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.

Tujuh pelumba remaja pikul cabaran trek dunia

Muhammad Firdaus antara pelumba yang terpilih ke Kejohanan Trek Dunia 2013 di Glasgow.

KUALA LUMPUR - Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM) menghantar tujuh pelumba remaja ke Kejohanan Trek Dunia 2013 Glasgow dan dalam masa yang sama mahu menguji keupayaan pelumba endurance serta mengharapkan kejayaan dari pelumba pecut.

Timbalan Presiden PKBM, Datuk Naim Mohamad berkata, ketujuh-tujuh pelumba itu akan menyertai kejohanan yang bermula dari 7 hingg 11 Ogos ini di Velodrom Chris Hoy gelanggang yang akan digunakan di Sukan Komanwel tahun depan.

"Mereka akan bersaing dalam pelbagai acara dan ini adalah gelanggang terbaik untuk mereka meraih kejayaan seterusnya menyarung jersi pelangi selaku juara remaja dunia," katanya dalam satu kenyataan di sini, semalam.

Mereka ialah Muhammad Firdaus Mohd Zonis, Asyraf Naim Ying, Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom, Muhammad Afiq Huznie Othman, Muhammad Aele Shafri Rusli, Irwandie Lakasek dan Mohamad Farid Razali.

Firdaus bakal menggalas tugas berat apabila menyertai empat acara pecut, satu kilometer ujian masa, keirin dan pecut berpasukan, manakala Asyraf pula beraksi dalam acara satu kilometer ujian masa dan pecut berpasukan. Seorang lagi pelumba Shah Firdaus mengambil bahagian dalam acara pecut, keirin dan pecut berpasukan.

Sementara itu, bagi endurance pula, Afiq akan mengambil bahagian dalam acara kejar-mengejar berpasukan, perlumbaan mata, scratch dan omnium, diikuti Aele Shafri yang menyertai acara kejar-mengejar berpasukan, perlumbaan mata dan omnium.

Irwandie pula bakal beraksi dalam acara kejar-mengejar berpasukan, kejar-mengejar individu, scratch dan omnium sementara Farid pula beraksi dalam acara kejar-mengejar berpasukan dan kejar-mengejar individu.

"Pelumba pecut akan berlepas ke Glasgow pada Selasa minggu depan dan mereka akan menyertai pelumba endurance yang sekarang ini sedang mempersiapkan diri di Gent, Belgium.

"Mereka akan mendapat pendedahan terbaik di kejohanan ini bagi meneruskan kesinambungan pelumba senior negara seperti Josiah Ng dan Mohd. Azizulhasni Awang.

"Mereka juga telah beraksi cemerlang di Kejohanan Berbasikal Asia (ACC) 2013 New Delhi Mac lalu apabila meraih empat emas, satu perak dan dua gangsa," katanya.

Firdaus atau terkenal dengan nama timangan 'Toi' telah menghadiahkan tiga emas buat negara di kejohanan tersebut manakala Irwandie juga turut mencuri tumpuan dengan menjuarai acara scratch.

"Kejohanan ini juga akan menguji keupayaan pelumba endurance negara, kerana sebelum ini hanya pelumba pecut sahaja yang sering menonjol. Saya harap mereka mampu beraksi cemerlang dalam acara kejar-mengejar," katanya.

Skuad negara akan ditemani pegawai, Mohd. Izham Mohamad dan jurulatih Suod Hussain dan penolong jurulatih, Junaidi Mohamad Nasir. Mereka juga bakal menyambut sambutan Hari Raya Aidilfitri di Glasgow.

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Sukan/20130722/su_04/Tujuh-pelumba-remaja-pikul-cabaran-trek--dunia#ixzz2Zjdgd3BK
© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd 

YUSUF BAGS MAIDEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH TITLE

18th July 2013

Yusuf bags maiden International Youth title

National Youth bowler Yusuf Abdul Raof stormed home to win his maiden International Youth title this morning at the 13^th Chinese Taipei International Open Bowling Championships at Twin Woods Bowling Center, Taichung City.

Yusuf cruised to the lead after 6 games over Chinese Taipei duo of Cheng Xing Yeh and Zhang Zhi Ling. However, in the pen-ultimate game, Zhang shoots a 230 game against Yusuf's 212 game to lead by a mere 3 pins. Yusuf had to dig deep into his reserves to maintain his composure in the decider match and maintained his game with another 215 game. However, Zhang succumbed to the pressure as he only managed a weak 164 game in the decider which eventually dropped him to third spot. Cheng Xing Yeh overtook Zhang as well with a 223 last game to take second spot.

National Youth bowler Nora Lyana Nastasia Norkamal however was left in tears as she failed to make the podium finish by just 11 pins from Zhang. She showed good fighting spirit to claw her way back into contention when she started weakly in the first 3 games. However, for her efforts, she made the cut for the final slot for the Asian Youth Championship bound team.

7 National Youth bowlers managed to qualify for the finals and they finished accordingly in the Master Finals. 6^th place is Chong Jun Foo, Joint 7^th are Faten Najihah Ahmad Faik and Nadine Kong, 9^th place is Jonathan Ding Sagan and 12^th place is Christopher Tiong.

Tomorrow will be the finals for the Men and Women Open divisions, where Yusuf will be hoping to bag a double as he looks set to qualify for the finals later today. Other National Elite and Backup bowlers who will be competing in tomorrow's finals are Isaac Russell Paul, Syimir Abdul Razak, Ahmad Muaz Fishol, Aris Ardila Santosoh and Jonathan Chan in the Men Division. In the Women Division, Sharon Koh, Hee Kar Yen, Dayang Khairuniza, Victoria Chin and Siti Shazwani will be vying for the title.

THANK YOU

Maradona Chok

General Manager

Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress

ATHLETICS / NATIONAL CLOSED CHAMPIONSHIPS: Hakimi leaping to new heights

June 23, 2013
By : Devinder Singh

IT has been a long time coming but in Hakimi Ismail, there is finally an athlete who looks like he can take down Zaki Sadri's 24-year-old national triple jump record.

Hakimi, 22, leapt 16.18m for a new personal best in winning the event at the National Closed Championships in Bukit Jalil yesterday and edged closer towards Zaki's record of 16.29m.

The Pahang-born Hakimi, who won gold for Perak at last year's Malaysia Games, had not been born when Zaki set his record at the 1989 Sea Games at the Merdeka Stadium.

Hakimi, who also took gold at the 2012 Asean University Games, has been eyeing the record since 2011 when he posted 16.15m but he has struggled to match that achievement until yesterday.
He has shown steady progress this year and even won two international meets in Macau and Taiwan last month and should, in the near future, claim not just Zaki's record but also pass the Sea Games qualifying mark of 16.39m.

"It is my best performance so far and I'm not far away from qualifying for the Sea Games. Qualifying for the Sea Games had never been this tough before, usually you do not need to go past 16 metres.
"But this time the standard is much higher and I'll need to beat the national record to qualify. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to do it soon," said Hakimi, who paid his own way to compete at the 2011 Sea Games in Palembang but failed to medal.

Hakimi was not the only one to come within a whisker of earning a ticket to the Sea Games in Myanmar as athlete-coach Jironi Riduan just missed the qualifying mark by 1.04 seconds in the 800m which he won in 1:51.73s.

Jironi, who is combining his own training and coaching 15 students at the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School in Bandar Penawar, is not too sure when he might get another chance given his work commitments.

"I ran a good second lap but the first was a bit slow. I pushed hard and came so close," said Jironi, 27, a double silver medalist at the 2009 Sea Games in Vientiane.

"It's tough mentally trying to cope with coaching athletes and training on my own but I am enjoying it. I don't know when I will run again, maybe at the Malaysian Open (in October) which could be my last chance to qualify."
 
RESULTS --
Men's 800m: 1 Jironi Riduan (Sar) 1:51.73s, 2 M. Kesavan (Pk) 1:52.45, 3 Tan Wei Heng (Ked) 1:55.68;

400m hurdles: 1 Firdaus Mazalan (Ked) 53.03s, 2 Baihaqi Razlan (AF) 54.19, 3 Adib Zulhusni Alet (Sar) 54.94;

3,000m steeplechase: 1 Ahmad Luth Hamizan (NS) 9:44.23s, 2 P. Jenarthanam (AF) 10:08.66, 3 Afindi Nudim (AF) 10:17.00;

Triple jump: 1 Hakimi Ismail (AF) 16.18m, 2 Said Aziz (Sab) 15.08, 3 Nik Fariezol Eiman (Ter) 14.94;

Pole vault: 1 Iskandar Alwi (Joh) 4.65m, 2 Fahme Zamzam Mehamad (KL) 4.45, 3 Iqbal Hakim Mustafa (Joh) 4.05;

Hammer: 1 Jackie Wong (Sar) 55.84m, 2 Nizam Zuki (AF) 43.76, 3 Azli Zaina (AF) 36.66;

Junior 800m: 1 S. Deekheegharaan (Pen) 1:57.72s, 2 Rafiq Nazreen (Kel) 2:03.84, 3 Chang Guo Pin (Joh) 2:03.94;

400m hurdles: 1 Firdaus Musa (Pk) 53.10s, 2 Nazmi Suhaimi (Sel) 59.69, 3 Shahrul Izwan (Kel) 61.70;

3,000m steeplechase: 1 B. Vasanthan (Joh) 10:29.50, 2 P. Ramanam (KL) 10:48.93, 3 Izzul Syahmi (NS) 10:49.65;

Triple jump: 1 Syazwan Zakaria (Joh) 14.10m, 2 Alif Izzuddin Shah Arman Shah (Sel) 13.23;

Pole vault: 1 Muhammad Afiq (Joh) 4.45m, 2 Muhd Rahim (Pk) 3.80, 3 Mohammad Nurulharithul (Joh) 3.40;

Hammer: 1 Michael Sia (Sar) 58.35m, 2 Lau Yong Han (KL) 37.05, 3 Faiq Meslan (Joh) 33.36;

Women's 800m: 1 Noor Amelia Musa (KL) 2:20.39s, 2 A. Kalaiyarasi (Sel) 2:24.30, 3 Nurul Ain Jamaludin (AF) 3:25.96;

3,000m steeplechase: 1 Melinder Kaur (AF) 11:24.68s, 2 Joviana Joe (Sab) 13:39.50, 3 Angela Kundang (AF) 14:03.68;

Javelin: 1 Siti Nur Badiah Osman (Joh) 45.35m, 2 Nurfatin Adibah Suharman (AF) 43.36, 3 Syuriani Sikenbar (AF) 41.15;

Hammer: 1 Casier Renee Lee (Sar) 51.88m, 2 Noraida Shuada (NS) 45.19, 3 Patria Pang (AF) 42.75;

Junior 800m: 1 S. Sharmila (Joh) 2:24.13s, 2 Teoh Kim Chi (Ked) 2:28.67, 3 Tan Pei Rou (Sel) 2:34.74;

400m hurdles: 1 Saidatul Izatti (Pk) 66.01s, 2 Leong Ann Gie (Sel) 69.82, 3 Ling Wing Yi (Pk) 72.82;

3,000m steeplechase: 1 Nur Aisyah Mamat (Sar) 12:47.59s, 2 Munirah Ali (Pk) 13:20.21, 3 Farah Almuni Hanum (Pen) 14:19.07;

Javelin: 1 Sherin Kiah Nipa (Joh) 30.15m, 2 Nur Fatin Syahirah (KL) 27.26;

Hammer: 1 Nur Fariza Jalaudin (Sel) 44.30m, 2 Nor Shafinaz Hasnol (Mal) 37.00, Farn Mie Nie (KL) 33.10.

Pint-sized Penangite Husnia upstages national 100m champion Komalam

Saturday June 22, 2013

By AFTAR SINGH

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Games (Sukma) champion Zaidatul Husnia Zulkifli pipped national champion Komalam Shally to the women's 100m gold medal in a thrilling photo-finish in the National Closed Athletics championships at the National Sports Council (NSC) Training Track in Bukit Jalil.

The 20-year-old pint-sized Husnia of Penang and 25-year-old Komalam of Armed Forces were both credited with finishing in 12.04.

Husnia's twin sister – Zaidatul Husna – took the bronze in 12.08.

Husnia was delighted to have beaten Komalam to the gold medal.

"I won the Sukma gold in Kuantan last year ... and now I've upstaged Komalam for the senior gold," said Husnia.

"I had a good start and ran as fast as I could. I thought Komalam won ... so, I was surprised when they named me as the winner."

She was, however, far from happy with her time.

"My time today was way off my personal best of 11.91 which I did in the Malaysian Grand Prix at the same venue in April," said Husnia, who has been named for the Asian Track and Field (ATF) meet in Pune, India, from July 3-7.

"My aim this year is to qualify for the Myanmar SEA Games in December, but I know it's going be tough because the qualifying mark is 11.69."

Komalam was pleased with her time, which is her season's best.

"I lost because of my slow start," she said.

The men's 100m final was just as exciting with 19-year-old Sabahan Sebestian Lee Azcona clocking a personal best of 10.67 to pip national 110m hurdles champion Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian, who clocked 10.68.

Mohd Shahmini Azmi of Negri Sembilan was third in 10.74.

Sebestian was clearly surprised with his golden effort as "I was not the favourite".

"Rayzam was the favourite ... but I edged him over the last few metres. I'm glad that I also improved on the 10.86 which I did in the Negri Sembilan Open in 2009," said Sebestian.