Malaysia And Singapore Voice Concern About Medical Facilities At The Games Village

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Two SEA Games Federation (SGF) members, Malaysia and Singapore, have voiced their concern over the move by the 25th SEA Games host, Laos, to locate the national Olympic councils (NOCs) and the medical officers outside the Games Village.

In a chefs-de-mission (CDM) report issued after their meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on Sunday and obtained by Bernama today, the two countries said that the the NOCs staff and medical officers ideally must be close to the athletes to assist them when required.

Malaysia was represented at the meeting by chef-de-mission, Datuk Dr Ramlan Abd Aziz.

"The proximity of the NOCs and medical support for teams is very important and any delay in access, even in a matter of minutes, can be a risk to performance potential," Dr Ramlan said in the report.

Meanwhile, representative from Singapore said they had a big medical team including doctors, physiotherapists and psychologists and these people must be close to the atheletes because they worked closely with them.

According to the report, the meeting chaired by the vice-president of the Laos National Sports Committee and chairman of the technical and competition committee, Somphou Phongsa, was told that the Laos SEA Games Organising Comittee (Laosoc) medical team would try to arrange the needed space for the NOCs and medical teams in the Games village once its received the actual number of athletes and officials who would be staying there.

"Although the NOC offices and medical rooms will be located outside the village, the polyclinic will be available in the village," the report said.

The report also said that the Games Village would be officially opened on Nov 27 but some sports such as football for both men and women would start before the opening ceremony, on Nov 9.

The Games Village was built in Nongviengkham village, Xaythany district, near the National University of Laos' Dongdok campus in July 2008.

The project was completed last month at a total cost of US$19 million (about RM65 million).

The village has eight buildings and other auxiliary facilities.

Eight four-storey buildings with international standard facilities will contain 1,000 rooms and accommodate 4,000 athletes.

When the games end, the village and all its facilities will be handed over to the National University of Laos.

The draw for all the events will be held on Nov 9 except that for badminton, which will be held on Nov 5.

-- BERNAMA

Rajagobal dilanda resah

AZLAN (kiri) antara pemain yang dipanggil menyertai skuad B-23 negara.

---

PERSIAPAN skuad bawah 23 tahun (B-23) negara terjejas.

Semuanya gara-gara masalah kecederaan yang dialami oleh beberapa tonggak utamanya.

Mereka hanya ada masa lima minggu lagi untuk membuat persiapan sebelum memulakan misi pada Sukan SEA XXV Laos.

Perkembangan itu mengundang resah kepada jurulatih, K. Rajagobal. (gambar)

Selepas pemain sayap dari Kedah, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri terpaksa berehat panjang setelah menjalani pembedahan lutut, enam lagi pemain turut mengalami kecederaan ketika ini.

Mereka termasuk Amirulhadi Zainal dan Asraruddin Putra Omar (Selangor), Azmi Muslim dan Bunyamin Umar (UPB-MyTeam), Farderin Kadir (KM Naza) dan Muslim Ahmad (Harimau Muda).

Rajagobal tidak dapat menyembunyikan perasaan bimbangnya dengan situasi tersebut yang secara langsung menjejaskan persiapan mereka menghadapi dua tugas penting dalam masa terdekat.

Selain membuat persediaan menghadapi Sukan SEA, skuad B-23 negara ini juga akan menentang Uzbekistan pada 14 dan 18 November ini pada pusingan kelayakan Piala Asia 2011.

"Ada dua perkara yang saya risaukan iaitu keletihan serta kecederaan pemain setelah mereka beraksi dalam Piala Malaysia.

"Perlawanan akhir hanya akan berlangsung pada 7 November dan saya ada masa seminggu sahaja untuk membuat persiapan sebelum kita bertemu Uzbekistan.

"Selepas itu, kita ada seminggu lebih saja sebelum beraksi pada Sukan SEA.

"Jadi, saya nak semua orang yang memberi sasaran untuk kita memenangi pingat emas pada Sukan SEA memahami situasi ini.

"Siapa yang tidak mahu menang, tapi kita kena juga lihat faktor sekeliling.

"Apa pun, kami akan tetap mencuba yang terbaik ketika bertemu Uzbekistan dan juga pada Sukan SEA kelak," kata Rajagobal ketika dihubungi Kosmo! semalam.

Bagi perlawanan bertemu Uzbekistan, Rajagobal bakal menyelitkan dua pemain melebihi had umur yang ditetapkan iaitu kapten Selangor, Amri Yahyah dan kapten KL Plus, Norhafiz Zamani Misbah, tetapi memilih untuk tidak memanggil kapten Kelantan, Indra Putra Mahayuddin.

"Saya tahu Indra beraksi cemerlang bersama Kelantan. Tapi saya kena fikir bahawa sasaran utama skuad ini ialah Sukan SEA. Jadi saya perlu beri peluang lebih kepada pemain B-23 pada dua perlawanan bertemu Uzbekistan.

"Kita juga mungkin mengadakan satu perlawanan persahabatan menentang Indonesia pada 9 November sebelum turun menentang Uzbekistan," katanya yang akan memanggil semula pertahanan Kelantan, Ahmad Azlan Zainal, 23, bagi mengisi tempat Muslim yang cedera. - KOSMO

Kita tak sasar lebih - Shabery

MALAYSIA tidak mensasarkan pungutan emas yang tinggi pada temasya Sukan SEA di Laos kerana banyak acara yang menjadi kelebihan kepada negara tidak dipertandingkan.

Demikian tegas Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek (gambar) semalam.

"Laos tidak mempertandingkan acara yang menjadi lubuk emas bagi Malaysia seperti gimnastik, gimrama, tenpin boling, skuasy, terjun, ekuestrian, hoki lelaki dan wanita, boling padang, polo, pelayaran dan triatlon," katanya kepada selepas merasmikan Persidangan Dunia Belia Kesatuan Jaringan Antarabangsa-Global di ibu negara semalam.

Untuk rekod, Malaysia telah pun kehilangan 32 pingat emas daripada acara yang digugurkan oleh Laos pada temasya sukan itu yang akan mempertandingkan 384 pingat emas menerusi 25 acara sukan termasuk sukan tradisional seperti renang sirip, timang bulu ayam dan muay thai.

Kontinjen negara hanya mensasarkan kutipan antara 30 hingga 35 pingat emas menerusi 21 acara sukan yang disertai.

Malaysia akan mengambil bahagian dalam acara renang dan terjun, taekwondo, memanah, olahraga, badminton, snuker & billiard, tinju, lumba basikal, bola sepak, golf, judo, karate, silat, petanque, sepak takraw, menembak, ping pong, tenis, bola tampar, angkat berat dan wusyu.

Ahmad Shabery berkata, pada tahun depan atlet negara akan berdepan dengan kejohanan sukan yang lebih besar iaitu Sukan Komanwel di New Delhi, India (3 hingga 14 Oktober 2010) dan Sukan Asia di Guangzhou, China (12 hingga 27 November 2010).

"Harapan dan sasaran yang lebih besar perlu diletakkan pada Sukan Komanwel dan Sukan Asia pada tahun depan kerana lebih banyak acara yang dipertandingkan pada kedua-dua temasya tersebut," katanya.

Sementara itu, Ahmad Shabery turut meluahkan rasa kecewanya dengan sikap segelintir akhbar tempatan yang kurang melaporkan berita sukan tempatan berbanding dengan laporan sukan luar negara.

"Ada akhbar tempatan langsung tidak menyiarkan berita sukan tempatan dan perkara seperti ini tidak sepatutnya berlaku kerana ia akan merosakkan pembangunan industri sukan negara," katanya. - Bernama

KBS Akur Sasaran Pingat Emas Kurang Di Laos

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 Okt (Bernama) -- Malaysia tidak mensasarkan pungutan emas yang tinggi pada temasya Sukan SEA di Laos kerana banyak acara yang boleh menyumbang kepada negara tidak dipertandingkan, kata Menteri Belia dan Sukan Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

"Laos tidak mempertandingkan acara yang menjadi lubuk emas bagi Malaysia seperti gimnastik, gimrama, tenpin boling, skuasy, terjun, ekuestrian, hoki lelaki dan wanita, boling padang, polo, pelayaran dan triathlon," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Persidangan Dunia Belia Kesatuan Jaringan Antarabangsa-Global di sini pada Rabu.

Sebagai rekod, Malaysia telahpun kehilangan 32 pingat emas daripada acara yang digugurkan oleh Laos pada temasya sukan itu yang akan mempertandingkan 384 pingat emas menerusi 25 acara sukan termasuk sukan tradisional seperti renang sirip, timang bulu ayam dan muay thai.

Kontinjen negara hanya mensasarkan kutipan antara 30 hingga 35 pingat emas menerusi 21 acara sukan yang disertai.

Malaysia akan mengambil bahagian dalam acara renang dan terjun, taekwondo, memanah, olahraga, badminton, snuker & billiard, tinju, berbasikal, bola sepak,golf,judo, karate, silat, petanque, sepak takraw, menembak, ping-pong, tenis, bola tampar, angkat berat dan wushu.

Ahmad Shabery berkata pada tahun depan atlet negara akan berdepan dengan kejohanan sukan yang lebih besar iaitu Kejohanan Sukan Komanwel di New Delhi, India (3-14 Okt 2010) dan Kejohanan Sukan Asia di Guangzhou, China (12-27 Nov 2010).

"Harapan dan sasaran yang lebih besar perlu diletakkan kepada Kejohanan Sukan Komanwel dan Kejohanan Sukan Asia pada tahun depan kerana lebih banyak acara yang dipertandingkan pada kedua-dua kejohanan tersebut," katanya.

Sementara itu, Ahmad Shabery turut meluahkan rasa kecewanya dengan sikap segelintir akhbar tempatan yang kurang melaporkan berita sukan tempatan berbanding dengan laporan sukan luar negara.

"Ada diantara akhbar tempatan langsung tidak menyiarkan berita sukan tempatan dan perkara seperti ini tidak sepatutnya berlaku kerana ianya akan merosakkan pembangunan industri sukan negara," katanya.

-- BERNAMA

SEASA uji kekuatan sebenar penembak Sukan SEA

utusan.com.my

kehadiran semula (dari kiri) Bibiana Ng, Joseline Cheah serta Nur Masitah Badrin daripada penggantungan dua tahun akibat dadah mampu menghadirkan cabaran lebih mantap buat skuad negara pada Sukan SEA Laos Disember ini. - UTUSAN/ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE

KUALA LUMPUR - Kekuatan sebenar skuad menembak negara yang memburu empat pingat emas pada Sukan SEA, Disember ini akan diuji pada Kejohanan Menembak SEASA di Bangkok, 2-9 November ini.

Kesemua 14 penembak yang bakal menggalas cabaran di Laos akan beraksi di Bangkok untuk menguji sejauh mana tahap persediaan mereka selepas menjalani latihan fasa akhir di Langkawi sejak bulan puasa lalu.

Malah, Persatuan Menembak Kebangsaan Malaysia (NSAM) turut menyenaraikan 22 penembak remaja bagi bersaing dalam acara peringkat umur.

Menurut pengurus sukan (menembak) Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Lt. Emran Zakaria, SEASA ibarat Mini Sukan SEA kerana ia menghimpunkan sebahagian besar penembak yang akan beraksi di Laos nanti.

"Ia umpama gelanggang sebenar Sukan SEA, kebanyakan negara akan menurunkan penembak terbaik mereka yang akan beraksi di Laos untuk menguji kemampuan masing-masing, sambil mengintai keupayaan lawan.

"Kalau Malaysia menurunkan skuad Sukan SEA, negara lain seperti Thailand dan Vietnam juga berbuat begitu kerana itulah yang kebiasaannya. SEASA adalah kejohanan terakhir yang ada untuk menguji penembak,'' ujar Emran.

Kata Emran lagi, sekiranya pada kejohanan terakhir SEASA di Hanoi, tahun lalu Malaysia pulang bersama lima emas dan NSAM berharap untuk mengulangi pencapaian itu atau tidak mustahil memperbaikinya.

Kata Emran, kehadiran semula tiga penembak pistol negara, Bibiana Ng, Joseline Cheah serta Nur Masitah Badrin daripada penggantungan dua tahun akibat dadah mampu menghadirkan cabaran lebih mantap buat skuad negara.

Malah, pasukan negara juga akan diperkuatkan oleh penembak Olimpik, Mohd. Hasli Izwan Amir Hassan dalam acara 25m Rapid Fire Pistol.

"Secara peribadi, saya rasa empat pingat emas yang disasarkan di Sukan SEA hanya satu sasaran sederhana, kita sebenarnya boleh merangkul lebih baik daripada itu.

"Saya percaya, penembak yang dihimpunkan Malaysia kali ini adalah yang terbaik dan mampu melakar satu keputusan cemerlang di Laos tetapi kita tidak boleh terlalu yakin,'' katanya lagi.

Sejurus tamat cabaran SEASA, semua penembak akan beraksi pula pada Kejohanan Kebangsaan di Subang, 18-22 November ini sebelum kembali ke Langkawi.

Pada Sukan SEA 2007 di Korat, menembak membawa pulang dua pingat emas menerusi Nur Suryani Taibi dalam 25m Rapid Fire Pistol wanita, selain 50m rifle prone wanita.

Pada Temasya Laos, yang akan berlangsung 9-18 Disember, Malaysia akan merebut 20 daripada 30 pingat emas yang ditawarkan iaitu dengan bertanding dalam 10 daripada 17 acara.

Taekwondo masih punya peluang ke Vientiane

ATLIT taekwondo diharap dapat meneruskan latihan persediaan ke Sukan Sea kerana belum ada sebarang keputusan rasmi yang menafikan pemergian mereka ke temasya dwitahunan itu, kata Setiausaha Kehormat Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM), Datuk Sieh Kok Chi.

"Semua persediaan untuk atlit sudah dibuat termasuk pendaftaran nama mereka untuk ke kejohanan itu dan kami tidak menerima sebarang keputusan rasmi yang menidakkan pemergian mereka," katanya.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara, Datuk Zolkples Embong turut menegaskan, andai taekwondo digugurkan, sudah pasti negara kehilangan dua pingat emas lagi selepas Laos menggugurkan banyak acara yang menjadi lubuk emas negara.

"Kami berharap segala permasalahan dalam taekwondo dapat diselesaikan segera kerana ia membabitkan kepentingan negara dan pembangunan sukan ini," katanya ketika diminta mengulas kenyataan peribadi Presiden MOM, Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar.

Sabtu lalu, Tunku Imran, dipetik sebagai berkata, atlit taekwondo mungkin tidak dibenarkan ke Laos kerana persatuan gagal menyelesaikan kemelut dalaman mereka berkaitan.

Kimbeley’s hopes of making SEA Games history dashed

By LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: Kimbeley Yap’s hopes of becoming the first Malaysian athlete to compete in three different sports in the SEA Games series have been dashed.

The two-time SEA Games gold medallist is out of the women’s road cycling squad for the competitions in Laos in December after undergoing surgery to correct a slipped disc last month.

Coach Mohd Shari Mohd Noor said that there was not enough time for Kimbeley to make a full recovery.

Unfit for Laos: Kimbeley underwent surgery to correct a slipped disc last month.

“She needs time to get back to bike training and it is unsure whether we can push her in less than two months before the Games. It’s better for her to get well fully from the surgery,” he said.

Kimbeley earned a place in the squad for the Laos Games after winning the gold medal in the women’s road individual time trial at the Mini Olympic Games in Putrajaya in August.

The second Malaysia entry for the event at the Laos Games is Mariana Mohamad. With Kimbeley out, Noor Azian Alias will be the replacement rider and she will also be leading the Malaysian squad in the road race.

Noor Azian won the road race gold medal at the 2005 Manila SEA Games and took silver in the 2007 Asian championship.

“Noor Azian and Mariana left recently for Melbourne to join the national track cyclists based there.

They will be training under John Beasley,” said Shari.

The others in the women’s road cycling squad for the Laos Games are Masziyaton Mohd Radzi, Nurul Ahmar Badeuzzaman and Nurfarahdini Zakaria.

Kimbeley said that she has more or less resigned to her fate.

“I was not sure whether I should go or not in the first place. There is no point if I am not fit and cannot give a good challenge and at the same time take care not to push too hard,” she said.

“My back is okay now after rehabilitation compared to the first two weeks when I could not drive or get out of bed. But it is the nerves on the leg muscles that are giving me problems and they take time to heal.”

Kimbeley, a SEA Games medallist in swimming, won the triathlon gold medal in the 2005 and 2007 Games.

Triathlon is not in the programme of the Laos Games and only road cycling events will be contested in Vientiane, offering four gold medals.

Big Apple stint ahead of SEA Games charge

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian women’s beach volleyball players are undergoing a two-week training stint in New York as they gear up for a medal onslaught in the Laos SEA Games in December.

The stint is conducted by Eric LeCain, a former professional beach volleyball player in the United States.

The players in camp together with coach Lim Poh Hong since last week are Beh Shun Thing, Luk Teck Hua, Jessie Lee Jay See, Chia Chou Hwa and Iswari Manokharan.

“Training is held between 9am and 5pm, there is a two-hour break in between the sessions,” said Poh Hong.

“The first week’s training programme emphasised on plyometric, speed and endurance and individual techniques.”

She added that the stint would also serve as a good tune-up for the World Tour leg in Phuket from Nov 4-8.

Back-up player Tan Chiew Lee is not with the team as she is preparing for her final exams at the Universiti Putra Malaysia. But she will be back to compete in Phuket.

“The competitions in Phuket will give us the opportunities to study our rivals from Thailand and Indonesia, who were the gold and silver medallists in the last SEA Games in Korat,” said Poh Hong.

“We also have to watch out for Indonesia and Vietnam, who have showed much improvement during the Asian circuits in April.

“Shun Thing and Teck Hua will be the best bet for medals for us in Laos after obtaining the bronze in Korat. I hope they will be able to do better in Vientiane.

“They came close to making the final in Korat and I hope they will not miss it this time.”

Kedudukan Robani, Rayzam belum terjamin

WALAUPUN tidak disenaraikan, Muhd. Faiz Mohammad masih boleh mengisi satu daripada dua slot kelayakan acara 110m Sukan SEA Laos jika berjaya memperbaiki kelayakan di Terbuka Singapura dan Terbuka Perak.

KUALA LUMPUR - 'Tiada pilih kasih'. Itu tegas Timbalan Presiden Kesatuan Olahraga Malaysia (KOAM), Karim Ibrahim berhubung pemilihan dua atlet acara 110 meter lari berpagar ke Sukan SEA Laos, Disember ini.

Jelasnya, walaupun KOAM telah menyenaraikan Mohd. Robani Hassan dan Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian ke Laos, peluang untuk seorang lagi pelari, Muhd. Faiz Mohammad masih tetap terbuka.

Tegasnya, walaupun nama Robani dan Rayzam sudah diserahkan kepada penganjur kejohanan yang bermula 9 hingga 19 Disember ini, Karim menjelaskan, bukan bermakna kedua-duanya terjamin bakal ke Laos.

"Memang kita telah menghantar nama Robani dan Rayzam dalam senarai awal yang akan beraksi di Laos dalam acara 110m berpagar.

"Nama mereka disenaraikan atas faktor catatan terbaik masing-masing.

"Namun, ini bukan bermakna tempat mereka sudah terjamin.

"Kita masih memberi peluang kepada Faiz untuk dia membuktikan bahawa dia lebih layak jika dia berjaya mengatasi catatan Robani dan Rayzam.

"Saya tidak pilih kasih terhadap siapa yang layak ke Laos, siapa yang lebih bagus, dia yang akan ke Laos,'' katanya ketika dihubungi semalam.

Pemilihan atlet acara 110m lari berpagar ke Laos mencetuskan persoalan mengenai siapa yang lebih layak selepas berakhir Kejohanan Olahraga Terbuka Malaysia baru-baru ini.

Ini kerana, dua pelari yang disebut-sebut bakal menguasai acara 110m berpagar, Robani dan Rayzam gagal beraksi pada acara akhir akibat kecederaan.

Acara tersebut dimenangi oleh Muhd. Faiz.

Kata Karim, Muhd. Faiz boleh membuktikan bahawa dia layak mengisi satu daripada dua slot kelayakan acara 110m berpagar pada kejohanan Terbuka Singapura dan Terbuka Perak, dalam tempoh terdekat.

"Robani dan Rayzam akan menyertai Kejohanan Olahraga Asia (ATF) bagi memperbaiki catatan selepas mereka tidak berlari pada acara akhir Terbuka Malaysia baru-baru ini,'' katanya.

Jelas Karim lagi, memang diakui dari segi catatan Rayzam merupakan pelari terbaik sebagai pemegang rekod Sukan SEA, namun ia dicatatkan dua tahun lalu.

Robani pula, katanya mempunyai catatan terbaik 13.85 saat tetapi ia dicatatkan tahun lalu.

"Kita tidak mahu ketepikan atlet yang bagus seperti Muhd. Faiz. Dia juara acara 110m berpagar pada Terbuka Malaysia.

"Dia masih ada satu bulan untuk membuktikan dia lebih baik berbanding Robani dan Rayzam,'' katanya.

Walau siapa pun yang bakal terpilih, tegas Karim, dua wakil negara yang akan beraksi dalam acara 110m berpagar berdepan tugas berat.

"Apabila kita menghantar dua pelari dalam acara ini, bermakna kita mengharapkan pingat emas.

"Kita tidak mahu sewenang-wenangnya melepaskan pingat emas dalam acara yang pada tradisinya milik kita pada Sukan SEA,'' katanya.

KOAM pilih Kota Kinabalu lokasi latihan pusat

bharian.com.my

BAYU Kota Kinabalu diharap mampu merangsang atlit olahraga negara untuk menggapai sasaran lapan pingat emas di Vientiane apabila ibu negeri Sabah itu dipilih sebagai lokasi latihan pusat oleh Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) untuk menghadapi Sukan Sea XXV.

Rasional pemilihan Kota Kinabalu sebagai destinasi latihan pusat tiga minggu ialah memberikan 'angin dan perubahan baru' kepada atlit kebangsaan yang asyik terperap di balapan dan Institut Sukan Negara (ISN), Bukit Jalil.

Namun, rancangan KOAM itu masih belum mendapat persetujuan mutlak daripada Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) yang diminta untuk membiayai latihan pusat khas olahraga selama 21 hari itu yang kemungkinan membabitkan hampir 50 atlit, jurulatih, pegawai dan kakitangan sokongan.

"Latihan pusat itu dijangka bermula sebaik atlit pulang daripada mengambil bahagian dalam Kejohanan Asia (ATF) di China, bulan depan.

"KOAM memilih Kota Kinabalu sebagai destinasi latihan ialah untuk memberikan kelainan kepada atlit dan menyuntik kesegaran dalam diri mereka dengan beralih daripada kebiasaan berlatih di tempat yang sama," kata Presiden KOAM, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

Ditanya apakah latihan pusat ini sudah mendapat persetujuan daripada MSN, Shahidan berkata KOAM yakin majlis tidak akan menghalang hasrat persatuan dan akan memberikan sokongan.

"KOAM dalam proses mengemukakan cadangan itu kepada MSN dan daripada perbincangan awal, tampak mereka tiada halangan," kata Shahidan. "KOAM mengharapkan MSN untuk membiayai latihan itu."

Shahidan juga berkata, KOAM akan memastikan latihan pusat itu tidak akan bertindih dengan kem latihan nasional yang kemungkinan dikelolakan MSN sebelum atlit berlepas ke Vientiane.

Kita sedia harungi Thailand'

KUALA LUMPUR - Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Sepak Takraw Malaysia (PSM), Datuk Arshad Yahya menyifatkan keputusan Thailand tidak menyertai sepak takraw gelung dalam Sukan SEA Laos, Disember ini sebagai tidak yakin dengan populariti acara yang diciptanya sendiri.

Baginya, soal laluan skuad elit bakal lebih sukar atau sebaliknya untuk menggapai emas temasya ke-25 itu tidak timbul kerana anak buah Haris Abdul Rahman sudah bersedia menghadapi apa sahaja rintangan yang mendatang dalam tiga lagi acara - berpasukan, antara regu dan beregu.

"Saya tertanya-tanya adakah ini satu muslihat Thailand atau seolah-olah mereka sendiri tidak yakin acara gelung mampu menarik minat negara lain menyertainya," katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia sebelum berlepas ke Jepun bagi mengiringi sebuah regu elit mengadakan perlawanan pertunjukan di sana.

Thailand rela tidak menyertai antara regu lelaki pada Kejohanan Dunia Piala Raja Thai Ke-24 di Bangkok, Julai lalu tetapi kesempatan ini masih gagal dimanfaatkan skuad elit negara yang dikecewakan Indonesia pada perlawanan akhir, 2-0.

Bagaimanapun Arshad atau lebih dikenali dengan Pak Chat, membayangkan acara sepak takraw gelung lama kelamaan bakal pupus sekiranya negara penciptanya sendiri sudah tidak berminat untuk bertanding pada sesebuah kejohanan antarabangsa sebesar Sukan SEA.

Kelmarin Persatuan Takraw Thailand (TAT) diberitakan telah membuat keputusan untuk mengorbankan emas gelung yang mampu digenggamnya di Laos, menerusi kiriman pendaftaran penyertaan pasukan kepada Persekutuan Sepak Takraw Asia (Astaf).

Myanmar memenangi emas gelung lelaki dan wanita ketika diperkenalkan pada Sukan SEA Filipina 2005 bagi menggantikan acara bulatan tetapi Thailand merampas semula kedua-duanya dalam temasya dwitahunan ke-24 di Korat pada 2007.

Negara Gajah Putih itu juga menyapu bersih keempat-empat pingat emas gelung lelaki dan wanita pada Sukan Dalam Dewan Asia Pertama dan Kedua, masing-masing di Bangkok 2005 dan Macau, dua tahun kemudian.

Acara gelung yang terus dipertandingkan dalam Sukan Dalam Dewan Asia Ketiga di Hanoi dan Ho Chi Minh tahun ini, memerlukan sepasukan lima pemain memasukkan bola ke salah satu daripada tiga gelung berjaring yang digantung setinggi 4.75 meter dari lantai gelanggang.

Bola perlu dimasukkan ke gelung sama ada menggunakan sepakan dalam, sepakan luar, lutut, sepakan sila, silangan belakang, badik sisi, membahu dan tandukan tetapi setiap seorang pemain tidak boleh mengulangi cara yang sama melebihi lima kali.

Lima pemain akan membentuk bulatan dan bergilir-gilir melakukan percubaan ke gelung sambil bergerak mengelilinginya dengan setiap pasukan diberikan tempoh 30 minit untuk menyudahkannya dengan mengutip mata tertinggi.

Malaysia tidak akan mengambil bahagian dalam acara ini di Laos tetapi sebuah pasukan dari Polis Diraja Malaysia diamanahkan untuk mendukung cabaran negara pada Sukan Dalam Dewan Asia Ketiga dari Sabtu ini hingga 8 November walaupun peluang meraih sebutir gangsa pun, agak tipis.

500 anggota kontinjen

MALAYSIA mempersiapkan lebih 490 atlit dan pegawai ke Sukan Sea XXV di Vientiane yang beraksi dalam 20 daripada 25 acara dengan sasaran untuk membawa pulang hampir 35 pingat emas.

Setiausaha Kehormat Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM), Datuk Sieh Kok Chi berkata, jumlah itu sudah hampir dimuktamadkan dengan kemungkinan hanya sedikit perubahan apabila ada persatuan sukan kebangsaan mengurangkan jumlah atlit masing-masing terutama daripada Kategori B.

Dalam jumlah itu, 374 terdiri daripada atlit manakala selebih ialah jurulatih, pengurus pasukan dan pegawai sokongan yang akan cuba merealisasikan sasaran emas Malaysia pada kejohanan yang akan bermula dari 9 hingga 18 Disember ini.

"Jumlah kontinjen negara ke Sukan Sea sudah hampir dimuktamadkan," kata Kok Chi ketika ditemui di pejabat di Wisma MOM, Jalan Hang Jebat, semalam. "Majlis MOM yang bersidang baru-baru ini sudah meluluskan atlit dan pegawai yang akan berkunjung ke Vientiane.

"Mungkin jumlah atlit akan berkurangan terutama sekali mereka dalam Kategori B yang dibiayai persatuan sukan kebangsaan.

"Jumlah atlit ini adalah munasabah dan pemilihan mereka dibuat berasaskan kepada prestasi masing-masing serta kelayakan mengatasi syarat yang sudah ditetapkan," kata Kok Chi.

Antara sukan yang paling banyak menyenaraikan atlit ialah olahraga yang mengemukakan hampir 50 atlit dengan hanya 12 berjaya melepasi syarat kelayakan dan selebihnya terpaksa ditanggung Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) dengan sasaran untuk membawa pulang hanya lapan emas.

Sukan Sea XXV di Vientiane akan mempertandingkan sejumlah 25 sukan dengan 11 negara termasuk Malaysia dijangka beraksi Disember ini.

NSC - Sports Bodies Must Be Realistic In Medal Target

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- The National Sports Council (NSC) wants all sports associations sending athletes to the SEA Games in Laos in early December to be realistic in their medal targets instead of being ambitious.

NSC Director-General Datuk Zolkples Embong said they must gauge the actual capability of the athletes based on current performance and should not be too dependent on the athlete's ranking.

"Don't let the NSC set a target that is more realistic than theirs," he told reporters, here Monday.

Zolkples said the NSC had so far set a target of 31 gold medals including from taekwondo which had yet to decide its participation because of the internal problems faced by the Malaysian Taekwondo Association.

"However, the figure may change if there are athletes who are injured in the near future," he said.

He hoped that all sports associations took note of the conditions of the championship stipulated by the organisers to avoid any problems.

"I feel nervous when I found out that there are sports bodies that have yet to decide on the number of events they are competing in and hope they will do so immediately to avoid problems arising," he said.

He said that for this edition, the NSC was not going to hold a Centralised Training Camp as it used to do previously and would instead hold a final phase training programme from Nov 30 until Dec 5.

Malaysia will only compete in 21 of the 25 events at the SEA Games, namely aquatic, archery, athletics, badminton, snooker & billiard, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karate, silat, petanque, sepak takraw, shooting, table-tennis, tenis, taekwondo, volleyball, weightlifting and wushu.

-- BERNAMA

Loon Hong Makes About Turn And Returns To SEA Games Squad

JOHOR BAHARU, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Former SEA Games gold medallist in snooker & billiards, Moh Loon Hong, 54, a seasoned campaigner, has made an about turn to make a comeback to the National team for the Laos SEA Games in December after having 'retired' four months ago.

The Penang-born cueist, father of defending SEA Games singles snooker gold medallist, Moh Keen Ho, was named in the Laos SEA Games English Billiards team by the Malaysian Snooker and Billiards Federation (MSBF).

And his inclusion came only four months after he had told the parent body that he was no longer interested in playing for the country after an illustrious spell which saw him winning two SEA Games gold medals in the 1991 and 1995 editions.

"He had changed his mind recently and we are glad to have him back to strengthen the team to Laos," MSBF secretary Melvin Chia told Bernama.

But Loon Hong's inclusion came at the expense of his partner Roslan Yurnalis, the man who partnered him to the silver medal at the Korat SEA Games, two years ago.

Roslan will not travel to Laos and his place taken over by Chooi Yew Wah, the 24-year old who is a member of the elite National snooker squad.

"Roslan has not been practicing regularly lately and he also told me that he wants to concentrate on his snooker centre business, so we decided not to pick him and with Loon Hoon's willingness to train Yew Wah in English billiards, we are looking at a long term investment too," added Melvin.

But while Loon Hong is going to the Games, his 23-year-old son, Keen Ho will not be on the flight to Laos.

"He is not ready to make a return to the National team yet, by his own admission, after he walked out from the training squad in July," he said.

The MSBF have instead named recent National championship winner Thor Chuan Leong and Lai Chee Wei in the team.

--BERNAMA

KL 89 : a moment to remember...

The XVth Sea Games was held in KUALA LUMPUR from 20th to 31st August 1989. The XVth Sea Games was declared open by His Majesty, the Yang Di Pertuan Agong, on the afternoon of 20th August 1989. The capasity crowd of over 40,000 was treated to a spectacular display of sky-diving, mass gymnastic, traditional dances as well as the smart parade of athletes and officials of the ine participating countries in their colourful uniform.

A total number of 824 team officials, 1604 male athletes, and 732 female athletes, making a grand total of 3,160 participations were take part in KL 89 - XVth Sea Games. There were a total of 302 events competed under 24 sports in the programme.The games venues included; Stadium Merdeka, Stadium Negara, Stadium Badminton & many more sports arena arround Kuala Lumpur.

The closing ceremony of the games was officiated by the Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia on 31st August 1989. The programme commenced at1630 hours with the final of the Football competition. A heavy storm persisted until well after the Football final had ended. The Best Male & Female Athlete Awards for the XVth Sea Games were presented to ERIC BUHAIN (PHI) and NURUL HUDA ABDULLAH (MAS) respectively.

Overall, the XVth Sea Games was a great success. The full cooperation and support of the member countries ensured the smooth management of the Games - KL89. A total of 52 new Sea Games record were established.The XVth Sea Games KL 89 drew great interest and support of the government and people of Malaysia as well as of the member countries.

XVth Sea Games, KL89 demonstrates the significance of the harmony in fostering frienship and understanding amongst the youth in the region. As we known, Sports is the best platform to unite Malaysians of various ethnic groups. Via sports, the 1Malaysia spirit can be easily infused to promote unity among the diverse ethnic groups like supporting and rooting for the Malaysian sportsmen and sportswomen in competitions.

The lighting of the games torch by His Majesty, the Yang Di Pertuan Agong, Sultan Azlan Shah.


Start off the KL 89 - XVth Sea Games torch run from Penang to KL.

Flag Handling ceremony to the Malaysian contingent by Honourable Prime Minister (Tun Dr. Mahathir) & Chairman of XVth Sea Games, KL89 (Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak)


His Majesty, the Yang Di Pertuan Agong releasing a white dove, after declaring open the games.

Malaysian contingent at the games opening ceremony.


The capacity crowd of over 40,000 supporters @ Stadium Merdeka KL


Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak supporting's to the athletes with parade of supporters. Malaysia Boleh!...Malaysia Boleh!...Malaysia Boleh!


Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak with the champion...!


Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak @ Faiznur Miskin victory ceremony.


Faiznur Miskin... she won the 5 gol medals.


Nurul Huda Abdullah the top medal winner with 8 GOLD & 2 Silver medals & winner of the best female athlete award.


Jeffery Ong winner of 400m and 1,500m...!

and

31 August 1989... The Final between Malaysia & Singapore was held @ the Stadium Merdeka at 7.30 p.m, just before the Closing Ceremony, Sea Games KL89. A capacity crowd of over 40,000 spectators withnessed a thrilling match which ended with Malaysia winning the GOLD medal with a score 3 - 1. The closing part of the first half and the whole of the second half was played in heavy rain.

31 August 1989... Malaysia (GOLD) Singapore (Silver) Indonesia (Bronze)

The 1989 Football Malaysian Tigers

Dato' Ahmad Basri (Team Manager)... and my stars Azizol Hj. Abu Haniffah.. kejor yeop kejor!



Subadron Aziz... Dollah Salleh... Zainal Abidin Hassan!



Champions in the rain...!



Won the Cup... Medals... and Bunga Telur...!



MALAYSIA NO.

Thanks for reading & voting!

Spirit Of 1Malaysia Should Be In All Aspects Of Life

KUCHING, Oct 21 (Bernama) - Datuk Abdul Malik Jangkat, 81, of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah was all smiles during the Malaysia Day celebration held at Padang Merdeka here last Oct 10.

The colourful event featured the performance of cultures from the country's diverse ethnic groups that reflected the 1Malaysia concept. This had brought a thousand and one meanings to Abdul Malik, a veteran politician.

Abdul Malik was among the 20 Sabah community leaders who went to Kuala Lumpur to attend the briefing on the move for Sabah to join the Malaysian federation.

"When first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman voiced his intention to create Malaysia in 1961, me and the Father of Sabah's Independence Tun Datu Mustapha had explained to the people on the importance of achieving independence for Sabah from the British rule.

"Despite some protests from a small number of people who felt more comfortable under the British rule, that never defeated our resolve.

"Finally all of our effort was rewarded when the Federation of Malay States, Sabah and Sarawak formed Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963. Today I am happy to see Malaysia has advanced and respected by all," he told Bernama.

1MALAYSIA FIGURE

Abdul Malik's contributions towards the formation of Malaysia earned him the 1Malaysia award in conjunction with the Malaysia Day celebration here.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak presented the award, that comprised a certificate and souvenir to Abdul Malik and nine others. Four of the recipients were from Malaysia and three each from Sabah and Sarawak.

The four from Peninsular Malaysia were renowned historian Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim, former Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) director-general Datuk Dr Hassan Ahmad, Deputy Dean for Community Science Studies Centre at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Dr Sivamurugan Pandian and National Sports Council's (MSN) Athletes Affairs Director Zaiton Othman.

The three Sarawak recipients were former state secretary Tan Sri Bujang Mohd Nor, Bidayuh veteran political leader Datuk Seri Dominic Dagok Raden apart from veteran politician and Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) founder Datuk Seri Tra Zehnder.

Apart from Abdul Malik, the two others from Sabah were veteran politician Tan Sri Datuk Ampung Payon and former Sabah Cabinet minister Datuk Pang Tet Tshung.

TOO COMFORTABLE

Dr Sivamurugan, 39, of Tanjung Malim, Perak admitted that the present younger generation felt too comfortable with what the nation had earned so far.

"It is very hard for Malaysians who were born after independence to imagine the hardship of living under the colonial rule and how tough it was for the freedom fighters in their struggle for independence.

"The government needs to draw out a programme to enable the younger generation to understand the meaning of achieving independence and to inculcate the spirit of patriotism in them," he said.

Dominic Dagok, 75, said the 1Malaysia concept of "People First, Performance Now", the brainchild of the Prime Minister, became the ignition to ensure that all

Malaysians remained united and the country to continue its advance, fired on the patriotism of the pre- and post-Merdeka era.

"The 1Malaysia concept is the continuity for us to enjoy what had been achieved by independence. It also enhances further the unity and creation of the Malaysian race," he said.

COOPERATION

Dagok from Kampung Krusen in Serian said the people had to appreciate the principle of 1Malaysia in order to build a more progressive and successful Malaysia.

"Hence, the spirit of 1Malaysia should be inculcated in all aspects of life that belongs to the diverse ethnic groups to ensure that Malaysia continues to advance," said the former president of the National Bidayuh Association.

Dr Khoo, 72, the academician who is also known for his views on sports, and politics, said all of the political parties in the country should play their respective roles in making the 1Malaysia concept a success.

They should refrain from fuelling racial issues, he said.

"The nation's politics should move towards integration and avoid being towards separation as it will cause splits in the unity that has been firmly forged.

"The country's politicians should abandon the approach of giving interest only to a certain race instead they should encourage national integration for all Malaysians," he said.

ADVICE FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION

Dr Khoo, who is from Kampar, Perak said the younger generation should embrace the Malaysian sense of belonging in the effort to achieve the 1Malaysia concept.

He said the younger generation now had placed the interest of their own race first before that of all other Malaysians.

"Everytime they introduce themselves, they would say 'I'm Chinese or Malay or Indian'. Is there anything wrong by saying that I'm a Malaysian of Chinese descent?

"This is a stepping stone towards realising the 1Malaysia concept, Such mindset must be changed. We should inculcate the Malaysian sense of belonging to uplift the nation's dignity and realised the 1Malayia concept", he said.

Dr Hassan, 73, the Malaysian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Unesco, who is from Muar, Johor said the national policy should be improved and scrutinised to play a more sterling role in firing up the 1Malaysia spirit.

He called for the New Economic Policy to be more people-friendly in tandem with the philosophy of 'People First, Performance Now'.

"We should not be the victims of globalisation but we should advance according to our own model, rythmn and suitability to grasp the 1Malaysia concept", he said.

SPORTS THE BEST PLATFORM

For Zaiton Othman, sports is the best platform to unite Malaysians of various ethnic groups.

Zaiton, 50, of Paya Keladi, Seberang Perai, Pulau Pinang was Malaysia's champion in various international competitions like the SEA Games and Asian Games.

"Via sports, the 1Malaysia spirit can be easily infused to promote unity among the diverse ethnic groups like supporting and rooting for the Malaysian sportsmen and sportswomen in competitions," she said.

"Hence all programmes and efforts to develop sports in the country should have the 1Malaysia element," she added.

-- BERNAMA

Sea Games KL 89 - Football

31 August 1989... the last time Malaysia won the football GOLD was in Sea Games, Kuala Lumpur 1989.


31 August 1989... The Final between Malaysia & Singapore was held @ the Stadium Merdeka at 7.30 p.m, just before the Closing Ceremony, Sea Games KL89. A capacity crowd of over 40,000 spectators withnessed a thrilling match which ended with Malaysia winning the GOLD medal with a score 3 - 1. The closing part of the first half and the whole of the second half was played in heavy rain.

31 August 1989... Malaysia (GOLD) Singapore (Silver) Indonesia (Bronze)

The 1989 Football Malaysian Tigers

Dato' Ahmad Basri (Team Manager)... and my stars Azizol Hj. Abu Haniffah.. kejor yeop kejor!



Subadron Aziz... Dollah Salleh... Zainal Abidin Hassan!



Champions in the rain...!



Won the Cup... Medals... and Bunga Telur...!

National 400m runner Zaiful missing since Oct 10

By AFTAR SINGH

KUALA LUMPUR: National 400m runner Mohd Zaiful Zainal Abidin has gone AWOL.

The Malaysian Amateur Ath­letic Union (MAAU) deputy president, Karim Ibrahim, said that the Kuala Lumpur athlete had not reported for training since taking part in the Malaysian Open championships at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Oct 10.

In the Malaysian Open, the 27-year-old Zaiful, who holds the national record of 46.41, bagged the bronze medal.

His coach, K. Jayabalan, has tried to contact him many times but to no avail.

“We do not know where he is at the moment. If he is unable to attend training because of personal reasons, he should at least inform any of the coaches or officials,” said Karim.

“As a national athlete he is not setting any good example to the others. We will not tolerate such indiscipline among the national athletes.”

Injury prompted Zaiful to quit in 2006 but he made a comeback a year later and was a member of the 4x400m team who won the gold medal in the 2007 Korat SEA Games.

The other members of the relay squad were Mohd Zafril Mohd Zuslaini, K. Amran Raj and S. Thipan.

Karim said that Zaiful had been selected to compete in the 400m and also the relay in the Asian Track and Field (ATF) championships in Guangzhou from Nov 10-14 and also in the Laos SEA Games in December.

“We have given him until Friday to return to training. Otherwise, we will drop him from the team and look for a replacement to team up with Zafril, Amran and Thipan for the ATF and SEA Games,” Karim said.

Roslinda intai lompatan hatrik

Oleh SAYED HESHAM IDRIS
sukan@utusan.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR - Roslinda Samsu sudah bersedia untuk memburu emas hatrik acara lompat bergalah wanita pada Sukan SEA Loas, Disember ini.

Selepas menang emas pertama di Manila pada 2005 dan mengekalkan kejuaraan di Korat dua tahun lalu, atlet kelahiran Kuala Nerang, Kedah ini berkata, kejayaan memenangi emas di Korat pada 2007 masih membara untuk dijadikan motivasi bagi memenangi emas ketiga di Laos nanti.

Katanya, emas hatrik yang menjadi buruannya kali ini istimewa apabila mengenang betapa sebelum ini Sukan SEA bukanlah temasya sukan yang mudah baginya.

''Penyertaan saya pada Sukan SEA ketiga di Manila pada 2005 barulah saya merasai kegembiraan memenangi pingat emas. Kejayaan pertama itu bukan mudah. Saya mengharungi dua Sukan SEA tanpa kejayaan yang membanggakan.

''Semangat kejayaan ketika Sukan SEA 2005 saya bawa sehingga Sukan SEA berikutnya di Korat, Thailand.

''Pada temasya sukan di Laos tahun ini, saya membawa pula semangat seperti mana kejayaan di Korat dua tahun lalu demi mengharapkan emas ketiga pula,'' katanya ketika dihubungi, semalam.

Roslinda merupakan antara atlet harapan untuk tujuh emas yang disasarkan oleh Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KAOM) di Laos nanti.

Roslinda merupakan pemegang rekod kebangsaan lompat bergalah wanita dengan ketinggian 4.40m.

Begitupun, harapan kejuaraan hatrik Roslinda bakal berdepan tentangan sengit dari pesaing tradisi, Le Thi Phuong dari Vietnam dan Deborah Samson dari Filipina.

Selepas Manila dan Korat, kedua-dua mereka sekadar menjadi pemenang kedua di belakang Roslinda.

Hal ini diakui oleh Roslinda yang menjangkakan saingan dari kedua-dua pencabarnya itu lebih getir kali ini apatah lagi Thi Phuong mencatat lompatan terbaiknya baru-baru ini.

''Harapan untuk memenangi emas bergantung pada suasana hari pertandingan nanti.

''Ketika ini saya melihat peserta dari Vietnam dan Filipina sebagai pencabar utama di Laos nanti.

''Saya tidak tahu setakat mana kemampuan mereka, cuma Thi Phuong yang sudah lama tidak beraksi tetapi kembali aktif dengan catatan yang memberangsangkan iaitu 3.90 meter baru-baru ini. Bagi saya ia pencapaian yang baik menjelang Sukan SEA.

''Begitu juga Deborah, saya tiada maklumat mengenai prestasinya, namun saya percaya dia juga semakin meningkat selepas Sukan SEA di Korat dua tahun lalu.

''Saya akan berhati-hati terhadap ancaman mereka di Laos nanti,'' katanya.

Bagaimanapun, demam membatasi kemampuan Roslinda untuk melakukan lompatan terbaik pada Kejohanan Olahraga Terbuka Malaysia baru-baru ini apabila hanya melepasi had ketinggian 3.3m.

Begitupun, Roslinda tidak begitu gusar kerana catatan 4.35m ketika temasya Mini Olimpik, Ogos lalu masih segar untuk dijadikan ukuran prestasinya menjelang saingan di Vientiane nanti.

''Selepas menyertai kejohanan Dunia di Berlin bulan lalu, tiada kejohanan kompetitif yang saya sebagai persediaan ke Laos nanti.

''Untuk itu saya berharap dapat disenaraikan ke kejohanan olahraga Terbuka Singapura tidak lama lagi bagi kejohanan pemanas badan.

''Kejohanan Olahraga Asia (ATF) di merupakan kejohanan terakhir sebelum beraksi di Laos, yang mana ia merupakan medan terakhir untuk mengukur kemampuan saya,'' katanya.

Razali kembali dalam senarai skuad negara

Oleh WAN FAKHRUL BAKAR
fakhrul@kosmo.com.my

RAZALI (kanan) kembali mendapat kepercayaan Rajagobal untuk menyertai sesi pemilihan skuad negara bagi menghadapi Sukan SEA di Laos, Disember depan.

---

AYAM tambatan Perak, Razali Umar Kandasamy kini berpeluang untuk membarisi skuad bola sepak negara.

Penyerang sensasi Perak itu kembali dipanggil jurulatih K. Rajagobal untuk menjalani lati- han bersama skuad bawah 23 tahun (B-23) kebangsaan sebagai persiapan menghadapi Sukan SEA 2009 di Vientiane, Laos, Disember depan.

Razali bersama 11 pemain lain antara kelompok awal memula- kan sesi latihan di Wisma FAM, Kelana Jaya petang semalam setelah pasukan kelab atau negeri yang mereka wakili sudah terkeluar daripada saingan suku akhir Piala Malaysia.

Sebelas pemain lain itu terdiri daripada Bunyamin Umar, Azmi Muslim, Norsharul Idlan Talaha, Syed Adney Syed Hussein (UPB-MyTeam), Mat Sabree Abu, Badrol Bakhtiar (Kedah) serta Mahali Jasuli, Ahmad Shakir Md. Ali, K. Guru- samy, Muslim Ahmad, Faizal Muhamad (Harimau Muda).

Menurut Rajagobal, jumlah pelatihnya itu bakal bertambah pada minggu depan apabila empat lagi pasukan akan menamatkan saingan selepas berakhirnya suku akhir kedua Piala Malaysia pada Sabtu ini.

"Selepas bertemu Lesotho pada 11 September lalu, pemain- pemain B-23 ini telah kembali ke kelab atau negeri masing- masing dan baru hari ini (semalam) saya dapat mengumpul mereka semula. Itu pun baru 12 pemain.

"Saya tidak boleh tunggu sehingga tamat Piala Malaysia, baru hendak kumpul kesemua mereka kerana masa sudah suntuk.

"Lagipun jika mereka yang pasukannya sudah tersingkir ini tidak dipanggil awal, tahap kecergasan pemain-pemain ini akan menurun.

"Jadi lebih baik saya panggil mana yang ada terlebih dahulu. Boleh juga saya beri perhatian lebih dan latihan secara spesifik kepada 12 pemain ini.

"Dari situ kita dapat memperbaiki kekurangan individu yang ada pada mereka," kata- nya ketika ditemui Kosmo! di Wisma FAM semalam.

Ditanya mengapa Razali dipanggil semula selepas dia diketepikan dalam beberapa siri latihan dan perlawanan persahabatan skuad B-23 negara sebelum ini, Rajagobal berkata, ia dibuat berdasarkan prestasi semasa yang dipamerkan penyerang Perak itu.

"Kita sentiasa mengikuti perkembangan pemain-pemain. Jika dia pamerkan aksi cemerlang, kita akan panggil semula mereka.

"Tetapi apabila kita sudah beri peluang, harap dia dapat menggunakan peluang itu sepe- nuhnya," jelas Rajagobal.

Raja bawa skuad ke Tashkent

Oleh Harris Rajahdin

Safee, Indra Putra harap dapat panggilan wakili pasukan kebangsaan semula

MELIHATKAN Sukan Sea hanya dipisahkan sebulan, jurulatih K Rajagobal membayangkan akan membawa barisan bawah 23 tahun negara ke ke Tashkent bagi perlawanan kelayakan Piala Asia menentang Uzbekistan pada 14 November ini.

Namun, pengendali kebangsaan itu enggan mengenepikan kemungkinan membawa beberapa senior untuk memperkuatkan pasukan bagi menghadapi lawan yang pernah memalukan Malaysia 5-0 pada pertemuan kali terakhir, di Piala Asia 2007.

"Dengan Sukan Sea begitu dekat, saya akan menumpukan terhadap pasukan bawah 23 bagi perlawanan menentang Uzbekistan, sambil menyelitkan beberapa pemain senior.

"Saya menonton perlawanan Uzbekistan ketika menentang Jepun dalam kelayakan Piala Dunia dan Jepun begitu bernasib baik menang satu gol," katanya.

Tonggak senior yang hampir pasti disenaraikan adalah Norhafiz Zamani Misbah, Amri Yahyah yang menampilkan aksi membanggakan ketika digandingkan dengan pemain muda dalam kunjungan gergasi Liga Perdana Inggeris, Manchester United.

Antara pemain yang mengharapkan panggilan Rajagobal adalah penyerang Selangor, Safee Sali (gambar) dan pemain tengah, Indra Putra Mahyuddin.

Perlawanan kelayakan itu akan dilangsungkan secara timbal balik dengan pertemuan kedua akan di langsungkan di Kuala Lumpur, empat hari selepas itu.

Dalam pada itu, Rajagobal tidak mahu dilihat sebagai mempertahankan dirinya daripada sebarang kekecewaan di Laos dengan menyatakan kesediaannya dipecat tetapi meminta sekurang-kurangnya diberikan tempoh tiga tahun untuk mengemudi pasukan itu.

"Cuba awak tanya mana-mana jurulatih, siapa yang mahu kalah? Jika saya gagal selepas tiga tahun, anda (wartawan) boleh tulis 'Rajagobal seharusnya dipecat'. Tetapi berilah saya peluang bersama pasukan ini sebelum anda membuat penghakiman," katanya.

Latihan di China tambah keyakinan Raihan ke Laos

Oleh Meor Hisham Zulkifli

ATLIT angkat berat wanita negara, Raihan Yusuf percaya latihan intensif dua bulan di China, mampu merealisasikan impiannnya mencipta angkatan lebih 190kg dalam kategori snatch dan clean & jerk, menjelang Sukan Sea di Laos, bagi mendapat sekurang-kurangnya satu pingat di sana.

“Di sini kami hanya berlatih, makan dan tidur saja, membolehkan kami memberikan sepenuhnya tumpuan terhadap usaha melakukan angkatan yang lebih sempurna dan menambah bebanan,” katanya ketika dihubungi di wilayah Haikou, China semalam.

“Jurulatih kini menetapkan sasaran untuk saya mengangkat bebanan 85kg untuk snatch serta 105kg untuk clean & jerk, dan saya harap mampu mencapai sasaran itu kerana setakat ini saya beransur-ansur menghampiri kepada jumlah angkatan itu.”

Dia yang turut disenaraikan dalam Kategori A untuk ke Sukan Sea Laos Disember ini bersama seorang lagi peserta angkat berat wanita, Zaira Zakaria, merasakan langkah mengadakan latihan di China tepat pada masanya, dalam usaha meraih kejayaan di Sukan Komanwel di India tahun depan.

Malaysia's CDM Confident Hosts Can Provide Best Security Athletes

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's chef-de-mission to the Laos SEA Games Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz said today he was confident that the hosts would provide the best security measures for athletes and officials during their stay in Vientiane this December.

Ramlan, who is also National Sports Institute (NSI) director-general, said he believed that proper security arrangements had been planned and put in place by the relevant authorities there so as to ensure the safety of thousands of athletes and officials from 10 countries.

"If there are any shortcomings in security matters, we will surely inform them immediately because we really stressed on security of our athletes and officials," he told Bernama Tuesday.

In the Laos SEA Games official website, www.laoseagames2009.com, security is under the purview of of the Public Security Ministry.

"Security is our top priority in facilitating the upcoming 25th SEA Games in December," said a statement in the website.

Asked whether any Malaysian security personnel would be accompanying the Malaysian contingent, Dr. Ramlan said the matter would be discussed at a meeting of the national contingent this Saturday.

Besides security, the meeting would also discuss matters such as medical facilities, logistics, and food and beverage preparation for the country's athletes and officials, he added.

Recently, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said Malaysia is expected to send a contingent of 370 athletes and 120 officials and has set a target of winning between 30 to 35 gold medals from 21 of the 25 sports on offer.

Malaysian athletes will feature in swimming, diving, archery, athletics, badminton, snooker & billiards, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karate, silat, petanque, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting and wushu.

-- BERNAMA

PSM Beku Cuti Pemain Tumpu Persiapan Ke Sukan SEA Laos

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Okt (Bernama) -- Para pemain skuad sepak takraw negara tidak akan dibenarkan bercuti bagi memastikan mereka benar-benar bersedia untuk menghadapi Sukan SEA di Laos awal Disember ini, kata Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Sepak Takraw Malaysia (PSM), Datuk Arshad Yahya.

Beliau berkata perkara itu terpaksa dilakukan bagi memastikan impian meraih satu pingat emas pada temasya dwitahunan itu dapat direalisasikan.

"Kita sedar sebilangan besar daripada mereka baru sahaja menyertai beberapa kejohanan antarabangsa, namun latihan pusat tetap diteruskan sehingga berlangsungnya temasya di Laos itu.

"Ini termasuklah 'membekukan' cuti hari raya Aidiladha pada penghujung November ini yang akan digantikan dengan kem motivasi selama tiga hari yang dianjurkan oleh pihak persatuan," katanya kepada Bernama di sini hari ini.

Arshad berkata perkara itu telah dipersetujui oleh semua pemain yang nyata bersemangat dengan kejayaan regu kebangsaan iaitu Syazwan Husin, Hamikhairi Roslan dan Syafiq Ab. Rahman yang menewaskan regu Thailand di Kejohanan Piala Terbuka Antarabangsa Vietnam pada 7 Okt lepas.

Kejayaan mengalahkan regu Thailand itu dikecapi setelah regu kebangsaan tewas dalam beberapa kejohanan antarabangsa seperti Jemputan Piala Raja Muda Perlis di Kangar (Februari), Kejohanan Dunia Piala Malaysia di Kuala Terengganu (Mei), Piala Raja Thai di Bangkok (Julai) dan Sukan Dunia di Kaoshiung, Taiwan (Julai).

"Bagi temasya dwitahunan itu, kita akan menurunkan barisan terkuat kerana semua pemain kini cergas sepenuhnya kecuali Mohd Azlan Mubin yang masih dibelenggu kecederaan setelah menjalani pembedahan lutut di kedua-dua belah kakinya," katanya.

Pada Sukan SEA di Korat, Thailand dua tahun lepas Malaysia menarik diri berikutan isu penggunaan bola baru bersalut getah iaitu Marathon Gen-II yang didakwa persatuan boleh mendatangkan kecederaan kepada pemain.

Kali terakhir Malaysia memenangi pingat emas sepak takraw pada Sukan SEA 2005 melalui regu Mohamad Normanizan Ahmad, Mohd Putra Abdul Ghani dan Mohd Zulkarnain Arif.

-- BERNAMA

Odds against Malaysian taekwondo exponents in Laos Games

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia face the prospect of not returning home with a single gold medal in taekwondo for the first time in SEA Games history if the performances of their exponents in the just concluded World Champion­ships in Copenhagen are anything to go by.

Coach R. Dhanaraj brought four of his most experienced fighters to Denmark but none of them made it past the early rounds. And their lack of competitions this year stood out like a sore thumb.

Beijing Olympian Elaine Teo, who was the gold medallist in the previous SEA Games in Korat in 2007, was a first-round casualty, losing 2-3 to Mexican Janet Alegria in the women’s flyweight category.

Mohd Afifudin Omar Sidek also lost his first bout against Australian Shkara Hayden (2-4) in the men’s featherweight division.

Rusfredy Petrus won his opening contest in the men’s flyweight division against Greek Panagiotidis Charalampos on a referee’s decision after both were tied at 4-4.

However, the 2005 Manila SEA Games gold medallist’s joy was shortlived as he fell 4-5 to Jordanian Abual­­bawati Husan in the second round.

Ryan Chong failed to reach the last 16 in the men’s bantamweight category after a 3-4 loss to Russian Frank Dmitry. Ryan, a 2007 SEA Games silver medallist, beat Cuban Batista Nunez 3-2 in a first-round bout.

The elite fighters under Dhanaraj are starved of international action this year because of the uncertainties over the status of the national association which had been de-registered.

In the previous two SEA Games, Malaysia returned with two gold medals on both occasions. But it will be tough to match the effort in Laos because of a limit on entries imposed by the organisers.

“There are 16 gold medals at stake in sparring events but we can only have a team of five men and five women. The exponents will have a training stint in South Korea and we will get a better picture of our strength for the SEA Games then,” said Dhanaraj.

Poomsae (non-sparring) competitions offering five gold medals will make their debut in the Vientiane Games in December.

Thailand secured a silver and three bronze medals to mark their best-ever outing at the world meet and they will be the ones to beat in Laos.

Rashid says Malaysia not good for gold without Mew Choo

By RAJES PAUL

KUALA LUMPUR: National singles coach Rashid Sidek feels he may have to raise the white flag on Malaysia’s chances of winning gold in the women’s singles event at the Laos SEA Games in December following another injury to Wong Mew Choo.

Rashid yesterday confirmed that Mew Choo had withdrawn from the Denmark Open, which begins in Odense on Wednesday, with a fractured toe.

Mew Choo has skipped training since returning from the Japan Open two weeks ago after injuring her toe and has yet to recover.

Prior to that, the national number one had also been bugged by a nagging knee injury.

Mew Choo, the 2003 Vietnam SEA Games gold medallist, is Malaysia’s biggest hope in the women’s singles challenge because the others – Lydia Cheah, Tee Jin Yi and Sannatasah Saniru – are either inconsistent or inexperienced.

Rashid said although Mew Choo would be back on her feet ahead of the Laos Games, her condition would be doubtful.

“The injury is not serious but she has to do light training at the moment. We are hoping that she will be able to go for the China and Hong Kong Opens next month,” said Rashid.

“We will be able to see where she stands then.

“Mew Choo always gives her all but there is no guarantee she will be at her best at the Laos SEA Games.”

With the uncertainty surrounding the women’s singles department, Rashid prefers not to set any targets at the SEA Games.

“I have to be realistic. Without a top-form Mew Choo, it will be difficult for us to challenge for honours there. The others are not up to the mark yet,” said Rashid.

“Lydia is still very inconsistent and youngster Jing Yi has not proven herself yet.

“We also do not have Julia (Wong). She is currently back in training but doing light skills and, if all goes well, she will only be ready for competition probably next year.

“For now, our women’s singles department looks very vulnerable. But let’s hope that one of these players will prove me wrong at the SEA Games.”

For the record, in Laos, Indonesia will be banking on Maria Kristin Yulianto, Maria Febe Kusumastuti and Firdasari Adrianti Fransisca while Thailand will count on Salakjit Ponsana and Porntip Buranaprasertsuk. Singapore’s trumpcards are China-born Zhang Beiwen and Xing Aiying.

Bryan, Daniel ready for Laos.

KUCHING: National diver Bryan Nickson Lomas and swimmer Daniel Bego are on track for a prominent podium finish at the Vientiane SEA Games in Laos this December.Although having no specific medal targets in mind, they are poised to make waves in the biennial regional meet.

Daniel, 20, will compete in five events – men’s 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 200m butterfly.

The A Levels student at Inti College Subang said his preparations were going well and he would intensify the pace next month.

“I won the 100m butterfly and 200m freestyle gold medals in the 2006 SEA Games in Korat, Thailand, and I will try to maintain that record.

“Of course, any additional medals would be a bonus,” he said at the Majlis Sukan Negeri Sarawak (MSNS) Sports Awards 2007-8 Presentation at the Kuching Civic Centre on Friday night.

Asked to rate his medal chances, Daniel replied: “I think they are pretty good but anything can happen, so I will have to be ready.”

He said he would not be taking part in more events as it would be very exhausting and that could affect his performance.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Bryan will be diving for gold in the 3m platform, 10m platform, 3m synchronised and 10m synchronised.

The Bukit Jalil Sports School student won a gold medal in the 10m platform in Korat. He will leave for China today to train for the Vientiane Games.

On his chances of striking gold: he replied: “Hard to say. I’ll just do my best to win medals for Malaysia.”

Byran said he was delighted about winning the MSNS Sportsman Award for the second year running.

“It’s not so easy, isn’t it?” he asked.

He thanked his parents, sisters, coaches, MSN Sarawak and well-wishers for their support all this while.

Dhanaraj rather help charges than celebrate Deepavali

PETALING JAYA: National taekwondo coach R. Dhanaraj has to put aside thoughts of celebrating Deepavali with his family and hoping for one of his charges to lift his spirit by beating the odds to secure a medal in the world championships, which begin tomorrow.

Dhanaraj left with a four-member team for Copenhagen on Sunday and they will only return home next Tuesday.

It will not be the first time that Dhanaraj is not celebrating Deepavali at home but he said that this was something he had to come to terms with.

“Moreover, my wife just gave birth to my first son five months ago and she asked why I could not make arrangements for someone else to go,” he said.

“But this is the world championships and I just cannot cast aside my responsibilities. This group of exponents have stayed on through tough times and the least I can do is to be there for them when they fight.”

Malaysia have three male exponents in the biennial championships – Rusfredy Petrus (flyweight), Ryan Chong (bantamweight) and Afifudin Omar (featherweight). And 2008 Beijing Olympian Elaine Teo is the only Malaysian woman in the fray, contesting the flyweight division.

Dhanaraj has left out another Beijing Olympian, Che Chew Chan, to give her more time to recover from a knee surgery.

“It’s better for Chew Chan to recover fully and focus on defending her SEA Games gold medal in Laos in December,” he said.

It has been a trying time for Dhanaraj in preparing the squad for the Laos Games because of uncertainties in participation in championships due to the status of the national body and the A (H1N1) flu outbreak.

“We have not gone for a competition thus far this year. Our top fighters will get good tests ahead of the SEA Games in the world championships and I am not putting any pressure on them,” he said.

“They are looking forward to fight again and I will be most happy if we come home with a medal.”

Incidentally, Dhanaraj is one of only two Malaysian exponents to have won a world championship medal. He claimed the featherweight bronze in Seoul in 1989 and Wong Ching Beng matched the effort in the bantamweight category in New York in 1993.

The Office Bearers and members of OCM wish to extend their greetings
to all members of OCM, NSAs, Sponsors, Media, and etc. HAPPY DEEPAVALI

Skuad Tenis Sasarkan Kejutan Pada Sukan SEA Laos

KUALA LUMPUR, 15 Okt (Bernama) -- Persatuan Lawn Tennis Malaysia (LTAM) mengharapkan para pemain negara mencipta "kejutan luar dugaan" pada Sukan SEA ke-25 di Laos Disember ini.

Presiden LTAM Datuk Abdul Razak Latiff berkata prestasi pemain telah mencatatkan peningkatan memberangsangkan berdasarkan penyertaan mereka pada beberpa kejohanan antarabangsa.

"Ini merupakan petanda baik bagi kami," katanya.

Pada Jelajah Dunia ATP Terbuka Malaysia baru-baru ini, tujuh pemain Malaysia yang menyertai kejohanan itu melalui `wildcard' ditewaskan dalam pusingan kelayakan pertama tetapi mereka menunjukkan kemajuan yang memberangsangkan terutamanya pemain nombor satu negara Si Yew Ming.

"Prestasi Yew Ming meningkat dengan banyak dan begitu juga pemain lain. Melihat kepada keadaan itu, kami mempunyai peluang cerah untuk membawa pulang pingat.

"Pemain kita kini setaraf dengan negara Asia Tenggara yang lain seperti Indonesia dan Thailand yang merupakan pasukan pilihan untuk memenangi pingat pada sukan SEA," kata Abdul Razak.

Pemain lain ialah Mohammed Faizal Othman, Abdul Hazli Zainuddin, Nazim Khan, Balakrishnan Kanagarai, K.Somasundram dan Adam Jaya.

Dua bulan lagi sebelum berlangsungnya Sukan SEA dari 9 hingga 18 Dis, Abdul Razak berkata para pemain gigih membuat persediaan dengan menyertai kejohanan antarabangsa.

"Para pemain kita mempunyai kemahiran bermain dan latihan yang betul tetapi masih kekurangan daripada pengalaman terutama dalam menentang pemain pilihan," katanya.

-- BERNAMA

Taekwondo To Laos Introduce Poomsea

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- Though in the doldrums because of the absence of a sanctioned Sports Association (SA) to represent them, national taekwondo athletes will be relieved to know that the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) will be sending a taekwondo contingent to the SEA Games in Laos this December.

OCM honorary-secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said taekwondo was in fact included in the 21 sports out of the 25 on offer at the Games that Malaysia would be participating.

"Taekwondo will go to Laos under the sponsorship committee's ticket and I understand that the selection of the exponents for the Laos Games was already done in September," he said when contacted by Bernama here on Thursday.

Despite the Malaysian Taekwondo Association (MTA) being deregistered on May 6, 2005, national taekwondo athletes still had the opportunity to compete in the Manila SEA Games (2005), Korat SEA Games (2007) and the Beijing Olympic Games (2008) on the OCM ticket.

Presently all matters pertaining to the administration of the sport including participation in championships abroad is under the banner of the sponsorship committee chaired by OCM president Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar with participation from the MTA, Malaysian Taekwondo Federation (MTF) and the Malaysian Taekwondo Clubs Association (MTCA).

Sieh said based on the initial list of names sent to him, there were 12 taekwondo athletes in the national contingent to Laos.

Meanwhile, former MTA vice president Nur Ekmal Bukhary said the taekwondo event in Laos would have a new event called Poomsae which offered four gold medals.

"Poomsae is like 'Kata' in Karate or or "silat seni" in the silat martial arts. Originally it was to be sparring event which offered 16 gold medals in Laos, but participating countries are only allowed 10 events," he said.

Coach N Kalanayigam said Poomsea was first introduced in the World Championship in Turkey last year and would be competed Laos as well as the Sukma Games in Melaka next year.

He said of the 12 exponents going to Laos, six athletes would compete in Poomsae under category B while the other six in the sparring event under category A.

Expenses for Category A athletes are fully borne by OCM while category B athletes are self-financing with the expenses only reimbursed if they win at least a silver medal.

Malaysia are taking part in aquatics, (swimming, diving, water polo), archery, athletics, badminton, snooker & billiards, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karate, silat, taekwondo, petanque, sepaktakraw, shooting, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting and wushu.

-- BERNAMA