Daniel Bego, Cai Lin Named Best Olympians

DANIEL (kiri) dan Cai Lin bangga bersama pingat dan cek yang dimenangi selaku Olimpian Terbaik 2007 pada majlis di Kuala Lumpur semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 (Bernama) -- Swimmers Daniel William Henry Bego and Khoo Cai Lin were named Best Olympians of 2007 in the men's and women's categories respectively Monday night.

Each of them received a trophy and RM10,000 from Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who is chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Sports at the indoor arena of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) here.

Daniel won the award after defeating other challengers like Mohd Qabil Ambak Muhammad Fathil (equestrian), Yeoh Ken Nee (diving), Lim Yoke Wai (karate) and Cheng Chu Sian (archery).

He has qualified for this year's Beijing Olympics in 100m and 200m butterfly and 200m freestyle. At the Korat Sea Games last year, he bagged two golds in 100m butterfly and 200m freestyle and set new games' records.

Cai Lin, who has also qualified for the Beijing Olympics albeit under Category B, received the award based on the two golds she won at the Sea Games in 400m and 800m freestyle.

She also set new games' records in both events and broke the national record in 800m set by Nurul Huda Abdullah in 1998 in Canton, China.

Two other women nominated for the award were Leong Mun Yee (diving) and Lim Wen Chean (gymnastics).

Meanwhile, 10 former sports officials and athletes made it to the OCM Hall of Fame.

The former officials are Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah of Perak (hockey), Tan Sri Elyas Omar (badminton, cycling, football), Datuk T. Paul Murugasu (football), Tunku Datuk Seri Adnan Tunku Besar Burhanuddin (hockey, judo), Tan Sri P. Alagendra (hockey) and Datuk Tan Chin Nam (chess).

The former athletes are Malek Noor (bodybuilding), Shaharuddin Jaafar (cycling), Yew Cheng Hoe (badminton) and Ng Seow Meng (badminton).

-- BERNAMA

SEA Games: Rewards for gold

PUTRAJAYA: It was a huge payout for the swimmers and divers. But rhythmic gymnast Chrystal Lim emerged as the biggest individual winner of the rewards given out under the athlete incentive scheme for the SEA Games in Korat last month.

A total of RM376,000 were handed out to gold medallists of the Games in a glittering ceremony in Putrajaya yesterday.

Attending the function in appreciation of the efforts of the national athletes were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Only gold medallists get rewarded under the scheme at the SEA Games level and Chrystal's four-gold medal performance earned her RM16,250.

Chrystal won three of the four individual finals – rope, clubs and ribbon. The 19-year-old was also part of the gold medal-winning, who include Foong Seow Ting, Wan Siti Haniza Wan Izahar and Jaime Lee Yoke Jeng.

She is the third Malaysian to win four gold medals in SEA Games rhythmic gymnastics after Durratun Nashihin Rosli (2003 Hanoi) and Seow Ting (2005 Manila).

And her outstanding performance in Korat is something to cherish forever. Chrystal has decided to quit the sport to concentrate on her studies.

“I had never won a SEA Games gold medal prior to this and I never expect to do so in Korat.

“I will be going for further studies and the money will definitely help me in my studies,” said Chrystal, who is keen to pursue a career in graphic design.

The other big winners were equestrian rider Mohd Qabil Ambak Mohd Fathil and diver Yeoh Ken Nee – taking home RM12,500 each.

Qabil was the individual gold medallist for Malaysia in dressage and show jumping. He was also part of the Malaysian winning team in both disciplines.

Ken Nee became the first diver to achieve a sweep of all three springboard gold medals in a SEA Games diving competition. He won the 1m and 3m individual springboard events and partnered Rossharisham Roslan to victory in the synchronised competition.

Swimmers Daniel Bego and Khoo Cai Lin also received handsome rewards – RM12,000 each for their Games record-breaking feats. Besides the RM5,000 for a gold, both swimmers also collected an additional RM1,000 for each record broken.

Daniel retained his 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly titles while Cai Lin stamped her marks in the 400m and 800m freestyle.

Altogether, aquatics emerged as the biggest medal contributor for Malaysia with a total of 14 gold medals and their athletes were rewarded with a total of RM74,000.

The next big winners were the karate exponents, who took home a total of RM40,000. Karate contributed eight gold medals, doubling the target set for them by the National Sports Council.

Asian Championships gold medallist Lim Yoke Wai was the biggest winner for karate.

He received RM10,000 for winning the individual and Open events, the first exponent to do so at a SEA Games competition.

The Star

Wen Chean, Qabil paling lumayan

LUMAYAN: Crystal Lim (kiri) dan Qabil memperaga repllika cek yang disampaikan Perdana Menteri di PICC, petang semalam.

KEJAYAAN memenangi empat emas � tiga acara individu dan satu acara berpasukan � di Sukan Sea XXIV Korat 2007 memberi habuan besar buat ratu gimnastik berirama Crystal Lim Wen Chen apabila mendapat sejumlah RM16,250 di bawah Skim Hadiah Kemenangan Sukan (Shakam).

Crystal adalah seorang daripada 137 atlit negara yang mendapat habuan masing-masing atas kejayaan menyumbangkan pingat emas di temasya serantau itu daripada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dalam satu majlis penghargaan gilang gemilang kerajaan Malaysia di Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya (PICC), semalam.

Turut hadir isteri Perdana Menteri Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dan Menteri Belia dan Sukan Datuk Seri Azalina Aziz.

Crystal memenangi emas dalam disiplin riben, tali dan gelung serta berpasukan dengan setiap emas individu bernilai RM5,000 dan berkongsi RM1,250 bagi kemenangan dalam berpasukan gimrama.

Selain Crystal, turut menerima habuan besar ialah jaguh ekuestrian, Mohd Qabil Ambak Mahamad Fathil yang mendapat RM12,500 berbekal kejayaan memenangi empat emas � dua individu dan dua berpasukan � dalam acara showjumping dan dressage.

Ia kejayaan cemerlang buat Qabil kerana memenangi emas dalam semua acara yang disertainya, sekali gus mengekalkan pencapaian terbaiknya dalam temasya itu.

Turut berkongsi nilai kemenangan sama ialah jaguh terjun Yeoh Ken Nee, yang menyumbangkan dua emas individu dan satu berpasukan dalam acara terjun berirama.

Dua perenang, Khoo Chai Lin dan Daniel Bego juga tidak terkecuali daripada menikmati habuan lumayan hasil daripada kecemerlangan mereka di Korat apabila masing-masing menyumbangkan dua emas serta berjaya memecahkan rekod kebangsaan masing-masing yang memberikan keseluruhan RM12,000.

Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) menyediakan sejumlah RM376,000 untuk pembayaran Shakam dengan atlit akuatik iaitu renang dan terjun mendapat habuan terbesar iaitu RM74,000, karate-do (RM40,000), olahraga (RM36,000) dan gimnastik (artistik dan gimrama) RM30,000.

Pada Sukan Sea XXIV Disember lalu, kontinjen Malaysia membawa pulang sejumlah 68 emas, sekali gus membolehkan mereka menamatkan saingan di tempat kedua keseluruhan di belakang tuan rumah Thailand, pencapaian kedua terbaik dalam sejarah temasya ini.

Berita Harian

PM ucap tahniah buat kontinjen Sukan Sea

PERDANA Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, semalam mengucapkan tahniah atas kejayaan atlit negara mengutip 68 pingat emas - mengatasi sasaran 64 emas, sekali gus merangkul tempat kedua dalam jumlah keseluruhan pungutan pingat pada temasya Sukan Sea ke-24 di Korat, Thailand yang berakhir Sabtu lalu.

Abdullah berkata, kejayaan atlit negara membuktikan rakyat negara ini mampu berjaya dalam apa juga bidang termasuk sukan jika mereka mempunyai keyakinan serta kesungguhan untuk mencapai impian masing-masing.

“Saya amat gembira dan bangga dengan kejayaan atlit kita. Malah, dalam mesyuarat Kabinet ada membincangkan mengenainya dan kita turut mengucapkan tahniah kepada Menteri Belia dan Sukan (Datuk Seri Azalina Othman) serta semua pegawai yang terbabit dengan sukan.

“Kita juga ingin mengucapkan tahniah kepada atlit yang memenangi pingat, khususnya emas,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas mengadakan lawatan ke Perusahaan Sepang Maju Sdn Bhd, di Banghuris di Sepang pada hari terakhir lawatan kerja dua harinya ke Selangor, semalam.

Hadir sama, isterinya, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah; Menteri Besar Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr Mohammad Khir Toyo dan isteri, Datin Seri Zaharah Kechik.

Dalam temasya dwi-tahunan itu, Malaysia berjaya muncul sebagai naib juara dengan pungutan 68 pingat emas, 52 perak dan 96 gangsa di belakang tuan rumah, Thailand berjaya memungut 183 pingat emas, 123 pingat perak dan 103 pingat gangsa.

Ia adalah kejayaan cemerlang dan gemilang buat Malaysia kerana pungutan 68 emas ini yang kedua terbaik secara keseluruhan sejak Sukan Sea 2001.

Abdullah menambah, kemenangan itu turut memberi detik gembira kepada semua kaum memandangkan sukan adalah alat paling berkesan untuk mengeratkan hubungan kaum di negara ini.

Justeru, beliau menyarankan supaya lebih banyak program sukan dianjurkan di peringkat sekolah dalam usaha menyerahkan hubungan antara pelbagai kaum.

“Kita dapat lihat atlit adalah terdiri daripada pelbagai kaum dan kejayaan mereka meraih pingat bukan saja menggembirakan kaum tertentu saja tetapi semua kaum dan semua rakyat Malaysia,” katanya.

Berita Harian

Long Road Ahead For Athletics

KORAT, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) set an ambitious target of 10 gold medals for the Korat SEA Games but finished with seven while it was Thailand who remained the dominant force in the region.

The Thais won 17 gold medals out of the 45 that was stake for athletics and also set eight new SEA Games records compared to Malaysia's seven and a single Games record.

Based on the statistics here, it will take a long while before Malaysians can be a power to be reckoned with in athletics in Southeast Asia.

The MAAU must go back to the drawing board to see what went wrong and where it went wrong, following which action plans must be set in motion to rectify the situation.

The glaring fact remains that ageing athletes are past their prime and there is a void in the second echelon of successors who can readily step into their shoes.

To make matters worse, Moh Siew Wei has voiced her intention to retire after failing to defend her 100m hurdles gold while Ngew Sin Mei's reign as the long and triple jump queen in the Games came to an end after losing to an unknown Thai athlete.

The absence of 400m hurdles favourite Noraseela Khalid and MAAU's failure to find an able replacement for her, cost Malaysia a possible gold in the event and considering that she will be 29 when Laos host the 2009 SEA Games, we can expect a similar scenario if a quick remedy is not found.

The same also can be said in the case of the men's 400m hurdles as there was no replacement for the injured Shahadan Jamaluddin, who had won the gold at the Manila SEA Games in 2005.

The walk events, a forte of Malaysia, may soon face the same fate as Yuan Yufang, who had announced her retirement earlier due to her age, had to make a comeback for the Games here because there was no one to take over.

It also needed another veteran, Teoh Boon Lim, who came out of his retirement, to salvage the gold when defending champion Mohd Shahrulhaizy Abd Rahman was disqualified for "floating".

In the event that all three walkers decide to call it a day, Malaysia may have to forego hopes of gold in these events since nobody is coming through the mill.

The National Sports Council (NSC) must also look at their development programmes and identify the areas of concern before it is too late.

Setting ambitious targets is nothing wrong but achieving it is another.

-- BERNAMA

PSM's Safety Concerns On New Ball Unfounded?

KORAT, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- The Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia's (PSM) decision to cite safety reasons for not participating in the Korat SEA Games could just be a lame excuse.

According to the countries which participated, there were no problems as to the safety or performance of the new Marathon Gen-II rubber-coated ball used during the sepak takraw competition throughout the Games.

After 11 days of competition at the Nakhon Ratchasima Mall here which ended yesterday, no injuries were recorded or reported in the men's or women's competitions.

Indonesia's assistant coach, Mustakim, when interviewed, said that throughout the sepak takraw competition, none of his players suffered any injuries.

He personally felt that this ball was safer then the old one (without rubber-coating) as its surface was softer and smoother.

"We only trained three months with the Marathon-Gen II before coming here (Korat). None of our players had any complaints about the safety or performance of the ball. In fact, they were very happy with it," he said.

Vietnam coach, Tung Lap Ha, though concurring with Mustakim, however, questioned the haste by the International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF) in wanting the ball to be used at this SEA Games.

He was unhappy that his players had only three months to familiarise themselves with it.

The ball became a subject of controversy as the Malaysian sepak takraw contingent pulled out of the Korat Games because of it, the first time Malaysia had withdrawn from the event in the history of the Games.

PSM president Datuk Ahmad Ismail when announcing Malaysia's withdrawal from the Games had claimed that it was not safe for the players and that its bounce was also inconsistent.

The decision earned the ire of many. They felt the action had tarnished Malaysia's image and was unfair to the players who had trained hard in preparing for the Korat SEA Games.

The men's and women's sepak takraw competition at this Games offered a total of eight gold. the most so far for sepak takraw in the SEA Games.

Meanwhile, ISTAF secretary-general Abdul Halim Kader asked all the participating teams to submit individual reports on the ball's performance to avoid further controversy in future.

"We welcome feedback from the teams that competed (in the Korat Games). So far we have received written reports from

Indonesia and the Philippines who have stated that that they are happy with the new ball," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Seamless Succession In Badminton Cause For Concern

KORAT, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- The results in badminton at the Korat SEA Games was a justification of sorts that the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) must not be overdependent on senior players.

The absence of leading national players Lee Chong Wei (singles), Number One doubles pair Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong and Wong Mew Choo (women's singles) saw the Malaysian badminton team struggling to find their footing even against the likes of Thailand and Singapore let alone Indonesia.

Malaysia's backup shuttlers could only produce four bronze in Korat, which was the country's worse ever performance in the history of the Games.

Head coach for the SEA Games badminton team Rashid Sidek was about the most disappointed person by the performance of the second stringers.

"I am as disappointed as anyone else but the only consolation is that at least my players were given exposure here.

"They now know where they stand as they are not anywhere close to other top players in the region," said Rashid.

-- BERNAMA

No End To Complaints About Biased Judging

News Analysis By Elmi Rizal Elias

KORAT, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Complaints of biased judging in subjective sports has become a perennial problem each time a SEA Games takes place.

It appears to be a disease that is hard to eradicate even though the biennial sports meet for ASEAN entered its 24th edition here this year.

In this Korat SEA Games, things got so bad that during the silat competition between exponents from the host nation and the Philippines on Wednesday at the Sungnoen Municipal Hall here, there were incidents of chair and bottle throwing.

Malaysia too complained about biased judging in silat and weightlifting.

A case in example involved lifter Che Mohd Azrol Che Mat. The Malaysian camp were already shouting in joy that he had won the gold in the over 105kg category on Wednesday only for it to be shortlived when his last lift in the clean & jerk was disallowed on technicalities.

The contest with a lifter from the host nation ended in a tie and Che Mohd Azrol could only watch in disbelief as the gold was awarded to the Thai after a countback.

National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong, who watched Malaysian silat exponents in action on Thursday, was clearly disappointed with the judging that day.

"It (biased judging) has become a common complaint, but at this Games, especially in silat, they have taken it to extremes.

"I feel pity for our athletes. They trained hard but are denied by poor judging. Maybe, after this we should just forget about taking part in subjective sports," he said.

Matters got to a head yesterday when four out of seven Filipino boxers who were to contest in finals, pulled out on the grounds of biased judging giving free wins to Thai boxers.

Also yesterday but in the taekwondo competition, Indonesia's Minister of Youth and Sports, Adhyaksa Dault, himself lodged protests about the poor quality judging he witnessed at the event's venue, the main hall of Vongchavalitkul University.

He later held a meeting with the organising committee's technical director for taekwondo on the matter.

During the last SEA Games in Manila two years ago, former Thai Pirme Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had also slammed the Philippines SEA Games organising committee over biased judging in favour of the hosts.

The SEA Games Federation (SGF) seriously needs to look into this matter before it becomes worse and cause disharmony in ASEAN.

-- BERNAMA

SGF Must Review Objective, Judging Of Subjective Sports - Zolkples

KORAT, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- The SEA Games Federation (SGF) must sit down and look at the overall objective of the SEA Games and decide once and for all, the structure and the list of sports to be contested, said National Sports Council director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong.

The current practice was that everytime there is a new host, new sports are included which put some of the participating countries in a bind as those sports might only be played in that particular country, he told a press conference for Malaysian journalists here Saturday.

"In the 2005 Manila SEA Games, there were sports like anis which was totally alien to Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei or even Indonesia and here they have muay thai, traditional boat racing.

"This trend must stop and the SGF must streamline a set of sports that can be competed so that there will be enough time for every country to prepare well in advance. What's the purpose of winning so many medals from anis or muay thai as it does not contribute to the overall development of sports in the regional Games.

"We should also focus on raising the standard of the Games through a proper judging system so as to eliminate discontentment among participating countries.

He added that poor judging, refereeing or biased judging has become a perennial problem but Games after Games there has been much talk but nothing concrete has happened.

"Incidents like what happened in boxing when the unhappy Filipinos just gave away their bouts without fighting, apparently due to biased judging, does not augur well for the Games," said Zolkples.

"I feel the Laos Games will be a good avenue to introduce any changes as they (Laos) will little or no vested interest in most of the sports."

Laos who will host the 2009 Games are expected to limit the number of sports to 25 and have indicated that gymnastics and basketball will not be included due to lack of facilities.

-- BERNAMA

Over To You Laos

KORAT, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- Fireworks lighted up the Korat skyline as soon as the flame at the Cauldron, which was continuosly burning throughout the 10 days of competition died down at the King's Anniversary Main Stadium, to mark the closing of the Korat SEA Games but the flares failed to light up the uncertainty surrounding the next host.

The SEA Games Federation (SGF) flag will now make its way towards unchartered territory, Laos, who will host the SEA Games for the first time in 2009 and who have openly admitted that they do not have adequate facilties.

The next host have also suggested to host 25 sports and though the names of the sports were not revealed, gymnastics and basketball have been axed due to lack of indoor stadiums.

But amidst all that uncertainty, the athletes and officials danced and hugged each other in a true show of friendship, reminescent of every major sporting event, after having battled it out against each other in search of honours for their respective countries.

Thailand Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, who presided over the closing ceremony, said the SEA Games plays a vital role in promoting relations and cooperation among countries.

Surayud later presented the TOT Most Valuable Player Award to swimmer Natthanan Junkrajang of Thailand, and Miguel Monica of Philippines who also won four gold medals in swimming.

Junkrajang won the 100m, 200m freestyle and the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle while Monica collected gold medals from the 200m Breaststroke, 200m Individual Medley, 400m Individual Medley and 4x100m medley.

They both received a trophy and 330,000 baht (USD10,000).

--BERNAMA