05 with a time of 4:19.65 in the Malaysian Open in Seremban early this month. But the championships was not recognised as an Olympic qualifying event.

“The SEA Games is an Olympic qualifying event and I hope she can achieve her target there. She also has a shot at qualifying for the 800m freestyle. Melvin can also make it in the 200m backstroke,” said Urquhart.

Daniel first came under the charge of Urquhart when he was based in Brisbane for two months before the Melbourne Commonwealth Games last March.

The Star

Bodybuilding: Sazali rather take on the world

insidepix1

BODYBUILDER Sazali Samad's (pic) decision to concentrate only on one major championships a year will see him skip the Korat Sea Games on Dec 6-15.

He has instead opted for the World Bodybuilding Championships in Jeagu, South Korea (Oct 25-29) where he will be gunning for his fourth Mr Universe title under a new class - 70kg lightweight category.

Sazali, 40, previously won the Mr Universe title under the 65kg bantamweight category at the World Championships in Malacca (2000), Moscow (2004) and Ostrva, Czech Republic (2006).

However, Sazali, will still be heading to the Games as a technical coach.

"The Malaysian Bodybuilding Federation (MBBF) has decided that I do not contest in this year's Sea Games. I'm not disappointed as the World Championships is my top priority," said Sazali, who is also the five-time Mr Asia (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004), yesterday.
"The MBBF recently decided that only the back-up athletes will represent the country in Korat."

On his decision to switch to the 70kg category, Sazali said that competition in the 65kg was becoming more stiff as several top bodybuilders were opting to compete in the lower weight class.

"I will have a better chance of winning by moving to a higher (70kg) category. I hope to win my fourth Mr Universe title in Jaeju,"

Sazali, had a great start in the 70kg category when he won the gold medal at the World Police and Fire Games in Australia in March.

Meanwhile, MBBF honorary secretary Francis Yoong said he would be recommending only three new faces to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) for Korat. "We are confident that the three athletes will win medals," he said.

However, he declined to reveal the identity of the new faces for the Sea Games.

Eight gold medals will be on offer for bodybuilding in Korat.

New Straits Times

MRU Expects To Meet Thailand In Rugby Final At SEA Games


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Rugby Union (MRU) is confident that its squad will be able to advance to the final at the Korat Sea Games in December.

It also expected to meet hosts Thailand who won two golds in 1995, MRU general manager Nabil Ahmad Marzuki told Bernama here Tuesday.

"Besides Malaysia and Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore and Brunei have also confirmed their participation in Korat," he said.

Rugby was first introduced at the Sea Games in 1967 in Bangkok where Malaysia won a silver. Malaysia got another silver in 1975 also in Bangkok and a bronze in 1977 in Jakarta.

The last time the sport was held at the Sea Games was in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 1995 when Malaysia bagged two silvers in both 15-a-side and 7-a-side. Thailand won the golds.

In Korat from Dec 6 to 15, two golds are up for grabs in men's and women's 7-a-side. Malaysia will only take part in the men's category.

The matches will be held at the Suranaree Camp Stadium in Korat.

Nabil said the MRU was confident of making it to the final because the squad emerged fourth best in the Asian Satellite Seven-A-Side Rubgy Championship in Sri Lanka last week.

MRU also believed that among the strong contenders for the medals were Thailand and Singapore, he said.

He also said that the MRU presently had 25 trainees under the guidance of Mohd Romly Saad and the best 12 players would be selected for the Korat challenge after a seven-a-side tournament in Singapore on Oct 27 and 28.

-- BERNAMA

Monday, September 17, 2007

RMN 1 Razali leads Malaysian Keelboat qualifiers for SEA Games in Thailand


Sunday, 16 September 2007


Three crucial races were held today to determine which team will represent Malaysia in the keelboat class at the SEA Games this December in Pattaya, Thailand. After a disqualification yesterday and points recalculation Mohd Razali's Royal Malaysian Navy Team held a one point lead over Andrew Yeow's Gapurna 3 Team. Every placing from here on in would count and with the introduction of the drop race after race five this adjustment would make the crews even more determined to put in a good performance. In this series there is only one team selected and there is no second place.

Race five saw Ng Heng Li's Gapurna 1 Team quickly out off the blocks and take a commanding lead for the rest of the race. Rizal Mahadi Gapurna 2 took second and began closing in on the leaders. Third place for Andrew Yeow Gapurna 3 had them tied for first place with Ng Heng Li's Gapurna 1 after the drop race was introduced.

Being extra keen to get going saw Andrew Yeow Gapurna 3 and Afendi Abdullah's Kedah Team forced over the startline which put an end to their chances of being crowned the SEA Games team for 2007. Rizal Mahadi Gapurna 2 pounced at the chance of leading the fleet and went on to record a win in a nick of time. Sneaking through in the light wind Haris Fabilah's Royal Malaysian Navy Team drove a wedge between the two Gapurna Teams right at the finish line. Third place for Ng Heng Li's Gapurna 1 had them tied with Rizal Mahadi's Gapurna 2 for first place with one race left to run. Talk about the tension rising amongst the troops!

One mistake could make all the difference. Stay calm and keep clear of trouble was the advice for the Gapurna Teams from Dave Moxey the RSYC Sailing Academy manager. Approaching the startline a little early had a few boats running down the line, only to be called up by the boats underneath them just as the horn sounded. PRO John Ferguson signaled premature starters. Who were they? Afendi Abdullah's Kedah Team once again broke off to restart. The flag remained up until Ng Heng Li's Gapurna 1 team restarted which dashed their chances of representing Malaysia. Rizal Mahadi's Gapurna 2 team, only just kept their nose clean at the pin end, picked up a good shift and stayed in the pressure to lead around the course and score a resounding victory. Despite the threat of protests that did not affect the winner, Rizal Mahadi's Gapurna 2 Team go on to become the first Malaysian keelboat team to be selected for the 2007 SEA Games.

Big Dave Moxey extended his congratulations but stressed to the winners "This is only just the beginning. There is a long way to go. Over the next two months extensive race training is on the drawing boards with specialist RYA instructors before we can take on the favoured Thai Team in their own backyard. But we intend on giving them a good run for there money".

Boat
Number

Team &
Skipper

Race
1

Race
2

Race
3

Race
4

Race
5

Race
6

Race
7

Total

NET

PLACE

1

RMN 1
Razali

4

2

2

2

5

4

(5)

24

19

5

2

Kedah
Afendi

3

(DSQ)

1

3

4

5

2

25

18

4

3

GAP 2
Rizal

2

4

3

(5)

2

1

1

18

13

1

4

GAP 3
A. Yeow

5

1

4

1

3

(6)

3

23

17

3

5

RMN 2
Haris

6

5

5

6

6

2

(6)

36

30

6

6

GAP 1
Heng Li

1

3

(6)

4

1

3

4

22

16

2

Capt. Marty (Martins) Rijkuris http://AsianYachting.com

Last Updated ( Sunday, 16 September 2007 ) BYM Sailing & Sports News

Bowling: Esther to return from US to beef up SEA Games squad














PETALING JAYA: Bowler Esther Cheah is expected to return home to strengthen the preparation of the Malaysian women's team for the SEA Games, which will be held in Korat from Dec 6-16.

The 21-year-old Esther is currently at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in United States pursuing a three-year degree programme in psychology.

National chief coach Holloway Cheah was optimistic that Esther would be part of the squad for the Games.

“She has to convince her professor that she will be able to sit for her exams, which will be held after the SEA Games. The professor is worried that Esther will not be able to make it,” he said.

“I am very sure that Esther will be able to reassure the professor that there will not be a problem of her arriving late for the exams.”

Despite missing the final two-week of training with the Malaysian team due to her orientation programme, Esther played a big part to help Malaysia win a gold medal at the women's World Championships in Mexico recently.

Currently, Esther's progress in bowling is monitored by the university's coach Bill Straub.

At the last SEA Games in Manila in 2005, Esther was a member of the women’s team who won the gold medal.

Meanwhile, Holloway has decided that both the men's and women's team for the SEA Games would comprise the best six bowler in the country. Initially, the plan was to send a mix squad of senior and junior bowlers.

The senior and back-up bowlers' are left with the Open tournaments in Singapore (Sept 18-29) and Taiwan (Oct 6-13) to impress the selectors. The teams will be named after a selection roll-off at home.

The Star, Sept 16, 2007

Sock Khim to lead Asian challenge in Beh’s absence



KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will be without the services of top female player Beh Lee Wei in the 18th Asian Table Tennis Championships, which will be held in Yangzhou from Sept 17-23.

The current national champion withdrew from the squad yesterday to allow her time to recover from a back muscle tear injury.

In her absence, Ng Sock Khim will spearhead the women’s challenge along with Chiu Soo Jiin and Gam Gaik Ping.

The men’s challenge will be led by Mohd Shakirin together with Kho Mao Sheng and Chai Kian Beng. Another member of the men’s team, Goon Wei Cheng, has to withdraw after undergoing an appendicitis operation on Friday.

The absence of Lee Wei will certainly be felt because of her ability to play well in both the singles and doubles.

However, national coach Hao Peishu said that it was better that they left her out of the team in view of the SEA Games in Korat in December.

“We do not want her to aggravate the injury because she has an important role to play for us in fighting for medals in both the team and individual competitions at the SEA Games,” he said.

The 24-year-old Lee Wei said that she sustained the injury during the Commonwealth Championships in India two months ago.

“It is painful each time I exert myself. I will need to undergo physiotherapy at the National Sports Council for the next three to four weeks,” said the 2005 Manila SEA Games bronze medallist.

The same squad going for the Asian Championships will be involved in the Korat Games. The paddlers will remain in China for training after the championships. They will be based in Zhengding until the Games and Lee Wei will be joining the team in mid-October.

The Table Tennis Association of Malaysia (TTAM) acting president, Datuk Tang See Hang, said that their target for the Games was one silver and two bronze medals.

“For the Asian Championships, we finish ninth out of 21 teams in the men’s competition and 10th out of 16 teams in the women’s competition. We hope to better or maintain our rankings,” said See Hang after a flag-handing ceremony to the team yesterday.

Azizul enggan cepat melatah




Sasar emas di Korat selepas cipta gemilang dalam acara keirin ACC di Thailand

TUMPUAN penuh dan elak membuat kesilapan menjadi azimat penting Azizul Hasni Awang (gambar) bagi menggapai pingat emas di Sukan Sea 2007, Disember ini selepas ia terbukti berkesan berpandu kepada gemilang dicipta dalam acara keirin Kejohanan Berbasikal Asia (ACC) di Thailand, baru-baru ini.

Hadir mencipta kejutan meraih emas di Bangkok apabila berjaya menewaskan pelumba ternama termasuk rakan senegara, Josiah Ng yang pernah menduduki tempat kelima di Sukan Olimpik 2004 di Athens dan perak Sukan Asia Doha, Azizul enggan cepat melatah dengan kejayaan itu.

Perjalanan saya masih terlalu jauh dan saya masih perlu banyak berlatih. Latihan tetap diteruskan pada bulan puasa ini menjelang saingan akan datang termasuk sebagai persiapan untuk ke Sukan Sea kelak,” katanya.

Azizul, 19, melakarkan berita gembira buat kem Malaysia pada ACC lalu kerana bukan saja menewaskan Josiah, tetapi mampu mengetepikan pelumba handalan dari Jepun dan Iran - menandakan pelumba remaja kini mampu menggalas cabaran negara.

Dengan kayuhan penuh bertenaga dan keberanian menyelit dan memintas pelumba besar lain yang bertubuh sasa ketika perlumbaan berbaki 800 meter, dia gah menewaskan pelumba Jepun, Toshiaki Fushimi dan Mahmoud Parash dari Iran di garisan penamat.

Bagi pelumba ini, episod duka apabila diusir dari Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) akibat ‘dosa bertandang ke rumah salah’ mahu dilupakan sepenuhnya dan dijadikan pembakar semangat menebus segala dosa itu dengan membutirkan pingat untuk negara.

“Biarkan segala-galanya berlalu kerana saya kini berazam untuk terus menyumbang pingat untuk negara. Saya akan memastikan dapat terus berlumba dan mengikut peraturan ditetapkan,” katanya yang turut digelar Ferrari oleh Josiah.

Ketika ditemui semasa disambut oleh MSN sekembalinya dari Thailand, dia berkata, tumpuan penuh terhadap perlumbaan digabungkan dengan niat untuk menang dan membuktikan kemampuan diri, menjadi azimat penting kejayaan.

“Kita perlu fokus dalam setiap perlumbaan dan memastikan sentiasa ingat tunjuk ajar jurulatih selain mengelak melakukan kesilapan. Namun apa yang penting, semangat juang untuk menang mesti ada dalam diri,” katanya.

Berita Harian

Malaysia Sending Largest Contingent For SEA Games In Korat


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is expected to send 1,139 athletes and officials for the SEA Games in Korat, Thailand in December.

It will be Malaysia's largest contingent ever to the Games, held biennially since 1959.

Olympic Council of Malaysia Honorary Secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said although the SEA Games Committee reported that Malaysia would send 850 athletes and 281 officials, the number would increase before the list was finalised.

"The actual strength of Malaysia's contingent will only be known on Sept 25," he told Bernama here today.

Yesterday, the SEA Games Committee in Bangkok said that 6,500 athletes would camp in Thailand from Dec 6 to 15 for the Games where they would vie for 485 gold medals through 45 types of sports.

The report also said the contingent from Malaysia would be the third largest, totalling 858 athletes, after Thailand (1,138) and the Philippines (902).

Sieh said Malaysia would participate in 42 sporting events but would not compete in three sports namely muay-thai, wrestling and the dragon boat race.

-- BERNAMA