Malaysia prioritizes Olympics over SEA Games

Malaysia will place little focus on becoming the overall champion of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, but instead will place a higher priority on doing well the upcoming Olympic Games next year in London, said chef de mission of the Malaysian delegation, Datuk Naim Mohamad.

“We have no target at all to become the overall champion. The SEA Games are only for exposure to competition, or a tryout. We are not participating in all sports and we’ve also realized that we’re not good at all sports. So we are targeting the Olympics by prioritizing only four sports: archery, cycling, badminton and diving,” Mohamad told The Jakarta Post on a visit to Jakarta on Wednesday night.

As the SEA Games represent only a testing ground for Malaysia, many of the athletes competing at the games will come from the second layer of the country’s medal hopefuls.

“We have several world champions, such as Lee Chong Wei in badminton, Azizulhasni in cycling, and four of our archers who have all qualified for the Olympics. Also we have two more individuals in diving competitions, including Brian Nickson. They will not take part in the SEA Games,” said Mohamad.

“We have won many gold medals in both the Commonwealth and Asian Games but none from the Olympics, so we are concentrating on London 2012. Besides, having our athletes compete in the SEA Games would limit the chances of our younger athletes,” he added.

Mohamad said that Malaysia is targeting 60 gold medals at the SEA Games and will send about 650 athletes and 200 officials to take part in 38 out of the 41 sports featured at the games, leaving out the sports of traditional boat racing, wrestling and the martial art of vovinam.

“We have been preparing since the [2009] Laos SEA Games but becoming the overall winner is not our target. Our highest target is the Olympics,” said Mohamad.

Malaysia is prioritizing four sports because they have Olympic gold medal prospects in these sports. Badminton world number one Lee Chong Wei is such a prospect. He has already won four gold medals at Commonwealth Games and also won the Asian Championship in 2006, but is still searching for success at the Olympic Games, World Championships and Asian Games.

Another gold medal hopeful in London will be Azizulhasni Awang, who became the overall winner of the Keirin track cycling event in the 2008-2009 World Cup after obtaining two gold medals. Azizulhasni, who is referred to as “the pocket rocket”, also won a silver in the men’s sprint event at the 2009 World Championship in Pruszkow, Poland.

Mohamad said that the reason Malaysia’s focus was Olympic-centric was because the country had yet to win a gold medal at that level of competition. Malaysia has taken part in the Olympics since 1956, back when the country was known as the Federation of Malaya. So far the country has only two silver and two bronze medals, both from badminton.

Malaysia has hosted the SEA Games five times since the competition’s inauguration in 1959. The country has become the overall champion only once, in 2001, when it hosted the games in Kuala Lumpur. Indonesia has hosted the competition four times. Since first taking part in the games in 1977, Indonesia has become the overall champion nine times, followed by Thailand with five and Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam each winning the games once.

However, at higher levels of competition, such as Asian Games, Malaysia has performed better than Indonesia. In the 2002 Asian Games in South Korea, Malaysia was ranked in 12th position with six gold medals, while Indonesia lay in 14th place with four. In the 2006 games in Qatar, Malaysia improved to 11th position with eight gold medals, while Indonesia fell to 22nd position with only two. In the 2010 games in China, Malaysia finished in the top 10 with nine gold medals while Indonesia finished 15th with four.

Shahera eyeing joyful Games and blissful marriage

PETALING JAYA: National athlete Shahera Rahim Raja will tie the knot after the SEA Games in Jakarta but that won’t stop her from giving her all to her first love – shooting.
In fact, the 26-year old Shahera is determined to stay sharp in her mission to win honours for the country – starting with a good showing in the 10m air rifle event in her third SEA Games outing.

Shahera said that this year’s shooting competition, to be held in Palembang from Nov 12-16, would be the most challenging.

For the first time, team events have been dropped. Only individual medals will be contested and a country can only have a maximum entry of two shooters instead of three previously.

“My third SEA Games will demand the best out of me. I have won medals before but they were from team events. This time, there are only individual events and the quality of shooters will be high,” said Shahera.
“I am taking part in the 10m air rifle with Nur Suryani Taibi. We will have to keep an eye on shooters from Singapore and Thailand.

“I will be happy to win a medal. It will be a good pre-wedding gift,” added Shahera, who will solemnise her marriage vows with fellow Penangite and kayak ace Ziahul Asraf on Nov 26.
The sweet-faced Shahera also hopes that a good outing at the Games would put her in the right frame of mind ahead of the qualification for the London Olympic Games.

“The main tournament for us is the Asian Shooting Championships (in Doha next February). It is the last tournament that offers tickets for the Olympic Games. Hopefully, a good showing in SEA Games will give us a timely boost. I hope to gun down good scores in Palembang,” she said.

So far none of the shooters, including those in the Road to London programme – Suryani, Nur Ayuni Farhana Halim, Hasli Izwan Amir Hasan and Hafiz Adzha – have met the qualifying mark for the Olympics.

“The national shooters have been based in Langkawi over the last couple of weeks. We will attend a SEA Games centralised camp in Kuala Lumpur next week with the rest of the Malaysian contingent. We are hoping for a good harvest of medals at the Games in Palembang,” said Shahera.

The others shooters bound for Palembang are Khalel Abdullah, Alais Neek Sulong, Jonathan Wong, Mohd Hadafi Jaafar, Mohd Shahril Sahak, Mohd Zubair Mohammad, Mohd Ezuan Nasir Khan, Hisyam Adzha, Bibiana Ng, Joseline Cheah, Muslifah Zulkifli and Nur Ain Ibrahim.

For the record, Malaysia only won six silver and five bronze medals at the last SEA Games in Laos two years ago.

Medallist by event - Sea Games Laos 2009

Open publication - Free publishing - More laos2009

Karate Coach Confident Of Six Golds At Sea Games

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- National coach P Arivalagan is confident the national karate squad could haul up at least six gold medals at the Jakarta Sea Games next month.

Although the figure is more than the official target of the Malaysia Karate Federation (Makaf) of four golds, he was confident based on the performance of his charges who had been undergoing intensive preparation including participating in several major tournaments.

"Personally, as a coach I believe we're good for six. In fact we have the potential to win gold in all 10 categories we are contesting," he said at a news conference on the preparation of the Sea Games karate squad at the Bukit Jalil Sports Complex here, Tuesday.

He said the team was now in its final preparation including drawing up strategies against its opponents especially the main challengers, Vietnam and Indonesia.

"Vietnam would be sending its juniors considering many of its seniors have retired... through my observation of the championship in Istanbul last month, while our exponents including the second liners are stronger.

"Indonesia also has some good karate exponents as the sport is very popular there, nonetheless I am confident our exponents have the edge," he said, adding that he hoped the judging system in Jakarta would not favour the host country.

A total of 21 karate exponents including 2009 Sea Games gold medalists G Yugneswari, G Yamini and Jamalliah Jamaludin will be contesting in the event in the kumite and kata categories.

The team will be leaving for Jakarta on Nov 10 for the competition from Nov 12 to 14.

Karate has been a major contributor of gold medals to the Malaysian contingent in various games including six golds in the Laos Sea Games two years ago and two gold medals in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China last December.

SEA Games: Inasoc To Cater To Media Needs During Sea Games

JAKARTA, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- The Indonesia SEA Games Organising Committee (Inasoc) has given assurance that media personnel covering the 26th SEA Games in Jakarta will be given the same hospitality as their counterparts in Palembang.

Inasoc head of Media and Broadcasting, Linda Wahyudi, said the Main Press Centre (MPC) and International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) for the Games would be located at the Bank Sumsel building in Palembang.

"Don't worry. We also cater to the needs of journalists covering the events in Jakarta as well.

"The MPC for Jakarta is located at the Indonesia Olympiad Committee (Koni) building in the city centre. We also provide sub-media centres at certain venues but it's up to the respective sports federation to arrange the facilities at the venues," she told a group of 25 members of the Sports Writers Association of Malaysia (SAM) who are on a three-day working visit to Jakarta.

The group led by SAM president Ahmad Khawari Isa arrived here yesterday to monitor the preparations made for the media and to obtain the latest information on the biennial games which begins on Nov 11.



Linda said to date, about 3,000 local and foreign journalists had registered to cover the event.

She said 31 television stations from 10 Asean countries would cover the Games, including three from Malaysia (RTM, Astro Awani and Astro Arena).

In another development, Linda admitted that the committee was facing accommodation problem in Palembang.

Ahmad Khawari also raised the Malaysian journalists' concern over the SEA Games results system as any delay will jeopardise their work.

"Based on our past experience, any delay will give us much trouble, especially in Jakarta, as the venues are quite far from the MPC. We will also have to face the massive traffic jams in the city centre," he said.

Linda said her committee would try to accommodate any problem faced by journalists covering the Games.

Embassy To Mobilise Support For Malaysian Contingent

JAKARTA, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia will mobilise support for the Malaysian contingent in the SEA Games in November from Malaysians, especially students, domiciled in the republic.

Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin said currently there were 2,328 Malaysians, 1,928 of them students, who were members of the Malaysia Club Jakarta, besides 50 embassy personnel in Indonesia.

Bandung has the largest number of Malaysian students, numbering 1,042 followed by Jakarta (745), Palembang (95) and Jambi (46), he told 25 members of the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM), who were here on an inspection tour on the preparation of the Games, here Wednesday.

The SAM delegation is headed by its president, Ahmad Khawari Isa and accompanied by Malaysian chef-de-mission Datuk Naim Mohamad.

The Games will be co-hosted by Jakarta and Palembang from Nov 11 to 22.

Syed Munshi said the Malaysian Embassy here as well as the Malaysian Consulate in Pekan Baru would facilitate the Malaysian contingent secretariat in carrying out its task.

The Malaysian contingent secretariat, which will be housed at the Sultan Hotel in the heart of the capital, will be opened on Nov 3.

Sea Games: All systems go as fears allayed

FEARS over the readiness of Indonesia to host the 26th Sea Games in Palembang and Jakarta on Nov 11-22 have been quashed.

The Indonesia Sea Games Organising Committee (Inasoc) and the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta have both provided guarantees that it will be smooth running particularly for the Malaysian contingent and their support corps, including fans after concerns were raised over security and the readiness of venues.

Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Syed Munshe Afzaruddin Syed Hassan said fears over security of Malaysians during the Sea Games have been noted and the embassy is working closely with the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and the Malaysian contingent to the Sea Games to address each issue comprehensively.

"We've asked to meet with those in charge of the Malaysian contingent to address all concerns that have been raised.
"On our side, we can see quite clearly that Inasoc too are doing their utmost to ensure that the Sea Games is a success," said Syed Munshe after a meeting with a delegation from the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM), which was here to monitor the progress of preparations by the hosts.

Several departments and officers from the Malaysian Embassy have also been delegated to work hand-in-hand with the Sea Games contingent over the course of the biennial event.

Syed Munshe called for a closer working relationship between the parties involved.

"We'll also be working on ensuring our contingent is well supported, particularly by the groups of students we have here and Malaysians residing in Indonesia," said Syed Munshe.

In allaying fears over security considering recent anti-Malaysia protests by Indonesians over border issues, Syed Munshe also called for Malaysians to take necessary precautions to prevent any untoward incidents during the Games.

"There is no reason to fear these protests. They are usually done outside the embassy and heavily guarded by the police.

"Elsewhere, this isn't the case. In the case of supporters, there has to be coordination with the embassy so that we can take the necessary measures to help them have a more comfortable experience," said Syed Munshe.

"We need to know how many fans are going to which venues and then we can coordinate with the hosts to cordon off sections at those venues just for Malaysian fans. This will help avoid any potential trouble."

While there have been reports of venues not being ready in time, the SAM delegation's visit found those reports to be untrue, at least as far as venues in Jakarta, where events will be hosted mainly in existing venues which are only awaiting completion of minor facelifts.

Inasoc head of media and broadcasting Linda Wahyudi said issues in Palembang were mainly about the availability of accommodation for which the organisers are taking measures to solve, including the possibility of having cruise ships docked at the port city to provide extra temporary hotel rooms to serve the Games.

"The rest of it, like the main press centre and international broadcast centre are ready.

"Venues, internally are all ready and at the moment if work is being done, it is mainly on the outside, such as landscaping," said Linda.

In total contingents of over 16,000 athletes and officials from the 11 competing nations and a workforce of over 26,000 will be activated for the Games.

Linda added that 31 television stations from 10 countries and almost 3,000 media delegates will be at work during the Games.

Malaysia's chef-de-mission Datuk Naim Mohamad led a delegation which ensured the country was the first to register its full contingent with Inasoc in Jakarta yesterday, where he also allayed all concerns raised.

"As far as we can see there are no issues. Even the SAM delegation was here to have a first hand look at preparations and they have seen for themselves that there is nothing to be worried about.

"The hosts too have been really welcoming and cooperative," said Naim.

Suhardi tersenarai ke Sukan SEA

KUALA LUMPUR - Pelumba berpengalaman, Suhardi Hassan yang kembali disenaraikan dalam skuad Sukan SEA 2011 berikrar akan menggunakan kepakaran dan pengalamannya untuk meraih pingat emas acara lepas beramai-ramai lelaki elit dalam acara tersebut yang diadakan di Subang, Indonesia bulan depan.
Juara Sukan SEA 2005 di Manila itu mahu menjadikan perlumbaan Kejohanan Grand Prix Kebangsaan Sirkit Perlis (GP Perlis) Sabtu ini sebagai medan memperaga kehebatan.

Dia juga mahu mendapat rentak keserasian bersama rakan sepasukan seperti Muhammad Rauf Nur Misbah, Akmal Amrun dan Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin.

"Perlis adalah tempat saya mula kayuh basikal. Jadi apabila nama saya disenaraikan semula dalam skuad Sukan SEA, pertandingan pertama menjelang sukan tersebut ialah pada Grand Prix Perlis.
"Ia satu kebetulan. Namun saya keyakinan baru. Saya mahu uji kehebatan pada Grand Prix Perlis. Saya ingin tahu di mana saya berada sekarang berbanding rakan sepasukan.

"Bagaimanapun saya tahu ia satu tugas yang sukar kerana rakan sepelatih seperti Muhammad Adiq Hussainie (Othman) dan Amir Rusli (Mustafa) adalah pelumba yang sangat bagus.
"Prestasi mereka sangat konsisten. Namun saya percaya saya boleh uji prestasi terkini saya pada Grand Prix Perlis nanti," katanya dalam satu kenyataan semalam.

Pemenang pingat perak pada Sukan SEA 2007 di Korat, Thailand itu kembali disenaraikan dalam skuad Sukan SEA kali ini selepas pelumba serba boleh, Loh Sea Keong mengalami kemalangan dua hari lalu dan dijangka perlu berehat lebih enam minggu.

Keputusan tersebut bermakna anak jati Kelantan itu perlu melupakan cabaran di Subang, Indonesia.
Suhardi menyifatkan penyenaraiannya dalam skuad Sukan SEA 2011 sebagai keputusan yang tepat.
Dia berazam meninggalkan temasya sukan dwi-tahunan itu dengan kenangan paling manis.
"Saya ada dua pingat Sukan SEA iaitu emas dan perak. Saya masih terkilan dengan kekalahan kepada pelumba Indonesia di Korat.

"Waktu itu saya berada dalam prestasi terbaik dan percaya saya boleh kekalkan pingat emas yang saya menang di Manila. Bagaimanapun saya silap strategi pada 10 kilometer terakhir.
"Jadi apabila Sukan SEA kali ini diadakan di Subang, Indonesia; saya ada misi tersendiri. Saya mahu balas dendam.

"Kalau boleh mahu pastikan pingat emas milik pelumba Malaysia," katanya.

SEA Games: Athletes' Dorm In Palembang Ready By November

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- The Indonesian SEA Games Organising Committee (Inasoc) for Palembang is confident the athletes village dormitory will be ready early next month, for the regional meets.

The Jakarta Post quoted Inasoc director for Palembang, Muddai Madang, as saying that they had begun installing household equipment, including furniture and electronic devices, for the dorms which should be completed by end of this month.

"We have placed items in the dorms such as beds, desks and chairs," he said.

Muddai said Indonesian athletes were scheduled to be in Palembang early next month, to ensure they had time to adapt to the venues.

The athletes village which is located in the Jakabaring Sports Complex will accommodate about 2,300 athletes and officials.

About 5,000 athletes and officials are expected to take part in the Games. Half the number will be competing in Jakarta.

In Jakarta, the organising committee has prepared 3,997 rooms at 54 hotels for 3,766 athletes, 1,877 officials and 1,135 referees who will stay in the city during the Games.

Bukan alasan untuk gagal

SEBAHAGIAN besar daripada pemain dalam skuad Olimpik negara ini akan menggalas tugas mempertahankan pingat emas pada Sukan SEA di Indonesia bulan depan.

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BERADA dalam ‘kumpulan maut’ bukan alasan bagi skuad bola sepak negara untuk gagal mempamerkan prestasi cemerlang, sekali gus mempertahankan pingat emas yang dimena- ngi pada Sukan SEA lalu.

Timbalan Presiden Persatuan Bola sepak Malaysia (FAM), Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah bertitah, ini kerana skuad negara telah menjalani latihan rapi selama dua tahun, termasuk berlatih di Slovakia dan mengikuti beberapa siri perlawanan persahabatan sebagai persiapan menghadapi temasya tersebut.

“Saya mendapati undian sku- ad negara ke dalam Kumpulan A begitu sukar dan penuh mencabar.

“Bagaimanapun, kita perlu mempamerkan prestasi mantap, jangan pandang rendah pada pasukan lawan dan beraksi penuh konsentrasi,” titahnya selepas baginda mengadakan Lawatan Kerja di Kompleks Asnaf, Majlis Agama Islam Pahang (MU- IP) di Sungai Soi, Kuantan semalam.

Hasil undian acara bola sepak Sukan SEA 2011 kelmarin menyaksikan Malaysia diundi ke dalam Kumpulan A bersama tuan rumah Indonesia, Thailand, Singapura dan Kemboja.

Kumpulan B pula terdiri daripada Vietnam, Myanmar, Fili- pina, Timor Leste, Laos dan Brunei.
Titah baginda lagi, antara pasukan yang perlu dihormati oleh Malaysia sepanjang kejohanan itu ialah pasukan tuan rumah Indonesia, Thailand dan Filipina.

Bagi meraih kejayaan, ujar baginda, jurulatih juga turut memainkan peranan penting dalam mencongak strategi selain keupayaan para pemain.

“Segalanya kini terserah kepada pemain yang mana mereka perlu bersikap positif.
“Begitu juga jurulatih, mereka perlu pandai dalam menyusun strategi,” titahnya.
Mengulas mengenai pertukaran venue perlawanan bola sepak iaitu dari Jakarta ke Palem- bang, baginda mengakui ia memberi sedikit kelebihan kepada tuan rumah.

Namun baginda bertitah, sukan bola sepak masa kini tidak hanya dipengaruhi lokasi perlawanan tetapi mengambil kira pelbagai faktor untuk mencatat kemenangan.

“Saya tidak dinafikan ia memberi sedikit kelebihan kepada tuan rumah Indonesia. Jadi, kita perlu bermain dengan lebih ofensif dan fokus bagi memenangi setiap perlawanan,” titahnya.
Dalam pada itu, baginda menegaskan, skuad negara kini memberi sepenuh tumpuan kepada Sukan SEA dan Sukan Olimpik dalam tempoh terdekat.

Dilema Kim Swee

KIM SWEE (kanan) tidak risau dengan keputusan undian pada Sukan SEA 2011 tetapi yang menjadi kebimbangannya ialah tipu helah pasukan tuan rumah.

ADA sesuatu yang lebih merunsingkan fikiran pengendali skuad bola sepak bawah 23 tahun (B-23) kebangsaan, Ong Kim Swee menjelang sepak mula temasya Sukan SEA di Jakarta, Indonesia bulan depan.
Berbanding tekanan mengharungi ‘Kumpulan Neraka’ bersama jaguh Asia Tenggara seperti Thailand dan Singapura, Kim Swee sebenarnya lebih berwaspada dengan helah tuan rumah, Indonesia sama ada di dalam mahupun di luar padang pada temasya itu nanti.

Apa tidaknya, kerenah gelombang peminat fanatik Garuda yang tidak sudah-sudah membangkitkan isu laser ternyata dibuktikan semasa final Piala AFF Suzuki tahun lalu, padahal mereka terlebih dahulu melakukan tindakan yang sama ketika saingan di peringkat kumpulan.

Tidak mustahil ia akan kembali berlaku pada temasya Sukan SEA nanti, selain jadual undian menentang Indonesia pada perlawanan terakhir juga menghadirkan rasa debar di hati Kim Swee.

Apa yang pasti katanya, ia harus dikendalikan sematang mungkin oleh kesemua pemain Harimau Muda bagi memastikan pingat emas Sukan SEA Laos dua tahun lalu berjaya dipertahankan.

“Saya tipu kalau saya kata tidak takut (diundi dalam kumpulan maut), tetapi inilah lumrah bola sepak dan kita tidak berhak untuk mempertikaikan keputusan undian yang dibuat.

“Berbanding memikirkan cabaran pasukan lain (Singapura, Thailand dan Kemboja), saya lebih berhati-hati dengan helah pasukan tuan rumah sama ada di dalam ataupun di luar padang,” katanya ketika dihubungi di Hanoi malam tadi.

Bagi aksi Kumpulan A, Malaysia dijadualkan bertemu Singapura pada 9 November, Thailand (10 November), Kemboja (15 November) dan Indonesia (17 November) manakala aksi separuh akhir dan final diadakan pada 19 dan 21 November.

Aksi Kumpulan B pula dilihat lebih memihak kepada naib juara, Vietnam yang dilihat lebih mudah menempah slot ke separuh akhir apabila diundi bersama Myanmar, Laos, Filipina, Brunei dan Timor Leste.

Kim Swee yang ketika ini berada di Hanoi, Vietnam bagi mengharungi Kejohanan Jemputan Piala Vietnam (VFF) memberitahu, pasukannya harus bersikap lebih realistik semasa berada di Jakarta kelak memandangkan mempertahankan pingat emas dilihat lebih sukar berbanding mendapatkan pingat emas.

“Pada masa sama, pemain juga harus bersikap positif kerana pasukan lain juga menganggap kita sebagai pasukan pilihan dalam Kumpulan A selaku juara bertahan, justeru bukan kita sahaja yang merasa tertekan dengan situasi itu,” katanya.

Mengenai perkembangan pasukannya yang akan menentang Myanmar bagi aksi Piala VFF hari ini kata Kim Swee, dia menjangkakan akan mengubah keseluruhan kesebelasan utamanya yang diturunkan ketika tewas kepada Uzbekistan 1-3 pada perlawanan pembuka tirai kejohanan kelmarin.

“Ini peluang saya untuk menguji kesemua pemain, selain akan cuba mengatasi kelemahan di bahagian pertahanan yang dilihat sedikit alpa sebaik mula menyerang semasa babak kedua ketika menentang Uzbekistan tempoh hari,” katanya.

FAM lega final bola sepak Sukan Sea cepat sehari

SELEPAS penat menanti akhirnya Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) terpaksa akur bahawa Persatuan Bola Sepak Syria (SFA) sebenarnya berat hati untuk menerima permohonan mereka menunda perlawanan peringkat kumpulan Kelayakan Olimpik London 2012 pada November depan.
Biarpun pada mulanya dikatakan Syria memberikan perkhabaran positif untuk menunda perlawanan kedua Kumpulan C pada 23 November kepada 24 November ini, namun sikap membisu persatuan bola sepak negara itu membuatkan FAM menganggap usaha mereka itu seperti sudah tidak berhasil.

Namun kini FAM boleh berterima kasih kepada tuan rumah Sukan Sea Indonesia yang dianggap penyelamat kerana mempercepatkan sehari perlawanan final acara bola sepak pada 21 November.
Ini kerana jika skuad negara dibimbing Ong Kim Swee mara ke final, mereka mempunyai tempoh 48 jam sebelum beraksi dalam perlawanan kelayakan Olimpik menentang Syria seperti ditetapkan peraturan perlawanan antarabangsa Fifa.

Menurut Naib Presiden FAM, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin yang juga pengurus skuad Sukan Sea negara, mereka kini hanya perlu memberi fokus kepada persediaan kepada dua kejohanan penting itu tanpa perlu menantikan jawapan Syria.

“Kita sudah menghubungi dan mengemukakan rayuan beberapa kali kepada Syria namun sampai sekarang tidak ada jawapan. Jadi kita anggap Syria tidak mahu ubah tarikh perlawanan itu.

“Tapi memandangkan tarikh perlawanan akhir bola sepak Sukan Sea Indonesia sudah diubah pada 21 November dan bukannya 22 November seperti yang jadualkan sebelum ini, jadi kita sudah tidak berdepan masalah sekiranya kita layak ke final Sukan Sea kerana mempunyai tempoh 48 jam sebelum menentang Syria dalam perlawanan kelayakan Olimpik,” kata Hamidin ketika dihubungi Arena Metro di Hanoi.

Malaysia yang turun selaku juara bertahan di Sukan Sea kali ini diundi dalam Kumpulan A bersama Indonesia, Thailand, Singapura dan Kemboja. Hampir keseluruhan pemain skuad Sukan Sea negara berusia bawah 23 tahun adalah pemain sama dalam skuad Olimpik.

Sementara itu, anak buah Kim Swee bakal berdepan Myanmar hari ini bagi aksi kedua kejohanan jemputan Piala Persekutuan Bola Sepak Vietnam di Hanoi.

Jangan gentar reputasi lawan

IMBAS KEMBALI...skuad Malaysia bergembira selepas mengalahkan Thailand 2-1 pada Sukan Sea Laos 2009.

SEGALA apa yang diperlukan untuk bergelar jaguh, sudah dilaksanakan sebaik mungkin dan kini semuanya terpulang kepada pemain skuad kebangsaan sama ada mereka mampu atau tidak dalam misi mempertahankan pingat emas acara bola sepak pada temasya Sukan Sea Indonesia yang bakal menyingkap tirainya, bulan depan.
“Persediaan sudah dibuat sejak dua tahun lalu. Mereka juga pernah ditempatkan di Slovakia selain beberapa perlawanan persahabatan bermutu tinggi. Terserahlah kepada pemain. Suka atau tidak, kita perlu mempertahankan pingat emas dalam acara bola sepak,” kata Timbalan Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

Selaku orang nombor dua di dalam badan induk kebangsaan itu, beliau sedar keputusan undian peringkat kumpulan untuk acara bola sepak sememangnya tidak memihak kepada skuad kebangsaan yang dibimbing jurulatih Ong Kim Swee itu tetapi jauh di sudut hatinya, beliau tetap berpegang kepada kata-kata: “Di dalam bola sepak, apa saja boleh berlaku“.
Berdasarkan kepada keputusan undian yang berlangsung kelmarin, anak buah Kim Swee itu diundi didalam Kumpulan A bersama-sama tuan rumah, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapura dan Kemboja manakala naib juara ketika di Laos, Vietnam pula berada di dalam Kumpulan B bersama-sama Myanmar, Laos, Brunei, Filipina dan Timor Leste.

Malaysia akan membuka kempen mempertahankan emas Sukan Sea dengan menentang Singapura pada 9 November diikuti Thailand (11 November), Kemboja (15 November) dan Indonesia (17 November). Semua perlawanan itu akan dilangsungkan di Stadium Utama Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta.

Kumpulan B pula akan melangsungkan perlawanan di Stadium Lebak Bulus, Jakarta. Hanya dua pasukan daripada setiap kumpulan akan layak ke peringkat separuh akhir.

Untuk rekod, Malaysia muncul juara acara bola sepak Sukan Sea buat kali pertama dalam tempoh 20 tahun ketika temasya itu dilangsungkan di Laos, dua tahun lalu iaitu menerusi skuad bimbingan Datuk K Rajagobal. Meskipun hanya menduduki tempat kedua Kumpulan A di belakang Vietnam, Malaysia bangkit menewaskan Laos 3-1 pada separuh akhir sebelum melangkah ke final sekali gus menang 1-0 ke atas Vietnam. “Jurulatih (Kim Swee) perlu mempunyai formula terbaik untuk memastikan emas dapat dipertahankan. Segala strategi dan perancangan perlu diatur dan dilaksana dengan sempurna jika kita mahu muncul juara.

“Memang keputusan undian itu tidak begitu memihak kepada kita. Kita berada dalam kumpulan yang sukar dan lawan kita bukanlah calang-calang. Saya jangka saingan paling hebat bakal dihadirkan oleh tuan rumah, Indonesia. Bagaimanapun, kita tidak boleh melupakan Thailand dan Singapura.

“Apa yang penting, pemain kita hendaklah berfikiran positif dan fokus kepada perlawanan satu demi satu. Jangan rosakkan minda dengan terlalu memikirkan soal siapa lawan atau memandang rendah keupayaan lawan. Jangan pandang ringan setiap perlawanan. Kita semua perlu positif,” katanya.

Fatimah letih hadapi kemelut

“LETIH,” itu yang disuarakan oleh pelumba 100 meter negara, Siti Fatimah Mohamad dengan kemelut yang tiada berkesudahan membabitkan barisan pelumba 4x100m negara menjelang temasya dwi tahunan, Sukan Sea, Jakarta-Palembang, 11 November ini.
Tambah mengecewakan, atlet itu tidak akan ke Sukan Sea bukan kerana membawa diri namun kecederaan hamstring yang berulang menghalang dirinya kembali beraksi di temasya itu.

Ketika masalah berhubung dengan kontroversi melarikan diri daripada ujian doping masih belum selesai, Siti berharap kes itu diadili dengan sempurna dan secara jujurnya dia sudah malas untuk memikirkan apakah kesudahannya.
“Susah menggambarkan perasaan saya sekarang. Kaki saya ini lebih penting dan perlu menjaganya. Ketika ini rehat adalah keputusan paling tepat biarpun terpaksa melupakan Sukan Sea. “Mengenai keputusan berhubung kes ujian doping itu, saya sudah malas memikirkannya. Siapa yang salah atau yang benar hanya tuhan saja yang tahu,” katanya.

Barisan 4x100m mula bersinar apabila pelari terdiri daripada Norjannah Hafiszah Jamaludin, Nurul Sarah Abdul Kadir, Siti Zubaidah Adabi dan Yee Li Ying berjaya melebur rekod kebangsaan berusia 21 tahun dengan kepantasan 45.33s di Poland, Julai lalu.

Gabungan itu menduduki tempat keempat pada Sukan Sea 2009 di Laos dengan catatan 45.69s.

Namun kuartet itu mula pincang apabila mereka tidak lagi sependapat dan berpecah membawa haluan bermula membabitkan kontroversi selepas enggan memberikan sampel air kencing.

Kok Chi: Malaysia tidak terjejas

SETIAUSAHA Kehormat Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM), Datuk Sieh Kok Chi memberi jaminan kontinjen negara tidak akan menghadapi masalah kekurangan bilik penginapan pada temasya Sukan SEA 2011 di Indonesia.

Menurut Kok Chi, pihaknya telahpun menerima senarai penginapan daripada pihak penganjur berhubung penginapan buat atlet-atlet negara yang bakal bertanding pada temasya dwitahunan itu baik di Palembang mahupun di Jakarta.

“Setakat ini, tidak ada sebarang masalah yang dihadapi dan pihak penganjur pun telah menghantar senarai penginapan kepada kami (MOM) buat atlet-atlet Malaysia.

“Semuanya telah diatur mengikut perancangan dan tidak ada sebab untuk kita bimbang mengenai kekurangan bilik penginapan buat kontinjen negara,” kata Kok Chi ketika dihubungi Kosmo! semalam.

Semalam, media di Indonesia melaporkan kekurangan bilik penginapan di perkampungan atlet dan bilik hotel terutamanya di Palembang mungkin memaksa Jawatankuasa Penganjur Sukan SEA (Inasoc) untuk menggunakan kapal tentera Republik itu sebagai hotel terapung.

Sehingga kini, 15,900 atlet dan pegawai dari 11 negara telah mendaftar untuk beraksi pada temasya dwitahunan itu dan separuh daripada mereka akan berada di Palembang.

Bagaimanapun perkampungan atlet di Bandar Sukan Jakabaring, Palembang hanya boleh menampung kira-kira 2,000 peserta dan terdapat kira-kira 4,500 bilik hotel di bandar itu.

Kok Chi yang diminta mengulas mengenai perkara tersebut berkata: “Kami tidak dimaklumkan apa-apa mengenai masalah tersebut.

“Malah, senarai penginapan buat atlet-atlet Malaysia yang kami terima daripada pihak penganjur tidak ada pula menyebut yang atlet-atlet kita akan menginap dalam kapal tentera.

“Saya percaya, selaku penganjur, Indonesia tahu apa yang perlu mereka lakukan kerana mereka sendiri sudah berjanji bahawa segala persiapan bagi Sukan SEA kali ini akan siap sebelum ia bermula,” ujar Kok Chi.

Dalam pada itu, Kok Chi turut memberitahu bahawa Ketua Kontinjen Malaysia ke Sukan SEA 2011, Datuk Naim Mohamed bersama beberapa lagi pegawai daripada Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) akan berlepas ke Indonesia, Sabtu ini bagi membuat tinjauan terhadap persiapan penganjur menjelang temasya yang bakal membuka tirainya 11 November ini.

“Apabila Datuk Naim bersama beberapa pegawai MSN sudah melakukan tinjauan itu nanti barulah kita akan tahu sejauh mana persiapan Indonesia bagi menganjurkan Sukan SEA kali ini dan selepas itu baharu kita boleh membuat sebarang keputusan sekiranya ada masalah-masalah yang timbul,” tambah Kok Chi.

‘Kumpulan Maut’

JIKA di Indonesia, media tempatan menganggap saingan Kumpulan A bola sepak Sukan Sea sebagai ‘Kumpulan Neraka’. Hakikat sama turut dirasai skuad bawah 23 tahun negara yang merasai bahangnya apabila diundi dalam kumpulan yang sama.

Sesungguhnya diakui Malaysia bakal berdepan ranjau penuh berliku untuk mempertahankan pingat emas Sukan Sea kali ini apabila diletakkan bersama pasukan tuan rumah, Thailand, Singapura dan Kemboja dalam saingan Kumpulan A.

Ini kerana Indonesia yang mempunyai kelebihan di tempat sendiri pasti mahu mengaut kelebihan, manakala juara 13 kali, Thailand sentiasa dianggap ancaman besar meskipun terkandas di peringkat kumpulan dua tahun lalu dengan kemampuan Singapura juga tidak boleh diketepikan.


Bagaimanapun, finalis Sukan Sea Laos 2009, Vietnam boleh tersenyum selepas keputusan undian diumumkan semalam apabila mengetahui mereka hanya perlu berdepan Myanmar, Laos, Brunei, Filipina dan Timor Leste untuk melepasi halangan Kumpulan B.

Bagi Malaysia yang kini dibimbing Ong Kim Swee, mereka mengakui tidak mempunyai pilihan selain perlu bertarung dengan pasukan handalan Asia Tenggara jika mahu mengulangi pencapaian skuad emas K Rajagobal di Laos sebelum ini.

“Kita tidak boleh memilih pasukan mana kita akan bertemu dan untuk mengekalkan kejuaraan, pasukan negara perlu bersedia dengan semua pasukan. “Memang tugas kita lebih berat selaku juara bertahan, tapi jika Indonesia boleh menyatakan Kumpulan A ini seperti Kumpulan Neraka, mereka juga tahu kekuatan yang kita miliki. Apa yang penting di sini kita hanya perlu memberikan fokus kepada persediaan untuk menghadapi saingan peringkat kumpulan nanti,” katanya yang dihubungi Arena Metro di Hanoi semalam.

Malaysia akan memulakan kempen peringkat kumpulan di Stadium Utama Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta bertemu Singapura pada 9 November sebelum berdepan Thailand (11 November), Kemboja (15 November) dan Indonesia (17 November) untuk merebut dua tempat terbaik untuk menempah tiket ke separuh akhir.

Saingan Kumpulan B pula akan diadakan di satu lagi venue, Stadium Lebak Bulus di Jakarta.

Pada temasya dwi tahunan di Laos, skuad negara muncul naib juara kumpulan A di belakang Vietnam sebelum menewaskan Laos 3-1 pada separuh akhir dan mencipta sejarah merangkul pingat emas pertama dalam tempoh 20 tahun dengan mengalahkan Vietnam 1-0 di final.

Ketika ditanya adakah mereka mampu mencipta kegemilangan itu dengan halangan awal cukup mencabar ini, Kim Swee menegaskan, misi itu tidak mustahil.

“Setiap kali pemain turun ke gelanggang, mereka akan berusaha mencari kemenangan. Apa yang harus dilakukan pemain agar berusaha lebih keras daripada apa yang kita lakukan dua tahun lalu,” katanya.

Sea Games: Malaysia in ‘dangerous’ group Printed

MALAYSIA’S defence of the Sea Games football gold medal just got a little tougher after being drawn with hosts Indonesia and regional heavyweights Thailand yesterday.
If that was not enough, the draw in Jakarta also served up a tantalising opening match against Causeway rivals Singapore on Nov 9 with Cambodia making up the five-team Group A.

Coach Ong Kim Swee’s worst fears came true as the draw virtually put all the region’s top teams except for Vietnam in one group. Vietnam have an arguably easier draw with Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Timor Leste and Brunei in Group B.

“This is the Sea Games, anything can happen and we could get all the tough teams in the same group,” said Kim Swee.

To compound matters, the Sea Games squad were soundly beaten 3-1 by Uzbekistan in the VFF Cup Under-23 tournament in Hanoi yesterday through three second half goals.

Deputy Sports Minister Datuk Razali Ibrahim, however, said the draw should not matter as Malaysia would have to meet the strong teams eventually to retain the gold medal.

“I am confident we can get through the group stage if the team employ the right strategy. As the defending champions, it is the other teams who should fear us.


“There is no use saying we want to avoid this team or that and that only implies weakness on our part. I realise the pressure would be on us as defending champions but we must use that to our advantage,” said Razali after chairing a football development committee meeting in Bukit Jalil yesterday. — By Devinder Singh

SEA Games medals in jeopardy as shuttlers take a beating

ODENSE: Several of Malaysia’s SEA Games-bound shuttlers took a heavy beating in the Denmark Open, casting doubts of their ability to win medals in Jakarta.

But men’s singles shuttler Liew Daren described it as a momentary setback after losing 23-21, 20-22, 9-21 to India’s Anand Pawar in the second round of the qualifying tournament on Tuesday.

Daren said that his fitness was a letdown against the fast-attacking Anand, who looked to have benefited from playing in Denmark’s league prior to the tournament.

“My fitness let me down and I could not keep up with the pace set by Anand. He has certainly improved since playing in the league here,” said Daren.

“I have beaten Lee Hyun-il (South Korea) and Simon Santoso (Indonesia) before this tournament. This is just one tournament too many for me ... and not enough of training. I will focus more on my physical fitness to be in better shape for next week’s France Open.

“I am still optimistic of my chances at the SEA Games next month. I can still fight for a medal if I push myself.”

Back-up shuttler Mohd Arif Abdul Latif gave a better showing to make the main draw but he fell 21-16, 21-10 to Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen in the first round.

In the men’s doubles, SEA Games gold medal hopefuls Lim Khim Wah-Goh Wei Shem could not handle a strong assault from England’s Anthony Clark-Chris Langridge and lost 18-21, 14-21 in the opening round of qualifying tournament.

Said Khim Wah: “We know what went wrong and will try not to repeat it. There were too many mistakes from us. We did reasonably well at the Japan Open (reached quarter-finals) but we crashed out early here. We are still in the process of stabilising our game.

“Wei Shem and I will get our act right at the SEA Games.”

It was also the end of the road for reigning Indonesia Open Grand Prix Gold champions Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo when they crashed out to Savitree Amitapai-Sapriree Taerattana-chai of Thailand 4-21, 14-21.

But Sabrina Chong-Goh Liu Ying did well to keep Malaysia’s flag flying high when they cleared the qualifying tournament.

Fatehah gives priority to victory in SEA Games

KUALA LUMPUR: Fatehah Mustapa will put her Olympic dreams on hold as she seeks to make history by becoming the first Malaysian woman track cyclist to bag a SEA Games gold medal in Jakarta next month.

More than two years of solid training in Melbourne with the elite squad has turned her into a sprinting machine capable of giving the world-class cyclists a run for their money.

The 22-year-old lass from Terengganu took a giant step towards becoming the first-ever Malaysian woman to ride at the Olympics after finishing fifth in the keirin final at the world meet in March.

It enabled her to push her way into the top 16 in the world rankings at the end of the 2010-2011 track cycling season and the indications are she should join Azizulhasni Awang as the two cyclists to qualify for the London Olympics.

A country can only qualify one cyclist for the individual sprint and keirin for the London Olympics next year compared to two each in Beijing in 2008.

Fatehah, who is one of the elite squad cyclists under the Road to London programme, will not join Azizul and Josiah Ng for the opening round of the UCI Track World Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan, from Nov 4-6 but will compete in the SEA Games.

The four rounds of the 2011-2012 Track World Cup, which will also have stops in Cali, Beijing and London, together with the World Championships in Melbourne next April, provides ranking points for the cyclists to qualify for the London Olympics.

Fatehah won a silver medal in 500m time trial in her previous SEA Games campaign in Korat when track cycling was last contested and she is optimistic of delivering a gold medal this time.

“There is no keirin and I think my best chance to get the gold is in the 500m time trial discipline.

“There are also chances in the sprint and team sprint but it depends on the tactics on that day,” said Fatehah, who is likely to be paired up with Ju Pha Somnet, the four-gold medal winner at this year’s Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Kuala Lumpur, for the team sprint.

“I may have made it to the World Championships final but I am wary of the Indonesian and Thai cyclists, who may be my strongest threats.

“They do not go for the World Cup outings but they are very focused when it comes to the SEA Games.

“I will give priority to making an impact at the SEA Games as I hope to contribute to helping meet the targets set but it will be back to focusing on the remaining World Cup legs from December.

“I stand a very good chance to qualify for the London Olympics if I stay inside the top 16 after the World Championships next year.”

The Malaysian cycling squad will also compete in mountain bike, BMX and road disciplines but it is on the track that they are hopeful of achieving a harvest of at least four gold medals.

Sukan SEA: Karate sasar enam pingat emas

SHAKILA JEFRY (kiri) dianggap antara yang berpotensi untuk menyumbang pingat kepada skuad karate pada Sukan SEA 2011 di Indonesia bulan depan.

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PERSEKUTUAN Karate Malaysia (Makaf) menetapkan sasaran memungut enam pingat emas pada Sukan SEA di Indo- nesia bulan depan.

Presidennya, Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Rustam berkata, sasaran itu mampu dicapai menerusi sistem baru latihan yang diperkenalkan tahun ini oleh jurulatih perunding dari Eropah, dan ia berhasil setelah Malaysia berjaya memunggut satu pingat gangsa pada Kejohanan Karate Remaja dan Kadet Dunia Ketujuh di Melaka baru-baru ini.

Menurutnya, bagi melengkapkan cabaran itu, enam atlet dari skuad pelapis akan diserap- kan ke dalam skuad senior negara dalam usaha merealisa- sikan sasaran pingat di Sukan SEA nanti.
"Kita yakin boleh mencapai sasaran tersebut biarpun menjangkakan akan menerima saingan sengit daripada pasukan tuan rumah, Indonesia dalam Sukan SEA bulan depan,"' katanya kepada pemberita selepas menutup Kejohanan Karate Remaja dan Kadet Dunia Ketujuh di Pusat Dagangan Antarabangsa Melaka (MITC) kelmarin.

Pada kejohanan itu, Mesir muncul juara keseluruhan dengan memungut lapan emas, tiga perak dan empat gangsa, manakala Turki menduduki tempat kedua dengan meraih enam emas, lima perak dan satu gangsa.
Kejohanan yang berlangsung selama empat hari bermula Khamis lalu itu menyediakan 31 pingat emas dan berjaya menarik penyertaan 1,200 atlet karate mewakili 81 negara, anta- ranya Perancis, Croatia, Jepun, Jerman, Arab Saudi dan Sepa- nyol.

Malaysia menjadi tuan rumah buat pertama kali Kejoha- nan Karate Remaja dan Kadet Dunia Ketujuh pada tahun ini. Sepanyol terpilih menjadi tuan rumah buat kejohanan tersebut pada tahun 2013.
Selain itu, kata Mohd. Ali, dalam usaha meningkatkan mutu atlet karate negara, Makaf dengan kerjasama agensi berkaitan perlu mengembling tenaga bagi mendedahkan para atlet menyertai lebih banyak pertandingan di peringkat antarabangsa.

Terjun lubuk emas akuatik ke Sukan SEA Indonesia

KUALA LUMPUR – Atlet terjun diletakkan harapan tinggi untuk memungut pingat emas sebanyak mungkin pada SEA Indonesia 2011 yang akan berlangsung dari 11 hingga 22 November ini.
Menurut Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong, acara terjun bakal menjadi lubuk mengaut emas berikutan aksi konsisten atletnyam malah ada yang sudah menempah tempat ke Sukan Olimpik 2012 London.

“Bagi memantapkan lagi atlet terjun mereka akan dihantar menjalani latihan di Kunming, China bermula Jumaat ini selama tiga minggu sebelum kembali semula ke Malaysia dan menyertai kontinjen negara ke Palembang,” katanya ketika meninjau persiapan atlet akuatik semalam.
Jelasnya, akuatik akan menghantar 64 atlet yang dibahagikan kepada lima acara iaitu renang, terjun, renang berirama, renang terbuka dan polo air lelaki dan wanita.

“Setiap kali Sukan SEA akuatik tidak pernah mengecewakan negara dengan menjadi penyumbang terbesar pingat emas. Termasuk di dua temasya sebelum ini di Korat 2007 dan Laos 2009, bagaimanapun kita agak terkilan kerana perenang utama, Daniel Bego baru sahaja pulih daripada menjalani pembedahan bahu.
“Ini memberi kesukaran buatnya untuk meraih seberapa banyak pingat yang mungkin dan akan mengambil bahagian dalam satu atau dua acara sahaja, jadi kita mengharapkan atlet terjun untuk menyinar walaupun tidak mengambil bahagian kesemua lapan disiplin,” katanya.

Kata Zolkples, jika prestasi mantap dapat dipamerkan semua atlet dalam acara akuatik mereka mampu meraih lebih daripada 11 emas sambil mengharapkan atlet dari acara renang terbuka dan renang berirama mampu melakukan kejutan.

Akuatik berjaya meraih 15 pingat emas pada temasya di Laos dengan renang menyumbang sembilan emas manakala terjun pula enam emas.

Women’s beach volleyball duo peaking nicely for SEA Games

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian women’s beach volleyball duo Beh Shun Thing-Luk Teck Hua are peaking nicely for the Indonesia SEA Games next month, judging by their runner-up finish in the Palembang Open on Sunday.

The experienced Shun Thing-Teck Hua came up short against the Thailand A pair of Usa Tempaksee-Jarunee Sannok in the final, going down 15-21, 19-21.

Shun Thing-Teck Hua had earlier beaten the Indonesia A pair of Ayu Siam-Yokbeth Kapasian 21-18, 21-18 in the quarter-finals before eliminating the Indonesia C combination of Sri Silisiowati Efa–Dita Juliana 19-21, 21-12, 15-9 in the semi-finals of the tournament, which is part of the AVC Beach Volleyball Tour.

This was the Malaysian pair’s second consecutive final appearance, the first being the Vietnam Open earlier this month. This clearly augurs well for their chances at the Indonesia SEA Games next month.

The Malaysian women’s B combination of M. Iswari-Luk Teng Kee crashed out in the group stages while the men’s pairings of Kiew Chiong Ung-Rafi Asruki Nordin and Khoo Chong Long-Mohd Fitri Salim reached the quarter-finals and last 16 respectively.

The Malaysian beach volleyball squad will compete in two more tournaments before heading for the SEA Games – the South-East Asia Zone Olympic Qualifying in Pechaburi, Thailand (Oct 25-27) and the Phuket FIVB Beach Volleyball Tour (Nov 1-6).

Sea Games: Naim: Malaysians clean

THERE will be no positive dope tests involving Malaysian athletes at the Sea Games in Indonesia next month.

That is the guarantee given by Malaysia's chef-de-mission Datuk Naim Mohamad as all measures to avoid potential embarrassments have been taken.

Any loopholes will be covered, at least as far as the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and the National Sports Institute (NSI) are concerned.

"From our point of view, it seems a watertight strategy and implementation in our doping control efforts," said Naim.
"The NSI is not taking any chances and all the team managers have been given strict guidelines which they have all agreed to follow."

The full list of athletes representing Malaysia in the Sea Games was confirmed in the team managers' meeting at the Olympic Council of Malaysia yesterday.

Athletes will go through a full medical check-up at the NSI before leaving for Indonesia and those with ailments requiring prescribed medication will need to be given a therapeutic usage exemption (TUE) form.

But not all teams representing the country have thus far adhered to the guidelines.

"Those who haven't complied have been notified. There is a list, but it is not for public consumption. I am sure all teams and national sports associations will not have any problems complying," said Naim. "The NSI has everything under control."

Naim added that the current size of the Malaysian contingent to the Sea Games is over 900 athletes, which isn't expected to grow by too many.

MSN tetap yakin kemampuan skuad takraw

ZOLKPLES (kiri) menyampaikan amanat kepada para pemain skuad sepak takraw negara di Bukit Jalil semalam.

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MESKIPUN prestasi skuad sepak takraw negara kini umpama 'yoyo', Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) tetap yakin pemain negara mampu mencipta kejutan pada Sukan SEA 2011 di Indonesia, November ini.
Ketua Pengarah MSN, Datuk Zolkples Embong berkata, skuad kebangsaan perlu kembali bangkit di Indonesia selepas meraih emas buat kali terakhir pada temasya Sukan SEA 2005 di Manila, Filipina.
"Saya yakin pemain kita mampu melakukan sesuatu walaupun sejak kebelakangan ini keputusan daripada perlawanan yang mereka sertai tidak begitu menggalakkan.

"Kalau pasukan kita nombor dua, orang kata kita gagal... semua orang mahu skuad negara menjuarai kesemua pertandingan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas meninjau latihan skuad sepak takraw kebangsaan di Bukit Jalil semalam.

Sehubungan itu, beliau meminta pemain meningkatkan latih tubi dan memberi perhatian optimum terhadap permainan, terutama acara regu sebelum menyertai temasya berkenaan.

Sementara itu, jurulatih pasukan, Jamaluddin Hassan berkata, senarai penuh pemain ke Indonesia akan diumum selepas atlet selesai menyertai kem latihan pusat kelolaan MSN dari 1 hingga 4 November ini.
 
"Seramai 12 pemain lelaki dan sembilan wanita akan dipilih. Kita tidak maklumkan sekarang kerana tak mahu prestasi mereka merudum sebelum temasya bermula," katanya. - Bernama

Rowing: Coach confident charges will win a medal

NATIONAL rowing coach Abdul Halim Aziz believes his charges are on the right track towards clinching the nations first ever medal at next month's Indonesia Sea Games after an impressive outing at the recently ended Varsity Boat Race (VBR) in Putrajaya.

Abdul Halim led the Malaysian Universities Sports Council elite squad rowers (PKS), essentially the national team that will be heading to Indonesia, to a commendable one gold, three silver and two bronze haul to finish third overall at the event amidst a formidable field.

The coach said he was especially delighted with his men's four and eight team performances who are the nations main hopes to contend for medals in Jakarta next month.

"I am very pleased with our performances here as the times we managed to clock are not far off from medal winning times from past Sea Games," said Abdul Halim.
"I am not ready to say that we will be able to come back with a gold medal but to finish on the podium is certainly a reachable target for us at the Sea Games.

"Our men's four team did well to win their category here (VBR) while the men's eight team only slightly lost to Nottingham University who are physically much bigger and more experienced."

The Malaysian Rowing Association (Perdama) chief coach, however, said there was still work to be done if they hope to get the job done next month.

"I still see some weaknesses and will be working hard to improve their power, endurance, stroke-rate as well as their ability to finish strongly as that will be what makes the difference between the stronger and weaker teams."

Paragliders target six Sea Games gold

Christopher Lammert (left) makes a final check with coach Captain (R) Haznain Ngamil and Asmawati Ahmad (R) before taking off from Kokol hills in Kota Kinabalu. — Picture by Malai Rosmah Tuah. 

 

A TINY Malaysian flag flutters on top of a hill near Kota Kinabalu, raising smiles of approval from a group of people gathered there with huge backpacks. It rained the whole morning but minutes after the group arrived, the skies cleared as if inviting them to fly down the Kokol hills from a height of about 900m. They were paragliders and nothing makes them more happy than clear skies and a steady breeze.

Among them were Christopher Lammert and Asmawati Ahmad, who are preparing for the Sea Games next month. They are part of the national team eyeing six gold medals in the Games where paragliding will be contested for the first time.

They aim to win in three events (men and women) -- spot landing accuracy, race to goal and distance paragliding.
Keeping a close watch on the paragliders was coach Captain (R) Haznain Ngamil who is also Asmawati's husband.

Lammert said the Kokol hills were one of two main areas where they train regularly.

"Sometimes we drive all the way to the Lohan hills in Ranau (about 140km from Kota Kinabalu) and train there.

"We fly regularly because we need to maintain our form in all three events," said Lammert, who added that Malaysia is expected to send seven paragliders each in the men and women's categories respectively.

Lammert was the best Malaysian finisher in the inaugural Paragliding Accuracy World Cup circuit championship held in the Lohan hills earlier this year and was third in a pre-Sea Games competition held in Puncak, Jawa Tengah last month.

Aiman overcomes injury setback to earn SEA Games ticket

PETALING JAYA: Five months ago, after winning the Malaysian Open title at the Sunway Megalanes in Sunway Pyramid, the outlook for the year seemed gloomy for national bowler Muhd Nur Aiman Khairuddin.
A wrist injury prevented him from taking any part in tournaments for the national team and his chance to feature for the first time in the SEA Games looked to be slim.

But he continued to have faith and after working closely with the physiotherapist, he managed to recover from his injury and make the SEA Games squad to Indonesia.
“I’m just happy that the coach (Holloway Cheah) did not leave me out of the Games even though I did not play in any tournaments after May,” said southpaw Aiman.

“I was focused on recovering quickly to make my SEA Games debut and I’m glad I did.”
He said he has fully recovered from the injury and has no problems bowling now. He will join fellow team-mates Adrian Ang, Zulmazran Zulkifli, Mohd Syafiq Ridhwan, Alex Liew and Aaron Kong for the Indonesian Games.

“I may lack some tournament time under my belt but I think that’s not a big problem. Some of my team-mates went to play in Europe while I’m stuck here to recover. But that’s okay with me.

“As far as training is concerned, I’m doing well and the injury did not bother my game at all. I will have to see how my competition edge is in the KL Open (21-29 Oct),” he said.

Aiman will use the KL Open to gauge his current performance but without a strong field of international bowlers in the fray, he will find it hard to fine-tune his competition edge ahead of the SEA Games.
“I know it is hard to be sharp in tournaments when you don’t have enough tournament time. But I will try my best and the coach’s faith in me really means a lot.

“Personally, I would like to win the singles gold medal there. It will really make my comeback complete if I can win it. But I will also work hard to give my best in the team event to bring back the gold medal.”
Bowling was not contested in the 2009 SEA Games in Laos. In the 2007 edition in Korat, Malaysia was the biggest winner with a 4-3-6 medal haul.

‘Saya cuba terbaik’

SITI ZUBAIDAH mahu pastikan pemilihannya dalam skuad olahraga negara berbaloi.

“SAYA akan cuba beri yang terbaik.”
Demikian janji atlet pecut wanita negara, Siti Zubaidah Adabi ketika diminta mengulas mengenai keputusan Kesatuan Olahraga Malaysia (KOM) yang telah menyenaraikan namanya semula bagi beraksi pada temasya Sukan SEA 2011 di Indonesia November depan.

Selain Zubaidah, KOM turut menyenaraikan semula seorang lagi atlet pecut wanita iaitu Siti Fatimah Mohammad.

Bagaimanapun, keputusan itu tidak bermakna tempat buat dua atlet tersebut sudah terjamin untuk beraksi pada temasya dwitahunan itu.

Ini kerana, Presiden KOM, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim yang mengesahkan perkara tersebut Isnin lalu menjelaskan bahawa Zubaidah dan Fatimah perlu melepasi had kelayakan sekurang-kurangnya bagi melayakkan mereka dihantar menyertai Sukan SEA 2011 atas tiket kategori B.

Peluang buat Zubaidah dan Fatimah untuk membuktikan yang mereka layak ke bumi Indonesia bakal hadir apabila berlangsungnya Kejohanan Olahraga Terbuka Kuala Lumpur pada 22 dan 23 Oktober ini.

Menyedari masa untuk melakukan persiapan bagi menghadapi Terbuka Kuala Lumpur kini tinggal dua minggu sahaja lagi, Zubaidah enggan meletakkan sebarang harapan yang tinggi sebaliknya akan cuba untuk melakukan yang terbaik.

“Saya tidak boleh menjanjikan apa-apa kerana sudah seminggu saya tidak menjalani latihan. Sebelum menyertai GP (Grand Prix) Kebangsaan minggu lalu pun saya tidak menjalani latihan sepenuhnya.

“Dengan berbaki dua minggu sahaja lagi sebelum Terbuka Kuala Lumpur, saya akan menjalani latihan sebaik yang mungkin. Jika saya berlari sekalipun nanti, mungkin prestasi hanya 75 peratus sahaja.

“Namun, saya tetap cuba memberikan yang terbaik. Saya akan gunakan peluang yang ada ini sebaik mungkin,“ kata Zubaidah ketika dihubungi Kosmo! menerusi khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) kelmarin.
Sebelum ini, timbul kontroversi apabila KOM menggugurkan nama Zubaidah dan Fatimah serta seorang lagi rakan mereka, Yee Yi Ling daripada membarisi kuartet 4x100 meter wanita negara ke Sukan SEA 2011.
Keputusan itu sekali gus menimbulkan rasa kurang senang tiga atlet terbabit yang merasakan bahawa ia adalah tidak adil.

Namun, Shahidan menerusi kenyataan kepada Kosmo! Isnin lalu menjelaskan bahawa ahli majlis KOM telah bersetuju untuk menyenaraikan Zubaidah dan Fatimah ke Sukan SEA 2011.

Begitupun, ia bukan bermakna kedua-dua atlet tersebut kembali disenaraikan dalam kuartet 4x100 meter tetapi ia lebih diberi keutamaan dalam acara individu.

“Saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim kerana memberi peluang kepada saya dan Fatimah. Kami akan menggunakan peluang ini sebaik mungkin,” tambah Zubaidah

Khe Wei, Vivian intai emas

BERDASARKAN senarai pemain ke Sukan Sea, memang diakui sukar untuk melihat dari mana akan datangnya kilauan emas skuad badminton yang akan mengibarkan cabaran di Istora, Senayan, Jakarta, November depan.

Meskipun Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo menjuarai GP Emas Terbuka Indonesia di Kalimantan hujung minggu lalu, banyak pihak berasakan skuad badminton negara akan pulang tangan kosong namun Khe Wei dan Vivian yakin mereka berpeluang mempertahankan pingat emas dimenangi senior mereka Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty dua tahun lalu.

“Saya rasa kami ada peluang menang emas di Sukan Sea tapi kami perlu beraksi konsisten, malah perlu lebih baik daripada aksi di Kalimantan minggu lalu,” kata Khe Wei selepas menjalani latihan bersama jurulatih Rexy Mainaky dan Chong Kien Ling.
Begitupun Khe Wei akui pemain serantau yang ditemui pada Terbuka Indonesia lalu bukanlah gandingan terbaik terutamanya dari negara tuan rumah, Indonesia.

“Pemain Indonesia yang kami temui minggu lalu bukanlah dari skuad kebangsaan Indonesia sebaliknya pasukan kelab.

“Tapi jika berdepan gandingan terbaik Indonesia sekalipun peluang kami 50-50. Sementara gandingan dari negara lain seperti Thailand bukanlah ancaman besar kepada kami,” kata Khe Wei yang berkeyakinan tinggi selepas meraih kejuaraan pertama di peringkat senior.

Khe Wei yang pernah mengecapi kejuaraan di peringkat remaja dengan muncul juara Remaja Asia dalam beregu campuran bersama Tan Wee Kiong berharap latihan yang dikendali jurulatih Rexy mampu memantapkan lagi permainan mereka.

Tiga pingat emas sasaran MTBC

SKUAD boling wanita negara dijangka akan diberi saingan sengit oleh Indonesia, Singapura dan Filipina pada Sukan SEA 2011.

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KONGRES Tenpin Boling Malaysia (MTBC) menyasarkan untuk meraih sekurang-kurangnya tiga pingat emas pada Sukan SEA 2011 di Indonesia, November ini.

Setiausaha Agung MTBC, Sidney Tung berkata, harapan untuk meraih pingat disandarkan kepada pemain boling lelaki negara yang kebanyakannya mempunyai pengalaman luas di peringkat antarabangsa selain mempamerkan persembahan konsisten.

"Untuk kategori wanita, skuad kita mungkin mendapat saingan sengit daripada negara-negara seperti Indonesia, Singapura dan Filipina kerana skuad wanita mereka mempamerkan persembahan yang semakin meningkat," katanya.

Ditanya mengenai jumlah pemain negara dalam skuad boling, Sidney berkata, MTBC dijangka menghantar 12 daripada 16 pemain kebangsaan untuk menggalas cabaran di Indonesia kelak.

"Enam belas pemain itu kini sedang menjalani latihan pusat di Megalanes Endah Parade, Sri Petaling sejak dua minggu lepas sebagai persiapan menghadapi temasya dwi tahunan itu.

"Kita akan memutuskan senarai 12 pemain yang layak iaitu enam lelaki dan enam wanita selewat-lewatnya minggu depan bagi memastikan mereka mampu menyumbang pingat buat skuad negara," katanya.
Beliau berkata, bagi menyesuaikan diri dengan venue acara boling di Jakarta nanti, kesemua 12 pemain terpilih itu akan bertolak ke ibu negara Indonesia itu pada 7 November depan.

"Kita pergi awal untuk menyesuaikan diri selain mendapat tahu bahawa pihak penganjur menggunakan dua paten lorong iaitu long lanes dan short lanes," katanya.

Acara boling untuk Sukan SEA dijangka berlangsung dari 14 hingga 20 November di Pusat Boling Jaya Ancol, Jakarta.

MTBC Set 3 Gold Target For SEA Games

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) hope to win at least three gold medals in the SEA Games hosted by Indonesia from Nov 10-22.

MTBC Secretary-general Sidney Tung said Malaysia's medal hopes would hinge on the men bowlers who have shown consistent performances and are equipped with vast experience at international competitions.

"In the women's events we are expected to face stiff competition from Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines since the performances of bowlers from these countries have been improving," he said.

Sidney said MTBC hoped to send 12 of the 16 national players to Indonesia.

"As part of the team's preparations for the Games, the 16 bowlers are currently undergoing centralised training at the Megalanes Endah Parade in Sri Petaling for the past two weeks.

"We will finalise the names of the 12 players - six men and six women - by next week to ensure only the best medal hopes will lead the country's medal hopes," he said.

He said to get used to the lane conditions at the venue of the competitions in Jakarta, the 12 players who are selected, would leave to Indonesia on Nov 7.

"We are going early to enable the players to get used to the lane conditions since we heard that the organisers are said to be using two lane patterns - long lanes and short lanes - for the competition," he said.

The SEA Games bowling competitions are scheduled at the Pusat Boling Jaya Ancol, Jakarta from Nov 14 to 20.

'Mampu pertahan emas'

KIM Swee memberi kata-kata semangat ketika sesi latihan di Padang FAM, Kelana Jaya petang semalam.

Skuad Kim Swee berada di landasan betul: Hamidin

SKUAD Harimau Muda selaku juara bertahan Sukan SEA kini meniti landasan tepat dan pada firasat pengurus pasukan, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin segala-galanya menjurus kepada peluang mempertahankan mahkota kejuaraan itu secara berturut-turut.

Walaupun akur betapa bukan mudah untuk melangkah ke final sekali lagi dan memenangi pingat emas yang dimenangi dua tahun lalu di Laos, namun beliau tetap optimistik sesuatu kejayaan mampu dicapai andai suatu keputusan tepat dapat dibuat.

“Kami ada bekalan 46 pelatih bawah 23 tahun dan hanya 20 terbaik akan terpilih ke Sukan SEA. Kita tidak boleh buat silap dalam membuat pemilihan dan sebarang percaturan.

“Saya yakin jika betul sesuatu keputusan dan percaturan yang dibuat, skuad kebangsaan kita mampu untuk mendapat keputusan baik,” katanya.

Sebelum ke Sukan SEA di Jakarta, November ini, skuad kendalian Ong Kim Swee akan menyertai Piala Persekutuan Bola Sepak Vietnam (VFF) dari 17 hingga 24 Oktober ini.

“Pasukan muda ini ada dua perlawanan persahabatan dan akan ada tiga perlawanan di VFF. Saya pasti Vietnam, Indonesia dan Thailand juga akan melakukan persiapan baik untuk cuba merampas kejuaraan daripada Malaysia di Sukan SEA nanti.

“Sekarang saya mahu lihat apa keperluan jurulatih untuk menguatkan pasukan dan jika kita perlukan lebih perlawanan persahabatan kita akan cuba mendapatkan pasukan lawan,” katanya yang dipilih menggantikan Datuk Afandi Hamzah yang menunaikan ibadat haji ketika temasya di Jakarta

Bowling: Malaysia determined to maintain Games supremacy

SAN Marino Open champion Alex Liew and world champion Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore will lead the men's and women's squads respectively at the Indonesia Sea Games.


The national team are favourites to retain their status as the best team in Southeast Asia after having won the overall title at the 2007 Korat edition. Bowling was not contested at the 2009 Laos Games.

Liew leads the men's team comprising former Ankara Open winner Adrian Ang, Zulmazran Zulkifli, Muhd Nur Aiman, Shafiq Ridhwan and Aaron Kong. Daniel Lim dropped out due to injury.

The Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC), however, has not finalised the women's squad as seven bowlers are in contention for six spots.
Team manager Cheah Ban Cheng said the women's team will be named after the Kuala Lumpur Open (Oct 21-29).

"Six bowlers from the world meet squad and Dayang Khairuniza Dhiyana are on trial for the Sea Games," said Ban Cheng. "The KL Open will also be the final tournament before the bowlers leave for Jakarta."

National coach Holloway Cheah, however, is not expected to drop his regulars for the Sea Games.

Jacqueline, who won the singles title at last month's World Championships in Hong Kong, along with two-time world champion Esther Cheah, Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi, Zatil Iman Abdul Ghani and Sharon Koh are expected to make the squad. The final spot will be a toss between Sin Li Jane and Dayang.

Among those not considered are former world champions Shalin Zulkifli, Wendy Chai and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman.

Shalin has just returned to the game after delivering her first child while Wendy and Siti Safiyah are nursing injuries.

On the Sea Games medal target, Ban Cheng said his team are good for titles.

"Singapore and Indonesia are the other contenders but we will be prepared for them," he said.

Project 2013 team to represent country in SEA Cup

KUALA LUMPUR: The Project 2013 team will once again represent Malaysia in the SEA Cup which will be held in Yangoon, Myanmar, from Dec 10-18.

The SEA Cup is organised by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) during the SEA Games year when hockey is not included as an event at the biennial games.

The SEA Games this year is held in Indonesia next month and hockey is not among the 43 sports listed. Similarly, in 2009 hockey was not in the programme in Laos and the SEA Cup was inaugurated with the tournament held in Bangkok.

The Project team also represented Malaysia in that meet and came out champions after beating Singapore in the final.

Project 2013 coach K. Dharmaraj confirmed that they would play in Yangoon.
“We are not sure how many entries are expected but we have been told that the tournament will be held in December.

“It is good to have another tournament to play in as we can continue to build on our team work and at the same time experiment with the players. It will be a good tournament as well for the players,’ said Dharmaraj.
The Project team are being prepared for the 2013 Junior World Cup. But next May they will have to play in the Junior Asia Cup which will serve as one of the qualifiers for the Finals. Malaysia is expected to host the Junior Asia Cup.

Dharmaraj said they would be using these tournaments as part of their preparations for the qualifiers. The team will play in the Sultan of Johor Cup which will be held at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru from Nov 5-12.

A world class line-up has been invited for the meet. Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and South Korea will feature in the six-nation meet.

“This is also another big meet for us. We will have some quality matches and at the same time gauge our strength against the top teams in the Junior ranks.

“I hope to have my full side but at the moment, I have four players who are with the senior national team. I will only know later this month if these five players will be released for the tournament. It is likely that some of them may be selected for the senior side for the Champions Challenge I,” he added.

The five players in the senior team are Mohamed Firhan Azhaari, Faiz Helmy, Fitri Saari, Faisal Saari and Amir Farid. All are expected to be first-choice players with the Project team.

“I have not had my full complement of players at any tournament yet.

“But I am hoping that some of these players will be released so that we can try them out.

“They have gained experience with the seniors but they still need to have an understanding with the others in the junior team,” he added.

The team have been set a target of making the final in the Champions Challenge I while for the Yangoon tournament, they have been told to retain the title by the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF).

MTBC to send strongest squad to Indonesia SEA Games

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) is not taking light of next month’s Indonesia SEA Games and will be sending their best squad to the biennial event.

MTBC high performance manager Cheah Ban Cheng said they will be treating the Games “as important as the Asian Games or even the world championships.”

“Usually we will send a mix of youngsters together with the elite team for the SEA Games, but this time higher expectations will be on us to deliver the medals for Malaysia, so we will be sending our strongest team,” he said.

Adrian Ang will spearhead the men’s team alongside Zulmazran Zulkifli, Alex Liew, Mohd Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek, Aaron Kong and Muhd Nur Aiman Khairuddin. The women’s team will be from the same line-up that came back with a gold medal from the Women’s World Cham­pionships in Hong Kong last month.

Singles gold medal winner Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore will be looking to add some SEA Games medals to her collection alongside Esther Cheah, Sharon Koh, Zatil Iman Abdul Ghani, Zandra Aziela, Sin Li Jane and Dayang Khairuniza Dhiyana.“Aiman is back with us after his wrist injury earlier this year and should boost the strength of the men’s team.

“The women’s team, who had good showing in the world championships recently, will have Dayang as the reserve member.

“This is a strong line-up and all of them are raring to go for the Games. They have been training well and the build-up has been good so far,” said Ban Cheng.