Thomson bags first Sukma gold

Published: Saturday May 24, 2014 MYT 5:03:00 PM
Updated: Saturday May 24, 2014 MYT 7:57:03 PM

Thomson bags first Sukma gold

BY ASHREENA PILLAI

Hoe Thomson showing off the gold medal he won in the men's individual kata event at Sukma, after beating Johor’s Chun Jet San 5-0 in the final.

   

KANGAR: Every athlete gets his start somewhere. And for Hoe Thomson, it all began at Batu Lanchang in Penang.

It all happened by chance when one day his father, Hoe Inn Thye, took the then nine-year-old Thomson to the Penang Goshin Ryu Karate Association Hall and asked him if he wanted to join the class. And that was that.

On Saturday, Thomson etched his name in history when he delivered the first medal of the 17th Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Perlis.

The Penangite beat Johor’s Chun Jet San 5-0 at the Sri Kayangan Hall at the Perlis Matriculation College in Arau on Saturday for the men's individual kata gold. Perlis’ Howart Tan Jia Jie and Sabah’s Parlin Veroneym Frederick shared the bronze.

“It feels amazing. This Sukma, being my last, means everything to me. I’m so thankful and grateful to my coaches. None of this would have been possible without them,” said the 21-year-old Thomson as Penang coach and former Asian women’s kata champion Lim Lee Lee gave him a congratulatory hug as she fought back tears of joy.

“There’s some pressure going into the final, knowing that I could deliver the first medal for Penang. I’m just relieved,” added Thomson with a smile.

“I hope this is just the beginning for me and that I can go on to bigger and better things like the SEA Games and others.”

It was a clean sweep for Penang in the kata event as Celine Lee Xin Yi also bagged the women’s individual gold with a 5-0 victory over Johor’s Lim Sin Yi, with Sabah’s Vellenda Augustine and Federal Territories’ Shyamala Rubini K. Mutiah sharing the bronze.

The 20-year-old Celine was elated to win her first individual gold at the Games, having previously won the team event in the previous edition in Kuantan two years ago.

“It’s a wonderful start for Penang. Tomorrow we have the two kata team events and we’ll give it a good fight,” said Celine, who won bronze in the women’s team kata at the SEA Games last year.

Taekwondo exponent Mohana makes it to Youth Olympics

Taekwondo exponent Mohana makes it to Youth Olympics

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

   

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will be represented in taekwondo at the Youth Olympic Games for the first time after Mohana Mariappen earned a berth at the qualifying tournament in Taipei.

The 17-year-old national back-up squad member reached the last eight in the women’s below 63kg category, but lost to Mahsa Jeddi of Iran.

Mohana had a bye in the first round and advanced to the last eight with a win over Kiwi exponent Renee Leyou.

The top quarter-finalists earned qualification for the Youth Olympic Games, which will be held in Nanjing in August.

Mohana was the only successful Malaysian exponent as five others - Jasmin Nabila Sikardi (women’s below 49kg), Goh Zhi Lin (women’s below 55kg), Mohd Alif Ahmad Rosli (men’s below 48kg), A. Navin (men’s below 55kg) and Khir Amir Salam (men’s below 73kg), were casualties in the early rounds.

The back-up exponents currently train under former SEA Games gold medallists Elaine Teo and S. Saravanan.

Taekwondo Malaysia technical chairman R. Dhanaraj said they have achieved their target of getting one exponent into the Youth Olympic Games.

”It was no easy feat to clear the early rounds as it is so competitive even at the junior level.

”This is a good start for taekwondo as we look towards rebuilding the national set-up.”

Firdaus raih emas, pecah rekod Asia di Kazakhstan

KUALA LUMPUR - Pelumba trek remaja negara, Muhammad Firdaus Mohd. Zonis meneruskan prestasi cemerlang tahun ini apabila merangkul pingat emas buat Malaysia dalam acara 1 kilometer (km) ujian masa remaja lelaki setelah mengetepikan cabaran musuh ketatnya dari Korea Selatan, Jung Jae Hee dalam Kejohanan Berbasikal Asia (ACC) di Astana, Kazakhstan semalam.

Anak muda yang lebih mesra dengan panggilan Toi itu turut mencatat rekod baharu remaja Asia dalam acara tersebut de­ngan catatan satu minit 03.962 saat meninggalkan Jea Hee untuk meraih pingat perak, sementara pelumba dari Jepun, Ryuta Nogami memenangi gangsa.

Pemenang tiga pingat emas ACC 2013 itu ketika dihubungi melahirkan perasaan bangga setelah berjaya menjelmakan emas buat Malaysia dan mencapai sasaran masa 1:0.3 saat bagi memecah rekod remaja Asia dalam acara 1km ujian masa.

"Saya bangga dengan pencapaian ini, lebih-lebih lagi saya berjaya memecah rekod remaja Asia. Saya hadiahkan pingat emas yang saya menang ini buat jurulatih, Junaidi Mohd. Nasir," katanya.

Januari lalu, Firdaus berjaya memenangi emas acara keirin dalam kejohanan Piala Trek Jepun Siri Satu 2014, yang mana dia turut mengalahkan Jea Hee yang meraih pingat gangsa, manakala pelumba Hong Kong, Leung Ka Yu merangkul perak.

Bagaimanapun dalam aksi pecut berpasukan remaja lelaki semalam, Firdaus yang bergandingan dengan Mohamad Ahariz Efendi Mohd. Shahrin dan Khairil Nizam Muhammad Rasol sekadar memenangi pingat perak.

Barisan pelumba Korea Selatan yang diketuai Jea Hee, Seok Hye Yun dan Kim Ji Hun me­rangkul emas.

Walaupun hanya memenangi pingat perak, pencapaian skuad muda negara itu wajar dibanggakan setelah mereka berjaya memecah rekod remaja kebangsaan pada peringkat kelayakan dengan catatan masa 46.906s berbanding rekod lama 48.335s yang dilakar dalam kejohanan di India, tahun lalu.

Dalam aksi wanita pula, Jupha Som Net memastikan gangsa menjadi milik negara setelah pelumba tersebut berjaya mengumpul 22 mata menerusi acara perlumbaan mata 20 kilometer wanita elit.

Jupha menamatkan saingan di belakang pelumba Jepun, Kisalo Nakamura dan Chanceng Nontasin dari Thailand setelah kedua-dua atlet berkenaan masing-masing mengumpul 39 serta 28 mata untuk memena­ngi emas dan perak.

Sementara itu, skuad elit negara yang dibarisi Azizulhasni Awang, Josiah Ng dan Muhamad Edrus Md. Yunos sekadar menduduki tempat kelima dalam kelayakan acara berpasukan pecut lelaki, sekali gus menutup peluang mereka untuk memenangi sebarang pingat.

Malah, Josiah melalui akaun Facebook miliknya mengakui kesilapan apabila gagal membantu skuad negara untuk merebut pingat dalam acara tersebut setelah rakan senegara, Azizul melakukan catatan masa sepu­singan pertama yang baik.

"Saya gagal mempamerkan persembahan yang baik dalam acara pecut berpasukan hari ini (semalam).

"Azizul telah melaksanakan tugasnya dengan cemerlang. Saya membuat rakan sepasukan berasa hampa dengan persembahan buruk saya ini. Masih banyak kerja yang perlu saya lakukan," katanya.

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Sukan/20140523/su_04/Firdaus-raih-emas-pecah-rekod-Asia-di-Kazakhstan#ixzz32Wexw7KY
© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd 

Firdaus bags gold at Asian Cycling Championships

Mohd Firdaus Mohd Zonis won the gold in the men's junior 1km time trial at the Asian Cycling Championships. In second and third place were Kang Dong-jin of South Korea (left) and Ryuta Nogami (right) of Japan

PETALING JAYA: Mohd Firdaus Mohd Zonis got Malaysia's campaign in the Asian Cycling Championships off to a cracking start by bagging the gold medal in the men's junior 1km time trial in record breaking fashion at the Sayarka Velodrome in Astan

The 17-year-old smashed the eight-year old Asian championship record of 1:04.517 held by Kang Dong-jin of South Korea by clocking 1:03.952 on Thursday en route to defending his Asian title.

Jung Jae-hee of South Korea took silver with 1:04.298 ahead of Ryuta Nogami of Japan, who posted 1:04.337 for the bronze.

Having broken the 1.04 barrier for the first time, Firdaus is confident of ending his final year in the junior ranks by taking the sprint and keirin titles as well.

Firdaus claimed a historic double when the Asian meet was held in New Delhi last year.

The likes of Melbourne-based cyclists Azizulhasni Awang, Josiah Ng and Fatehah Mustapa will also be competing for medals in the senior ranks.  

Triple jumper Kirthana qualifies for Youth Olympics

BY AFTAR SINGH

R. Kirthana won the gold in the girls' triple jump with a personal best of 13.06m at the Asian Zone Qualifying meet in Bangkok on May 21, 2014.

KANGAR: R. Kirthana only took up the triple jump event a year ago, but the Perak teen has been on fire in competitions this year.

The Form Five student of the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) leaped to a personal best of 13.06m en route to winning the gold medal in the Asian Zone Qualifying competition in Bangkok on Wednesday to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing from Aug 16-24.

For her efforts in Bangkok, she also surpassed the 12.90m mark to qualify for the IAAF World Junior championships in Eugene, United States, from July 22-27.

Kirthana, who needed to win the gold medal in Bangkok to qualify for the Youth Olympics, leaped to 12.80m in the first attempt.

She improved to 12.85m in her second jump and managed 12.75m in the third attempt.

But she was in top form in the last three attempts as she kept improving her mark – 12.91m, 13.03m and 13.06m – to win the gold.

This is the third time in two months that she has improved her personal best.

She created a new personal best of 12.80m en route to winning the gold medal in the Pre-Malaysia Games (Sukma) meet in Bukit Jalil on March 22.

Two weeks later in Ipoh, she further improved her personal best by 2cm (to 12.82m) to break the Perak Sports Schools meet record of 12.70m.

The 17-year-old Kirthana said in a telephone interview on Thursday that she was thrilled to surpass the 13m mark.

“I was confident of improving my personal best but never expected to improve the mark by 24cm to win the gold medal,” said Kirthana, who only managed 12.23m to finish fourth in the Asian Junior Games in Nanjing last August.

Kirthana said that it was double joy for her to also qualify for the World Junior meet.

“It has been a splendid year for me as I have improved my mark three times in two months.

“I owe it all to my parents for their support and coach Zainal Abas for improving my technique.

“I started my career as a sprinter but switched to the triple jump a year ago at the advice of coach Zainal and it paid off handsomely,” said Kirthana, who also wanted to compete in the long jump event in the Asian Qualifying Zone on Thursday.

However, she was unable to do so as each athlete is only allowed to compete in one event.

Kirthana, who will return from Bangkok on Friday, is in high spirits and intends to give her best at the Perlis Sukma.

“I will be competing in three events in Sukma and my mission is to further improve my mark in the triple jump to win the gold medal in Perlis,” said Kirthana, who will also feature in long jump and 4x100m.

Alyssa sambar tiket wildcard Terbuka Malaysia

Alyssa sambar tiket wildcard Terbuka Malaysia

Alyssa Boey (kanan) menunjukkan trofi Terbuka Malaysia bersama Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan BMW Malaysia, Dr. Gerhard Pils pada sidang akhbar di Kelab Golf Di Raja Selangor, Kuala Lumpur semalam. - BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR - Pemain remaja negara, Alysa Boey menjadi pilihan untuk beraksi atas tiket wildcard pada undian utama kejohanan tenis Terbuka Malaysia BMW yang akan berlangsung dari 14 hingga 20 April ini.

Alyssa, 17, yang merupakan anggota Piala Fed Malaysia dan pemain No. 1 negara, bukan saja bakal membuat penampilan sulung pada Terbuka Malaysia, malah akan beraksi buat kali pertama dalam kejohanan Jelajah WTA (Persatuan Tenis Wanita).

"Saya amat gembira diberi peluang beraksi buat kali pertama pada Terbuka Malaysia dan lebih penting dalam Jelajah WTA.

"Ini pendedahan terbaik yang saya boleh peroleh di peringkat ini. Saya sungguh teruja dapat berentap dengan pemain-pemain profesional handalan dunia, dan ini merupakan pentas untuk menguji sejauh manakah jurang di antara saya dengan mereka.

"Ia boleh dijadikan batu loncatan untuk perkembangan karier saya selepas ini. Walaupun peluang untuk menang tipis, setidak-tidaknya saya akan cuba memberi saingan sehebat mungkin kepada lawan," kata Alyssa pada sidang akhbar di sini, semalam.

Edisi kelima kejohanan yang akan berlangsung di Kelab Golf Diraja Selangor (RSGC) turut menampilkan bintang veteran Jepun yang merupakan pemain tertua dalam Jelajah WTA, Kimiko Date-Kruum dan bintang Republik Czech, Kristina Plis­kova.

Kehadiran Kimiko, 43, pemenang pingat emas Sukan Asia 1994 dan juara Terbuka Korea 2009 serta Pliskova bakal memeriahkan lagi kejohanan bernilai AS$250,000 (RM819,874) itu selepas beberapa pemain ternama seperti bekas pemain No. 1 dunia, Venus Williams, naib juara Terbuka Australia, Dominika Cibulkova dan penyandang juara, Karolina Pliskova antara yang terawal mengesahkan keha­diran.

Ini bukan kali pertama Kimiko, pemain No. 98 dunia datang ke ibu kota. Penampilan sulungnya pada 2011 menyaksikan dia tersingkir seawal pusingan pertama.

Seperti Kimiko, Kristyna juga mempunyai matlamat yang sama. Diletakkan sebagai pilihan kelapan tahun lalu, juara remaja Wimbledon 2010 itu gagal menepati statusnya apabila tumpas di tangan pemain Kazakhstan, Zarina Diyas pada pusingan pertama.

Kristyna bagaimanapun tidak meninggalkan Malaysia tanpa kenangan manis. Bersama kakak kembarnya, Karolina, mereka me­langkah ke separuh akhir dalam saingan beregu. Pasangan adik-ber­adik itu tentunya menjadi antara pilihan untuk menjuarai pertan­dingan beregu selepas memenangi gelaran sulung mereka di Linz, Austria pada Oktober tahun lalu.

Cibulkova dan Williams masing-masing diletak sebagai pilihan pertama dan kedua, diikuti Zhang ­Shuai serta Karolina sebagai pilihan ketiga dan keempat.

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Sukan/20140409/su_07/Alyssa-sambar-tiket-wildcard-Terbuka-Malaysia#ixzz2yRvzM08l  © Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd 

Sukan Komanwel 2014 di Glasgow, Scotland : Enam atlet pelapis negara layak

Enam atlet pelapis negara layak

SERAMAI enam atlet pelapis kebangsaan layak untuk menyertai Sukan Komanwel 2014 di Glasgow, Scotland dari 23 Julai hingga 3 Ogos depan.

Pengarah Cawangan Pelapis Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Jefri Ngadirin berkata, empat daripada atlet pelapis yang layak itu adalah wakil daripada sukan menembak, manakala dua lagi atlet adalah daripada sukan angkat berat.

"Kami telah menghantar atlet pelapis ke beberapa kejohanan untuk melayakkan mereka ke Sukan Komanwel. Daripada kejohanan itu, enam atlet negara telah beraksi dengan baik dan melepasi kelayakan yang seterusnya melayakkan mereka ke Sukan Komanwel 2014," katanya di Kuala Lumpur semalam.

Beliau berkata, atlet pelapis menembak, Mohd. Lufthi Othman layak ke Sukan Komanwel 2014 menerusi acara rifle pada Kejohanan Menembak Terbuka Selangor yang berlangsung Januari lalu.

Tiga lagi rakannya iaitu Siau Cuili, Zul Haziq Rosli dan Jasmi Mohd. Zain berjaya menempatkan diri menerusi Kejohanan Piala Tun Tan Siew Sin yang berlansung Februari lepas.

Bagi sukan angkat berat, Constantine Clement berjaya menempah tiket ke Sukan Komanwel 2014 menerusi Kejohanan Angkat Berat Asia ke-16 yang berlangsung di Bangsaen, Thailand pada awal Februari lalu.

Rakannya, Mohd. Hazril Huzairi Ramli pula berjaya melayakkan diri menerusi Kejohanan Angkat Berat Terbuka Kebangsaan, Februari lepas.

Jefri berkata, kejayaan keenam-enam atlet pelapis meraih tiket ke Sukan Komanwel itu berpontensi untuk menambah pungutan pingat pada temasya berprestij tersebut.

Sebagai persiapan menghadapi Sukan Komanwel 2014, beliau berkata, kesemua enam atlet pelapis yang layak bersama empat pelapis lain akan menjalani latihan di Gunung Jerai, Kedah bermula esok sehingga 23 April.

"Selepas menjalani latihan di Gunung Jerai, kami akan ke Bandung, Indonesia untuk menjalani latihan selama sebulan bermula 10 Jun," katanya. - Bernama

Artikel Penuh: http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2014&dt=0409&pub=Kosmo&sec=Sukan&pg=su_05.htm#ixzz2yNNl5RUo