Squash: Syafiq leads Malaysia to secure top spot

Squash: Syafiq leads Malaysia to secure top spot

BY KNG ZHENG GUAN

Mohd Syafiq Kamal played a crucial role to beat Hong Kong’s Yuen Tsun Hei 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 at the Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, China, on Thursday.

   

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PETALING JAYA: Individual silver medallist Mohd Syafiq Kamal led by example as the Malaysian boys secured top spot in Pool B of the Asian Youth Games at Nanjing, China.

The team, who already qualified for the semi-finals, needed to beat Hong Kong in order to give themselves a better draw in the last four.

And they did just that by overcoming a persistent Hong Kong 2-1 on Wednesday.

Pahang’s Darren Chan gave them the start they needed by beating Lau Tsz Kwan 11-3, 11-3, 12-14, 11-7 in the first tie.

Hong Kong however levelled the tie as Chris Lo played a consistent game to frustrate Asian Junior Under-17 champion Ng Eain Yow to win 12-10, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9.

It was up to Syafiq to rescue the team and he duly delivered, with an outstanding performance to beat Hong Kong No. 1 Yuen Tsun Hei 11-6, 11-6, 11-8.

In their final group match against Thailand on Thursday, the team had an easy run out by thrashing Thailand 3-0.

Malaysia will face Jordan in the semi-finals later today while Hong Kong will face top seeds India.

“The test for the boys was taking on Hong Kong where we faced some real resistance,” said team manager Allan Soyza.

“Darren played well to take the a 2-0 lead, and although he was pinned back in the third set, he upped his game to seal it in the fourth.

“Eain Yow had an up and down match and despite having the physical advantage, Chris had the upper hand in terms of game control and displayed better consistency to win that tie.

“The decider was Syafiq’s match, against Tsun Hei whom he had already beaten in the individual event a few days ago.

“Basically he was in no mood to drop a game and started fabulously ... taking total control to seal the winning point. That was the best from him all week,” added Soyza.

Meanwhile, in the girls’ event, Malaysia will face India in the semi-finals while Hong Kong will take on Japan.

Diver Zhiayi aims for birthday 'gift' at AYG

Diver Zhiayi aims for birthday 'gift' at AYG

Loh Zhiayi in a file photo taken in 2012. The 16-year-old is hoping for a belated birthday present in the form of a medal win at the Asian Youth Games in China.

PETALING JAYA: Taiping-born diver Loh Zhiayi turned 16 on Tuesday and wants to reward herself with a perfect belated birthday gift when she competes in the Asian Youth Games (AYG), starting in Nanjing, China, Saturday.

A team of three two boys and a girl – Mohd Nazreen Abdullah, Mohd Danial Sabri; and Zhiayi – arrived in the Chinese city Thusday night to vie for medals at the second edition of AYG, which ends on Aug 24.

The trio will compete in all four events – boys’ and girls’ 3m springboard and platform.

Zhiayi, who finished an impressive fifth at the World Junior Championships in Adelaide last October, has been tipped by head coach Yang Zhuliang to shine in the platform discipline.

“I hope to do well in the AYG so that my birthday will be more meaningful,” said the double gold medallist at last year’s Kuantan Sukma.

“After the recent one-month training stint in China, I feel like I’m a better diver now. I’ve increased my DD (degree of difficulty) since the world juniors. I’ll be executing two higher DD routines, 107B and 407C (both carrying 3.0 and 3.2 respectively) in future competitions.

“Hopefully, I can perform them well and see where they’ll take me.”

Zhuliang is counting on Zhiayi to do the country proud in Nanjing.

“We have a small team but we hope Zhiayi can deliver. She has a decent chance in platform. I hope Nazreen and Danial can give a good account of themselves too,” said Zhuliang, who is not in China but has put his assistant, Zhang Yikun, in charge.

The 68-member Malaysian contingent are among the 45 nations competing in this edition of the AYG, which features 15 sports.

At the last AYG held in Singapore four years ago, Malaysia won only a bronze medal in sailing.

But that was due to Malaysia withdrawing the whole contingent, except for sailing, following the H1N1 flu outbreak.

Impressive finish for cyclist Firdaus in Glasgow

BT LIM TEIK HUAT

Impressive: Mohd Firdaus Mohd Zonis finished sixth in the in the 1km time trial final at the UCI Juniors World Track Championships in Glasgow on Saturday.Here the Selangor lad celebrates after winning the gold medal in Junior Men Keirin Final at the Malaysian National Track Championship at Cheras Cycling Velodrome in June. - S.S.KANESAN/THE STAR.

PETALING JAYA: Cyclist Mohd Firdaus Mohd Zonis rode through the pain barrier to do Malaysia proud at the UCI Juniors World Track Championships in Glasgow on Saturday.

Firdaus, the Asian junior champion, clocked 1:05.092 to finish sixth in the 1km time trial final and it is an impressive achievement considering he is eligible for another go at the world meet next year.

Maximilian Dornbach of Germany clocked 1:03.129 for the gold ahead of Russian Aleksandr Dubchenko (1:03.227). Australia’s Zachary Shaw claimed the bronze in 1:03.288.

Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamad was delighted with Firdaus’ performance.

“He was unlucky to have hurt himself in a training mishap when we came here earlier and end up with three stitches on his shin.

“But he fought the pain and the older competitors to register a good result.

“Anyway, the gold, silver and bronze medallists as well as well as the fourth fastest (Thomas Copponi of France) will not be around for next year’s World Juniors while Firdaus is still eligible.

“He has to contend with South Korean rider Jung Jae-hee who is of the same age and who is ahead by about 0.1 second.

“If Firdaus keeps his form and improves further, he has a very bright future. It is a good exposure for him and we should see some medals in next year’s championships,” said Naim.

Firdaus’ performance in the 1km time trial made up for the disappointing exit in the keirin’s first round.

Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom reached the keirin second round but failed in his bid to enter the top six final. Sahrom also reached the top 16 in the 200m sprint before he was eliminated.

The duo combined with Asyraf Naim Ying to form the team sprint combination but were relegated for a technical infringement.

As for Afiq Huznie Othman, he finished 16th in the men’s points race final.

Sarvinder gets her big break with spot in U-17 Asian Youth Games

Sarvinder gets her big break with spot in U-17 Asian Youth Games

BY AFTAR SINGH

Ready to rumble: Savinder Kaur is all set to achieve her dream as she has been selected to compete in the Under-17 Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, China, from Aug 19-24.

KUALA LUMPUR: Teenager Savinder Kaur’s dream is to become a national middle distance runner.

And the Form Four student of Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) looks set to achieve her dream as she has been selected to compete in the Under-17 Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, China, from Aug 19-24.

The Selayang-born girl was picked to compete in the Games after clocking a personal best time of 2:15.00 en route to the silver medal in the girls’ 800m at the Asean School Games in Ho Chi Minh City in June.

Savinder also impressed at the National Schools Championships (MSSM) in Kuantan in May, clocking 2:15.97 to break the Under-18 800m record.

She also clocked a personal best time of 4:55.79 to bag the gold in the 1,500m.

Savinder, a former student of Ideal Heights Secondary School in Selayang, said that she did the right thing by joining the BJSS in January.

“Since enrolling in BJSS, I not only managed to improve my timing but I did well to win the silver in the 800m in the Asean Schools Games.

“I am training diligently as I expect a strong challenge from Asia’s top runners in Nanjing ,” said Savinder, who wants to become a national runner in three years’ time.

Eain Yow to be flag bearer for Malaysia in Nanjing

Squash: Eain Yow to be flag bearer for Malaysia in Nanjing

BY AFTAR SINGH

Confident: Ng Eain Yow has set his sights on winning the gold medal in the individual event at the Asian Youth Games in Nanjing from Aug 17-24.

KUALA LUMPUR: Two-time British Junior Squash Open champion Ng Eain Yow has been given the honour of being the flag bearer for Malaysia at the Asian Youth Games in Nanjing from Aug 17-24.

The Form Three student of Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), who won the British Junior Open Under-13 title in 2011 and the Under-15 title in January, has also set his sights on winning the gold medal in the individual event at the Games.

The youngster had also won the Asian Junior title twice – the Under-15 category in Iran last year and the Under-17 event in Jordan in June.

Eain Yow, seeded joint third-fourth with Hong Kong’s Yuen Tsun Hei in Nanjing, is delighted to have been picked to be the flag bearer for Malaysia in the Under-17 Games.

“Being chosen to be the flag bearer is a boost for the game of squash. It will also boost my confidence as I fight for the gold medal at the Games,” said Eain Yow, who is last year’s national Under-16 champion.

He also hailed this year as the best for him, having won the British Junior Open Under-15 title and the Under-17 title in the Asian Junior.

“Although I’m seeded joint third-fourth for the individual event for the Asian Youth Games, I’m in top form – mentally and physically – to win the singles title,” he said.

“We’re also eyeing the team title as we have good players like Mohd Syafiq (Kamal) and Darren Chan.”

Syafiq, who lost to Eain Yow in the Under-17 final of the Asian Junior meet in Jordan, is the second seed while India’s Kush Kumar is the top seed.

Malaysia’s S. Vanessa Raj has been given the top billing in the girls’ individual event. Hong Kong’s Pansy Pui Hei is the second seed while Rachel Arnold, also of Malaysia, is seeded joint third-fourth. The other Malaysian player – Celine Yeap – will feature in the team event.

The individual event will begin on Aug 17 and the team event on Aug 20.

Twelve teams will feature in the boys’ category, where Malaysia are seeded second behind India.

Seven teams have confirmed their participation in the girls’ category, with Malaysia being the top seeds and Hong Kong second.

Squash was not included in the inaugural Asian Youth Games in Singapore in 2009.

Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) director of coaching Allan Soyza said they are targeting a clean sweep of all the gold medals in squash.

“We have good sets of players in the boys’ and girls’ categories ... we’re confident of dominating the squash event,” said Allan.

The other sports at the Games are athletics, aquatics, badminton, basketball, fencing, golf, judo, shooting, table tennis and weightlifting.

Eain Yow eyes Asian Youth Games target

Eain Yow eyes Asian Youth Games target

BY KNG ZHENG GUAN

Ng Eain Yow and R. Yovineshan in the CIMB National Junior Squash Circuit in May this year. Eain Yow is up for the challenge of SRAM's four-gold medal target.

PETALING JAYA: Asian Junior Under-17 champion Ng Eain Yow is aware of the challenging task awaiting him in the nine-day Asian Youth Games (AYG), which will be held in Nanjing, China, from Friday.

Instead of cowering in fear, Eain Yow is actually looking forward to meeting the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia’s (SRAM) four-gold medal target.

The city boy is in the best form of his life – winning the British Junior Open Under-15 title in January before following it up with the National Junior Circuit GP Finals, the Milo All Star and the Asian Juniors.

Still only 15, Eain Yow has matured remarkably fast and is certainly one of the brightest young talents in the country.

And Eain Yow, who is seeded joint third-fourth with Hong Kong's Yuen Tsun Hei for the AYG, can’t wait to lock horns with some of the top juniors in Asia.

“It’ll definitely be tougher than the Asian Juniors because there are several players from the older age groups who will be competing this time,” said Eain Yow.

“The two most dangerous players in my half of the draw are India’s Kush Kumar and Pakistan’s Ahmad Israr.

“I’ve not played against Kush because he’s always in the older age group. Israr has beaten me once – in the semi-finals of the British Juniors last year.

“But I lost to him in five sets ... it was a really close fight. I haven’t faced him since but I’d like to believe that I too have improved since that loss.

“The challenge now is to get back my game. I’m a little rusty as I’ve been busy with my Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) trials a few weeks back. The trials are over now and I’m confident I can return to top form when the tournament begins.”

Eain Yow has been give a first round bye at the AYG and should meet Iraq’s Al-sultani Abdullah in the second round.

A win will see him face Israr in the quarter-finals.

He is expected to take on top seed Kush in the last four.

Besides Eain Yow, the other Malaysian in the individual event is second seed Mohd Syafiq Kamal. A third Malaysian, 17-year-old Darren Chan, will only compete in the team event.

The girls will be represented by Rachel Arnold, Vanessa Raj and Celine Yeap.