Wushu exponent Ying Ting itching for SEA Games action

National wushu exponent Loh Ying Ting.

PETALING JAYA: Wushu exponent Loh Ying Ting can’t wait to make her senior debut for the national team at the Singapore SEA Games in June.

After all, it’s been almost seven months since she last featured in a competition.
That was in August last year – when she ended her illustrious junior career by emerging as Youth Olympic Games (YOG) champion in Nanjing.

Although wushu was only a demonstration sport at the YOG, she still became the first national wushu exponent to have won every major event at international junior tournaments.

Ying Ting, a changquan (long fist) specialist, had previously bagged an impressive six gold medals from two World Junior Championships (2012 and 2014) and two Asian Junior Championships (2011 and 2013).

And Ying Ting is itching to get back into competitive mode.

“Having not competed for so long, I’m really looking forward to the Singapore SEA Games,” said Ying Ting, who is also fondly known as Panda.

“Like some of my team-mates, I’ve not competed since the YOG. So, the SEA Games keeps me motivated.

“But I’m not setting myself a lofty target as it’ll be my first senior-level competition and there’ll be so many formidable and experienced opponents there ... a podium finish would be a decent start for my senior debut.”

Ying Ting is right to play down her chances as she’ll be up against some of the best chanquan exponents in the region when the Games are held from June 5-16.

She is expected to face the likes of last year’s Incheon Asian Games bronze medallist Tan Yan Ni, defending champion Hoang Thi Phuong Giang and 2013 World Championships bronze medallist Duong Thuy Vi, both from powerhouse Vietnam, as well as Myanmar’s Sandi Oo, a silver medallist at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.

Yan Ni, who was also a runner-up at the previous Games in Myanmar, will surely be the one to beat this time around as she will enjoy homeground advantage.

Malaysia have yet to win a medal from the event since Chai Fong Wei clinched a bronze in the 2005 Manila SEA Games.

Divers to drive Malaysia’s golden quest in SEA Games aquatics

National diver Loh Zhiayi in action at the Incheon Asian Games in South Korea last year. - Filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: Unlucky or not, 13 is the magical number of gold medals that Malaysia hope to bag in aquatics at the Singapore SEA Games in June.

The bulk of it should come from diving, which aims to secure a clean sweep of all eight gold medals at stake for the second straight SEA Games.

But it will still be a daunting task due to the different line-ups in place.

Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) have finalised their entries for diving, with untested youngsters Mohd Syafiq and Adeline Chin likely to partner Ahmad Amsyar and Wendy Ng in the men’s and women’s 3m springboard synchro events respectively.

Asum will also be taking a gamble in the women’s 10m plaftorm synchro with Glasgow Commonwealth Games bronze medallists Pandelela Rinong and Nur Dhabitah Sabri reunited.

Nanjing Youth Olympics silver medallist Loh Zhiayi will be the main hope for gold in the absence of Pandelela from her pet 10m platform individual event together with veteran Leong Mun Yee.

Synchronised swimming, which was last held in Palembang in 2011, will make a return but Malaysia can only hope to win one of the three gold medals at stake this time.

Katrina Ann and Lee Yhing Huey are likely to be paired by China coach Long Yan to help contribute gold for Malaysia in the duet technical and free routine combined event.
While diving is expected to do its part, a big question lies over swimming.

Malaysian swimmers delivered four gold medals in Myanmar two years ago, with a double from Christina Loh in women’s 100m and 200m breaststroke while Daniel Lim and Khoo Cai Lin won the men’s and women’s 400m freestyle respectively.

The swimming list for SEA Games will only be finalised after the Malaysian Open at Bukit Jalil, starting on Thursday.

Asum acting secretary Mae Chen said that the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) wanted to gauge the current form of the swimmers before deciding on the final entries.

Makaf to send second liners for SEA karate meet

Top national karate exponent Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan, seen here with the 2014 Incheon Asian Games gold medal, will not be sent for the SEA Championships in Laos next month. - Filepic

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Karate Federation (Makaf) have made a bold decision by leaving out all their senior exponents from the South-East Asia (SEA) Karate Championships in Laos next month.

There are no places for Asian Games gold medallists Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan and Lim Chee Wei. Instead, Makaf have decided to send their back-up and junior exponents.

At the SEA Championships in Vietnam last year, Malaysia won eight golds to win the overall title. Syakilla emerged champion in the women’s below 61kg while Chee Wei clinched the men’s individual kata title.

“There is no point for the seniors like Syakilla and Chee Wei to compete this time. It is better for us to send our second liners,” said Makaf secretary Vincent Chen.

“We are treating the championships as part of the blooding process for the next SEA Games, which we will host in 2017,” he added.

Karate has been excluded in this year’s SEA Games in Singapore in June.
“We are confident we can maintain our position as the top team in the SEA Games in 2017. But we cannot take things for granted.

“Our South-East Asian rivals now want to emulate us after Syakilla’s success in winning the silver at the World Championships in Germany last November.
“Vietnam have recently engaged a Latvian coach. It is the first time they have brought in a foreign coach.  

“It is very important for us not to let our guard down. We must prepare well to make sure we have the exponents to take over the place of the seniors in case something happens,” said Vincent.
Malaysia, coached by Latvian Andris Vasiljevs, bagged eight golds at the last SEA Games in Myanmar two years ago.

Peluang Bola Jaring Samar Jika Tiada Emas Di Singapura

Ahli pasukan Selangor meraikan kejayaan muncul johan Kejohanan Bola Jaring Remaja KebangsaanKUALA LUMPUR, 22 Mac (Bernama) -- Peluang agak samar untuk sukan bola jaring tersenarai dalam Sukan SEA 2017 di Kuala Lumpur jika skuad kebangsaan tidak pulang dengan pingat emas pada temasya dwitahunan itu di Singapura, Jun depan.

Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail berkata adalah tidak terlalu tinggi meletakkan pingat emas sebagai kayu pengukur kerana Malaysia merupakan gergasi bola jaring di rantau Asia Tenggara.

Katanya, walaupun prestasi sukan itu agak menggusarkan tahun lepas, namun MSN masih menaruh harapan besar kerana selain pemenang pingat emas, Malaysia juga adalah juara lima kali berturut-turut Kejohanan Bola Jaring Remaja Asia.

"Sukan SEA kali ini adalah satu kejohanan yang amat penting kepada Persatuan Bola Jaring Malaysia (PBJM). Saya harap skuad bola jaring dapat tingkatkan usaha untuk pastikan penyertaan mereka kali ini bukan semata-mata untuk menyertai temasya Sukan SEA tapi untuk pastikan pingat emas dibawa balik.

"Sekiranya masih gagal, saya amat khuatir ini sedikit sebanyak menyukarkan lagi PBJM untuk justifikasikan keperluan dan kepentingan sukan bola jaring dipertandingkan di Sukan SEA 2017," katanya kepada pemberita selepas penutup Kejohanan Bola Jaring Remaja Kebangsaan ke-31 di Stadium Juara Bukit Kiara di sini Ahad.

Mengenai persiapan skuad bola jaring kebangsaan, Ahmad Shapawi berkata beliau berpuas hati dengan persiapan yang dilakukan sejak tahun lepas ketika skuad negara membuat persiapan menyertai Kejohanan Dunia di Australia.

Beliau berkata pihaknya akan membantu pihak persatuan menyelesaikan beberapa masalah dari segi latihan termasuk mendapatkan pelepasan pemain selain memperbanyakkan program latihan secara intensif untuk memastikan skuad negara benar-benar bersedia bagi menghadapi cabaran terutama daripada pasukan tuan rumah Singapura.

"MSN akan cuba bantu untuk dapatkan pelepasan untuk pastikan para pemain dapat beri tumpuan bukan sahaja dari segi masa tetapi juga perhatian secara sepenuh masa dalam persiapan akhir menjelang Sukan SEA," katanya.

Pada perlawanan akhir hari ini, skuad remaja Selangor muncul juara selepas menjinakkan Johor dengan jaringan 47-38 dalam perlawanan sengit manakala Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur meraih tempat ketiga selepas mengalahkan Pahang 57-45.

Pemain penyerang Selangor Nur Fariha Abdul Razak dinobatkan sebagai pemain terbaik kejohanan manakala pemain Sabah Dayang Raflizawati Mohamed muncul penjaring terbanyak kejohanan dengan 154 jaringan.

Netball's Chances Vague If No Gold In Singapore

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) -- The chances will be very slim for netball to be listed in the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur if the national squad does not return with the gold medal at the biennial meet in Singapore in June.

National Sports Council (MSN) director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said it was not overly high to use the gold medal as the yardstick because Malaysia is a netball giant in the Southeast Asian region.

He said although the performance of the sport was worrying last year, MSN still had high hopes because other than being the winner of the gold medal, Malaysia were also champions for five consecutive years at the Asian Youth Netball Championship.

"The SEA Games this time is a very important championship to the Malaysian Netball Association (PBJM). I hope the netball squad can boost efforts to ensure their participation this time is not merely to participate in the SEA Games but to ensure the gold medal is brought back.

"If they still fail, I am very worried this will make it difficult for PBJM to justify the need and importance of netball to be contested at the 2017 SEA Games," he told reporters after the closing of the 31st National Youth Netball Championship at Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara here, Sunday.

On the preparations of the national netball squad, Ahmad Shapawi said he was satisfied with the preparations carried out since last year when the national squad made preparations to take part in the World Netball Championship in Australia.

He said MSN would help the association to solve several problems in terms of training including getting the release of players and having more intensive training programmes to ensure the national squad was truly prepared to face the challenges especially from host team Singapore.

"MSN will try to help in getting releases so that the players can focus on the final preparations for the SEA games," he said.

In the final today, the Selangor youth squad emerged champions after taming Johor 47-38 in a stiffly-fought match while the Federal Teritory of Kuala Lumpur were third after beating Pahang 57-45.

Selangor striker Nur Fariha Abdul Razak was named Player of the tournament while Sabahan Dayang Raflizawati Mohamed was top scorer with 154 points.

SEA Games Archery Squad Will Be Determined Before April 1

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) -- The National Association of Archery Malaysia (NAAM) will decide on the national squad to the SEA Games before April 1.

Its president, Mohd Yazid Yahya said the members of the squad would be picked based on their performances at the Bangkok Open, Thailand on March 16-22 and the National Archery Championship (Circuit 1) which ended today.

"The performance of the back-up archers who participated at the National Archery Championship is very encouraging. There were also young athletes, especially in the compound bow event, who were capable of equalling national athletes in action at the Bangkok Open now.

"The squad to the SEA Games will be decided based on the performances of our athletes at both championships," he told Bernama at the closing of the National Archery Championship at the Keramat Sports Complex, here, Saturday.

In addition, he said the association had also appointed Lt Commander Ibrahim Haron as the team manager for the national archery squad to the SEA Games which will be held from June 5-16.

He replaces the previous manager who has withdrawn.

A total 284 athletes from 28 teams took part in the four-day meet which is a stepping stone for young athletes to brush up on their talents in a sport which requires deep focus.

A Sarawak-born archer in the compound bow category, Lau Jiun Sien, 23,from the Nadi-USM-Elite Sports team, attracted a lot of attention after winning four gold medals, in the 50 metre overall qualifying round event, individual Olympic, team Olympic (women) and mixed team Olympic.

"I am very proud and did not expect to win many medals. I hope I will represent Malaysia at the international level one day," said the third year student in Sports Science at Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the championship director, Rahimi Ahmad Sulaiman said the development programme had borne fruit because the achievements of back up athletes at the championship was very encouraging.

"I saw young athletes who were capable of reaching the final round, showing that the archery sport development programme has succeeded in producing young athletes with the potential to perform at the international stage," said Rahimi who is NAAM adviser.

Among the young athletes who created a stir at the championship were Muhd Syauqi Azmi, 15, Caroline Fread, 17, and Brian Wong, 16, from the Sabah Archers team.

Rayzam hurdles his way to Singapore SEA Games

National hurdler Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian (right) racing at the 2011 Indonesia SEA Games. - Filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: Hurdler Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian has beaten his own qualifying mark to seal a place in the Singapore SEA Games in June.

The Sabahan clocked the season’s best time of 13.98 in the men’s 110m hurdles en route to winning bronze in the Australian Tour final in Sydney on Sunday.

His efforts surpassed his silver medal effort of 14.00 set at the 2013 Myanmar SEA Games.
The 27-year-old Rayzam, who has a personal best of 13.86, is happy to have qualified for the biennial Games but admitted that it would be tough to win the gold in Singapore.

“Thailand’s Jamras (Rittidet) will be the favourite as he has a personal best of 13.72 (which he set in Myanmar to break the SEA Games record).

“I’ll continue training and competing to improve on my time,” said Rayzam, the 2007 Korat SEA Games gold medallist.

SEA Games gold medallist Nauraj Singh Randhawa cleared 2.20m in the men’s high jump to finish fourth in Sydney.

The lanky Johor athlete had qualified for the SEA Games after a personal best of 2.22m in the Canberra Classics last month.

Triple jumper Mohd Hakimi Ismail failed to beat his own mark to qualify for the SEA Games. He managed 16.04m in Sydney but it was way off his national record of 16.44m set in the Myanmar Games.

Meanwhile, Izzuddin Yahaya of Perlis is the first male sprinter to have qualified for the SEA Games – clocking 10.48 in the men’s 100m final at the Terengganu Open last week to surpass the qualifying mark of 10.51.

So far, 12 athletes – seven male and five women – have surpassed the qualifying mark.
The others include 400m runner Arif Zulhilmi Alet, Mohd Ashraf Saipu Rahmat (high jump), Iskandar Alwi (pole vault) and Mohd Irfan Shamsuddin (discus) for men and Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli (100m), Noor Amira Nafiah (long jump), Yap Jeng Tzan (discus), Grace Wong and Casier Renee Kelly Lee (hammer) for women.

Syafiq gets a boost ahead of SEA Games selection

PETALING JAYA: Teenage squash player Mohd Syafiq Kamal did his chances of making the SEA Games squad a world of good after producing a matured performance to guide Malaysia to SEA Cup triumph in Singapore.

Despite only sending four players – Syafiq, Mohd Hannan Tarmidi, Zulhijjah Azan and Teh Min Jie – the Malaysian squad lived up to expectations by thrashing Thailand A and Philippines 5-0 in the preliminary stages. They then defeated Indonesia 3-1 in the semi-finals and edged Singapore 3-2 in the final on Saturday.

In the final, the 18-year-old Syafiq delivered the crucial point by beating the experienced Marcus Phua 11-3, 11-6, 11-9.

Singapore had earlier taken the lead when 29-year-old Vivian Rhamanan defeated 20-year-old Hannan 11-4, 11-6, 11-7.

Buoyed by Syafiq’s fine win, Zulhijjah and Min Jie won their matches with relative ease to seal victory for Malaysia, who conceded the last doubles.

The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) have decided to send their second stringers to the SEA Games and Syafiq and Hannan are expected to attend a trial on Thursday to fight for the one spot left in the squad.

The other three members in the four-man team are expected to be Mohd Addeen Idrakie, Sanjay Singh Chal and Valentino Bon Jovi Bong.

There will be no trials for the women’s squad, with Zulhijjah and Min Jie expected to be named with Vanessa Raj and Rachel Arnold.

Five Athletes Shortlisted For 'post' Of Malaysian SEA Games Contingent's Flag Bearer

SG2015: Press Conference @seagames2015 @drshamala @MSNMALAYSIA @isnmas @Khairykj @ManOlimpik @AtletMalaysia @TeamMsia pic.twitter.com/bpmlEWGTsB
— NOC Malaysia (@ocm_mom) March 4, 2015

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- Five athletes have been short listed to be the Malaysian contingent's flag bearer at the 28th SEA Games in Singapore said Chef-de-Mission Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria.

"At the SEA Games secretariat level we have short listed five candidates to be the flag bearer. The short listed athletes were identified based on their achievement at the previous SEA Games and current performances.

"The list will be submitted to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM). Once the OCM selects the candidate, I will make an announcement," he told reporters after chairing a SEA Games managers meeting at the OCM Indoor Sports Complex, here today.

Norza however, did not reveal their names.

He said during the meeting all 39 team managers who represented 35 sports were told to submit their final list of athletes, coaches and officials for the SEA Games in Singapore from June 5 to 16, by March 15.

"The SEA Games in Singapore will start in 93 days. We have also set up a portal to monitor the preparations of the contingent. All sports involved in the SEA Games will update information in the portal," he said.

Norza said the current number of athletes, coaches and officials listed for the SEA Games was 861, comprising 655 athletes and 206 officials.

He said the final phase of centralised training for the SEA Games contingent would be held at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Skudai, Johor from May 28 to 30.

The teams will leave in stages from Johor by bus.

Tiga Aksi Persahabatan Di Bangkok Medan Kim Swee Nilai Keserasian Pemain

Tamat 3 sesi latihan yg singkat namun pemain menunjukkan komitmen yg amat positif. Terima kasih pada semua kelab yg memberi kerjasama erat.
— ONG KIM SWEE (@OKS_HARIMAUMUDA) March 3, 2015

PETALING JAYA, 3 Mac (Bernama) -- Tiga aksi persahabatan di Bangkok, Thailand bermula 21 Mac ini, menjadi medan terbaik bagi pengendali skuad bawah 23 tahun kebangsaan Datuk Ong Kim Swee untuk menilai keserasian permainan dalam kalangan pemain.

Beliau berkata aksi persahabatan berkenaan termasuk pertemuan menentang skuad bawah 22 tahun Thailand merupakan peluang terbaiknya menguji pemain sebelum memilih senarai akhir 20 pemain ke Sukan SEA 2015 di Singapura pada Jun.

"Daripada tiga perlawanan persahabatan itu, saya turut mahu mengembalikan semula kecergasan pemain kerana mereka jarang beraksi bersama pasukan masing-masing," katanya ketika ditemui Bernama pada sesi latihan skuad berkenaan di Wisma Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Kelana Jaya, di sini pada Selasa.

Pengendali berusia 44 tahun itu berkata keputusan di Bangkok bukan menjadi keutamaannya, namun lebih memberi fokus kepada peningkatan corak persembahan pemain.

"Saya akan membawa 25 pemain ke Bangkok, namun mereka perlu membuktikan prestasi mereka bagi merebut tempat dalam kesebelasan utama pasukan," kata Kim Swee.

Dalam pada itu, beliau memuji komitmen tinggi yang dipamerkan oleh pemain yang dipanggil untuk menjalani latihan pusat sejak Ahad lepas, kerana sentiasa berusaha merebut tempat dalam kesebelasan utama.

"Saya percaya pemain-pemain ini kalau dipanggil kerap kali (bagi sesi latihan pusat) atau diberi peluang beraksi dalam kesebelasan utama pasukan masing-masing, mereka mampu bersaing di peringkat yang tinggi," katanya.

Kim Swee berkata pemain berkenaan akan dipanggil semula untuk sesi latihan fasa kedua pada 15 Mac ini, sebelum mereka berlepas ke Bangkok untuk tiga aksi persahabatan tersebut.

Sesi latihan fasa pertama skuad B-23 negara ke Sukan SEA 2015, bermula Ahad lepas dan berakhir Selasa.

Langkawi Venue Perahu Layar Sukan SEA 2017

LANGKAWI, 3 Mac (Bernama) -- Langkawi dipilih sebagai venue bagi acara sukan perahu layar pada Sukan Sea 2017 yang akan berlangsung di Kompleks Perahu Layar Kebangsaan di sini.

Pengurus Besar Persatuan Pelayaran Malaysia (MYA), Mohd Afendy Abdullah berkata MYA mengalu-alukan dan menyambut baik pemilihan Langkawi sebagai salah satu venue sukan Sea itu.

"Pegawai-pegawai kanan Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) dan Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) telah melakukan lawatan ke kompleks itu baru-baru ini untuk meninjau persiapan kemudahan dan kelengkapan kompleks itu", katanya kepada Bernama di sini Selasa.

Katanya, kompleks itu pernah menganjurkan beberapa kejohanan antarabangsa seperti Kejohanan Perahu layar Dunia pada tahun 2010 dan Kejohanan Asia 2011.

Langkawi To Host Sailing Events During 2017 Sea Games

LANGKAWI, March 3 (Bernama) -- Sailing events for the 2017 SEA Games hosted by Malaysia are expected to be held at the National Sailing Complex in Langkawi.

Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA) general manager Mohd Afendy Abdullah said the MYA welcomed the decision to pick Langkawi as one of the venues for the SEA Games.

"Officers from the Youth and Sports Ministry and the National Sports Council (NSC) visited the complex recently to check on the facilities and services available at the complex," he told Bernama, here Tuesday.

Mohd Afendy said since Langkawi had hosted the 2010 World Sailing Championship and the 2011 Asian Sailing Championship at the complex, he was confident that the venue would be ideal to host the events during the SEA Games.

Kim Swee To Use Three Friendly Matches In Thailand To Identify Players For SEA Games

Fasa kedua latihan akan disambung pada 15 Mac dengan 3 perlawanan persahabatan di Bangkok, Thailand bermula dari 21 hingga 31 Mac.
— ONG KIM SWEE (@OKS_HARIMAUMUDA) March 3, 2015

PETALING JAYA, March 3 (Bernama) -- Three friendly matches in Bangkok, Thailand starting March 21, will kick off National Under-23 squad coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee's final phase of preparations for the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore.

Kim Swee said the friendly matches against the Thai Under-22 squad would also give him the opportunity to gauge the performance of his players before naming the squad for the SEA Games task in June.

"Through the three matches I also hope to restore their level of fitness because they have not been playing many competitive matches lately," he told Bernama when met after a training session at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya, here Tuesday.

The 44-year-old coach said the results of the matches in Bangkok would not be the main concern but rather the team work and coordination would be the main focus.

"I will take 25 players to Bangkok but they must fight for places in the first team," said Kim Swee.

Kim Swee said the first phase of training for the SEA Games started on Sunday and ended today while the players will be recalled for the second phase that starts on March 15, before flying off to Bangkok.

Gymnasts selection for Singapore SEA Games set for March 14

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Gymnastics Federation (MGF) will select the artistic and rhythmic gymnasts for the Singapore SEA Games on March 14.

The selection will not include the men’s artistic discipline as the MGF have decided on fielding just two gymnasts – Mohd Hamzarudin Nordin, 21, and Jeremiah Loo, 17.

Jeremiah will be making his debut at the June 5-16 Games while Hamzarudin will be making his second appearance following his nightmare debut in 2011 in Indonesia. Then, he suffered an ankle injury during competition.

MGF deputy president Kau Git Kaur is not expecting any miracles from the duo.

Gymnastics will offer 16 gold medals, eight of those to be contested in the men’s artistic discipline.
Five gold medals will be up for grabs in the women’s artistic discipline, with two more offered in the rhythmic competition for the individual all-around and group exercise events.

“The SEA Games will offer the boys a chance to gain more experience. I’m confident they’ll have no problem getting into the finals, but they still have a lot more to do to get on the podium,” said Git Kaur.

“Hamza is finding it a challenge balancing studies and gymnastics. At times, he’s had to miss training and so it hinders his preparations for the Games,” he added.

“As for Jeremiah, he continues to show a lot of promise after his training stint in China. He just lacks experience.

“He’s competed in his first major event at the Youth Olympic Games last year. So this will be a good test for them.”