Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Polo kenal pasti 11 pemain Sukan Sea Korat

PERSATUAN Polo Diraja Malaysia (RMPA) sudah mengenalpasti 11 pemain dari kelab yang aktif di negara ini sebagai persiapan menghadapi Sukan Sea di Korat, Thailand, Disember ini.

Pengurus pasukan ke temasya dwitahunan itu, Jamili Rashid berkata, bagi memastikan impian meraih pingat emas dapat dicapai, semua pemain akan dihantar menjalani latihan intensif dua bulan di Argentina termasuk mengadakan beberapa siri perlawanan persahabatan sebagai pendedahan terbaik.

“Kumpulan pertama akan berlepas ke Argentina pada 12 September ini, diikuti kumpulan kedua pada 19 September," katanya.

Keluarga Istana Pahang bakal mencipta sejarah sebagai kerabat diraja pertama negara untuk mewakili Malaysia dalam temasya pelbagai sukan dengan Tengku Mahkota Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah; Tengku Amir Nasser Ibrahim, Tengku Shahzrin Tengku Sulaiman tersenarai dalam skuad untuk ke Argentina.

Hayuddin Hamzah, Datuk Mohamed Moiz, Shaik Reismann, Rizal Ramli, Yudy Fadly Jamili, Ali Mazlan, Saladin Mazlan dan Zulhairi Kofli melengkapkan senarai tersebut.

Begitupun, hanya enam pemain yang akan disenaraikan ke Sukan Sea Korat itu.

Jamili berkata, kemasukan semula sukan polo selepas 24 tahun dipinggirkan pastinya menggembirakan pemain dan peminat polo di negara ini yang bersemangat untuk meraih emas.

Kali pertama ia dipertandingkan adalah pada 1983 di Singapura dengan Malaysia muncul juara diikuti Filipina dan tuan rumah, masing-masing perak dan gangsa.

"Ini adalah kali kedua sukan polo dipertandingkan di Sukan Sea apabila Thailand menyenaraikannya, sekali gus mendapat sokongan empat negara anggota Asia Tenggara lain iaitu Malaysia, Singapura, Brunei dan Filipina yang turut mengesahkan penyertaan," katanya.

Sementara itu, kejohanan Terbuka Malaysia ketiga yang bakal dianjurkan selama seminggu mulai Ahad ini di Taman Ekuestrian Putrajaya, akan menyaksikan kehadiran lapan pasukan divisyen A, Jogo Polo, Ranhill Tanamera, Thailand Polo, BDRB, Royal Pahang, Punjab, USA Polo dan La Sarita.

Dua pasukan pula akan bertanding dalam Divisyen B iaitu Kiara Polo dan Kelantan Polo.

Berita Harian

Qabil terima pujukan MSN sertai Sukan Sea

PINTU hati pemenang lima emas acara ekuestrian Sukan Sea, Qabil Ambak Mahamad Fathil untuk mewakili negara pada Sukan Sea Korat, Thailand, Disember kini kembali terbuka walaupun sebelum ini meluahkan hasrat menarik diri bagi memberi peluang kepada barisan penunggang muda.

Nyata pujukan Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara, Datuk Zolkples Embong berjaya ‘mencairkan’ hati ekuin showjumping yang berusia 27 tahun itu.

Namun kesediaan itu hadir bersyarat iaitu hanya akan hanya mewakili negara jika tiada penunggang lain untuk mewakili Malaysia.

Qabil mendedahkan demikian pada sidang akhbar kejohanan polo Terbuka Malaysia di Taman Ekuestrian Bukit Kiara semalam. Begitu pun adik-beradik Qabil yang lain, Quzier Ambak dan Quzandria Nur dilihat akan kekal dengan keputusan mereka menarik diri daripada Sukan Sea.

Namun tumpuan Qabil ketika ini adalah untuk pusingan kelima Piala Dunia FEI Showjumping Liga Asia Tenggara di Taman Ekuestrian Putrajaya, 9 September ini.

Penunggang kelahiran Selangor itu kini mendahului kedudukan dengan 35 mata, lima di depan Helena Gabrielsson dari Sweden dan abangnya, Quzier dengan 21 mata. Pusingan kelima ini adalah yang terakhir di Malaysia sebelum aksi berpindah ke Hong Kong.

Berita Harian

Azalina wants nothing less than a top-four finish

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will have more athletes in their contingent making their debut in the SEA Games in Korat in December but Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said expects nothing less than a top-four finish.

At the last Games in Manila, Malaysian had a medal haul of 61-49-65 and finished behind the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam in the standings. It was the best achievement outside the country in the history of the biennial Games, bettering the previous haul of 57 gold medals in Brunei in 1999.

“Almost half of the Malaysian contingent will be made up of new athletes,” said Azalina during the launch of a coffee table book on Malaysia's achievements in sports since 1957 at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

“But the challenge for NSC (National Sports Council) is to make sure that we will finish in third or fourth place in the standings.

“The government has been pouring in a lot of money by getting experts in various fields to help them perform. The SEA Games will be the key performance index to measure the progress of Malaysian athletes this year.”

The NSC director general, Datuk Zolkples Embong, heads the task force to prepare athletes for the Korat Games scheduled for Dec 6-15.

Malaysia will have more than 600 athletes in their contingent and they are down to compete in 44 sports.

Azalina also reminded all the national sports associations to put emphasis on youth development.

“They should start exposing newcomers. The International Olympic Committee announced recently that the first Youth Olympic Games will be held in 2010 and we have to be ready by then,” she said.

The Youth Olympics are for athletes between the ages of 14 and 18.


The Star

MSN terima cabaran bawa pulang 61 pingat emas

CABARAN dilontarkan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, dibalas komitmen betapa kontinjen negara ke Sukan Sea di Korat, Disember ini, mampu membawa pulang jumlah pingat emas tertinggi.

Janji itu dinyatakan Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong, sebagai tanda yakin terhadap kerjasama erat yang sedang dilaksanakan badan induk berkenaan bersama persatuan sukan kebangsaan.

“Saya optimistik kita mampu membawa pulang lebih daripada 61 pingat emas yang diperolehi ketika Sukan Sea di Manila, dua tahun lalu. Ketika ini, MSN dan semua persatuan sukan kebangsaan sama-sama berusaha mempersiapkan atlit sebaik mungkin.

“Menteri tekankan betapa kita perlu membuat pendekatan baru terhadap persiapan atlit. Jadi MSN dan persatuan sukan kebangsaan mahu menyahut cabaran itu,” katanya.

Pencapaian terbaik kontinjen negara pada temasya dwitahunan itu - di luar Malaysia - ialah dengan 61 pingat emas itu. Kilauan emas tertinggi pernah digapai ialah 111 pingat emas ketika Malaysia menjadi tuan rumah Sukan Sea 2001.

Azalina melontarkan cabaran itu ketika melancarkan buku pencapaian atlit negara dalam tempoh 50 tahun kemerdekaan dan Galeri Sukan di MSN, semalam.

“Saya beri tekanan kepada Zolkples bahawa kontinjen negara perlu menduduk empat tempat teratas keseluruhan. Walaupun bukan beliau yang bertanding, Zolkples bersama-sama pasukannya perlu mencari formula kemenangan itu,” katanya.

Kebetulan, temasya di Korat kali ini adalah medan ujian sulung buat Zolkples semenjak mengambil alih tanggungjawab selaku Ketua Pengarah MSN daripada Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz, awal tahun ini.

“Saya percaya (cara terbaik menyahut cabaran itu) adalah mengenai pengurusan dan strategi. Lagipun, Zolkples sudah biasa dengan tekanan dan dia kini perlu melatih pegawai-pegawainya untuk mampu memikul peranan sebegitu,” kata Azalina.

Zolkples bingkas menegaskan betapa dia sanggup memikul cabaran itu, dengan bantuan peranan berkesan yang bakal dimainkan ‘pasukannya’ di MSN dan persatuan sukan kebangsaan lainnya.

“Cuma ketika ini, kita belum tetapkan sasaran pingat sebenar kerana masih ada beberapa jenis sukan belum mengesahkan jumlah atlit. Berdasarkan perkembangan terkini, kita mungkin menghantar jumlah atlit tertinggi, melebihi 500 atlit.

“Ianya adalah gabungan atlit muda dan berpengalaman kerana ketika pingat tetap jadi sasaran, MSN juga mahu memanfaatkan Sukan Sea ini sebagai medan pendedahan terbaik untuk atlit masa depan negara,” katanya.

Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, Azalina melahirkan keyakinan betapa penganjur akan dapat menjamin keselamatan atlit sepanjang tempoh temasya itu - yang kebetulan amat hampir dengan pilihan raya umum Thailand pada 23 Disember nanti.

Berita Harian

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

News alert on 28 August 2007

SEA Games Berths Up For Grabs At Championships
Bru Direct - Brunei Darussalam
The championships will take place at the Hassanal Bolkiah National stadium to select our national athletes for the upcoming SEA Games and evaluate the ...
See all stories on this topic

Vietnam eyes 4 wrestling gold medals at SEA Games
People's Daily Online - Beijing,China
Vietnam has targeted four gold medals at wrestling events at the 24th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) slated for December in Thailand. ...
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Shooting: Poor pickings
New Straits Times - Persekutuan,Malaysia
Azlan's bronze medal effort is still not good enough to qualify him for the Korat Sea Games in December. His 1221 points is 15 points below the Sea Games ...
See all stories on this topic

Russian ready to dance for S'pore
Electric New Paper - Singapore,Singapore
'I would love to dance for Singapore in the SEA Games, if given the chance,' he told The New Paper. Mr Robert Ong, 47, president of the Singapore DanceSport ...
See all stories on this topic

Shooter Khor nails SEA Games berth with rare victory
Malaysia Star - Malaysia
Despite the scorching heat, Edward gave a solid performance to seal a place in the team for the Korat SEA Games en route to winning the individual gold ...
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RP XI Seagames stint hanging
Sun.Star - Philippines
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) SEA Games Task Force has remained firm on its policy that only events with medal potentials will be represented in ...
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Teik Chai-Woon Fui the only senior pair for Games
Malaysia Star - Malaysia
I have been in the national team for a while now but it will be my first appearance in the SEA Games," said the 24-year-old Teik Chai. ...
See all stories on this topic

Football: Malaysia beat Singapore 3-1 in Merdeka Cup semi-final match
Channel News Asia - Singapore
Playing against possible opponents at December's SEA Games in Korat, Thailand, the Singapore under-23 team fell two goals behind after just 20 minutes. ...
See all stories on this topic

Teik Chai-Woon Fui the only senior pair for Games


KUALA LUMPUR: Doubles shuttlers Gan Teik Chai and Lin Woon Fui received a boost when they were named as the only senior men’s pair in the Malaysian badminton team for the Korat SEA Games.

“This is a real surprise for me. I have been in the national team for a while now but it will be my first appearance in the SEA Games,” said the 24-year-old Teik Chai.

His only other major tournament was the World Championships in Madrid last year where he was an early round casualty with Fong Chew Yen in the mixed doubles.

“Woon Fui and I will be the top men’s pair in the team. There will be high hopes on us and we will prove that we can be counted on in both the team and individual events,” said the Kedahan.

They forged a combination in April and reached the semi-finals of the Thailand Open last month.

The Project 2010-2012 squad’s chief coach Rashid Sidek said that besides Teik Chai-Woon Fui, the only other senior player in the SEA Games squad is Kuan Beng Hong.

“We will send a total of nine men and 10 women for the Games and the rest of the players will come from the back-up squad.

“I have until the end of next month to name them and selection will be based on their performances in several upcoming Open tournaments,” said Rashid.

For the men’s singles, among the frontrunners for places are Vietnam and Asian satellite winner Tan Chun Seang, Chan Kwong Beng and Asian Junior runner-up Mohd Arif Abdul Latif.

A prominent pair set to make their debut in the Korat Games are the Asian junior mixed doubles champions Tan Wee Kiong-Woon Khe Wei.

It will be the first time that Malaysia will send a mixed team of seniors and back-up squad players to the SEA Games.

The Star

Yamini, Yoke Wai yakin galas cabaran ke Korat

SELEPAS berjaya menyumbang pingat emas buat negara pada Kejohanan Karate-do Senior Asia ke-8, yang berakhir kelmarin, kini dua atlit negara G Yamini dan Lim Yoke Wai semakin yakin dengan kemampuan masing-masing untuk menggalas cabaran negara pada temasya Sukan Sea di Korat, Thailand, Disember ini.

Kemampuan menandingi atlit bertaraf Asia seperti dari Jepun, Kuwait, Iran dan Kazakstan dalam acara kegemaran masing-masing menyerlahkan keupayaan atlit terbabit untuk menguasai saingan di pentas temasya sukan dwitahunan itu nanti.

Pada kejohanan yang disertai 28 negara itu, Yamini menyumbang pingat emas menerusi acara bawah 60 kilogram terbuka wanita manakala Lim Yoke Wai bagi acara bawah 65 kilogram.

Secara keseluruhan, skuad negara yang diwakili 21 atlit meraih tempat kedua di belakang Jepun dengan mengutip empat emas, lima perak dan empat gangsa. Dua lagi emas negara diperoleh menerusi A Vasantha Marial dan R Puvaneswaran menerusi acara kumite kategori bawah 48 dan 50 kilogram.

Yamini, 26, berkata, dia masih belum berpuas hati dengan prestasi kerana terdapat beberapa kelemahan yang perlu diperbaiki dan ditingkatkan lagi terutama dari aspek serangan berbanding aspek pertahanan yang sudah semakin mantap.

“Saya akui masih ada beberapa kelemahan yang perlu saya kemaskan lagi terutama aspek serangan menjelang cabaran di Korat nanti, bagaimanapun saya yakin kelemahan itu dapat diperbaiki kerana ada lebih dua bulan lagi menjelang temasya sebenar.

“Tambahan pula azam saya pada penyertaan Sukan Sea kali ini adalah meraih pingat emas kerana pada dua penyertaan di temasya berkenaan sebelum ini hanya meraih dua perak dan satu gangsa yang dicapai di Manila dua tahun lalu manakala pada 2003, di Vietnam, tanpa sebarang pingat.

“Jadi, harapan saya sasaran kali ini mampu dicapai dan dengan prestasi yang semakin meningkat serta kejayaan pada Kejohanan Senior Asia ini, membakar lagi semangat saya untuk beraksi lebih cemerlang,” katanya ketika ditemui, kelmarin.

Bagi Lim Yoke Wai pula, kejayaan meraih pingat emas menerusi acara bawah 65 kg adalah kejayaan terbaik yang pernah dicapai di pentas antarabangsa.

Atlit kelahiran Segamat Johor berusia 26 tahun ini berkata, misinya kini adalah untuk mengutip pingat emas pada saingan di Korat nanti dalam acara kegemarannya itu di samping membantu pencapaian terbaik bagi acara berpasukan.

Dia mengakui aspek teknikal dan taktikal yang perlu dipertingkatkan lagi bagi memastikan aksi terbaik dapat dipersembahkan di Korat sekali gus merealisasikan sasaran pingat yang disasarkan itu.

Berita Harian

Pindah atlit ke Langkawi

PERSATUAN Pelayaran Malaysia (MYA) bercadang memindahkan 18 atlit perahu layar yang sedang menjalani latihan di Port Dickson ke Langkawi sebelum menggalas cabaran di temasya Sukan Sea XXIV di Korat Thailand, Disember depan

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pembangunan MYA, Mohd Afendy Abdullah, berkata langkah itu bagi memberi peluang pelayar berlatih dalam tiupan angin kuat, sekali gus mampu meningkatkan prestasi atlit ke tahap terbaik.

“Kita akan memohon secara rasmi kepada Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) untuk memindahkan pelatih ke Langkawi dalam tempoh terdekat bagi membolehkan mereka menyesuaikan diri belayar dengan kelajuan angin lebih 12 knot.

“Setakat ini mereka berlatih di Port Dickson dan menyertai beberapa kejohanan antarabangsa seperti Kejohanan Optimist Dunia di Itali dan Kejohanan Perahu Layar Piala Terbuka Thailand di Pattaya, sebagai pendedahan,” katanya.

Mohd Afendy berkata, Pusat Sukan Perahu Layar Langkawi berharga RM8 juta yang memiliki pelbagai kemudahan pernah digunakan pada temasya Sukan Malaysia (Sukma XI) pertengahan tahun lalu.

Berita Harian

Karate: All for Korat

NILAI: The national karate team have received a vote of confidence in their ability to challenge for honours. Coach P. Arivalagan received news over the weekend that all 21 exponents will compete as Category A athletes of the Malaysian contingent for Korat SEA Games in December.

The team certainly have a lot to look forward to after achieving their best-ever result in the just concluded Asian Championships in Nilai but Arivalagan is wary of over-confidence in the SEA Games.

In the Asian meet, Malaysia bagged four gold medals in the kumite through R. Puvaneswaran (men’s below 48kg), Lim Yoke Wai (men’s below 65kg), Vasantha Marial (women’s below 48kg) and G. Yamini (women’s Open) and finished second in the standings for the first time behind Japan.

Malaysia also bagged five silver and four bronze medals in the three-day competition.

“I have to thank the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) for having faith in us,” said Arivalagan. “I have a good team of exponents who are dedicated and determined to succeed. They sacrificed their weekends and holidays in the weeks leading to the Asian Championships and their efforts paid off.

“I will have the same team for the SEA Games and we will try to achieve better results than we did in Manila two years ago. But the SEA Games have their own rules and certain things are beyond our control.”

Arivalagan has learnt from the lessons in Manila. Then, he expected the team to win up to seven of the 19 gold medals at stake but they ended up with a haul of 4-8-4.

While the seniors have proved that they could be depended on, Arivalagan said that it was also important for the youngsters to come up at the same time.

Among the younger exponents who showed their potential in the Asian meet and have the potential to shine in the SEA Games are Shaharuddin Jamaluddin, G. Yugneswary and Jamaliah Jamaludin.

Shaharuddin and Jamaliah, who are siblings, competed at a senior level competition for the first time in Nilai and won the bronze in the men’s below 75kg and women’s above 60kg kumite competitions respectively.

“The SEA Games should be about development. We have to groom the younger exponents to come up to par with the seniors,” said Arivalagan.

In a bid to meet this objective, the juniors will get to compete in the Istanbul and German Opens next month.

“They will go in separate groups for the European competitions. Previously, we only sent the seniors but it’s time we start exposing the younger ones too,” he said.

The Star

Friday, August 24, 2007

Vietnam, Malaysia protest sale of SEA Games TV rights





Vietnam and Malaysia will officially oppose a proposal to modify Southeast Asian Games Federation rules to allow organizers to sell the games’ television copyright.

Hoang Vinh Giang, general secretary of Vietnam Olympic Committee (VOC), confirmed the news Wednesday, saying that the 2007 SEA Games’ Thailand-based organizers will submit the matter for discussion and approval at the Southeast Asian Games Federation meeting in Bangkok today.

He said that article 59 of the SEA Games Regulations rules that the television rights to the event are to be shared equally among National Olympic Committees of participant countries and that each national committee would have the authority to deliver the rights to one (or more) local television stations.

But quarrelling started last month when the Thailand-based 2007 SEA Games Organizing Committee (SGOC) announced it aimed to modify the rules to permit the sale of the games’ TV copyrights.

If the measure is accepted at a meeting in Bangkok, it would be the first time in the games’ 50-year history that television rights would not be free.

On hearing the news, Vietnam’s cable television VTC initiated early negotiations with SGOC and signed in late July a memorandum of understanding to purchase the exclusive TV right in Vietnam for US$300,000.

But VOC then claimed that VTC had no right to such an action.

VTC broadcasting capacity does not cover all parts of Vietnam and it costs viewer to install digital recorder to be able to watch the channel.

In addition, the VOC wish also abides to the SEA Games Federation Regulation’s article 59 that says ‘National Olympic Committees of participant countries have authorities to deliver the rights to one (or more) local television stations’.

But at a meeting between VTC, VOC and other local TV stations, VTC said it would be willing to share the broadcast rights with all domestic TV stations free of charge under the condition that the broadcasters air VTC’s program exclusively, including VTC announcers, advertisements and commercials.

The 2007 SEA Games will be held in Thailand from December 6-15


Thanhnien News

Women shoot down first SEA trap medal

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia won their first-ever medal in the women's trap event of the South-East Asian Shooting Championships (Seasa) at the Subang Range yesterday.

The trio of Aini Faridah, Rusna Ismail and Teo Pick Lian shot down 136 birds to win the bronze medal on the first day of the championships.

Thailand's Kitcharoen Chattaya, Karjeijuntasak Supawan and Viravaidya Nanpapas bagged the gold on 170 and the silver went to the Vietnam's Hoang Thi Tuat, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai and Nguyen Thi Que (154).

Thi Tuat also won the individual gold with a score of 77 ahead of Kitcharoen (76) and Singapore's Oi Wan Ling (66).

Said Rusna: “We are delighted. No Malaysian woman had won a medal previously in the trap event either in the Seasa meets or the SEA Games.

“Winning the medal is a big boost to the women to continue to train hard to score a first in the SEA Games.”

National Shooting Association of Malaysia (NSAM) executive secretary Jasni Shaari said that the score showed that there was still a lot of catching up to do against the Thais and Vietnamese.

London-based Bernard Yeoh had a disappointing outing in the first two details of the men's trap event yesterday.

Bernard, who shot 97 out of maximum 110 in the County Championships in England last month, only managed to score 42 (21-21) and is in sixth place in a 17-competitor field. Three rounds more will be shot today and the top six qualify for the final.

“The rain affected my performance. I hope that the weather conditions will be better tomorrow because I came here with high expectations,'' said Bernard.

The other Malaysians, Charles Chen and Ng Beng Chong are in eighth and 12th place respectively on 41 and 38.

Results

  • WOMEN

    Trap individual: 1. Hoang Thi Tuat (Vie) 77, 2. Kitcharoen Chattaya (Tha) 76, 3. Oi Wan Ling (Sin) 66.

    Team: 1. Thailand 170, 2. Vietnam 154, 3. Malaysia 136.

  • The Star

    Thursday, August 23, 2007

    MNCF sasar empat emas di Korat

    BIARPUN Sukan Sea di Korat Thailand hanya akan membuka tirainya pada Disember nanti, Persekutuan Berbasikal Kebangsaan Malaysia (MNCF) sudah menetapkan sasaran untuk meraih empat emas, sekali gus mengekalkan pencapaian yang dicapai ketika Sukan Sea Manila, dua tahun lalu.

    Keyakinan itu bersandarkan kepada prestasi dan pencapaian pelumba kebangsaan dalam siri latihan serta penyertaan di beberapa kejohanan tempatan dan luar negara termasuk yang terkini pada Kejohanan Lumba Basikal Ketua Menteri Melaka dari 3 hingga 5 Ogos lalu.

    Pada kejohanan itu, pelumba muda negara, Mohd Rauf Nur Misbah mempamerkan persembahan mantap untuk muncul juara sekalipun terpaksa bersaing dengan beberapa pelumba dari Indonesia, Brunei dan Singapura.

    Pengurus pasukan, Yunus Ibrahim, berkata sasaran pingat yang diletakkan di Korat itu adalah dianggap realistik berpandukan prestasi dan pencapaian semasa pelumba.

    Begitupun katanya, persiapan ke arah itu masih belum menemui titik muktamad dan kini giat dijalankan termasuk menghantar pelumba bertanding di kejohanan luar negara.

    "Pada Kejohanan Lumba Basikal Asia (ACC) kali ke-27 yang akan berlangsung di Bangkok, bermula dari 8 hingga 10 September ini, MNCF akan menghantar empat pelumba untuk menggalas cabaran pasukan.

    "Bagaimanapun, senarai mereka yang dipilih masih belum ditentukan. Namun ia adalah dari kelompok enam pelumba terbaik setakat ini iaitu Suhardi Hassan, Mohd Zamri Salleh, Mohd Safuan Sawai, Mohd Rauf Nur Misbah, Mohd Farid Abdul Razak dan Loh Sea Keong.

    "Kami mempunyai ramai senarai pelumba yang boleh menggalas cabaran pasukan namun hanya mereka yang terbaik saja yang akan dihantar berlumba di Bangkok kerana kejohanan itu membabitkan penyertaan ramai pelumba handalan dari Asia.

    "Apa yang pasti penyertaan mereka di sana nanti akan memberi banyak faedah dalam usaha meningkatkan lagi prestasi dan pencapaian bagi membolehkan setiap pelumba berada pada tahap terbaik untuk merealisasikan sasaran pasukan di Korat nanti," katanya.

    Ketika ini, semua pelumba kebangsaan yang kini berlatih di Senawang sedang menerima tunjuk ajar daripada jurulatih, Aminuddin Sulaiman.

    Yunus yang juga Naib Presiden Persatuan Lumba Basikal Negeri Sembilan (PLBNS), berkata jika pencapaian pelumba pada ACC nanti membanggakan, mereka akan terus diberi pendedahan untuk beraksi pada Kejohanan Lumba Basikal Dunia di Jerman pada 29 dan 30 September.

    "Kejohanan Dunia itu adalah antara medan kemuncak mengukur prestasi pelumba sebelum ke Sukan Sea Korat. Bagaimanapun, penghantaran mereka ke Jerman akan bergantung sepenuhnya pada pencapaian pada ACC nanti," katanya.

    Berita Harian

    Four More KL Athletes Can Make It To Korat

    KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory athletics coach S. Arunandy is confident at least four of his 15 senior athletes would qualify for the Korat SEA Games in Thailand from Dec 6-15.

    "My hopes are pinned on S. Narendran, S. Ravindran, Mohd Zaiful Zainal Abidin and Mohd Rabani Hassan when they compete in the Malaysian Closed Athletics Championship in Kangar next month," he told Bernama here today.

    Five athletes who had already qualified for Korat are Yuan Yu Fang and Loo Choon Seng (10km walk), Mohd Shahrul Haizy and B. Thirukumaran (20km) and Ngew Sin Mei (triple jump).

    Yu Fang dan Shahrul Haizy were gold medalists in the 10km and 20km walks at the Manila SEA Games in 2005.

    Arunandy also said Kuala Lumpur which had emerged champions four consecutive years would be able to grab a fifth title at Malaysian Closed Athletics Championship at Utama Stadium, Kangar from Sept 4-8.

    -- BERNAMA

    Wednesday, August 22, 2007

    Malaysia aims for one boxing gold at December SEA GameS

    PENANG: Malaysia are targeting one gold medal from the boxers at the Korat SEA Games in December.

    Malaysia Amateur Boxing Federation (MABF) vice president Major (R) Wan Abdul Hamid Wan Mohd said the gold was expected through either Zamzai Azizi Mohamed (48kg) or Mohd Farhan Harun (64kg).

    Zamzai, 27, is a seasoned campaigner who won a bronze in the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.

    Mohd Farhan, he is a promising boxer who started to shine in both local and international competitions recently.

    Wan Abdul Hamid singled out Indonesia, Thailand and Phillipines as the teams to beat during the biannual Games.

    Besides Zamzai and Mohd Farhan, two others who have more or less sealed their tickets to the Games were Eddey Kalai and Paunandes Paulus.

    Wan Abdul Hamid, who was speaking during the 7th Malaysia National Boxing Championships in Penang here on Tuesday, added that three other boxers will be selected from the on-going championships.

    The Korat SEA Games is scheduled from Dec 6-15.

    At the on-going championships at the Pesta site, Sungai Nibong here, a total of 111 boxers representing 16 teams are battling for honours in nine categories.

    State executive councillor Syed Amerrudin Syed Ahmad, representing Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, launched the opening on Tuesday.

    Tuesday, August 21, 2007

    News alert on 21 August 2007

    Hasli set for 3rd consecutive gold
    Malaysia Star - Malaysia
    "I won the gold in the Manila SEA Games and definitely want to live up to my expectation as the number one shooter in the event in the region,'' said Hasli, ...
    See all stories on this topic

    Malaysia won't take Laos lightly, says coach Sathianathan
    Malaysia Star - Malaysia
    Coach B. Sathianathan said that even when Malaysia had a strong side, they were beaten by Laos (1997 SEA Games). "We don't know what to expect but we have a ...
    See all stories on this topic

    Shooters have SEA Games in their sights
    Viet Nam News - Hanoi,Vietnam
    Nam, 46, and Tuong, 47 - won five gold medals at the 2003 SEA Games - have both said they will retire this year. "I've used the experience I gained in ...
    See all stories on this topic

    ITC For the SEA Games’ IT Works




    547892.jpg
    Mr. Supachai Jongsiri, the Chairman of Information Technology and Communication Committee, the 24th SEA Games 2007 and the 4th ASEAN Para Games 2007, reveals that recently the preparation of information technology system for the 24th SEA Games 2007, all fields were ready to easy and rapid information service and report the result of SEA Games’ competition, which the IT SEA Games consist of as follows.

    (i) The Results System is the system to collect and store the competition’s information including report the competition result, which connect with all stadiums for reliable, convenient and easy of data collection and report the competition result.

    (ii) The SEA Games Organizing Management consist of a Accreditation for the registration and making the identity card for all persons who joining the games, the Village System is using for the resident management of athletes and staffs in the athletes village.

    (iii) The Info System is the system to display the information about the competition, the data for report the competition result, Time Table and other information, which service to the committees, athletes, staffs, any press and general persons.

    (iv) The Information Service via Internet System is the system to provide any information of the competition, the reliable and rapid on-line report of the competition result, which the bureau organized the Official Web Site at http://www.2007seagames.com

    (v) The Broadcast Television System is the Graphic System for TV Host Broadcaster that connecting with the Results System, to interface and select the Graphic Template to facilitated to efficiently display together with live broadcast’s picture

    (vi) The Commentator Information System (CIS) is the system to services the On-Line Real Time information to the commentators of the live broadcast television, which raise the convenience of the commentators by connecting the information with the Results System to display information such as Time Table, Start List, Results and Biographies to perform on the lecture of live broadcast television.

    (vii) The Information Service System for any press at Main Press Center and Sub Press Center, which will install modern and efficiently computer system for 900 computers and communication system to service information immediately and whole time “In addition to the proceeding of IT system for the 24th SEA Games, Information Technology and Communication Committee will design, plan, develop the system and prepare the modern tasks in order to use IT system with highest efficiency” Mr. Supachai said.

    Source from Information Technology & Communication Committee Date: August 09 2007.

    Friday, August 17, 2007

    Athletics: Last chance for Korat hopefuls

    From Left: Sprinter Nazmizam Muhammad, Hurdler Shahadan Jamaluddin and Long jumper Shahrul Amri.
    From Left: Sprinter Nazmizam Muhammad, Hurdler Shahadan Jamaluddin and Long jumper Shahrul Amri.

    THE battle for places in the athletics Sea Games squad is heating up as only three weeks remain for the athletes to confirm their spots for Korat, Thailand.

    So far, only 11 athletes and the men’s 4x100m quartet have qualified on merit, leaving the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Association far short of its ambitious goal of having a Malaysian competing in all 45 events to be contested in Korat.

    With no more competitions this month, the MAAU Closed championships on Sept 4-8 in Kangar will be the last chance for the national athletes to make the cut.

    Athletes who have shown potential or are just running into form but fail to better the second placing mark in the 2005 Manila Sea Games, will be nominated by MAAU for the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s approval under Category B.

    Some established names have yet to perform to expectations in several meets this year and are in serious danger of missing out.
    Sprinter Nazmizan Muhammad, the 2003 Hanoi Sea Games gold medallist in the 100m and 200m, Manila 400m hurdles winner Shahadan Jamaludin and Hanoi long jump gold medallist Mohd Shahrul Amri Mohd Suhaimi have yet to impress this year.

    The men’s long jump has witnessed keen competition resulting in Shahrul Amri, who is struggling to reach 7.40m, being displaced by Josbert Tinus as the country’s No 1 in the event.

    Josbert, a late bloomer at 27, posted a personal best of 7.66m at the Perak Open in Ipoh on Aug 3, just three centimetres short of the qualifying mark, while Jen Chan Guo, the Southeast Asian Junior long jump champion, is also pushing for a berth.

    "I hope to be selected for the Sea Games as it would be the first time I will be representing the country. At 27, I won’t have many more opportunities, and this could be my one and only shot at glory," said Sabah-born Josbert, who is with the Royal Malaysian Navy.

    Josbert was overlooked for the Asian Track and Field Championships in Amman, Jordan last month as the MAAU opted to go with Shahrul Amri, who only managed 7.25m to finish 13th.

    "I’m raring to go as I think I can easily do 7.80m if pushed hard. My main rivals would be Shahrul Amri and Joebert Delicano of the Philippines, who did 7.68m in Amman," said Josbert, who has yet to be beaten by a fellow Malaysian this year.

    Chan Guo, who has a personal best of 7.26m which he managed at the Federal Territory Games in May, could deny Shahrul Amri a place if he continues to show improvement.

    Only ATF gold medallists Roslinda Samsu and Lee Hup Wei, walkers Loh Choon Seang, B. Thirukumaran and Yuan Yufang, hurdlers Robani Hassan, Noraseela Mohd Khalid and Moh Siew Wei, 1,500m runner M. Vadivellan, hammer thrower Siti Shahidah Abdullah and long jumper Ngiew Sin Mei have earned places in the team.


    New Straits Times

    News alert on 17 August 2007

    VTC channel breaks sports rule: Olympic Committee
    VietNamNet Bridge - Hanoi,Vietnam
    VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam will participate in the 24 th SEA Games with 965 members, including 700 athletes (381 men, 319 women) and 265 experts, ...
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    RP track coach is suspended
    Manila Bulletin - Philippines
    Manipol, who won the gold in the 10000-m and silver in 5000-m, and Melgar, who won the bronze in 400-m hurdles in the 2005 SEA Games Manila, ...
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    Lawyer says VTC Sea Games contract legal
    Thanh Nien Daily - Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam
    The Vietnam Television Company won the exclusive rights to broadcast the 2007 SEA Games in Vietnam legally, said a lawyer who rejected claims made by the ...
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    Thursday, August 16, 2007

    News alert on 16 August 2007

    Tien Minh shows he is going to be a world beater
    Malaysia Star - Malaysia
    If he continues to make progress, he may serve Malaysia with an early blow in the Korat SEA Games in December. The world number 45, who has won the Vietnam ...
    See all stories on this topic

    Athletics: Last chance for Korat hopefuls
    New Straits Times - Persekutuan,Malaysia
    By : Devinder Singh THE battle for places in the athletics Sea Games squad is heating up as only three weeks remain for the athletes to confirm their spots ...
    See all stories on this topic

    Wednesday, August 15, 2007

    News alert on 15 August 2007

    SEA Games broadcast no longer free
    Viet Nam News - Hanoi,Vietnam
    Under the SEA Games' current rules, each national committee has the authority to assign or deliver the rights to any local television station. ...
    See all stories on this topic

    Women's football: A forgotten queen
    VietNamNet Bridge - Hanoi,Vietnam
    1 in Hanoi is a big board with the red words: "24 th SEA Games: 120 days remaining". Next to the clock that is counting down are the names of 20 sport teams ...
    See all stories on this topic

    Tuesday, August 14, 2007

    News alert on 14 August 2007

    Silat exponents train with Thailand's elite
    The Brunei Times - Bandar,Brunei,Brunei Darussalam
    Departing the country last week to give the Brunei athletes a taste of what to expect from the 2007 SEA Games host, Thailand, coach Mohammad Nasri Hj ...
    See all stories on this topic

    RP's fastest man breaks right leg
    Manila Bulletin - Philippines
    "It's unlikely he will be able to recover for the SEA Games," said one of the doctors. Soguilon, 23, will undergo several tests today before doctors finally ...
    See all stories on this topic

    A promise fulfilled, as Janejira wins if for her mum
    Nation Multimedia - Bangkok,Thailand
    The local shooter, a gold medalist in the SEA Games last year, surprised two fancied opponents - Rachel Parish of Great Britain, the 2006 Commonwealth Games ...
    See all stories on this topic

    Monday, August 13, 2007

    OCM Will Ensure Halal Food Will Be Available During SEA Games

    KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- The Olympic Council of Malaysia will ensure "halal" (permissible by Islam) food is made available for Muslim athletes and officials attending the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in December.

    Malaysia's Chef-de-Mission to the Games, Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad, said that of the three venues for the Games, only Korat was likely to be a problem in regard to the matter as very few Muslims lived there.

    The issue would be brought up at the next meeting of the team managers to Games in September to discuss how best to solve the problem, he told reporters after chairing the first meeting of the managers at Wisma OCM here today.

    The bulk of the events will be held in Korat with the other venues being Bangkok and Chonbury.

    -- BERNAMA

    News alert on 12 August 2007

    Asian Junior Aquatics meet: Jun Hoong bags 2 gold medals
    Malaysia Star - Malaysia
    Jun Hoong was trained for the springboard events before she suffered a back injury after the Manila SEA Games two years ago. However, there was no place for ...
    See all stories on this topic

    The future of RP basketball
    ABS CBN News - Philippines
    ... a decent lineup (and stepping into the pool of Fil-Ams for the first time) as it hopes to place in the SEABA next month, and the SEA Games in December. ...
    See all stories on this topic

    Relay stars win first gold for Thailand
    Bangkok Post - Thailand
    At the 2005 SEA Games in the Philippines, he was a substitute. The silver went to South Africa in 39.20sec and China took the bronze in 39.30sec. ...
    See all stories on this topic

    Friday, August 10, 2007

    OCM Hopes For Clean Sweep In Three Sports At Korat SEA Games

    KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) have named three sports that Malaysia are likely to make a clean sweep of gold at the upcoming 24th SEA Games in Korat, Thailand in December.

    They are squash, hockey and lawn bowls.

    "We have seen them (athletes) perform and I am sure that they can make a clean sweep. For squash, although we are not sending our top players, our athletes are known as the best in Southeast Asian region.

    "So too the men's and women's hockey teams and the lawn bowls athletes. They are recognised as the best in the region," said OCM president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja'afar after announcing the outcome of the two-day OCM's Selection Committee meeting here today.

    He said Malaysia would send a large contingent consisting of 649 athletes to the biennial games .

    He said that to date, athletics and judo had yet to submit their name lists.

    Tunku Imran also said that for this year's SEA Games, OCM had decided to revise the category A criteria.

    "For category A, it is given to athletes who are well qualified and have very good medal prospects. As for measurement, we set a qualifying mark of a silver medal in the last SEA Games.

    "We are also looking at teams and individuals who need the SEA Games exposure to benchmark their performance against the best in Southeast Asia," Tunku Imran said.

    He said that by doing that, it would give the sports associations and the athletes the opportunity to gain SEA Games experience as they might not have any other opportunity to represent Malaysia in other major Games.

    "We are looking at them for the future SEA Games. Some of them may achieve medals. At the SEA Games, sometimes a star emerges," he added.

    As for category B -- it is meant for teams or individuals OCM believes are good enough to participate in SEA Games but may not be medal prospects.

    "All National Sports Association will be able to appeal if they wish to move their athletes from B category to A category if they provide the information or data on their athletes' performance. After the list has been finalised, may be some of the NSAs for sports in category B might withdraw and not take up the challenge," said Tunku Imran.

    The NSAs are requested to file in their appeals before Oct 1.

    Tunku Imran also said Malaysia will not participate in four of 47 sports events contested at the Korat SEA Games -- baseball, wrestling, muay and traditional boat racing.

    "For the first time, Malaysia will be sending a polo team consisting of six athletes under category A," he said.

    OCM also has listed 10 athletes to vie for Go (also known as Weiqi), a Chinese chess game, which will be held as a demonstration sport. These athletes will be going under category B.

    -- BERNAMA

    News alert on 10 August 2007

    Diving: Malaysia claim three out of four gold medals on offer
    Malaysia Star - Malaysia
    Manila SEA Games gold medallist Cheong Jun Hoong extended Malaysia's domination in the girls' competition by winning the Group A (Under-17) competition. ...
    See all stories on this topic


    Troubles in race for SEA Games broadcasting rights

    VietNamNet Bridge - Hanoi,Vietnam
    VietNamNet Bridge – The race among television stations in Vietnam for the broadcasting rights of the 24 th SEA Games has seen new developments – very ...
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    MAAU Closed To Be Last Meet For Athletes To Make SEA Games Cut
    Bernama - Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia
    The MAAU Closed will be the last platform for athletes to make the Korat SEA Games athletics squad, said MAAU vice-president and coaching committee chairman ...
    See all stories on this topic

    Wednesday, August 8, 2007

    News alert on 8 August 2007

    Quartet face tough task to book their place in the Olympics
    Malaysia Star - Malaysia
    They are 2005 SEA Games gold medallist Rusfredy Petrus (flyweight) and Mohd Afifudin Omar Sidek (bantamweight); 2002 Busan Asiad bronze medallist Elaine Teo ...
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    Newks wants education dep't to take over Paglaum management
    Sun.Star - Philippines
    He said he found out in a recent ocular visit to the sports complex that some fixtures installed prior to the 2005 SEA Games are no longer in place. ...
    See all stories on this topic

    Judoka eyes eighth SEAG games gold
    Visayan Daily Star - Dumaguete City,Philippines
    Except in the 1999 Brunei SEA Games when judo was not played, Baylon has so far won seven gold medals in his division since the 1991 Manila SEA Games. ...
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    Myanmar to test athletes in 2 track and field competitions before ...
    People's Daily Online - Beijing,China
    Competition in September and the Pre-SEA Games Invitational Track and Field Competition in Bangkok, Thailand in October, the MTFF said. ...
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    06 - Air21 willing to loan players to RP team
    Balita.org - Minsterley,UK
    "That is our main concern right now, we need to get those kind of players to insure our success in the SEA Games," said Romero, noting that other countries, ...
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    Gymnastics: Poser over Nurul's Bangkok trip
    New Straits Times - Persekutuan,Malaysia
    By : Ranjini Thangaraju SHE failed to make the cut on Sunday for December's Korat Sea Games, yet artistic gymnast Nurul Fatiha Abdul Hamid was on the plane ...
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    Wednesday, August 1, 2007

    News alert on 1 August 2007

    Tenaga's coach Rajan takes up post with Thai national team
    Malaysia Star - Malaysia
    And the main target for Rajan, who will leave for Bangkok today, is to take Thailand to a podium finish the SEA Games, which they will host in December. ...
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    Vietnamese sports make big leap
    VietNamNet Bridge - Hanoi,Vietnam
    The country has continuously been among the top three regional nations with its considerable achievements over the past seven SEA Games. ...
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    Sea Games: Yufang on dual mission before quitting
    New Straits Times - Persekutuan,Malaysia
    First, she intends retaining her 20km walk gold medal at the Korat Sea Games and second, qualify for next year's Beijing Olympic Games. ...
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    Sea Games: Oct 4 deadline for team changes
    New Straits Times - Persekutuan,Malaysia
    NATIONAL Sports Associations (NSAs) have until Oct 4 to make amendments to their team list for the December's Korat Sea Games. Olympic Council of Malaysia ...
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    Norwood may play for RP in SEAG
    Manila Bulletin - Philippines
    "But I think that's possible since PBL players will be used in the SEA Games." Junel Baculi, who led RP-Harbour to triumph in the breakout SEABA Champions ...
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