Monday, December 19, 2011

CYCLING: Romancing the gold medals

CYCLING: Romancing the gold medals


INTERESTINGLY, cyclists Arfy Qhairant Amran and Lauretta Eva Adrian were asked whether they are a couple during the final round of the ACC Track Asia Cup at the Kuala Lumpur Velodrome yesterday.

The two juniors had delivered all three gold medals for Malaysia who finished third overall behind Hong Kong and Iran.

"No, we're not a couple. We're just friends," said Asian junior 200m sprint champion Arfy who laughed off questions about his seemingly blossoming relationship with Sabahan Lauretta Eva, who produced a similar answer with a smile.

It was an impressive showing by the national team who were represented by riders from the Pelapis programme, as Arfy added the junior men's keirin gold medal to his 200m sprint gold on Saturday.

Lauretta Eva followed suit, seemingly inspired by Arfy's performance as she delivered a surprise women's junior keirin gold medal in what was virtually a carbon copy result of the junior men's keirin with compatriot Ummi Hamimah Mohamad coming in third for the bronze medal.

Pelapis Penang academy debutant, Marcus Malek McRone, took home the bronze medal.

Malacca-born Arfy, 18, said he was satisfied with his overall performance, as he was just beginning his new regime aimed towards the Asian Championships in Kuala Lumpur in February.

"It was also good to see the new juniors stepping up their game like Marcus. In the final, we had to change tactics as the start wasn't as planned, but still we got the result," said Arfy.

Marcus missed out on the silver, pipped in a photo-finish by Thailand's Worayut Kapunya.

Both Arfy and Lauretta Eva will now shift focus to winning places in the Asian Championships squad, Arfy is set to make the step up into the elite squad while Lauretta will likely earn a spot in the squad for junior events.

Lauretta Eva, 17, said she was more than satisfied with her victory in the keirin as it was unexpected.

"It was a great result. But now I will focus on making the squad for the Asian Championships," she said.

Earlier, the men's team sprint trio of Fattah Amri Zaid, Farhan Amri Zaid and Fakhruddin Daud lost out to Iran in the team sprint final.

Fattah impressed in the elite men's keirin, when he took a well deserved bronze in the final that was won by Iran's Mahmoud Parash ahead of his compatriot Mahmoud Rasouli. By Arnaz M. Khairul


Read more: CYCLING: Romancing the gold medals - Racing - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/racing/cycling-romancing-the-gold-medals-1.21269#ixzz1gwkjLffT

Lauretta, Arfy tunjuk taring raih emas

Lauretta, Arfy tunjuk taring raih emas


PELUMBA berbasikal trek pelapis negara menutup tirai Kejohanan Berbasikal Trek Piala Asia ACC 2011 di Velodrom Kuala Lumpur, Cheras semalam dengan menyumbang dua pingat emas.

Kedua-dua pingat emas dipungut oleh Lauretta Eva Adrian dan Muhd Arfy Qhairant Amran, masing-masing dalam acara keirin remaja wanita dan lelaki.


Bagi Lauretta Eva, 17, kemenangan pingat emas itu adalah di luar jangkaan dan pingat emas pertama yang pernah dimenanginya.

“Saya tidak sangka dapat meraih pingat emas. Saya hanya sempat berlatih cuma seminggu saja sebelum kejohanan ini bermula kerana menduduki peperiksaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia.


“Saingan sememangnya sengit dan saingan utama saya adalah pelumba dari Iran, dia begitu kuat,” kata pelumba yang berasal dari Kota Kinabalu, Sabah itu.


Pada perlumbaan acara keirin remaja wanita itu, Lauretta Eva yang mencatat masa 13.781 saat berjaya mengatasi saingan daripada Reihaneh Talebisomeehsaraei dari Iran dengan perbezaan hanya 0.001 saat.

Lauretta Eva berharap dia mampu meraih pingat emas dalam acara sama pada Kejohanan Berbasikal Asia Februari depan.


Sementara pingat gangsa acara itu menjadi milik pelumba negara Umi Hamimah Mohamad dengan catatan masa 14.136s.

Bagi Muhd Arfy Qhairant, ia adalah pingat emas keduanya apabila berjaya mengekalkan kejuaraan dimenanginya pada siri kejohanan yang sama tahun lalu.


Pingat perak acara itu dimenangi Warayut Kapunya dari Thailand manakala pingat gangsa menjadi milik seorang lagi pelumba Malaysia, Malek Marcus McCrone.


Dalam kategori elit keirin lelaki, wakil negara Mohd Fattah Amri hanya meraih pingat gangsa, sementara pingat emas dan perak dimenangi dua pelumba Iran, Mahmoud Parash dan Mahmoud Rasouli.


Secara keseluruhan Malaysia berada di kedudukan ketiga selepas mengumpul tiga pingat emas, dua perak dan empat gangsa.

Malaysia tambah pingat emas

Malaysia tambah pingat emas
Oleh SHAHRIL NIZAM ABDULLAH
shahril@kosmo.com.my

DARI kiri, Mohd. Fattah, Muhd. Arfy, Lauretta Eva , Ummi Hamimah dan Malek Marcus menunjukkan pingat yang mereka menangi semalam.

SKUAD trek negara menutup tirai pada Kejuaraan Lumba Basikal Trek Piala Asia ACC 2011 dengan bergaya apabila mengutip dua lagi pingat emas di Velodrom Kuala Lumpur, Cheras semalam.

Dua pingat emas tersebut hadir menerusi pelumba remaja negara, Muhammad Arfy Qhairant Amran dan Lauretta Eva Adrian masing-masing dalam acara Keirin lelaki dan wanita remaja.

Ini adalah emas kedua disumbang pelumba berbakat, Arfy pada Piala Asia ACC 2011 itu selepas dia turut memenangi emas dalam acara pecut remaja lelaki kelmarin.

Secara keseluruhannya, Malaysia yang mempertaruhkan pelumba-pelumba skuad pelapis negara melabuhkan tirai pusingan ketiga itu di tangga ketiga dengan kutipan tiga pingat emas, dua perak dan empat gangsa.

Hong Kong muncul juara keseluruhan siri terakhir Piala Asia ACC 2011 itu dengan 12 pingat emas, enam perak dan tiga gangsa, diikuti Iran (5-5-3), Jepun di tempat keempat (2-6-3) dan Thailand kelima (1-3-2).

Pengurus skuad trek kebangsaan, Datuk Naim Mohamad jelas sekali gembira dengan peningkatan positif pelumba-pelumba daripada program pelapis ini yang membuktikan potensi sebenar yang ada dalam diri mereka.

"Walaupun kita menduduki tempat ketiga keseluruhan, bagi saya ia adalah suatu pencapaian yang positif kerana kita menurunkan pelumba daripada skuad pelapis sahaja," kata Naim semalam.

"Tujuan utama kita menurunkan skuad pelapis serta pasukan Serantau Pulau Pinang dan Serantau Ipoh adalah untuk memberi pendedahan yang berterusan kepada pemain remaja kita.

"Kita tidak boleh bandingkan dengan pencapaian pasukan Hong Kong kerana mereka menurunkan barisan pelumba elit mereka di sini, sebab itu mereka muncul juara keseluruhan," tambahnya lagi.

Menurut Naim, tiga siri pusingan Trek Piala Asia ACC yang berlangsung di tiga gelanggang iaitu Jepun, Bangkok dan Kuala Lumpur merupakan platform terbaik dalam program pembangunan sukan trek berbasikal negara.

Malah kata Naim, Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM) juga sedang merangka program untuk melahirkan pelumba baharu bagi skuad Olimpik 2016.

"Kita sedang melihat kepada pembangunan sukan trek berbasikal bagi masa akan datang iaitu perancangan untuk melahirkan pelumba bagi program Sukan Olimpik 2016 nanti.

"Justeru, Trek Piala Asia ACC ini dilihat amat penting dan menjadi kayu pengukur dalam aspek pendedahan dan pengalaman pemain-pemain remaja kita bagi jangka masa lima atau enam tahun lagi," kata Naim lagi.

Selain dua emas, skuad negara turut memenangi satu perak menerusi acara pecut berpasukan lelaki, satu gangsa menerusi Mohd. Fattah Amri Zaid (Keirin lelaki), manakala Malek Marcus Mc Crone dari serantau Pulau Pinang memenangi gangsa (Keirin remaja lelaki) dan pelumba Serantau Ipoh, Ummi Hamimah Mohamad turut membawa pulang gangsa (Keirin remaja wanita).

Dalam kutipan mata Piala Asia ACC pula, skuad negara menduduki tempat kelima dengan 44 mata di belakang Taiwan (47), manakala Hong Kong muncul juara keseluruhan (153), diikuti Jepun (136) dan Iran (114) selepas tiga siri ACC 2011.

Mohd Arfy and Lauretta deliver sweet victories in Track Asia Cup


Golden flourish: Malaysian cyclists Mohd Arfy Qhairant Amran (right) and Lauretta Eva Adrian celebrate with their Track Asia Cup cycling gold medals at the Cheras Velodrome in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – AHMAD IZZRAFIQ ALIAS / The Star.

19.12.11

Mohd Arfy and Lauretta deliver sweet victories in Track Asia Cup
By SHAMSHUL FITRI


KUALA LUMPUR: There were sweet victories for Mohd Arfy Qhairant Amran and Lauretta Eva Adrian on the final day of the Track Asia Cup cycling competition at the Cheras Velodrome yesterday.

Arfy bagged the men’s junior keirin gold while Lauretta made up for the disappointment of falling short in the sprint, where she finished fourth, to win the women’s junior keirin.

For the 18-year-old Arfy, who is the reigning Asian junior sprint champion, it was his second gold medal of the competition having bagged the sprint title on Saturday.

“I was surprised to win the keirin as I wasn’t feeling right at the start of the day. My body just didn’t feel good before the race,” he said.


Golden flourish: Malaysian cyclists Mohd Arfy Qhairant Amran (right) and Lauretta Eva Adrian celebrate with their Track Asia Cup cycling gold medals at the Cheras Velodrome in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – AHMAD IZZRAFIQ ALIAS / The Star.
“Our tactics also didn’t go as planned but I managed to hang on to outsprint the others on the home straight.”

Arfy had the help of Pelapis riders Mohd Fauzan Nor Azman and Malik Marcus McCrone, who won the bronze medal, to chart their strategy in the race.

He said the plan was for one of the Pelapis duo to ride behind the derny (motorised bike) to set the pace.

“But immediately after the start, Thai rider Worayut Kapunya, who won the silver, got in behind the derny and we had to change plans,” said Arfy.

Lauretta redeemed herself by winning the keirin after losing the sprint bronze medal to Thai rider Apinya Promboot on Saturday.

“Never in my wildest dream did I think I would win the gold medal because I only started training seriously last week after my SPM examination,” she said.

“This result will spur me on to do well in the Asian Championships here in February.”

Reihaneh Talebisomeehsaraei of Iran grabbed the silver medal while Pelapis rider Ummi Hamimah Mohd was third.

The men’s team of Mohd Fattah Amri Zaid, Mohd Farhan Amri Zaid and Fakhruddin Daud were no match for their Iranian rivals in the team sprint and had to settle for the silver medal.

The Iranian trio of Mahmoud Parash, Mahmoud Rasouli and Ali Askari stopped the clock in 1:03.478 while the Malaysian trio clocked1:06.617, slightly slower than their qualifying time of 1:06.012.

Emas berganda Arfy

Emas berganda Arfy
MOHD. Arfy Qhairant Amran (dua dari kiri) dan Lauretta Eva Adrian (tengah) bersama pelumba negara yang turut meraih pingat pada kejohanan Berbasikal Trek Piala Asia ACC 201 di Velodrom Cheras, semalam. - utusan/MOHD NOOR AMIN 19.12.11 Oleh: FERZALFIE FAUZI ferzalfie.fauzi@utusan.com.my

MOHD. Arfy Qhairant Amran (dua dari kiri) dan Lauretta Eva Adrian (tengah) bersama pelumba negara yang turut meraih pingat pada kejohanan Berbasikal Trek Piala Asia ACC 201 di Velodrom Cheras, semalam. - utusan/MOHD NOOR AMIN

KUALA LUMPUR - Kontinjen negara mengakhiri saingan Berbasikal Trek Piala Asia ACC 2011 dengan menambah dua lagi pingat emas dalam acara keirin akhir remaja lelaki dan wanita di Velodrom Cheras, semalam.

Pelumba remaja negara, Mohd. Arfy Qhairant Amran bukan sahaja berjaya mempertahankan pingat emas yang dimenanginya tahun lalu tetapi berjaya menambah koleksi pingat selepas turut muncul juara dalam acara pecut kelmarin.

Kecemerlangan Arfy diteruskan pelumba remaja wanita negara, Lauretta Eva Adrian yang berjaya meraih pingat emas pertamanya dalam kejohanan tersebut walaupun tidak diletakkan sebarang harapan.

Arfy, 18, tidak menghadapi masalah untuk mengenepikan pencabarnya dari Thailand, Worayut Kapunya, yang sekadar berpuas hati dengan meraih pingat perak.

Pingat gangsa acara tersebut turut diraih seorang lagi pelumba negara, Marcus Malik McCrone.

Menurut Arfy, dia amat berpuas hati kerana berjaya mempertahankan pingat emas yang dimenanginya tahun lepas, lebih manis ia merupakan pingat emas keduanya dalam kejohanan itu.

"Kami mempunyai kelebihan kerana tiga pelumba Malaysia beraksi pada saingan akhir, saya juga sudah berbincang strategi apa yang akan digunakan dalam perlumbaan namun ia agak kurang menjadi," katanya.

Sementara itu, Lauretta tidak sangka berjaya meraih emas pertama dalam saingan tersebut sedangkan pemenang pingat perak, Reihaneh Talebisomeehsaraei dari Iran merupakan pelumba pilihan.

"Sebelum ini dia (Reihaneh) sering memenangi perlumbaan ini, namun hari ini (semalam) saya berjaya melakukan kejutan dengan menumpaskannya saya agak terkejut dengan kejayaan ini," kata pelumba berusia 17 tahun dari Sabah itu.

Pingat gangsa turut dimenangi oleh pelumba negara, iaitu Ummi Hamimah Mohamad yang merupakan pelumba dari Akademi Serantau Ipoh.

Malaysia turut meraih satu perak dalam acara pecut berpasukan dan satu gangsa melalui Mohd. Fattah Amri Zaid dalam acara keirin elit.

Malaysia menamatkan saingan Berbasikal Trek Piala Asia ACC 2011 dengan meraih tiga emas dua perak dan enam gangsa.

Hong Kong muncul juara keseluruhan selepas memungut 12 emas, enam perak dan tiga gangsa, diikuti Iran lima emas, lima perak dan tiga gangsa.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Arfy ends drought

Arfy ends drought
By SHAMSHUL FITRI




KUALA LUMPUR: Reigning Asian junior champion Mohd Arfy Qhairant Amran delivered Malaysia’s first gold medal in the Track Asia Cup cycling championships at the Cheras Velodrome yesterday.

Arfy was in dominant form, defeating Hong Kong’s Lok Chun Wu 2-0 in the sprint final.

“It was tough as the Hong Kong rider has a lot of power and I’m not really at my peak yet,” said Arfy.


All smiles: Missy Franklin (facing camera) smiles as she is congratulated by Sharon Van Rouwendaal of Holland after winning the women’s 200m backstroke during the Duel in the Pool swimming competition at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Centre in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday. — Reuters
“But I felt better compared to when I won the 1km time trial bronze on Friday. I’m glad I nailed the gold medal.”

Aboulfazi Zarezadehmehrizi of Iran beat Thailand’s Worayut Kapunya for the bronze.

Malaysia’s Sofian Nabil Omar Bakri grabbed the silver medal in the men’s junior point race despite having a fever. The race was won by Hong Kong’s Chun Wing Leung while Ruslan Feddrovof Uzbekistan settled for the bronze.

Hamdan Hamidun delivered Malaysia’s third bronze medal clocking 3:48.194 in the junior 3km individual pursuit. Chun Wing Leung of Hong Kong won the gold medal in 3:40.182 while Ruslan Feddrov of Uzbekistan took the silver in 3:42.490.

Malaysian senior sprinters were outclassed yesterday with Mohd Fattah Amri Zaid the best finisher in fifth place and Ju Pha Somnet seventh. Junior sprinter Lauretta Eva Adrian finished fourth in her race.

The men’s sprint team still have a chance to nick the gold medal today in their match against hot favourites Iran.

Fattah, his brother Mohd Farhan and Mohd Fakhruddin Daud were second fastest in 1:06.012. The Iranian trio of Mahmoud Parash, Mahmoud Rasouli and Ali Askari stopped the clock in 1:03.929 while Hong Kong were third fastest in 1:06.193.

Arfy sumbang emas pertama


18 Disember 2011

Arfy sumbang emas pertama

PELUMBA negara, Muhd. Arfy (depan) tampil hebat semalam untuk menyumbangkan pingat emas pertama negara pada Kejohanan Trek Piala Asia ACC yang berlangsung di Velodrom Kuala Lumpur, Cheras semalam.

MUHD. Arfy Qhairant Amran yang meraih pingat gangsa kelmarin, tampil hebat semalam untuk menyumbang pingat emas pertama negara pada Kejohanan Trek Piala Asia ACC 2011 di Velodrom Kuala Lumpur, Cheras.

Arfy, 18, meraih pingat emas dalam acara pecut remaja lelaki dengan mencatat masa 11.436 saat pada pusingan pertama dan 11.443s pada pusingan kedua.

Pingat perak dimenangi oleh pelumba Hong Kong, Wu Lok Chun dan pingat gangsa menjadi milik, Aboulfazi Zarezadehmehrizi dari Iran.

"Selepas berehat semalam (kelmarin), saya mula mengumpul semangat untuk melakukan yang terbaik pada acara ini dan saya berpuas hati dengan pencapaian ini.

"Saingan acara pecut ini agak sengit juga. Dari segi catatan masa pula saya puas hati juga sebab saya baru hendak mula meningkatkan prestasi saya selepas prestasi merudum pada kejohanan dunia lepas," katanya.

Sementara itu, Lauretta Eva Adrian yang bersaing dalam kategori wanita kempunan untuk meraih pingat gangsa selepas kalah kepada pelumba Thailand, Apinya Promboot dalam perlumbaan penentuan pingat gangsa.

Pingat emas acara itu dimenangi oleh Leung Bo Yee dari Hong Kong dan pingat perak, Reihaneh Talebisomeehsaraei dari Iran.

Dalam acara 16 kilometer (km) perlumbaan mata remaja lelaki, Sofian Nabil Omar Mohd. Bakri meraih pingat perak selepas mengumpul 22 mata di belakang Leung Chun Wing dari Hong Kong dengan 66 mata untuk pingat emas.

Pingat gangsa acara itu dimenangi Ruslan Feddrov dari Uzbekistan dengan 15 mata.

Malaysia turut meraih pingat gangsa dalam acara 3km kejar mengejar individu remaja lelaki melalui Hamdan Hamidun dengan catatan masa 3:48.194s dan pingat emas dan perak acara itu dimenangi Leung Chun Wing dari Hong Kong dan Ruslan Feddrov dari Uzbekistan, masing-masing dengan masa 3:40.182s dan 3:42.490s.

http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2011&dt=1218&pub=Kosmo&sec=Sukan&pg=su_08.htm

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Dua gangsa buka tirai basikal ACC

Dua gangsa buka tirai basikal ACC
KUALA LUMPUR - Dua gangsa menjadi penawar skuad berbasikal trek negara
pada pembuka tirai Kejohanan Berbasikal Trek Piala Asia ACC 2011 yang
berlangsung di Velodrom Cheras, semalam.
Malaysia yang dibarisi pelumba pelapis meraih gangsa pertama menerusi
Muhd. Arfy Qhairant Amran dalam acara satu kilometer ujian masa
kategori remaja dan Mohd. Fakhruddin Daud menambah pungutan gangsa
bagi kategori elit.
Arfy mencatat 1:10.115 saat tetapi gagal mengekang kehebatan pelumba
Thailand, Thanawut Sanikwathi 1:08.417s yang meraih emas manakala
perak milik pelumba Hong Kong, Lok Chun Wu dengan catatan 1.09.918s.
Pelumba kelahiran Melaka itu mengakui kurang berpuas hati dengan
kayuhannya walaupun berjaya menyumbang pingat pertama buat kontinjen
negara tatkala prestasinya agak menurun sejak kebelakangan ini.
"Prestasi saya selepas pulang dari Kejohanan Trek Dunia Remaja di
Moscow pertengahan Ogos lalu agak menurun kerana tidak sempat berehat
sebaliknya terus berlatih selama tiga bulan di Melbourne bersama
pelumba-pelumba elit.
"Bagaimanapun ketua jurulatih, John Beasley memberi nasihat kepada
saya agar bangkit perlahan-lahan mencari rentak kerana ini kejohanan
pertama saya selepas pulang dari Melbourne, walaupun saya bersemangat
untuk mempertahankan emas keirin yang dimenangi tahun lalu di sini,"
katanya.
Kata Arfy, pencabarnya dalam kategori remaja pada saingan kali ini
ialah pelumba Thailand dan Hong Kong yang menurunkan pelumba remaja
utama masing-masing baik dalam saingan keirin, pecut dan juga satu
kilometer ujian masa.
Sementara itu, Fakhruddin gembira kerana berjaya meraih pingat
individu pertamanya bagi kategori elit.
Pelumba berpengalaman Iran, Mahmoud Parash menamatkan perlumbaan
dengan catatan 1:06.899s untuk meraih emas diikuti Kenta Inake dari
Jepun 1:08.013s.
"Sebelum ini saya ada memenangi pingat gangsa dalam kejohanan yang
sama di Bangkok dalam acara pecut berpasukan bersama Akmal Amrun dan
Mohd. Fattah Amir Zahid tetapi pingat individu adalah lebih manis,"
kata pelumba kelahiran Muar ini.
Selain Arfy dan Fakhruddin, pelumba wanita negara turut mengambil
bahagian dalam acara 500m ujian masa menerusi Lauretta Eva Adrian dan
Ummi Hamimah Mohamad (kategori remaja) dan Ju Pha Som Net (kategori
elit) namun, kesemuanya gagal meraih sebarang pingat.
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=1217&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Sukan&pg=su_04.htm

Sunday, December 4, 2011

SPORTCHECK: Delivering results

SPORTCHECK: Delivering results

By DEVINDER SINGH


SPORTS schools are playing an increasingly important role in the success of national athletes as evidenced at the recent Indonesia Sea Games.

Be they national or state level, the effort led by Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) and the Tengku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (TMISS) in Bandar Penawar, Johor is producing tangible results.

  While talent is still being developed outside the government funded system, the steady stream of sport graduates from BJSS and TMISS has become the lifeblood of Malaysian hopes for excellence on the sporting stage.

  The two national sports schools are tasked with developing 20 sports and the schools came through in Indonesia where "Pelapis" athletes -- part of the development programme under the auspices of the National Sports Council (NSC) which draws most of its athletes from sports schools -- won four gold, four silver and 13 bronze medals.

  The tally does not include the football gold medal which includes several players from the Young Tigers who graduated from BJSS with one -- Nazmi Faiz Mansor -- still a student at the school having deferred his SPM examinations this year to play in the Sea Games.

  A total of 51 athletes from the Pelapis programme competed in Indonesia and while most are former BJSS students, nine are still students at the schools and seven are from regional centres in Penang and Langkawi.

  NSC Pelapis division director Jefri Ngadirin said given the focus of the sports schools in developing talent for the various sports, it is inevitable that the large majority of back-up athletes will come from these schools.

  "There were 51 athletes, second-liners, who went to the Sea Games and out of these 40 qualified under Category A, which means they got in on merit. Aside from these 52, we had another 60 athletes who were just recently in March promoted from the Pelapis category to elite squads.

  "That Pelapis athletes won four gold medals is testament to the good work being done by coaches at the various youth levels. The gold medals were not expected as most were competing at the Games for the first time and were there for exposure," said Jefry.

  Jefri said he expects to see more athletes move up to elite status next year and the process of replenishing the ranks at Pelapis level starts once again.

  "Those athletes who excel will move up to the elite level and we will replace them by taking in athletes emerging from the sports schools, regional and state centres," he added, citing the case of archer Nurul Syafiqah Hashim.

  Syafiqah, 17, who is undertaking pre-university studies at BJSS, recently qualified for the 2012 London Olympics and has been fast-tracked into the archery elite squad.

  The Kuala Lumpur archer won a silver medal at the Sea Games in the mixed recurve event and with enough exposure, could go on to better things in the sport.

  Her's is not the only example as the sports schools have produced champions in track cycling, diving, squash and badminton in recent times.

  The success of badminton players, especially, have caught the eye when Nelson Heg Wei Keat and Teo Ee Yi became the third successive doubles pair from BJSS to emerge world junior champions.

  They followed in the path of Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming (2009) and Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng (2010) and much of the success of the doubles pairs are down to BJSS doubles chief coach Yap Kim Hock, an Olympic silver medalist in 1996 at Atlanta with Cheah Soon Kit.

  Kim Hock said the process of developing talent at junior level is long and tedious but a challenge he welcomed  gladly.

  "From my many years of experience playing and coaching, I have been able to develop programmes to ensure our players are put on the road of success. There is no one golden pill in developing champions, a lot of hard work and dedication is needed on the part of players and coaches.

  "I've learned from some of the best coaches and I'm just putting into practice the best parts of all the various  programmes. Year by year, we make improvements to the programmes to ensure our players stay a step ahead of the competition," said Kim Hock.

  Taking in the best coaches is a successful formula, at least for BJSS, with various achievements at national junior level.

  Under the guidance of former international Ismail Ibrahim, BJSS shocked the competition to win the football Under-20 President's Cup in 2010 with a squad made up largely of Form Five players.

  In hockey, BJSS won the National Junior Hockey League league and cup double six times while TMISS-Thunderbolt were league victors in 2010 and overall champions this year. Both teams also play in the senior Malaysia Hockey League Division One with limited success.

  Another BJSS athlete, Ng Eain Yow, won the prestigious British Junior Open squash Under-13 boys' title early this year.

  But if there is one drawback to the national sports school system, it is the limited number of places available.

  BJSS and TMISS combined can cater to about 1,000 students and quite often, players are drafted into the school at a late stage of development.

  Despite  his success in developing world junior champions, Kim Hock feels he needs more time to develop true world beaters in the mould of Lee Chong Wei.

  "At present, I get the players when they are in Form Four after selecting them from the inter-state junior tournaments. Ideally, I need three to five years to really develop players into becoming world class.

  "I know three pairs have gone on to become world junior champions, but if I had more time with them from when they were younger, they would be even better players than they are now," said Kim Hock.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

CYCLING: Million ringgit failure

CYCLING: Million ringgit failure

By Arnaz M. Khairul
arnaz@nstp.com.my | 0 comments


MNCF president promises road programme review

The track cyclists won seven gold, two silver and one bronze while mountain biker Masziyaton Mohd Radzi contributed a silver.
1 / 1

An estimated total of RM10 million has been wasted on the national road cycling programme under the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) since 2007, going by the results in road events in the 26th Sea Games in Indonesia.

The results in road events, where Malaysia were once the Sea Games powerhouse, reached all-time lows with embarrassing results, particularly in the men's team time trial where Malaysia's elite riders finished sixth, even behind the likes of Singapore and Vietnam.


Whatever the track squad did after that, while celebrated, failed to hide the fact that the road programme is going down the drain, no thanks to immense bickering within the MNCF, where certain parties prefer maintaining control over budgets drawn from the Sports Ministry.


There was no doubting the capabilities of the national track cycling programmes, with a mix of elite riders like Fatehah Mustapa and Edrus Yunos and some promising back-up riders under the Pelapis programme.


Fatehah delivered three gold medals -- women's 200m sprint, 500m time trial and the women's team sprint with Jupha Somnet.


Reject Harrif Salleh, recalled just two weeks prior to the Games, proved a point when he took gold in the men's scratch race and then combined with Adiq Husainie Othman, Amir Mustafa Rusli and Akmal Amrun to keep the team pursuit gold medal in Malaysian hands for the third straight Games.


Aptly, all but one of Malaysia's seven gold, three silver and one bronze medal came from the Rawamangun Velodrome, with Masziyaton Mohd Radzi's women's cross-country mountain bike silver medal the odd one out.


The performance at the Rawamangun Velodrome, where Malaysia swept all but three gold medals on offer, just went to show even the Pelapis programme was on the rise, with Malaysia in a class of their own at Sea Games level.


The multi-million ringgit road programme, however, was an embarrassment even compared to the ill-funded BMX team who were making their Sea Games debut with Mohd Aim Mohd Fauzi and Masziyaton both coming within striking distance of medals in their respective finals.


The BMX team, aiming to make an impact in the hope of gaining support towards building a programme aimed at the Olympics, at least went home with their pride intact, showing promise of better things to come.


Not only did expected medals not come from the road events, the results were humiliating in certain events and MNCF president Abu Samah Wahab, charting the fortunes of the road programme personally, was visibly lost for words.


"I have to get a review from the coach (Graham Seers) and we will conduct a post mortem after this. In the road race, we knew we had to bring climbers and we were counting on the trio of Adiq Husainie Othman, Shahrul Mat Amin and Ng Yong Li to be up front, fighting for medals," said Abu Samah.


"On the day, only Yong Li performed and finished fourth. We don't know what happened. Adiq had suffered food poisoning and he wasn't able to perform, while Shahrul got dropped early.


"We know there needs to be change, but we'll review it first, whether we need to change the training regime or not. I personally had asked the team to train in Indonesia on the road race routes, they could have done that for three months, but there were people against it."


The road team conducted a reconnaissance mission at the road events venues in Subang three months before the Games, then spent time at a centralised training camp in Chiangmai, Thailand before moving to Ipoh when floods struck northern Thailand.


They were, arguably, the best prepared of the entire cycling squad, without any budget constraints. Abu Samah said national head coach John Beasley will also be consulted over a possible revamp.


Read more: CYCLING: Million ringgit failure - Racing - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/racing/cycling-million-ringgit-failure-1.10198#ixzz1eaVJI3Zk

Friday, November 11, 2011

KOM senarai kuartert 4x400m lelaki

11.11.11

KESATUAN Olahraga Malaysia (KOM) memutuskan untuk menyenaraikan kuartert 4x400m lelaki negara ke Sukan Sea Indonesia di saat akhir ketika majoriti atlet olahraga negara sudah tiba di Palembang, semalam.

Perkara itu disahkan pengurus pasukan olahraga, Rajemah Sheikh Ahmad dengan urusan tiket kini diusahakan secepat mungkin bagi membolehkan kuartet P Yuvaraaj, S Kannathasan, Muhammad Yunus Lasaleh dan M Partiban terbang ke Palembang.


Acara 4x400m itu dijadual berlangsung 14 November dan Rajemah berkata, penyenaraian semula barisan pelari itu bermakna kuartet itu peluang memperbaiki pencapaian pingat perak yang dicapai dua tahun lalu di Laos.

"Keputusan menghantar atlet dalam acara itu diputuskan pada saat akhir dan ia disahkan Timbalan Presiden KOM, Datuk Karim Ibrahim," katanya.


Rajemah berkata, biarpun majoriti pelari kuartet itu baru, peluang merangkul pingat bukan mustahil dan mereka dilihat mampu mengulangi pencapaian pingat emas pada 2007.


"Semua negara berpeluang merangkul emas. Atlet kita juga memilik peluang yang sama. Mereka sebelum ini sudah menjalani latihan bersama," katanya.

Sengaja diada-adakan’

2011/11/11

MASALAH sekatan terhadap peluru skuad menembak negara yang tidak dibenarkan 'terbang' bersama mereka ke Palembang, mungkin sengaja diada-adakan bagi menjejaskan tumpuan dan peluang penembak negara.

Ini berikutan kontingen negara lain tidak menghadapi masalah serupa membawa bersama peluru menggunakan perkhidmatan syarikat penerbangan kebangsaan mereka.
"Kontinjen menembak negara lain tidak hadapi masalah seperti kita, kerana mereka gunakan khidmat kargo syarikat penerbangan kebangsaan mereka, walaupun sebahagian turut menggunakan khidmat penerbangan rasmi, Garuda Indonesia dari Jakarta ke Palembang," kata pengurus pasukan, Muzli Mustakim ketika ditemui semasa sesi latihan skuad negara semalam.
Skuad menembak negara tidak dapat terbang ke Palembang bersama peluru berikutan kerenah pihak penerbangan Garuda Indonesia yang mahukan surat daripada kilang pembuat peluru bagi membolehkannya dibawa terbang bersama mereka.

Ekoran itu, semalam skuad menembak negara terpaksa mengeluarkan wang sendiri kira-kira RM1,500 bagi membeli 600 butir peluru .32 dan .22 untuk latihan.

Muzli berkata, pihak Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) sudah cuba mendapatkan surat daripada kilang pengeluar peluru terbabit dan sekiranya usaha itu gagal, kontinjen menembak negara dijangka terpaksa membelanjakan kira-kira RM20,000 untuk membeli peluru bagi kegunaan sepanjang temasya termasuk untuk pertandingan.

"Kita pernah berdepan masalah seperti ini ketika Sukan SEA Vietnam 2003. Waktu itu kita juga gunakan penerbangan rasmi Vietnam Airlines dan kemudian terpaksa membuat penghantaran senapang menggunakan Penerbangan Malaysia (MAS)," katanya

Jenazah pegawai MSN selamat dikebumi di Alor Setar malam tadi

2011/11/11

ALOR SETAR: Jenazah Pegawai Belia dan Sukan, Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Harun Osman, 51, yang meninggal dunia di Palembang, Indonesia dua hari lalu, selamat dikebumikan di sini, malam tadi.

Jenazah Harun tiba di rumah ibunya di Jalan Sultanah, di sini, kira-kira 7 malam dan dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Masjid Al-Bukhari kira-kira 45 minit selepas tiba.
Allahyarham meninggalkan seorang isteri, Khadijah Salim, 50, dua anak lelaki dan seorang anak perempuan berumur sembilan hingga 23 tahun.
Harun meninggal dunia selepas tiba-tiba pengsan dipercayai akibat serangan jantung ketika menunggu ketibaan atlet negara ke Sukan SEA di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Sultan Mahmud Badarudin II di Palembang pada jam 5 petang (6 petang waktu Malaysia), Rabu lalu.

Ketika ditemui pemberita, Khadijah berkata keputusan untuk mengebumikan jenazah suaminya di sini bagi memudahkan dia dan anak-anaknya melawat kubur arwah nanti dan menurutnya mereka akan berpindah ke Perlis selepas ini.

Katanya, dia berasa tidak sedap hati apabila suaminya langsung tidak menelefonnya selepas berlepas ke Palembang Isnin lalu.

"Apabila berada di luar negara sebelum ini selalunya dia akan telefon atau sekurang-kurangnya SMS kepada saya tetapi kali ini tidak," katanya.
Dengan nada sayu, Khadijah berkata dia menerima panggilan telefon daripada pegawai MSN memaklumkan suaminya meninggal dunia pada waktu Maghrib. - BERNAMA

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Pegawai MSN meninggal dunia ketika bertugas di Palembang

2011/11/10

PALEMBANG: Kontinjen negara di Sukan SEA Indonesia, khususnya di Palembang, dikejutkan dengan berita kematian seorang pegawai Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), hari ini.

Allahyarham Harun Osman adalah pegawai Belia dan Sukan MSN.
Beliau meninggal dunia ketika menyambut ketibaan atlet di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Sultan Mahmud Badarudin II, di sini.

Allahyarham dikatakan sedang berbual dengan beberapa rakan semasa menunggu ketibaan atlet dan tiba-tiba pengsan kira-kira jam 5 petang waktu tempatan (6 petang waktu Malaysia).

Beliau kemudian diberikan bantuan awal oleh pasukan perubatan penganjur temasya itu.

Ketua Kontinjen Malaysia di Palembang, Datuk Syed Mustaffa Syed Ali, berkata Harun kemudian dibawa ke Hospital R S Myria dan disahkan meninggal dunia pada 6 petang waktu tempatan.

"Harun dipercayai mengalami serangan jantung. Pada awalnya iaitu pada sebelah pagi, dia (Allahyarham) mengadu sakit di bahagian dada," katanya.

Jenazah Harun akan dibawa pulang ke Kuala Lumpur sejurus selesai bedah siasat.

Di JAKARTA, Ketua Pengarah MSN, Datuk Zolkples Embong, berkata sepanjang pengetahuannya, ini adalah kali pertama berlaku kematian yang membabitkan anggota sekretariat kontinjen Malaysia dalam temasya sukan.

"Kematian Allahyarham mendukacitakan bagi semua anggota kontinjen Malaysia yang berada di Palembang dan Jakarta. Namun, takdir menentukan," katanya ketika dihubungi Bernama.

Zolkples berkata, pegawai MSN yang berada di Palembang memaklumkan bahawa Allahyarham kelihatan sihat sebelum ke Indonesia.

"Cuma pagi tadi, Allahyarham mengadu sakit di bahagian dada tetapi berkeras mahu meneruskan tugasnya untuk menjemput atlet negara yang tiba ke Palembang petang tadi," katanya. - BERNAMA

NSC official Harun dies

NATIONAL Sports Council (NSC) official Harun Osman, serving as a liaison officer for the Malaysian contingent, died in Palembang yesterday.
Harun was arranging transportation for the national athletes at the Sultan Badaruddin II Airport despite having complained of chest pains earlier in the day. 

Malaysia's deputy Chef-de-Mission Datuk Syed Mustaffa Syed Ali said Harun decided to continue with his duties despite the discomfort.


Harun collapsed at about 5pm (Indonesian time) and was taken to the R.S. Myria Hospital but doctors pronounced him dead about 6pm. 

Harun's remains will be flown back today.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Atlet sukan layar pindah-randah

9.11.11

KOS penginapan yang tinggi mungkin antara punca atlet sukan layar negara enggan menginap di tempat yang disediakan oleh pihak penganjur Sukan SEA 2011 di Jakarta.

Ketua Kontinjen Malaysia, Datuk Naim Mohammad yang dihubungi berkata, insiden tersebut menjadi masalah utama yang bukan sahaja melibatkan atlet negara, malah kebanyakan atlet dari negara lain apabila mereka tiba di negara tuan rumah sebelum 9 November.

"Pihak kami telah membantu mereka menyediakan tempat penginapan atas biayaan sendiri, namun mereka enggan tinggal di situ," jelas Naim.

Untuk itu, atlet terpaksa 'berpindah-randah' di beberapa hotel sebelum mendapat penginapan rasmi yang hanya disediakan selepas 9 November.

Menurut Naim, ia hanya bersifat sementara dan antara punca setiap pasukan berselerak di hotel sekitar di Jakarta kerana penganjur tidak menyediakan perkampungan sukan seperti kelaziman yang dilakukan oleh tuan rumah sebelum ini.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Zulfadli, Nelson-Ee Yi wira negara

Oleh Ahmad Fiesal Othman
fsal@bharian.com.my
2011/11/07


NELSON (kanan)-Ee Yi ukir nama negara di pentas dunia apabila muncul juara beregu lelaki Remaja Dunia di Taiwan, semalam.
Lakar kejayaan berganda, muncul juara badminton remaja dunia di Taiwan

MALAYSIA melakar kejayaan berganda di Kejohanan Badminton Remaja Dunia di Taiwan, semalam apabila Zulfadli Zulkifli dan Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi menghadiahkan negara pingat kejuaraan acara perseorangan dan beregu lelaki.
Zulfadli, 18, yang sebelum ini mencipta sejarah sebagai pemain pertama negara merangkul kejuaraan remaja Asia di Lucknow, India Julai lalu, melakar satu lagi sejarah baru apabila muncul pemain pertama negara memenangi gelaran perseorangan lelaki remaja dunia selepas menewaskan juara bertahan dari Denmark, Viktor Axelsen.
Pemain kelab profesional KLRC itu yang juga pilihan kedua kejohanan, bagaimanapun diheret bertarung dalam tiga set terlebih dulu sebelum mencatat kemenangan dengan keputusan 21-18, 9-21, 21-19 dalam masa 50 minit.

“Saya amat gembira dan kejuaraan ini cukup manis untuk menamatkan kempen terakhir saya bagi kejohanan remaja dunia,” kata Zulfadli yang mulanya sekadar mensasarkan kemaraan ke final kejohanan itu.

“Atas kertas, semua orang ramalkan dia (Axelsen) bakal menang berdasarkan ranking dan kedudukannya selaku pilihan utama, namun saya fokus dengan permainan sendiri dan berusaha mencari kemenangan. Alhamdulillah, saya berjaya.”

Zulfadli adalah pemain negara ketiga layak ke final kejohanan selepas Yeoh Kay Bin pada 1998 dan Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainanuddin pada 2009, yang hanya sekadar muncul naib juara selepas masing-masing tewas kepada pemain China, Chen Gan dan Tian Houwei.
Kemenangan semalam juga adalah kejayaan kali kedua Zulfadli menewaskan Axelsen dalam dua pertemuan antara mereka setakat ini selepas menewaskan lawannya itu pada satu kejohanan badminton remaja di Sweden pada 2005.

Sementara itu, Nelson-Ee Yi yang juga naib juara beregu lelaki tahun lalu memastikan kejuaraan selepas menewaskan pemain tuan rumah yang juga pilihan utama kejohanan, Huang Po Jui-Lin Chia Yu dengan keputusan 21-17, 21-17 dalam masa hanya 37 minit, sekali gus mengekalkan dominasi negara dalam acara itu sejak 2008.

Malaysia memenangi kejuaraan beregu lelaki kejohanan itu di Pune, India pada 2008 menerusi Mak Hee Chun-Teo Kok Siang, manakala Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming menjuarainya di Alor Setar pada 2009, diikuti Yao Han-Hong Kheng yang memenanginya di Mexico City tahun lalu.

KEPUTUSAN FINAL

PERSEORANGAN LELAKI
Zulfadli Zulkifli (MAS) mn Viktor Axelsen (DEN) 21-18, 9-21, 21-19

BEREGU LELAKI
Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi (MAS) mn Po Jui Huang/Chia Yu Lin (TPE) 21-17, 21-17

PERSEORANGAN WANITA
Inthanon Ratchanok (THA) mn Purwaningtyas Elisabeth (INA) 21-6, 18-21, 21-13

Beregu wanita
Lee So Hee/Shin Seung Chan (KOR) mn Shella Devi Aulia/Anggia Shitta Awanda (INA) 21-16, 13-21, 21-9

BEREGU CAMPURAN
Alfian Eko Prasetya/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja (INA) mn Ronald Alexander/Nuraidah Tiara Rosalia (INA) 12-21, 21-17, 25-23

World junior champ aims to take over mantle of national No. 1

7.11.11

By RAJES PAUL

PETALING JAYA: Zulfadli Zulkifli stood tall in Taipei as tears of joy rolled down his cheeks yesterday. He had, after all, just conquered the world.

The 18-year-old Zulfadli had made history again as the first Malaysian to win the boys' singles crown at the world junior badminton championships. He had, in April, been the first Malaysian to win the Asian junior crown in Lucknow, India.

And he pulled off the feat in style yesterday, beating the heavy favourite and defending champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark 21-18, 9-21, 21-19 in an enthralling 51-minute contest.

Buoyed by the win, Zulfadli declared that he was on course to take over the mantle of national and world No. 1 from compatriot Lee Chong Wei when he calls it a day.

It was double joy for Malaysia when Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi successfully dumped local hopefuls and Asian junior champions Huang Po-jui-Lin Chia-yu 21-17, 21-17 to emerge as the country's seventh boys' doubles winners in the tournament's 19-year history.

The focus was, however, all on Zulfadli as he had pulled off a feat that many - especially from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) banner - had failed to do before.

The player from professional club KLRC now has the world at his feet. The challenge Zulfadli faces is making that quantum leap to the senior level and take Malaysian badminton to even greater heights.

"The joy was indescribable. The sense of achievement in finally winning the world title was sheer ecstasy," a jubilant Zulfadli said in a telephone interview from Taipei.

"I just cried after beating Viktor and went to hug my father, Zulkifli, who is also my coach. It was the perfect ending to my last tournament as a junior player. "2011 has been a lucky year for me. If you read it backwards it's my birthday as I was born on the 11th day of February, which is 02," he said, letting out a hearty laugh.

It was Zulfadli's self-belief, perseverance and single-mindedness to succeed that led him to his historic achievement.

"I never doubted my chance against Viktor although he has improved by leaps and bounds," he said.

The Malaysian got off superbly to an 8-1 lead and managed to hold off a late comeback from Axelsen to win the opener 21-18.

The young Dane, who had blown away former world and Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia in the Denmark Open two weeks ago, turned the tide to force a rubber and looked good to defend his crown after taking a 13-9 lead in the decider.

"I simply refused to cave in. I had worked too hard to give it up. And this was my third and last world junior tournament so I wasn't prepared to lose. I pushed myself and managed to level at 17-17. I knew I had him then and pressed on to take the match," said Zulfadli.

"The senior game will be challenging but I will be ready for it. I am confident that I can take over from Chong Wei one day.

"I am currently ranked 207th in the world. I want to make it to the top 100 by end of next year.

"I thank everybody who helped me realise my dream, especially my family members who are my number one supporters.

"I must also acknowledge the NSC (National Sports Council), NSI (National Sports Institute), KLBA (KL Badminton Association) and my sponsors KLRC and Forza.

"I am grateful to KLRC for giving me the early exposure in international tournaments as that really helped raise my game," added Zulfadli, who returns home today to surely a hero's welcome.

He deserves it.

Final results

BOYS
Singles: Zulfadli Zulkifli (Mas) bt Viktor Axelsen (Den) 21-18, 9-21, 21-19.
Doubles: Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi (Mas) bt Huang Po-jui-Lin Chia-yu (Tpe) 21-17, 21-17

GIRLS
Singles: Inthanon Ratchanok (Tha) bt Purwaningtyas Elisabeth (Ina) 21-6, 18-21, 21-13.
Doubles: Lee So-hee-Shin Seung-chan (Kor) bt Shella Devi Aulia-Anggia Shitta Awanda (Ina) 21-16, 13-21, 21-9.
Mixed doubles: Alfian Eko Prasetya-Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja (Ina) bt Ronald Alexander-Nuraidah Tiara Rosalia (Ina) 12-21, 21-17, 25-23.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Sedia hadapi kemungkinan

1/11/11
Oleh Hamdan Saaid dan Aziman Rosdi
sukan@hmetro.com.my

“HARUS bersedia hadapi segala kemungkinan” itulah amanat terakhir Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong kepada kontinjen atlet negara yang akan beraksi pada temasya Sukan Sea Indonesia, bulan depan.

Zolkples berharap 608 atlet daripada 38 jenis sukan yang disertai kontinjen negara pada temasya dwitahunan itu tidak mempedulikan sebarang masalah, sama ada daripada segi penganjuran, jadual perlawanan, logistik dan masalah seumpamanya.


“Saya harap ia tidak dijadikan sebagai alasan kenapa kita tidak dapat memberikan persembahan terbaik pada temasya nanti,” katanya selepas merasmikan Perhimpunan Atlet Fasa Akhir Sukan Sea Ke-26 di Putrajaya, semalam.

Beliau berkata, pelbagai kejayaan atlet negara sepanjang tahun ini antaranya Datuk Lee Chong Wei (badminton), Datuk Nicol David (skuasy) dan Jacqueline Sijore (bowling) seharusnya dijadikan rangsangan di kalangan atlet untuk memberikan persembahan terbaik mereka pada temasya kali ini.


“Ada di kalangan atlet negara sudah berpengalaman bertanding di peringkat lebih tinggi antaranya Sukan Asia dan Sukan Komanwel dan mereka patut menghasilkan persembahan terbaik.


“Masalah ini adalah masalah yang biasa berlaku dan ia patut dijadikan pengajaran oleh atlet supaya lebih bersedia.


“Sukan Sea diharap menjadi pelengkap kepada pelbagai kejayaan yang kita capai sepanjang tahun ini,” katanya.

'Jangan tewas sebelum berjuang'

1/11/11
Oleh NAN HIDAYAT NAN AZMIE
hidayat.azmie@kosmo.com.my

ZOLKPLES beramah mesra dengan atlet-atlet negara pada Majlis Perhimpunan Akhir Kontinjen Malaysia ke Sukan SEA di Hotel Palm Garden, IOI Resort Putrajaya semalam.

KETUA Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zol- kples Embong mengingatkan kesemua atlet negara supaya sentiasa bersedia dengan pelbagai isu yang mungkin terpaksa dihadapi mereka sepanjang temasya Sukan SEA kali ke-26 di Indonesia yang bakal membuka ti- rainya 11 November ini.

Menurut Zolkples, laporan negatif media Indonesia yang meragui kemampuan negara itu selaku penganjur harus diterima secara positif oleh kesemua atlet, sekali gus bersedia dari segi mental dan fizikal.

Meskipun mengakui kontinjen negara bakal berdepan masalah seperti pengangkutan logistik, penginapan dan kawalan kese- lamatan, ia sepatutnya tidak dijadikan alasan buat atlet negara mengaku kalah sebe- lum berjuang.

"Saya akui, perkara-perkara berbangkit lantaran kewibawaan tuan rumah yang dilihat tidak bersedia, sedikit sebanyak merunsingkan atlet.

"Namun pada masa sama, saya percaya atlet negara sudah bersedia menghadapi du- gaan itu, sekali gus mengharumkan nama negara. Justeru, janganlah kita mengaku kalah sebelum berjuang," katanya semasa berucap merasmikan Majlis Perhimpunan Akhir Kontinjen Malaysia ke Sukan SEA di Hotel Palm Garden, IOI Resort Putrajaya semalam.

Turut hadir Presiden Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM), Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar; Ketua Kontinjen negara ke Sukan SEA Indonesia, Datuk Naim Mohamad dan timbalannya, Datuk Syed Mustaffa Syed Ali.

Kira-kira 200 atlet mula melaporkan diri semalam, dan mereka akan 'berkampung' di IOI Resort sehingga 5 November ini sebe- lum berlepas ke Indonesia.

Lebih 800 atlet dan pegawai akan mewakili negara pada temasya itu nanti.

Selain Jakarta, Indonesia juga akan meng- adakan beberapa venue pertandingan di Palembang dalam temasya yang akan berakhir pada 25 November itu.

Mengulas lanjut kata Zolkples, masalah berbangkit itu juga bukan satu masalah be- sar lantaran majoriti atlet yang mewakili negara ketika ini cukup berpengalaman mengharungi pentas lebih besar seperti te- masya Olimpik dan Sukan Komanwel.

"Saya juga telah memohon bantuan dari- pada Polis Diraja Malaysia supaya menyediakan beberapa anggota bagi membantu menjaga keselamatan atlet kita sepanjang berada di sana," katanya.

Skuad remaja juara dunia

Oleh Hussain Said
hussain@bharian.com.my
2011/11/01


Zulfadli Zulkifli
SKUAD badminton remaja negara diketuai pemain kelab profesional KLRC, Zulfadli Zulkifli terpaksa bertarung selama 2 jam 20 minit sebelum berjaya melakar sejarah menjuarai Kejohanan Remaja Dunia Piala Suhandinata buat julung kali di Taiwan, semalam.

Selepas juara tujuh kali, China tidak mengambil bahagian, mereka membuktikan status selaku pilihan pertama dengan menumbangkan juara 2006, Korea Selatan 3-0 sekali gus memperbaiki pencapaian terbaik muncul naib juara pada 2009.
Seperti empat perlawanan sebelum ini, Zulfadli yang juga juara remaja Asia menjadi pembakar semangat pasukan apabila membutirkan mata pertama.

Walaupun tewas set pertama 17-21, tetapi Zulfadli bangkit pada set kedua apabila menang 21-11 untuk mengheret perlawanan ke set penentuan sebelum berjaya menumbangkan Lee Hong Je 21-14 dalam tempoh 49 minit.

“Kejayaan menjuarai acara berpasukan sambil mengekalkan rekod tanpa kalah dalam lima perlawanan yang diharungi, pasti menjadi tonik terbaik untuk saya memburu kejuaraan berganda dalam acara perseorangan yang bermula Rabu ini,” katanya dihubungi semalam.

Pemain perseorangan wanita, Sonia Cheah memberi mata kedua menewaskan Kim Hyo Min 25-23, 21-12 sebelum gandingan Nelson Wei Keat Heg-Teo Ee Yi bangkit daripada kekalahan sert pertama 16-21 untuk menewaskan Choi Sol Kyu-Jun Bong Chan 21-18, 21-12.

Monday, October 31, 2011

42 atlet rebut 12 tiket pelapis bowling remaja

6/4/2011

MESKIPUN kehilangan begitu ramai atlet selepas skuad pelapis elit dibubarkan bulan lalu, Kongres Tenpin Bowling Malaysia (MTBC) terus berusaha melahirkan lebih ramai pelapis berwibawa menggalas cabaran mewakili negara satu hari nanti.
Sepanjang tiga hari bermula Jumaat ini, seramai 42 atlet remaja mempertaruhkan kehebatan pada sesi pemilihan bagi merebut 12 tiket pelapis remaja kebangsaan di Sunway Megalanes, Subang Jaya.

Pengarah Prestasi Tinggi MTBC, Cheah Ban Cheng berkata, kewujudan pelapis kebangsaan cukup penting meneruskan kesinambungan perjuangan atlet senior.
“Pemilihan perlu dibuat setiap tahun bagi memastikan tidak ketandusan bakat baru dan MTBC sentiasa bekerjasama dengan Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) bagi memastikan hasrat itu berjaya.
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“Sepanjang tahun lalu, boleh dikatakan mereka menampilkan prestasi dibanggakan dan dua daripadanya iaitu Syaidatul Afifah dari Perak dan Khoo Beng Khai dari Pulau Pinang pernah dicadangkan untuk diserap ke skuad pelapis elit,” katanya.

Selain Saidatul Afifah dan Beng Khai, lapan pemain yang berjaya menempatkan di podium dalam kejohanan sepanjang tahun lalu untuk kekal dalam skuad pelapis kebangsaan ialah Syimir Abdul Razak, Chung Jun Foo, Ahmad Muaz, Jonathan Chan, Hurul Ainul, Puteri Nadia, Fatin Azmira dan Radin Nurnajwa.
Dua bekas pelapis elit yang menyertai skuad pelapis kebangsaan ialah Aris Ardila dan Tengku Emanina Laily.

Kejohanan terbuka kepada atlet di bawah umur 21 tahun dan pernah menyertai Kejohanan Bowling Tertutup Kebangsaan 2011.
Sepanjang pemilihan itu mereka perlu bermain dalam lima blok membabitkan enam game setiap satu dengan pemain yang berjaya mengumpul mata paling rendah (satu mata bagi tempat pertama dan seterusnya) akan berada di ranking pertama.

Pelayar negara diuji bulan depan

LANGKAWI - Selepas mendominasi Kejohanan Regata Perdana Antarabangsa Geopark Langkawi minggu lalu, pelayar elit dan pelapis kebangsaan bakal diuji pada tiga kejohanan di luar negara bulan depan.

Ketiga-tiga kejohanan tersebut adalah Regata Antarabangsa Qatar (1-7 Februari), Kejohanan Layar Antarabangsa Auckland, New Zealand (1-8 Februari) dan Kejohanan optimist Asia di Pattaya, Thailand dari 1-7 Februari ini.

Pengurus besar Persatuan Pelayaran Malaysia (MYA), Mohd. Afendy Abdullah berkata, kejohanan di Auckland menjadi tumpuan utama MYA kerana ia akan disertai oleh 20 buah negara.

Katanya, Malaysia bakal dibarisi oleh 10 pelayar elit dan pelapis pada kejohanan itu, termasuk anak orang asli pertama yang mewakili pasukan layar kebangsaan, Norashikin Mohd. Sayed.

Norashikin, 16, akan berganding dengan Khairunnesa Mohd. Afendy dalam kategori 420 manakala turut dibariskan adalah pelayar handalan, Mohd. Romzi Mohamad dan Khairul Nizam Mohd. Afendy dalam kategori Laser Radial.

Pada Regata Antarabangsa Qatar pula, Malaysia bakal membariskan 14 pelayar elit dan pelapis, yang mana misi mereka cuba mempertahankan kejuaraan yang dimenangi pada kejohanan tahun lalu, termasuk 470 dan Optimist.

Sementara Kejohanan Optimist Asia di Pattaya yang sepatutnya diadakan tahun lalu tetapi ditunda kerana situasi politik Thailand bakal menyaksikan penyertaan lima pelayar negara.

Kata Afendy, ketiga-tiga kejohanan ini bakal memberi pendedahan luas kepada pelayar dalam usaha Malaysia membentuk pasukan mantap bagi menghadapi Sukan Asia 2010 di China.

Pada Regata Perdana Antarabangsa Langkawi Geopark 2009, pelayar elit dan pelapis negara mencatat kejayaan hebat apabila menggondol 10 daripada 13 kategori yang dipertandingkan dalam kejohanan yang disertai lebih 200 pelayar dari sembilan buah negara.

Sementara itu, jurulatih kebangsaan, Abdul Rani Idris berkata, pelayar Malaysia masih memerlukan banyak pendedahan dan latihan berprestasi tinggi jika mahu memberikan cabaran ke peringkat lebih besar.

Seramai 27 pelayar kini menjalani program elit dan pelapis Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) di pusat perahu layar kebangsaan di sini sejak Jun lalu. - Bernama

Olahraga tiada ikon - Jefri

ARKIB : 05/09/2011


KUALA LUMPUR - Tiada ikon dalam sukan olahraga menjadi antara faktor sukar untuk melahirkan atlet baru berkualiti dalam sukan tersebut.

Demikian pandangan Pengarah Cawangan Pelapis Majlis Sukan Negara, Jefri Ngadirin yang turut bimbang tentang masa depan sukan olahraga sekiranya masih tiada bintang baru.

Katanya, ketika ini murid sekolah rendah lebih mudah meminati sukan yang mempunyai ikon seperti penyerang sensasi Safee Sali dalam bola sepak serta pemain No.1 badminton Dunia, Datuk Lee Chong Wei.

"Lihat sahaja budak-budak pada peringkat sekolah rendah. Semua mahu menjadi seperti Safee kerana mereka tahu pemain tersebut hebat.

"Ini semua banyak mempengaruhi perkembangan sesuatu sukan kerana seandainya ramai yang terlibat dalam sukan olahraga, sudah tentu kita mempunyai ramai pilihan seperti mana dalam sukan bola sepak.

"Budaya mengagumi ikon dalam sukan tidak boleh dielakkan. Sebab itu sukan olahraga perlu ikon yang cukup kuat untuk menarik minat murid pada peringkat sekolah rendah," katanya.

Tambah Jefri, perkembangan sukan olahraga pada peringkat bawah masih belum berada pada tahap yang baik berbanding sukan-sukan lain.

Sebagai contoh, atlet olahraga peringkat negeri yang menyertai kejohanan tempatan, lebih mudah untuk mendapatkan pingat berbanding era terdahulu yang lebih sukar kerana saingan sengit.

"Kadang-kadang jumlah yang menyertai sesuatu acara tidak sampai lima atlet, malah ada acara terpaksa dibatalkan kerana kurang penyertaan.

"Kita tahu sukar untuk dapatkan atlet yang berkualiti. Sebab itu kita wujudkan pelapis serantau untuk ambil bakat muda peringkat negeri supaya mereka dapat dibantu pada usia muda," jelas Jefri.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Malaysia fail to land medal on final day of world junior meet

17.10.2010
By SHAMSHUL FITRI


MALACCA: Malaysia failed to land a medal on the last day of the World Junior and Cadet Karate Championships at the Malacca International Trade Centre yesterday.

The closest Malaysia came to a place on the podium was in the boys’ cadet (14-15 years) team kata (non-combat) event.

The team of Joshua Wong, Goh Chan Kit and Loh Chun Sheng started out well in the first round, beating South Africa 5-0 to book a spot in the quarter-finals against Austria.


Despair: Malaysia’s Chew Hang Tiong (left) in tears after losing to Iran’s Masoud Parviz in the kumite above 70kg class of the World Junior and Cadet Karate Championships yesterday. — A. MALEX YAHAYA / The Star
Malaysia then scored another comprehensive victory, beating Austria 4-1 to earn a semi-final spot against Italy.

The Malaysian team, however, were narrowly beaten 2-3 by the Italians, leaving them to battle it out for the bronze medal in the repechage rounds. But Kuwait proved too strong for Malaysia, winning 5-0 to take the bronze.

National coach Lim Lee Lee said they lost to a better team in the repechage rounds.

“They started out well with a 5-0 win in the first round.

“The loss to Italy was very narrow and it shows that they have the potential to be better next time.

“Most of them in the team are relatively new and this is their first time competing in a major event.

“Overall, I’m satisfied with their performance,” said Lee Lee.

In the kumite (combat) events, R. Vijaya Kumar’s hopes of winning a medal in the boys’ Under 63kg came to nought when he lost 0-3 to Shamil Guliyev of Algeria in the third round.

For the record, Malaysia ended the tournament with a bronze through Under-21 kata exponent Lim Chee Wei on the opening day of the tournament on Thursday.

Friday, October 14, 2011

20-year-old back-up squad bowler dies of heart failure

KUALA LUMPUR: National back-up squad bowler Khoo Beng Khai, 20, died of heart failure after collapsing at the National Sports Council (NSC) car park in Bukit Jalil here late Wednesday.

NSC director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong said Khoo had collapsed while trying to park his car at 11.45pm, after returning from supper with fellow bowlers.

"I was told that Khoo had just returned from supper at a nearby restaurant with four fellow bowlers. During the incident, the friends panicked when Khoo suddenly collapsed.

"They managed to stop the car by applying the emergency brake (hand brake) before calling an ambulance," Zolkples told reporters Thursday after paying his last respects at the Serdang Hospital.

Khoo was pronounced dead at 1.15am after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) attempts failed to revive him.

Zolkples said Khoo had not shown any signs of health problems because a medical check up done two months ago was good.

"Khoo demise is a big loss to bowling because he was a very determined and committed bowler who had vast potential and could have gone far," he said.

Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress honorary secretary Sidney Tung said the body of Khoo would be taken to his home town in Penang for burial on Saturday.

Khoo, the youngest of three children, joined the back-up squad training programme in 2009.

He won the Youth Open at the 34th Canon Malaysia International Open Championships this year as well as the 11th Milo International Junior All Stars Bowling Championships in 2010. - Bernama

Sunday, October 9, 2011

On the ball: Shared vision crucial for 2016 success

2011/10/09
Vijesh Rai
rai@nst.com.my

GOOD times are, thanks to the RM30 million allocation announced in Friday's budget, set to roll again for national associations.

Programmes that were halted when funding was reduced a couple of years ago will resume with National Sports Council director general Datuk Zolkples Embong yesterday announcing that focus will be on producing potential medal winners for the 2016 Olympics.

The 19 identified as core sports, which basically means having the ability to win at the world and Asian levels, are set to be the biggest beneficiaries.


Of the 19, some definitely deserve all the help they can get with bowling, despite not being an Olympic sport, being one of a very select few.

The Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) felt aggrieved, and rightfully so, when it was asked to discontinue its back-up programme a while back as it is one sport that does not lack quality athletes coming through the ranks.

The Olympics, however, are what Malaysians are fixated on and with Lee Chong Wei just about the only hope for gold in next year's edition in London, sights have already been set on the 2016 Games in Rio.


The athletes have mostly been identified and it is now a matter of getting them ready for the Rio challenge.

However, NSC and the associations must learn from the experiences of the past and ensure that the programme achieves its targets come 2016.

The associations must play an active role for far too many programmes of the past didn't achieve what they set out to do as the associations preferred to sit back and let NSC lead.


And when limited or no success was achieved, NSC was blamed for interfering when all it actually tried to was produce athletes capable of excelling on the international stage.

One such programme that has, undoubtedly, produced the desired results is diving and the emergence of young divers with potential is proof that NSC's partnership with national associations can work if politics are kept out of the equation.

This is exactly what all the associations must strive to do for bickering is not going to get Malaysians on the winners' podium come 2016.

Only hard work and full commitment will and neither must there be fear in dropping athletes if they do not have the quality to carry the challenge.

A thorough review needs to be conducted yearly and this must include all parties -- be it the NSC's project officers, association representatives, administrators, coaches and athletes.

Losses must be cut as quickly as possible and any component that is not working should be replaced immediately for second chances are not something Malaysian sport can expect anymore, not after having enjoyed so many privileges for nearly two decades.

More importantly, the sports fraternity must be mindful of one key element -- government funding can be taken away as quickly as it was granted.

Failure come 2016 could well see that happen and this is all the more reason why the problems of the past must not recur in the push for Olympic excellence in 2016.

Sportcheck: Early start for Rio programme

2011/10/09
K.M. Boopathy
boopathy@nst.com.my

THE National Sports Council (NSC) will utilise the RM30 million allocated under the 2012 budget entirely on development to create a new pool of world class athletes for the 2016 Olympics.

NSC director general Datuk Zolkples Embong was grateful to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for approving specific funding for development, which means efforts to groom future champions can start even before next year's London Olympics.

Zolkples said priority will be given to the 19 core sports and the RM30 million will be utilised to send athletes for more international tournaments, recruit quality coaches, additional training centres, continuity in coaches' education and other important aspects to ensure Malaysia can aim for gold in the 2016 Olympics.


"The prime minister is an avid supporter of sports and has often spoken about giving emphasis to development. He has now given us what we need in order to boost development," said Zolkples in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

"We are grateful for what he has done as the RM30 million will help us take development to the next level, where we will start grooming our talents to become world class athletes.

"Lack of funding for development actually forced us to cut down on our funding to the 19 core sports for a few years but now, we can give stronger backing and start building towards the 2016 Olympics and also other major events in the four-year period.


"With better financial backing, we can now expose the younger athletes to more international events, rope in quality coaches, have more training centres and other aspects of development at national and state levels.

"The young athletes have already started producing results but we need to create a bigger pool and the RM30 million will enable us to do so.

"In fact, we had budgeted RM37 million for development purposes and I need to find ways to raise the additional RM7 million."


Sports like archery, badminton, bowling, cycling and diving are expected to receive the bulk of the funding but Zolkples assured that the 19 sports will receive allocations based on their programmes.

In Friday's budget, RM95 million was allocated with RM55 million to be utilised under the "sports for all banner" where 150 multi-purpose futsal arenas and 30 artificial pitches will be built across the country to boost football development.

MSN berharap peruntukan tambahan berterusan

Kosmo
09.10.11

MAJLIS Sukan Negara (MSN) berpuas hati dengan peruntukan tambahan sebanyak RM30 juta bagi pembangunan atlet pelapis negara seperti yang dibentangkan dalam dalam Bajet 2012.

Ketua Pengarahnya, Datuk Zolkples Embong berkata, peruntukan tambahan itu adalah yang pertama dan berharap agar ia berterusan pada masa akan datang.

"Kita harap ada kesinambungan daripada pertambahan peruntukan kali ini untuk tahun berikutnya agar usaha mengasah bakat atlet muda untuk bersaing dan berjaya di peringkat antarabangsa tercapai," katanya semalam.

Beliau berkata, peruntukan tersebut akan digunakan dengan fokus kepada 19 jenis sukan dengan keutamaan kepada lapan sukan berprestasi tinggi antaranya bola sepak, badminton, skuasy, tenpin boling dan acara terjun.

"Pembangunan atlet pelapis ini amat penting bagi melahirkan the next Chong Wei. Dalam erti kata lain, pembangunan atlet tidak boleh berhenti dan mesti ada kesinambungan," katanya.

Peruntukan tambahan RM30 juta tersebut menjadikan jumlah keseluruhan peruntukan bagi program mengasah bakat atlet muda meningkat kepada RM84 juta.

Ketika membentangkan bajet itu kelmarin, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak juga mengumumkan peruntukan RM15 juta untuk pembinaan 150 gelanggang futsal tambahan bagi merealisasikan matlamat 'Satu Gelanggang Satu Mukim' dan RM50 juta lagi untuk padang tiruan yang dilengkapi dengan lampu limpah di 30 lokasi terpilih di seluruh negara.

Divers Jasmine and Ling Kar start the gold rush in Asian junior meet

09.10.11
By LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: Ipoh-born schoolgirls Jasmine Lai Pui Yee and Kam Ling Kar made a perfect debut together as Malaysia enjoyed a fine splash with three gold medals in the bag at the Asian Age-Group Aquatics Championships at Jakarta.

Jasmine combined well with Ling Kar to win the girls' 3m springboard synchro Open final with 263.61 points ahead of Vietnam (233.76) and Macau (225.15) pairings.

The triumph is a timely boost to the two 16-year-olds, who are set to represent Malaysia for the first time in the SEA Games in Indonesia next month.


Golden splash: Kam Ling Kar (bottom) and Jasmine Lai Pui Yee won the girls' 3m springboard synchro gold iat the Asian Age-Group Aquatics Championships in Jakarta Saturday.
Jasmine-Ling Kar have also won the same discipline at the Asia Pacific Rim Junior Invitational in Wellington recently and they showed with their latest triumph that they are ready to face their first test with the senior national squad.

Another SEA Games-bound diver Wendy Ng Yan Yee also triumphed for Malaysia in the women's 3m springboard Open final ahead of Macau's Choi Sue Yan.

The third gold medal was won by Chew Yi Wei in the boy's 1m springboard Group A (16-18) final.

Malaysia also earned two silver medals through Muhd Nazreen (boy's 1m springboard Group C (12-13) and Pardika Indoma (boy's 10m platform Open).

Wendy also earned another medal – a bronze in the girl's 1m springboard Open final.

The Asian meet is held every two years and Malaysia are only represented by the divers this time.

Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) secretary Edwin Chong was happy that the back-up divers manage to keep the flag flying high for Malaysia.

"China did not sent their divers this time because they were having their inter-city championships at the same time, so our main rivals were Japan and Indonesia.

"We did not sent our senior divers like Pandelela Rinong and Bryan Nickson although they are eligible as we wanted to give the back-up divers the chance to shine.

"The Asian meet was supposed to be held in Palembang as a test event ahead of the SEA Games.

"But the venue was still not ready, so they shifted it to Jakarta at the last moment," he said.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Smiles all around as Govt allocates RM30mil for sports

By RAJES PAUL and SHAMSHUL FITRI


KUALA LUMPUR: The Government's move to provide Malaysian sport with additional monetary boost for high-performance sports – with the hope of seeing the country win it's first Olympic Games gold medal – has left a big smile on everyone's face in the sports circle.

Yesterday, Malaysia National Cycling Federation (MNCF) deputy president Datuk Naim Mohd gave the thumbs up to the Government's decision to pump in an extra RM30mil for the high-performance sports.

The good news was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in his Budget 2012 speech in Parliament yesterday.

The additional allocation of RM30mil will see Government's total contribution for high-performance sports soaring to RM84mil. The money will be used to train young potential athletes so that they can compete and succeed in international sports competition.

The sports under the list includes football, badminton, squash, bowling, diving, archery and cycling.

Naim said that the extra allocation of RM30 million was timely.

"There have been a critical period when we had to cut down on many things because of limited budget. Now, the government are coming in to help. All of us strongly appreciate this good gesture by the government," said Naim.

"We have received financial aid from corporate companies and sponsors. Now, the government has come in to help in a big way. It shows their seriousness in wanting to see an Olympic champion.

"This will certainly spur us to go the extra mile to achieve it. All sports association will surely be more driven to win medals at major events – especially the Olympic Games."

Naim added that they would ensure that the tax payers' money would be well utilised.

"It is the people's hard earned money and surely, they will want it to be used well. It is our duty to ensure that the money spent is justified," he added.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) secretary general, Sidney Tung envisions a better future for young bowlers in the country with the budget for sport announced by the Prime Minister yesterday.

"It is definitely good news to us as we can bring back the back-up squad into the national set-up.

"Currently, it is a difficult situation for the young bowlers formerly in the back-up squad as they have to compete with the seasoned bowlers from the elite squad to be picked for tournaments," he said.

The back-up squad was disbanded early this year as budget cuts from the National Sport Council forced the MTBC to reduce the number of bowlers under their wings.

"We have been suffering from one budget cut to another for the past three years and this is refreshing.

"We hope to send more bowlers, not only the elite, but also the younger ones for international tournaments to give them exposure next year," said Sidney.

It was also a good day for futsal and football enthusiasts all over the country.

To ensure that all walk of people live a healthy life style, the Government is allocating another RM15mil to build an additional 150 futsal courts to achieve it's "One Court for One Mukim" target.

Prior to this, the Government had built a total of 1,100 futsal courts nationwide with another 527 courts still under construction.

Yesterday, the Government also allocated RM50mil to build football fields with artificial turfs, equipped with floodlights at 30 selected locations nationwide.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Archery squad has Olympic gold potential — Shabery

Posted on September 11, 2011, Sunday

KEMAMAN: The success of the national archery trio in qualifying for the team recurve final at the Archery World Cup in Shanghai is the best achievement ever in history of national archery, said Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

With the success, Ahmad Shabery said archery was being seen as a medal prospect at next year’s Olympic Games in London.

He said even though the national team lost to the United States 218-222 in the final this morning, the achievement was beyond expectation.

“It was truly amazing…even in defeat we can be proud because our opponent in the final was a formidable team,” he said. He was commenting on the success of Cheng Chu Sian, Khairul Anuar Mohamed and Wan Khalmizam Wan Abdul Aziz who qualified for the recurve team final at the Archery World Cup in Shanghai.

Ahmad Shabery, who was met by reporters at the Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said’s Hari Raya open house here, also expressed his satisfaction with Khairul Anuar for giving his US opponent a good fight in the recurve individual event.

In the final, Khairul Anuar was tied 5-5 with his challenger before losing in a shootout.
“We will discuss with the National Sports Council (MSN) and the archery coach on what can be done to further improve the team’s performance,” he said.

Malaysia have qualified twice in World Cup Archery finals before this. In the 2009 final in Antalya, Turkey and 2008 in Boe, France, Malaysia were defeated by India and South Korea respectively. — Bernama

Thursday, September 29, 2011

40,000 guru jadi jurulatih sukan – Utusan

14 SEP

40,000 guru jadi jurulatih sukan

Oleh OOI CHOON JOO
pengarang@utusan.com.my


KUALA LUMPUR 13 Sept. – Kira-kira 40,000 guru akan diberi latihan dan pendedahan untuk menjadi jurulatih sukan di semua peringkat persekolahan termasuk prasekolah dalam masa terdekat.

Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Dr. Wee Ka Siong berkata, latihan itu penting supaya impian dasar 1Murid 1Sukan dapat direalisasikan sepenuhnya.

“Kementerian akan bekerjasama dengan Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) dalam memberi latihan atau kursus kepada guru-guru yang terpilih di semua peringkat persekolahan.

“Kita akan melatih 40,000 guru untuk menjadi jurulatih bagi pelbagai jenis sukan yang akan bermula dari peringkat prasekolah dahulu,” katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas merasmikan program Kindergym di Kompleks Sukan Negara di sini hari ini.

Turut hadir Presiden Persekutuan Gimnastik Malaysia (MGF), Prof. Datuk Dr. Zakaria Ahmad dan Pengarah Kindergym, Niko Kau Git Kaur.

Ka Siong berkata, bukan semua guru pendidikan jasmani ialah jurulatih sukan kerana mereka tidak diberi latihan yang sistematik dalam bidang tersebut.

Dalam pada itu, beliau memberitahu, pembukaan program Kindergym bertujuan melatih murid prasekolah untuk menjadi atlet pelapis negara pada masa depan.

“Menerusi program ini, semua murid yang terlibat akan diberi latihan asas dan pendedahan awal terhadap bidang sukan sebelum mereka dipilih mengikuti latihan dalam acara tertentu.

“Modul latihan ini telah digunakan oleh China di kesemua 12,058 prasekolah di negara itu dan kita akan membangunkan modul ini di Malaysia untuk mencungkil bakat pemain di peringkat prasekolah lagi,” katanya.

Tambah beliau, harapan kementerian supaya program itu dapat melahirkan lebih ramai atlet yang berkualiti dan pada masa sama dapat mengurangkan masalah obesiti dalam kalangan pelajar.

Program Pelapis Negeri Johor

JOHOR BAHRU - Sejajar dengan hasrat meningkatkan prestasi jurulatih Program Pelapis Negeri Johor, pelbagai seminar kejurulatihan dianjurkan melibatkan Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Majlis Sukan Negeri Johor (MSNJ), dan Pusat Satelit Johor.

Selain itu, seminar berkenaan turut mendapat kerjasama dari pihak luar seperti Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) dan Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (UTHM) terutamanya dari segi penyertaan dan modul yang dijalankan sepanjang program.

Ketua Unit Sukan Berprestasi Tinggi (USPTN) Negeri Johor, Hafiszal Tukemin berkata, antara seminar yang dijalankan sepanjang tahun ini, ialah Seminar Sains Sukan dan Program Pendidikan Kejurulatihan Berterusan (CCE).

“Seminar Sains Sukan yang berlangsung pada Julai lepas, merupakan program anjuran bersama MSNJ, ISN dan UTM, manakala program Pendidikan Kejurulatihan Berterusan pada Jun lepas merupakan program anjuran MSN,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, seminar berkenaan merupakan program yang dijalankan pada setiap tahun bertujuan memberikan pendedahan mengenai perkembangan terbaru dalam dunia sukan bagi memantapkan lagi latihan yang diberikan kepada atlet pelapis.

“Program ini bertujuan memberi peluang kepada semua jurulatih dan semua penggiat sukan untuk meningkatkan ilmu pengetahuan mengenai bidang kejurulatihan”, katanya.

Beliau memberitahu, bagi program pelapis negeri, seramai 40 orang jurulatih bertanggungjawab melatih atlet dalam 16 acara sukan dan kebanyakannya mempunyai pengalaman yang luas dalam bidang sukan.

“Di bawah USPTN, kita mempunyai jurulatih secara sambilan, sepenuh masa dan dari luar negara seperti Indonesia dan Bulgaria bagi acara sukan lawan pedang dan angkat berat,” katanya.

Secara keseluruhannya, seminar yang diadakan ini lebih menekankan kepada pendidikan dalam sukan seperti pemakanan, diet, fisioterapi dan latihan-latihan asas dalam sukan.

Sambutan yang diterima daripada program berkenaan sangat baik serta terbukti dengan jumlah penyertaan yang diterima mencatatkan angka yang tinggi ditambah lagi dengan penyertaan dari pelajar UTHM.

“Program anjuran bersama di antara Pusat Satelit Johor dan Majlis Sukan Negeri Johor serta UTM telah diadakan di Dewan Gemilang MSN Johor pada 29 Julai 2010 yang lalu telah dihadiri oleh peserta yang terdiri dari jurulatih MSN, MSNJ dan UTHM,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, program yang dikendalikan di bawah unit kejurulatihan MSN ini, amat berguna bagi meningkatkan lagi prestasi jurulatih terutamanya dalam mendedahkan perkembangan terbaru dunia sukan.

Misbun mampu lahirkan seorang lagi Chong Wei

April 20, 2011 3:10 am

Misbun mampu lahirkan seorang lagi Chong Wei

Tiada lagi gandingan Misbun-Chong Wei selepas BAM memberikan jurulatih itu peranan membimbing skuad pelapis.


UTUSAN: Apa pandangan Datuk berhubung tugas baru Misbun?

ZOLKPLES: Kita harus melihat perkara ini dengan positif dan kita harap Misbun menerima tawaran tersebut kerana kepakaran beliau masih diperlukan oleh negara.

Saya juga percaya BAM telah menentukan yang terbaik buat Misbun, malah pemilihan itu juga dibuat hasil perbincangan teliti melalui pendapat ramai dan barangkali termasuk pandangan daripada Tey Seu Bock, Rashid Sidek atau Datuk Lee Chong Wei sendiri.

Langkah BAM menawarkan Misbun untuk melatih skuad pelapis adalah satu yang baik kerana kepakaran beliau amat berguna untuk melahirkan ramai jaguh badminton negara dan saya juga berharap Misbun dapat menerima tanggungjawab tersebut.

Adakah Datuk yakin seorang lagi Chong Wei mampu dilahirkan?

Saya percaya kalau kita gabungkan semua aspek kepakaran, sudah tentu seorang pemain bertaraf dunia mampu dilahirkan.

Paling penting kini adalah bakat yang ada pada pemain itu sendiri, kerana pada masa kini atlet pelapis kita semakin kebelakang. Sebagai contoh suatu ketika dahulu pemain pelapis kita Mohd. Arif Latif mampu menyaingi pemain pelapis China, Chen Long namun kini pemain muda China itu lebih menyerlah berbanding Arif.

Saya juga ada mencadangkan agar anak Misbun, Misbun Ramdan Misbun Sidek diletakkan di bawah bimbingan bapanya, agar pemain muda itu dapat memperoleh sentuhan bapanya sendiri. Ini mungkin boleh meningkatkan prestasi pemain berkenaan.

Bagaimana prestasi skuad pelapis ketika ini?

Mereka masih lagi jauh dan masih banyak yang perlu dilakukan untuk bersaing di peringkat antarabangsa.

Bagaimanapun kini kita ada pemain pelapis seperti Arif, Misbun Ramdan dan Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin yang berpotensi untuk mencapai tahap dunia.

Bagi meningkatkan prestasi pemain pelapis ini, apa yang Misbun perlu dilakukan?

Kalau kita tengok dari sudut latihan, memang tidak ada kekurangan kerana badminton antara sukan yang menerima banyak bantuan bukan sahaja daripada kerajaan tetapi juga daripada swasta dan pihak-pihak lain.

Adalah penting pemain sendiri perlu percaya pada diri sendiri bahawa mereka mampu bersaing.

Disiplin di kalangan pemain pelapis juga harus dipertingkatkan. Mereka perlu lebih serius dan selain itu pendedahan juga perlu lebih banyak diberikan kepada pemain pelapis yang berpotensi untuk melangkah jauh.

Jangkaan Datuk berapa lama kita dapat melahirkan pemain seperti Chong Wei?

Pada pandangan saya mungkin dalam tempoh dua tahun kita mampu lahirkan pemain sehebat Chong Wei melalui sentuhan Misbun dan jurulatih lain yang ada.

Dahulu kita mempunyai ramai pemain perseorangan namun kurang pemain beregu bagaimanapun kini keadaan itu seolah-olah terbalik. Harapan saya sewajarnya masalah itu mampu diatasi.

Sukan SEA: Wushu Sasar Dua Emas

Selasa Ogos 2, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR: Persekutuan Wushu Malaysia (PWM), yang menampilkan muka baru dalam skuad ke Sukan SEA di Indonesia, yakin akan membawa pulang dua pingat emas daripada temasya yang akan berlangsung dari 11 hingga 25 November ini.

Setiausaha Eksekutif PWM, Winnie Chin berkata sasaran itu kurang satu emas daripada jumlah pungutan pingat emas ketika temasya di Laos pada 2009 kerana skuad wushu kini kurang pendedahan di peringkat antarabangsa.

"PWM tidak menetapkan sasaran kutipan pingat lebih tinggi pada temasya kali ini... sasaran dua emas bersesuaian dengan kemampuan atlet dalam pasukan," katanya ketika dihubungi Bernama, di sini, Selasa.

Pada Sukan SEA Laos, skuad wushu menyumbang tiga emas, satu perak dan tiga gangsa kepada kontinjen negara.

Winnie berkata sebagai persediaan agar skuad yang ada kini lebih kompetitif, PWM menghantar mereka ke Fuzhou, China bagi menjalani latihan selama 45 hari.

"Mereka berlepas ke China, semalam. Latihan di Fuzhou penting kerana secara keseluruhan, skuad wushu akan diwakili skuad pelapis jadi di sana mereka berupaya mendapat pendedahan awal saingan bertaraf antarabangsa," katanya.

Latihan selama satu setengah bulan di China itu bukan sahaja sebagai persediaan ke Sukan SEA tetapi juga bagi menghadapi Kejohanan Dunia di Izmir, Turki bulan depan, katanya.

Winnie berkata di Indonesia, skuad negara yang dianggotai 15 atlet akan beraksi dalam dua acara utama iaitu Taolo dan Shen Quan.

Mengulas prestasi atlet pelapis dan elit ketika ini, Winnie berkata walaupun wushu kekurangan kejohanan antarabangsa, skuad negara sentiasa menunjukkan prestasi memuaskan.

"PWM menjalankan cara latihan berbeza, di mana atlet pelapis dan elit akan digabungkan bersama ketika sesi latihan.

"Setakat ini kami mempunyai lapan atlet pelapis dan empat daripadanya dilihat mampu menuai pingat di kejohanan di Turki dan Indonesia," katanya. -BERNAMA

Pelapis olahraga tunjuk belang

ARKIB : 18/08/2011

Pelapis olahraga tunjuk belang

Oleh ZAZALI JAMIAN
sukan@utusan.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR - Kecemerlangan atlet pelapis negara kian menyerlah apabila tiga atlet olahraga berjaya melepasi kelayakan ke Sukan SEA 2011 secara merit.

Tiga atlet tersebut ialah Ahmad Luth Hamizan dalam acara 300 meter lari berhalangan dan dua atlet 400m berpagar Mohd. Baihaqi Fazlan serta Muhammad Firdaus Mazalan.

Pengarah Cawangan Pelapis Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Jefri Ngadirin berkata, pencapaian tiga atlet tersebut menjadi kebanggaan atlet pelapis yang lain kerana berupaya menempah tiket dalam kategori A.

"Mereka ini adalah atlet pelapis yang mempamer peningkatan positif. Jadi kita harap akan ada atlet pelapis yang lain layak secara merit.

"Ini juga menunjukkan bahawa program yang telah kita jalankan berupaya memberikan hasil positif," katanya ketika ditemui Utusan Malaysia, semalam.

Ahmad Luth berjaya melepasi kelayakan 9:27.21 saat dalam acara 300m lari berhalangan apabila memperoleh keputusan terbaik pada Kejohanan Olahraga Remaja Selangor 2011 pada April lalu dengan catatan 9:26.21s.

Manakala Mohd. Baihaqi mencatat 52.94s pada kejohanan Sukan Sekolah ASEAN di Singapura bulan lalu dan Muhammad Firdaus 53.24s pada Kejohanan Olahraga Tertutup Kebangsaan Perlis, mengatasi kelayakan 53.40s dalam acara 400m lari berhalangan.

Dalam pada itu, Jefri berkata, peluang untuk tiga atlet tersebut dinaikkan ke status elit cerah selepas menilai keupayaan melayakkan diri ke Sukan SEA.

"Kebiasaannya atlet pelapis yang beraksi pada Sukan SEA akan diserap menyertai program elit dan peluang tiga atlet ini tetap ada.

"Kita juga akan menilai untuk memberikan pendedahan kepada atlet pelapis yang berpotensi menyertai kejohanan antarabangsa supaya mereka dapat bersaing dengan atlet luar negara," jelas Jefri.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Barisan terbaik badminton pastikan 4 emas

12/9/2011

Daripada TL ANG

SKUAD badminton negara bersama pingat yang dimenangi pada Sukan Belia Komanwel IV di Isle of Man, semalam.

DOUGLAS, Isle of Man - Sukan Belia Komanwel IV berakhir semalam dengan badminton menyumbangkan semua tujuh pingat buat kontinjen negara.

Empat emas, dua perak dan satu pingat gangsa yang dimenangi meletakkan Malaysia pad tangga kelapan senarai pungutan pingat.

Kedudukan ini juga memastikan Malaysia berkedudukan terbaik di kalangan negara Asia dengan India pada tangga kesembilan dengan tiga emas.

Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) awal-awal lagi menerusi setiausahanya, Ng Chin Chai mengumumkan senarai ke Isle of Man adalah yang terbaik sebagai persediaan ke saingan remaja dunia di Taipei awal November ini.

Zulfadli Zulkiffli (perseorangan lelaki) pasangan beregu lelaki Nelson Heg-Teo Ee Yi, beregu perempuan Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean dan beregu campuran Ee Yi-Mei Kuan memastikan kedudukan terbaik untuk Malaysia. Perak menerusi beregu perempuan Sonia Cheah-Yang Li Lian serta gangsa melalui Nelson-Meng Yean.

Apa pun barisan pelumba basikal tidak bersedia untuk saingan dalam kesejukan. Laluan di Promenade dalam cuaca keterlaluan memaksa pelumba negara, baik perempuan mahupun lelaki mengharungi penyeksaan dan hari pertama pertarungan dalam ujian masa membuktikan penyesuaian memerlukan tanggungjawab awal.

''Pelumba kami berkemampuan dan jawapannya ialah penyesuaian awal,'' kata jurulatih Junaidi Nasir.

Arfy Qairant Amran, Hamdan Hamidun (lelaki), Nurul Nadia Fauzi dan Ju Pha Som Net berkeupayaan tinggi dan keputusan di Isle of Man adalah pengalaman baru untuk susulan kemajuan.

Dalam olahraga, Ali Ashraf Razali mengharungi saingan baik hingga ke babak akhir 110 meter lari berpagar dengan 14.06 saat dan bakatnya tidaklah hanya setakat Sukan SEA selepas ini.

Badminton tuai 4 emas YCG

Oleh Jumiati Rosly
jumiati@bharian.com.my
2011/09/13


BARISAN muda skuad badminton negara mencipta bangga di Isle of Man, kelmarin apabila gah memenangi empat pingat emas daripada jumlah lima dipertandingkan dalam temasya Sukan Komanwel Remaja IV (YCG).

Emas berkenaan adalah sumbangan beregu campuran, Teo Ee Yi-Chow Mei Kuan, juara perseorangan remaja Asia, Zulfadli Zulkiffli, beregu wanita, Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean dan beregu lelaki,Nelson Heg-Ee Yi.
Skuad negara pulang dengan jumlah keseluruhan tujuh pingat, termasuk dua perak dan satu gangsa untuk mengatasi pencapaian di Sukan Komanwel Remaja 2008 di India dengan tiga emas.
SASARAN tiga pingat pelbagai warna pada penyertaan Sukan Komanwel Remaja IV diatasi dengan skuad badminton negara menghadiahkan empat pingat emas, dua perak dan satu gangsa di Pusat Sukan Kebangsaan, Isle Of Man.

Catatan keseluruhan tujuh pingat dalam perlawanan akhir yang berlangsung kelmarin itu sekali gus mengatasi pu­ngutan pingat pada edisi Sukan Komanwel Remaja 2008 di India apabila negara memenangi tiga emas.

Emas pertama diperoleh menerusi gandingan beregu campuran, Teo Ee Yi-Chow Mei Kuan yang menumbangkan pasangan India, Srikanth Kidambi-Maneesha Kukkpalli, 18-21, 21-16, 21-8 dan seperti dijangka, juara remaja Asia dan pilihan pertama, Zulfadli Zulkiffli menewaskan musuh ketat dari India, Sameer Verma, 21-16, 17-21, 21-15.

“Tugas kami sudah selesai dan tujuh pingat memang tidak diduga sama sekali. Kemantapan pemain akan terus diasah untuk Kejohanan Remaja Dunia di Taiwan, November depan,” kata jurulatih badminton, Yap Kim Hock.
Beregu wanita negara, Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean mengatasi rakan sepasukan, Sonia Cheah-Yang Li Lian 21-17, 21-8 untuk emas ketiga manakala pingat emas keempat hadir menerusi beregu lelaki, Nelson Heg-Ee Yi yang menumbangkan Ryan McCarthy-Tom Wolfenden (England) 24-22, 21-16.

Terdahulu, Nelson-Meng Yean turut meraih gangsa dalam acara beregu campuran apabila membenam McCarthy-Emily Westwood dari England, 21-14, 21-10.

Malaysia terlepas satu pingat emas dalam final perseorangan wanita apabila Sonia terpaksa berpuas hati dengan perak selepas tunduk kepada pilihan pertama dari India, Pusarla Sindhu 20-22, 8-21 sementara Li Lian tewas kepada Kirsty Gilmour dari Scotland 16-21, 20-22 bagi penentuan gangsa.

Dalam acara berbasikal kriterium, pelumba wanita negara, Ju Pha Som Net menduduki tangga ke-11 manakala Hamdan Hamidun di tempat ke-24 kategori lelaki.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Rookie creates history by reaching recurve final in World Cup

(we are so proud of you)

Friday September 9, 2011
Rookie creates history by reaching recurve final in World Cup
By LIM TEIK HUAT


PETALING JAYA: Rookie Khairul Anuar Mohamad turned giant-killer en route to becoming the first Malaysian archer to reach the individual recurve final at the World Cup in Shanghai yesterday.

The 20-year-old made a major breakthrough for Malaysian archery when he advanced to the semi-finals after edging American Jake Kaminski 6-5.

It was a thrilling quarter-final showdown as the 16th-seeded Malaysian had to claw his way back from a 0-4 deficit against the ninth-seeded American after the first two sets.

Kaminski dropped the third set when he shot a 6 and Khairul eventually fought back to tie the match at 5-5.

In the shoot-off, Kaminski shot a 10 but Khairul went one better – with an X10 (his arrow was closest to the centre).

Khairul, his confidence boosted, then guaranteed at least a silver medal by reaching the final with a 7-1 win over Pedro Vivas Alcala of Mexico.

Earlier, Khairul started well with a 7-3 win over Antti Tekoniemen of Finland before reaching the last 16 by beating Das Atanu of India 7-3.

Khairul then rose to the occasion to eliminate top seed Brady Ellison of the United States 6-4 to reach the last eight, where he vanquished Kaminski.

Khairul, who only made the national elite squad early this year, will be delighted to have reached the final in his very first attempt, a feat which even the likes of national No. 1 Cheng Chu Sian have failed to achieve.

Chu Sian’s best result was reaching the last eight at the World Cup level.

National coach Lee Jae-hyung was proud of the performance put up by Khairul, who did not succumb to big-stage nerves.

“There were very tense moments in the knockout rounds, especially under this new format (five sets of three arrows at 70m).

“Khairul showed his ability to challenge the world class archers and it was a superb showing, considering this is his first World Cup,” said Jae-hyung, who will be hoping that Khairul will cap it off with a historic victory against American Joe Fanchin in tomorrow’s final.

Chu Sian was unlucky not to have advanced to the last 16 after he was beaten 6-5 by Kaminski. Chu Sian had won his opening match 7-3 against Stephen Florence of New Zealand.

Two other Malaysians – Haziq Kamaruddin and Wan Khalmizam Wan Abdul Aziz – failed to even get past their opening hurdles.

Haziq lost 6-0 to Hidechi Kikuchi of Japan while Khalmizam also lost by a similar score to Jean-Charles Valladont of France.

Khairul, Chu Sian and Wan Khalmizam will return for the team competition today against Britain in the first round and the winners will advance to a quarter-final clash against China, who have an opening round bye.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Youth Commonwealth Games: OCM targets three medals

2011/09/06


THE Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has set a realistic target of three medals for the 2011 Youth Commonwealth Games in the Isle of Man, the United Kingdom, which starts on Thursday.
Malaysia will be sending a 23-member contingent comprising 18 athletes and five coaches to compete in four of the seven sports contested, namely badminton, athletics, cycling and swimming.

Malaysia will not participate in boxing, gymnastics and rugby sevens.


Chef-de-Mission Rosmanizam Abdullah said the "realistic" target was due to the omission of weightlifting from the Games, a favourite sport for Malaysia to win medals.

"Although it is a very low target compared with the previous editions, any target set must be realistic," he said after receiving the Jalur Gemilang from OCM honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi at Wisma OCM yesterday. Malaysia's medal hopes hinge on badminton through Asian Youth Championships men's singles champion Zulfadli Zulkifli and women silver medallists Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean.

In the first edition in Edinburgh, Scotland, Malaysia won one gold, three silver and four bronze medals and improved on that haul at the second edition in Bendigo, Australia with six gold, nine silver and three bronze, four years later.


In the 2008 edition held in Pune, India, the Malaysian contingent won three gold, five silver and four bronze medals with badminton accounting for two gold and shooting contributing one.

The contingent leave for the Isle Of Man today.

The first edition of the Youth Commonwealth Games was hosted by Scotland in 2000 and is held every four years, the same year as the Olympics.


In 2005, however, the Commonwealth Games Federation decided that the Games that feature athletes below the age of 18, would not be held the same year as the Olympics. -- Bernama


Read more: Youth Commonwealth Games: OCM targets three medals http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/klkl_w__w/Article#ixzz1X9DClp20

Sasar tiga pingat di Isle of Man

06/09/11


TIGA pingat tanpa mengira kilauan menjadi sasaran kontinjen negara di temasya Sukan Belia Komanwel keempat yang akan berlangsung di Isle of Man pada 8-12 September ini.

Sasaran yang diakui rendah oelh ketua kontinjen Rosmanizam Abdullah itu bagaimanapun dianggap paling ideal selepas atlet remaja bawah 19 tahun negara hanya akan menyertai empat acara sukan.


“Tuan rumah hanya menawarkan saingan dalam tujuh acara sukan dan kebanyakan sukan yang kita menang pingat sebelum ini tidak dipertandingkan,” kata Rosmanizam pada Majlis Penyerahan Bendera yang disampaikan Setiausaha Kehormat Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) di ibu negara.

Empat acara sukan yang disertai kontinjen negara adalah badminton, berbasikal, renang dan olahraga manakala tiga lagi acara sukan yang dipertandingkan - tinju, gimnastik artistik (lelaki/wanita) dan ragbi - tidak membabitkan pemain negara.


“Kita sasarkan pingat menerusi badminton perseorangan lelaki dan beregu wanita selain mengharapkan keajaiban daripada atlet berbasikal,” kata Rosmanizam.


Juara Remaja Asia Zulfadli Zulkifli menjadi sandaran dalam perseorangan lelaki manakala gandingan Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean diharap mampu mencabar kehebatan beregu dari India dan England.

Satu pingat lagi diharap diperoleh atlet berbasikal negara Ju Pha Som Net dan Arfy Qairant Amran, namun cabaran agak sukar kerana temasya di Isle of Man hanya mempertandingkan acara lebuh raya.


Seramai 18 atlet menggalas cabaran negara di Isle of Man masing-masing lapan atlet dalam sukan badminton, empat berbasikal dan renang serta dua atlet olahraga.

Untuk rekod, penyertaan di temasya Edinburgh Scotland tahun 2000, kontinjen negara menang satu emas, tiga perak dan empat gangsa. Pada 2005 di Bendigo, Australia adalah pencapaian terbaik selepas atlet negara menang enam emas, sembilan perak dan tiga gangsa.