LET ME EXPLAIN: Francis (centre) speaking to reporters during a press conference at Jalan Palm yesterday while Ting (right) and Mohd Salleh (left) looks on.

KUCHING: Sarawak athletes in taekwondo and wushu who aim to represent the state must first check the status of their respective clubs from now on.

The Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) will only look into the athletes recommended by clubs affiliated with the council.

MSNS director Francis Nyurang Ding said that such a procedure is necessary mainly due to the fact that the council has received complaints from the public regarding the selection procedure of taekwondo and wushu athletes to represent the state.

“There is a need for the public to know how we select athletes to represent the state. So I want to make it clear here that we do have certain standard procedure and criteria,”

“Let us take wushu for example. There are so many wushu associations here in Sarawak but MSNS can only work with one as we have other sports associations that need our assistance as well,” he explained during a press conference yesterday.

He noted that there have been a few unaffiliated clubs who go for tournaments overseas winning medals and awards but their exponents are not eligible to represent Sarawak because they are not registered with the MSNS-affiliated club or body.

Francis recommended that these athletes who want to represent Sarawak register themselves with the MSNS-affiliated club or body. The MSNS calls these affiliates “parent bodies”.

He also advised these different bodies to merge or work together for the good of the state as MSNS is only interested in what is good for Sarawak.

In Sarawak, the parent body for wushu is the Wushu, Lion and Dragon Dance Federation of Sarawak while for taekwondo it is the Sarawak Taekwondo Association (WTF).

“There is no doubt that the state taekwondo and wushu teams will consist of exponents recommended by these two associations. They have been chosen as affiliates to the MSNS and we have to respect their recomendations,” added Francis.

Also present during the press conference was Wushu, Lion and Dragon Dance Federation secretary James Ting and Sarawak Taekwondo Association (WTF) president Mohd Salleh Sani.

Wushu and taekwondo will be included in next year’s edition of Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) in Perlis.

“The Youth and Sports Minister has the credibility to give his opinion and views on football in the country,” said Annuar.

Annuar in his Facebook posting said viewed Khairy as a person who was genuine and honest in expressing his view when commenting on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) decision to declare Pahang as the home team for the FA Cup second leg semifinal that was played at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil after the initial match was abandoned at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Pahang on Tuesday, due to crowd trouble.

“I am confident that the comments from the Youth and Sports Minister was based on feedback received and not directed at any organisation or individual,” he said.

Khairy had questioned FAM’s decision to award the hosting rights to Pahang for the postponed FA CUP semi-final second leg match between Pahang and Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last Saturday.

Following his comment (Khairy), FAM President Sultan Ahmad Shah had voiced his displeasure over the Sports Minister’s criticism of the national body’s handling of the FA Cup semi-final second leg debacle.

The Sultan had said “Such a statement, which implied that the FAM showed favouritism, should not have been made by a responsible and well educated person like him (Khairy).”

Khairy in response had said “I was being honest when I made that comment about FAM. If they decide to accept it, then it is okay…but if they don’t, then never mind.” — Bernama

He said this was important to ensure that Malaysia continued to enjoy peace and prosperity.

“I also wish to remind athletes in higher learning institutions to display their excellence not only in the competition arena but also in the lecture room because they are the future leaders of the country,” said Muhyiddin at the presentation of the Malaysia University Sports Council (Masum) Awards 2012, here Saturday night.

Muhyiddin who is also the Education Minister said the merger of the education ministry and higher learning ministry would hopefully spur the agenda and development of sports to a level of pride, be it in school, higher learning institution or country.

He hoped the cooperation among the ministry, higher learning institutions and all the sports organisations would be strengthened to produce more world class athletes such as Pandelela Rinong and Bryan Nickson Lomas.

Meanwhile, the Masum 2012 Sportsman Award went to tenpin bowler Muhamad Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malik from Universiti Putra Malaysia while the Sportswoman award went to diving athlete Cheong Jun Hong from the same university.

Muhamad Syafiq sent a representative to receive the prize which included a challenge trophy and RM3,000 cash as he was participating in a competition in Singapore.– BERNAMA

OFFICIAL VISIT: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (back row, centre) with officials and national athletes during his visit to the National Sports Council (NSC) complex in Bukit Jalil. — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has questioned the decision of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to give host rights to the FA of Pahang (PBNP) for the postponed FA CUP semi-final second leg match between Pahang and Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil here today.

He said this was because PBNP had failed to provide adequate security at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan on Tuesday which led to crowd trouble and forced the match to be played at a neutral venue instead.

“Ticket revenue for Pahang should not exceed the Darul Makmur Stadium’s capacity which is 10,000 whereas the National Stadium can accommodate 80,000 spectators.

“Pahang do not qualify to collect revenue for more than 10,000 tickets because they have been penalised by the FAM over what happened on Tuesday but FAM are acting in favour of them,” he told reporters after making a visit to the National Sports Council (NSC) complex in Bukit Jalil together with his deputy Datuk M Saravanan, here yesterday.

The hosts usually get the bigger share of the gate collection.

Khairy also said FAM had “gone easy” on PBNP over the ugly incidents at the Darul Makmur Stadium on Tuesday.

FAM’s disciplinary committee fined PBNP RM100,000 while the FA of Johor (PBNJ) RM20,000 over the incidents.

“We cannot understand why the stadium was filled to over capacity when ticket sales cannot exceed capacity,” he said.

He said this should never have happened and that FAM needed to act fast to find the answers as it had tarnished the image of Malaysian football.

“I as the Youth and Sports Minister am very disappointed that PBNP failed to carry out their responsibility and duties as hosts,” he said.

Khairy also urged FAM to come down hard on the match commissioner (of Tuesday’s match) for failing to be in control of all aspects of it including ticket sales. — Bernama

Datuk Paruwadi Musa

KUCHING: Datuk Paruwadi Musa will oversee the preparation and management of the national team participating in chinlone at this year’s SEA Games.

The Sarawak-born Malaysia Sepak Takraw Association (PSM) deputy president confirmed that Malaysia will partake in chinlone, which is another form of sepak takraw.

He is optimistic that Malaysia will win more medals in sepak takraw in the coming SEA games.

Host Myanmar announced recently that they have included chinlone among the sports events to be contested. Eight gold medal will be up for grabs for chinlone.

“We all know that Myanmar’s decision to include chinlone will give them the advantage in winning more gold medals during the games.

“We’ll just have to do our best and hope that Malaysia will win something out of it as well,” said Paruwadi.

Played widely in Myanmar, chinlone is considered more of an art form with the main principle of keeping the ball up in the air by each team of four players.

Chinlone also uses the same sepak takraw rattan ball.

“This will be the first time that our national athletes compete in this event. Although chinlone is somewhat new for Malaysia, we are quite familiar with the rules and regulations,” Paruwadi added.

“We will do our best to prepare the national team for this event. This is also a good chance for us,” he believed.

Malaysia is expected to send eight male and eight female players to compete in chinlone.

Most of the players selected for chinlone are from the national “B” sepak takraw team.

The 27th Southeast Asian Games is scheduled to be held in the Myanmar new capital, Naypyidaw, as well as in two other main cities Yangon and Mandalay this December.

Lim Teck Yin acknowledged that the Southeast Asian event had been derided as the “Kampung (village) Games”, owing to its inclusion of home-grown disciplines like sepak takraw and vovinam, which often mystify outsiders.

But he said it was important to maintain Southeast Asian traditions, to engage local communities and develop sport in the emerging region.

“I’ve heard this argument before, that without some level of control like the Olympic Games, some of you have written that this became the ‘Kampung Games’,” Lim told reporters at a briefing.

“I don’t know whether my opinion matters or not … I would say as a participant in many SEA Games in the past, the SEA Games has its own flavour.”

Lim announced the 2015 tournament’s dates as June 5-16, but he said the list of sports to be contested would be kept under wraps until next year.

The list has previously proved controversial as it changes each edition, with local organisers often including obscure events in which they can win more medals.

Philippine Sports Commission Richie Garcia has threatened to boycott this year’s tournament in Myanmar in protest at what he calls manipulation of the events to favour local athletes, according to a local report.

At the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia, the organising committee president said future editions should focus on Olympic sports to help the region’s athletes improve in world-recognised events. Lim would not discuss which sports are shortlisted for 2015, but he said there would be more than 30 disciplines with dragon-boating, netball and floorball – a form of hockey – among those under discussion.

“Some of the sports that you see in the SEA Games are very much sports that are centred around Southeast Asia. World champions are in Southeast Asia,” said Lim.

“Dragon-boating is an example. It’s not an Olympic sport but in Singapore, it’s big.” — AFP

He said the MSC could not monitor each and every athlete and could only do random testing as it cost almost RM1,000 per test.

“To save costs, we have asked the state directors to monitor athletes so that the problem of doping does not rear it ugly head at the Malaysia Games,” he  told the media here yesterday.

The 16th Sukma which will be held at the National Sports Council’s (NSC) Mini-Stadium here from June 28 to July 7 will see three new sports included, namely beach football, woodball and Muay Thai.

Abdul Jalil said the cost of the Games this time around was estimated at RM9 million, slightly more than the previous edition because of the inclusion of the new events besides equestrian entailing huge expenditure.

Sukma XVI will offer 132 gold and silver medals and 206 bronze medals in 23 events.

Besides the new events, the others that will be competed are aquatics (including water polo and synchronised swimming), bodybuilding, handball, netball, basketball, football, volleyball (beach and indoor), equestrian, judo, silambam, kabadi, cricket, gymnastics, rugby, table tennis, rowing, softball and fencing.

Some 7,000 athletes and officials are scheduled to participate in the opening and closing of the Games.

The NSC is also holding a photography competition for the media in conjunction with the Games with the winner’s purse at RM2,000 and consolation prizes of RM500 each for the 10 best pictures. — Bernama

Li is one of a new wave of foreign-coached track and field stars who are making China an emerging athletics force – but their independent attitude is putting pressure on the country’s intense state sports system to reform.

“It’s not a surprise. I expected to jump well,” said the 23-year-old after he beat a strong field including three previous Olympic champions at the Diamond League meeting earlier this month.

Under China’s rigid state sports system, many athletes believed to have potential are plucked from their families at an early age and put through gruelling training regimes with little relaxation.

It was a system that helped China top the medals table at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with 51 golds. But as the focus shifts to China’s next showcase sporting event, the 2015 World Athletics Championships in the capital, experts say that less intense foreign coaching schemes actually yield better results.

Li trains regularly in the US under Loren Seagrave, who has worked with a number of Olympic champions, including Canada’s 100m sprinter Donovan Bailey and women’s 200m winner Pauline Davis-Thompson, from the Bahamas.

Seagrave has also coached star Chinese sprinter Zhang Peimeng – who broke China’s 200m record with a time of 20.47secs in Shanghai, only a month after he set a new national 100m mark in 10.04secs.

“Our training makes them experience a different culture from what they are used to, which forces them to open up, and this generates success,” Seagrave told AFP.

Zhang, 26, is now being lined up to be tutored by US coach John Smith, who has coached three Olympic gold medallists and the current 100m women’s world champion Carmelita Jeter, the second fastest woman of all time.

There are also plans to send China’s long distance runners to Kenya and Ethiopia for specialist training.

Nonetheless Beijing is keen to limit its emerging talents’ exposure to outside influences, fearing that it could create a generation of athletes who compete for their own interests, rather than national glory.

Dutch former long-distance runner Jos Hermens, who now works with the China Athletics Association, said: “Now they are more and more getting (foreign) coaches involved, other people internationally involved, so there is progress, slow progress. — AFP

YOU GOT IT: Lee (third right) presenting the prizes to members of Team MLNG 1(fourth and fifth left).

MIRI: The petanque court next to Miri Indoor Stadium will be upgraded soon to provide a more comfortable place for petanque athletes to have their matches and tournaments.Speaking at the closing of Petanque Double Series IV Tournament yesterday, Assistant Minister of Sports Datuk Lee Kim Shin said the upgrading was also vital so that Miri can provide a good place for the selection of petanque athletes for the next Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) 2014.

“I have been informed that the selection of Sarawak petanque athletes for the next Sukma will be conducted in Miri and I want Miri to be able to provide a proper petanque court for that purpose,” he said.

He called on the Miri Division Petanque Sport Association to write in to his ministry with the request, so that documentation can be put in place to enable the upgrading project to take off.

“I personally see that this petanque court is in need of upgrading and I want the Miri Division Petanque Sport Association to write in to us so that we can get the work done before the selection process,” he said.

Lee added that petanque has become popular among Sarawakians of all ages and many good players in the state are from Bintulu.

“Even though this sport has become quite popular among people of all ages and walks of life, it still needs to be promoted actively because there are still people out there who do not know about the sport.

“In view of this, I would like to throw the challenge to the Miri Division Petanque Sport Association so that more people can enjoy this sport,” he said.

Meanwhile the two-day petanque tournament which ended yesterday saw Team MLNG 1 from Bintulu emerging as the champion and walking away with a cash prize of RM1000.

The runner up and third place went to Poyut Son 1 and Poyut Son 2 from Miri which received RM700 and RM500 respectively.

Team Santubong 3 which was fourth won RM300.

More than 50 teams from Miri, Kuching, Sibu, Mukah and Bintulu took part in the annual tournament which was jointly organised by the association and Petronas Carigali in conjunction with the on-going Miri May Fest.

Also present at the closing ceremony of the tournament yesterday were Councillor Robert Ayu, Miri Division Petanque Sport Association chairman Hinsan Raee and organising chairlady Horani Ahmad.

Ng, a vice-president of the world body and of Singapore’s National Olympic Council, will reveal his intentions in Paris on Thursday after holding talks with Jacques Rogge, the current Olympic chief, a senior official told AFP.

“There will be a news release later, it’s coming out soon,” said Edmund Lim, assistant secretary general of the Singapore NOC.

Lim refused to give further details but he confirmed reports that Ng, who had previously signalled a likely bid, met Rogge in Lausanne, host city of the IOC, during his current trip to Europe.

If Ng’s bid is confirmed, he will be up against German Olympic chief Thomas Bach for the post, which will be decided in a September 10 election in Buenos Aires. — AFP

COUNTDOWN: Lee (fourth right) posing with officials and Sarawak Sukma athletes.

MIRI: Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) athletes from Sarawak should be both physically and mentally strong.

Assistant Minister of Sports, Datuk Lee Kim Shin, said a strong fighting

spirit should be instilled in each of the athletes before they head to Kuala Lumpur in June.

“Being strong physically is not enough. Our athletes should have a strong fighting spirit to win the game and to make Sarawak proud,” he remarked at the motivation camp for the athletes at Petronas Games Village here last Saturday.

Lee said that such aspects as nutrition intake, physical fitness, mental preparation and consistent intensive training are ingredients to produce high performance athletes.

“I believe that the effort to produce high performance athletes will only be successful if the athletes have strong mental, psychological and physical strengh,” he added.

“We want to achieve more medals in this year’s Sukma and to improve the medal tally,” he stated.

Sarawak is targeting 12 gold medals in Sukma XVI.

The motivational camp, the assistant minister noted, was a platform to improve the motivational level of each athlete.

“The camp is a vital effort to foster a strong team spirit among the athletes to strengthen their cooperation particularly in team events,” he said.

For this year’s Sukma XVI, Sarawak will participate in 15 of the 20 sports events to be contested in Kuala Lumpur starting June 28.

They include volleyball, table tennis, rugby, gymnastics, futsal, fencing, body building, basketball, cricket, softball, kabaddi and muay thai.

ON THE DOUBLE : The victorious Sibu boys and girls teams with team technical chairman Kong Chiong Hui (left), girls coach Toh Wee Kiung (second left) and boys coach Hu Kuok Ai (left). — Photo by Chai Chang Yu

KUCHING: Sibu captured both the boys and girls titles at the Sarawak Schools Sports Council (MSSS) U18 Basketball Championship that ended at the Kota Sentosa Basketball Stadium here on Thursday.

The Sibu girls beat Kuching 38-22 for their third consecutive championship in the inter-division meet while the boys were 57-44 winners over Miri to clinch the title which they also won last year.

The Sibu boys who displayed better teamwork and skills to overcome a game Miri team in the final were worthy champions having disposed of their opponents in the earlier rounds.

They beat Bintulu 62-41 in the semi-finals after topping the Group A competition.

Bintulu came in third after beating Kuching 55-42 in the play-off match for third/fourth placings.

The other teams in the boys section were Sarikei and Samarahan.

Meanwhile, the game for the girls final was even in the first two quarters with both teams tied at 12-12 at half-time.

However, Kuching girls seemed to lose focus and committed numerous errors in the final two quarters and the Sibu girls were quick to capitalise on this to cruise to a 16 point victory.

Third was Miri who beat Sarikei 50-44 in the play-off match.

Samarahan finished last in the five-team contest.

MSSM Samarahan secretary Clement Chong gave away the trophies and medals on behalf of the Simunjan District Education Officer Dr Azhar Ahmad.

Eleven boys and 12 girls were also short listed for selection to the Sarawak squad which will take part in the MSSM U18 Basketball Championship in Penang from June 2-8.

A total of 122 selected athletes have been selected to join a motivational camp in Lambir, Miri from May 9 – 12.

Only the baskeball and volleyball teams will not be attending the camp as these two teams are busy with their training and exposure matches.

Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) deputy director Abdul Mutalib Mohammad disclosed that the volleyball team, for example, will be travelling to Indonesia and Taiwan.

The team will return to Kuala Lumpur from Taiwan on June 26, just in time for Sukma XVI which will start on June 28.

Abdul Mutalib said that another motivational camp for coaches will be held Bintulu from May 13 – 16.

“We expect a total of 50 coaches and co-ordinators to participate in this course. It will be part of our mental preparation programme,” he added.

Just before departing for the games in Kuala Lumpur, the state contingent will also attend a centralised camp at the Youth and Sports Department Complex here.

The camp, called `Sukma Contingent Camp’, will be held from June 26 – 28.

Sarawak will be competing in 15 out of the 20 sports events contested in the coming Sukma. These are indoor volleyball, judo, table-tennis, artistic gymnastics, futsal, fencing, muaythai, body-building, handball, basketball, cricket, softball, rugby, silambam and kabaddi.

European soccer’s ruling body UEFA will bring in Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations next season to ensure clubs move towards break-even or face exclusion from continental competition.

Jean-Louis Dupont, representing Belgian player agent Daniel Striani, is challenging the break-even rule and believes it restricts competition.

“In effect a club owner is prohibited from overspending even if such overspending aims at growing the club,” Dupont said in a statement.

He added the rule restricts investment, ensures the continued dominance of the leading clubs, reduces transfer activity and is likely to lead to a cut in player wages and the income of agents.

UEFA suspended Turkish team Besiktas from European competition a year ago over unpaid bills and announced in December the same punishment for Spanish side Malaga.

The European Commission confirmed it had received a complaint but declined to comment further. UEFA did not make any immediate comment.

Dupont said that even if the ban on overspending was justifiable, it would be illegal because UEFA could achieve its aims with a less restrictive measure.

He added UEFA could instead require that any spending beyond projected income be fully guaranteed for the duration of a season.

Dupont was part of the legal team that secured the Bosman ruling at the European Court of Justice in 1995.

The ruling ended national league limits on foreign European Union footballers and allowed players to move to other clubs without a transfer fee at the end of their contracts. — Reuters

The athletes, according to him should be given unrecorded leave while spearheading Sarawak’s challenge in the national games.

“The employers should feel proud of their employees who were chosen to represent Sarawak,” Francis said yesterday.

“They should also provide support to their employees in order for them to bring honour to the state in the prestigious tournament,” he said while calling on employers to play their part in supporting the athletes.

He added the sports council has no problem in substituting the selected athletes with someone else but it will affect Sarawak’s chances of winning the medals because the replacements were made in haste.

“Therefore, I hope they are able to cooperate in this regard in order to ensure Sarawak’s success in this competition,” he said on state’s participation in the coming Sukma to be held in Kuala Lumpur from June 28 to July 7.

According to him, the council will pay allowances to athletes competing in any of the A and B category events which include volleyball, judo, table tennis, artistic gymnastics, futsal, fencing, muay thai and bodybuilding.

While those competing in category C events, their expenses will have to be paid by their respective associations but they (association) can claim for reimbursements if their athletes made it to the quarter-finals.

The events placed in category C are handball, basketball, cricket, softball, rugby, silambam and kabaddi.

On another note, Francis hoped for more associations to be set up in the near future to cater the growing number of new games featured in Sukma.

“At this moment, we are only participating in 15 out of the 20 events contested partly because there are new events for Sarawak such as handball, equestrian, rowing and woodball,” he said.

“It is such a loss because there are some events that we do not join and yet offer a lot of medals,” he said while expressing hope for relevant parties to be proactive by setting up more associations to promote and popularise new sports and games.

He said it is important for Sarawak to have athletes who can compete in the new games in preparation to host Sukma in 2016.

According its director Dato Patrick Liew, it was always the aim of the portal to get more youngsters in Sarawak to be involved in healthy activities.

The portal also lends its support to those who are enthusiastic about organising extreme games competitions.

Liew has highlighted skateboarding as one of the extreme sports that is currently very popular here.

“We cannot deny how popular skateboarding is among the youngsters these days.

“That is why we chose to promote such a sport as it is one of the sports that has a huge following in the country,” he said to reporters during a press conference yesterday at the Le’ Park.

Le’ Park which was formerly known as KIRC is located behind the Kuching Civic Centre.

Willy Tee who heads the organising committee is thankful that www.ouryouth.my has agreed to help him in organising the competition which is open to all skateboard enthusiasts.

“Skateboarding is a form of extreme sport that combines both skills and culture. It is also very exciting as it tests your precision in handling obstacles set at the competition course,” he said.

The competition will be carried out for a duration of three months.

Participants will be graded with points.

The winner will be decided based on the most points amassed by any individual skater registered.

The game involves skaters pulling tricks and stunts to demonstrate their skills in handling their skateboards.

More points are awarded for the more skilful.

“We also have numerous awards for competing skaters such as King of the Rail, Ollie King and the Box champ.

“All those names mentioned are nick-names of a few tricks executed by a skater in competition,” Willy added.

He summed up the rules of the competition by saying that all skaters who want to win are to skate as often as they can on every Saturday during from May to July at the Le’ Park.

The competition is scheduled to start this Saturday, May 4.

Those interested can log on to the organiser’s Facebook page (search: Battle of the Skate) for more information.

BACK AT THE TOP: Miri athletes and officials celebrating their victory after wrestling back the overall championship title from Kuching at the Bintulu Stadium last Saturday.

KUCHING: Miri led from start to finish in the 41st Sarawak Schools Sports Council (MSSS) Track and Field Championship at Bintulu Stadium last Saturday to emerge overall champions after amassing 448 points.

They captured 28 gold, 35 silver and 24 bronze medals to finish ahead of defending champions Kuching who had 324 points accumulated from winning 21 golds, 24 silvers and 21 bronzes.

Sarikei, which dominated in the throw events, were third with 283 points after capturing 25 golds, 14 silvers and 11 bronzes.

Despite bagging only nine golds, 12 silvers and 21 bronzes, host Bintulu pipped Sibu to finish fourth as they collected 224 points compared to the latter’s 210.5 points from their haul of 15 golds, 10 silvers and 14 bronzes.

They are followed by Samarahan (144 points), Betong (63), Limbang (63), Kapit (57), Mukah (49.5) and Sri Aman (39).

RECORD BREAKER: Grace Wong with coach Thomas Ling after breaking the Girls U14 shot put record. — Photos by Tommy Ng

Meanwhile, five more old records tumbled on the final day of competition at the Bintulu Stadium last Saturday.

Sarikei’s star athlete Grace Wong Xiu Mei broke the meet record of 9.96m set by Ngu Mee Zing in 2005 by throwing a new distance of 11.28m in the Girls U14 shot put.

This mark also surpassed the national MSSM record of 11.22m set by Siti Norain in 2005.

Faradillah Raznie won another gold medal in record-breaking fashion in the Girls U18 800m when she clocked 2: 21.62s, thus shattering the 16-year-old record of 2:23.82s created by Teo Ai Kim of Miri in 1997.

Aron Ng Yun Ping clocked 2:03.41s in the Boys U15 800m to erase the old mark of 2:04.21s set by Noel Deland Nihang in 2003.

The other two new records were created by Kuching which won the Boys U18 4x100m relay in a time of 43.10s (old record – 43.30s) and Miri which won the Girls U14 4x400m relay in 4:26.32s (old record – 4:29.69s).

At the end of the four-day state championship, 80 athletes including 40 girls were selected to represent Sarawak in the MSSM Track and Field Championship in Kuantan, Pahang from May 19-23.

PARTY TIME: Soccer fans cheer during the re-opening of the newly renovated Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. — Reuters photo

RIO DE JANEIRO: Rio’s fabled Maracana Stadium reopened on Saturday after a multimillion-dollar makeover that will make the legendary arena the showpiece venue of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.A limited crowd of approximately 25,000 spectators thronged the fabled venue, which hosted a world record audience of more than 200,000 for the 1950 World Cup but has now had its capacity reduced to a maximum of 82,238.

Spectators for the test event watched a friendly exhibition match between select teams led by Brazilian World Cup winners Bebeto and Ronaldo.

Along with VIPs including Brazil President Dilma Rousseff and her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, many of the spectators were workers who have helped transform the ageing venue since 2007.

Former Real Madrid striker Ronaldo, the star of Brazil’s World Cup-winning side in 2002, paid tribute to the workers efforts in an address to the crowd.

“Congratulations to all of you, you are the heroes of this transformation,” Ronaldo said to ringing applause.

Saturday’s game was the first of three tests in the renovated arena before the Confederations Cup kicks off in Brasilia on June 15. The first Confederations Cup game in Rio will be a Mexico-Italy game on June 16.

Before then, a second test is scheduled for May 15 with 50 percent capacity, to be followed by the official inauguration of the venue on June 2 with a Brazil-England friendly.

Since 2007, the Rio state government has invested an estimated 430 million dollars in the Maracana renovations, which ultimately will comprise a multi-purpose arena featuring bars, restaurants and shops.

However, the redevelopment has met with controversy in some quarters, with protesters taking aim at the plan to privatize the venue.

Two consortiums are competing for a 35-year lease to operate the Maracana and its surroundings.

Protesters unfurled a banner inside the stadium that read: “No to privatization and demolition” — a reference to the forced evictions of properties surrounding the venue which are being redeveloped.

“We want to alert people to what is happening,” protester Amanda Asuncao, 32, told AFP.

“Privatization will take Maracana and football away from the people and the majority for the benefit of the elite.” — AFP

“We have met JKM’s director, Noriah Ahmad recently and she was supportive of our plans to recruit more volunteers among those assigned at the various Centres For Rehabilitation (PDK) in Sarawak,” she told The Borneo Post recently.

“The support from JKM will come handy because we really need a lot of volunteers to run our activities as well as for them to become coaches for our athletes,” she enthused. According to her, JKM had given the permission to Special Olympics Kuching chapter to speak to the PDKs’ volunteers during their orientation cum briefing workshop held at Merdeka Palace Hotel recently.

A total of 81 PDK volunteers including those from Limbang and Lawas attended the five-day workshop and they were briefed by Mariani on the background of Special Olympics.

The volunteers were excited when they were told on the club’s ambition of having tennis players competing in the 2015 Special Olympics Summer Games to be held in Los Angeles (LA), USA.

They were told that there is good potential for someone in their group who can actually go to the LA games and accompany the athletes competing in one of the events competed.

Mariani informed the volunteers that Sarawak athletes had started represented Malaysia in the Special Olympics since 1999 and the latest was in Pyeongchang, South Korea in February.

“It is possible for us to have players who can compete in Special Olympics tennis competition but we must have volunteer coaches first and that is why we are calling on you to join us,” she said.

“We may even become the first state in Malaysia’s history to have players competing in Special Olympics tennis and for that we need the support from you,” she said in the appeal to the PDK volunteers.

In that respect, Mariani expressed hope for them to join its “Volunteer Coaches Workshop” to be held soon and is opened to those interested in working with the special athletes.

Those interested can contact the club’s secretary, Sanfa Guel at 0168851624 or email their inquiries at sanfao211@yahoo.com.

Francis Nyurang Ding

KUCHING: Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) director Francis Nyurang Ding has reiterated that no sports association will be sending athletes to this year’s Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) for exposure.

Speaking to The Borneo Post yesterday, he repeated his stand that Sukma is the highest level of competition in the country and all who participate in it must take it seriously.

“We have conducted a thorough selection process for all athletes representing the state this June. I am sure all of them are qualified,” he said.

There were recent media reports that some sports association are going to Sukma XVI for exposure and Francis was quick to deny it.

He added that statements might have been misinterpreted and he is confident that all state sports association participating are serious about Sukma XVI.

“I do notice that some sports associations are seemingly aiming for next year’s Sukma in Perlis and the one hosted by the state in 2016. That is not true as they are all working hard and doing their preparations for Sukma XVI,” he explained.

Francis gave an example whereby the MSNS has rejected the proposal of the netball and women’s kabaddi team to represent Sarawak for this year’s Sukma XVI.

According to him, the two teams were not up to the standards set by the MSNS.

“We want only the best for Sarawak and we will do all we can to field only the best athletes for Sukma XVI. We had a forgettable outing in 2011 and we hope not to repeat results of that sort again,” added Francis.

Sarawak only collected two gold, four silver and eight bronze medals at the Sukma XIV. It was the worst outing ever in terms of medals won.

Sukma XVI will start on June 28.

OurYouth.my director Dato Patrick Liew said yesterday that three competitions namely 3-on-3 basketball, volleyball and futsal will be held.

He is expecting some 40 teams to sign up for the competitions and about 1,000 youths to be either involved in the competitions or engaged in other activities such as cycling and sepak takraw.

“We are organising this sports carnival as we want to get more youths involved in sports activities, build teamwork and develop leadership qualities as well as youths of different races to interact with each other through sports,” said Liew, who is also the president of the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association.

Liew said the sports carnival is also in line with the state’s youth programme where youths of all races are encouraged to interact with each other and strengthen racial unity.

“With the active participation by our youths in this sports carnival at Le’Park which is the only venue where youths can interact with each other through so many types of sport, we hope that the state government will build more such facility in other towns in Sarawak,” he added.

Those interested in joining the competitions can contact Daniel at 019-8885333 (futsal), Raymond 013-8030087 (3-on-3 basketball) and Andrew 016-8607338 (volleyball).

Information on the above event can also be viewed at OurYouth.my website.

The 20-year-old Olympic bronze medallist did well enough to qualify for the individual 10m platform final but finished last among the six finalists.

Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) diving coordinator Jolene Leong felt that the diver could have suffered a lapse in concentration during the final round.

“I think she must have been overwhelmed by the attention that had been given to her…it may also be because she pushed herself too hard during the final,” Leong told The Borneo Post yesterday.

She was sympathetic with Pandelela having to shoulder the high expectation to bring home a medal.

“These things do happen to athletes who have achieved world class standard and Pandelela must have felt the pressure to deliver after achieving that status,” Leong added.

Many were dismayed by Pandelela’s sudden drop in form when just days earlier she had won the silver medal in the team 10m platform synchro event with teammate Leong Mun Yee.

The prime minister said Malaysian footballers could be allowed to play for the Welsh team to gain experience playing top-level football.

Children of Felda settlers had been sent to Cardiff City for training and we could send them again to Cardiff to enable them play at a higher level, he said when opening the Felda Industrial and Recreational Complex near here.

In November last year, 50 children of Felda settlers were sent to the Cardiff City Football Academy in Wales for exposure, and they trained with youths of the academy and participated in friendly matches with local teams.

The club, the jersey of which sports the word “Malaysia”, is owned by Malaysian tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, and has ended a 51-year wait to play in the top league.

Najib also said that footballers earned lucrative salaries nowadays.

The prime minister said he hoped that Felda United, which played in the local Super League, would be able to win a title in the Malaysia League this season.

In a lighter vein, he said: “Felda has progressed much but not Felda United.”

Felda United is second from the bottom in a list of 12 teams playing in the Super League.

It has secured only 11 points from 13 matches. — Bernama

The Boston Red Sox were to open a three-game Major League Baseball series with the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on Friday, while the Boston Bruins had been scheduled to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in a National
Hockey League contest at the Boston Garden arena the same day.

The Bruins matchup with Pittsburgh has been rescheduled for Saturday afternoon in Boston.

Pittsburgh had been set to host the Buffalo Sabres late Saturday, but that game has now been moved to Tuesday.

The Bruins officially announced the new time for the Penguins’ game after police arrested the second major suspect in the blasts which killed three people and injured more than 180.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was captured near downtown Boston in the suburb of Watertown late Friday, less than 24 hours after his alleged accomplice and older brother Tamerlan was killed in a gun battle with police.

Red Sox officials have not announced a make-up game for Friday’s contest, but
Saturday’s earlier scheduled game is to go ahead as plannned.— AFP

Bojan Hodak

KUCHING: Kelantan head coach Bojan Hodak was full of praise for his team after defeating homesters Sarawak 2-0 in the second leg FA Cup quarter-final despite having to go through a tiring week.

He said the players appeared to have followed the instructions given to attack as soon as the match began.

“As I told the players, they must attack from the beginning, and you could see after we scored the first goal, Sarawak was mentally down, after the second goal I could see that we had ‘finished off’ Sarawak because they needed four goals and I did not think they were ready for that,” he told reporters after the match at the State Stadium on Tuesday.

The Croatian coach was also pleased with the performance shown by the striker, Ahmad Fakri Shaarani, whom he said was really impressive, and the right choice fielded after foreign player, Dickson Nwakaemi had a muscle problem.

Meanwhile, Junior Eldstal made his debut for Sarawak in the match on Tuesday as a last minute substitution.

Born to a Sabahan mother and Swedish father, Eldstal or his Malaysian name Putera Nadher Amarhan holds a Malaysian passport and is eligible to play for Sarawak as a local player.

Speaking to reporters, Eldstal, who was previously playing in the Vauxhall Football League in England, said he was still trying to adjust to the environment around and was pleased with the oppurtunity given to play for Sarawak.

Apart from Cup defending champions Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor Darul Takzim also made it to the final four after beating their respective opponents.

Kelantan will face Terengganu while star-studded Johor DT take on Paha ng, to be held over two legs on May 25 and 28 respectively. — Bernama

Her father George Pamg told The Borneo Post that the 20-year-old diver was accompanied by the elder brother Pardika Indoma during the award ceremony and she had to fly off to Edinburgh, Scotland early yesterday morning.

Pardika was able to join her for the ceremony because he is currently studying at Universiti Malaya (UM).

Pandelela had told her family that she had to leave soon after the ceremony because of the third leg of the FINA Diving World Series which starts this weekend.

The rest of the national team members were already there.

“We are very proud of her achievement and of course she was quite confident of winning it for the second time because of her achievement in last year’s London Olympics,” said the proud father in a telephone interview yesterday.

“There was every indication that Pandelela would win the award and we were also happy that she is also the first woman athlete from Sarawak to ever win it for two consecutive years,” he said.

Pandelela has been away from home since early February and had only spent two nights with her family since then.

“We had missed her so much and she came back only for two nights during her recent visit on April 6…she looked all right and was looking forward to taking part in the international events,” the father added.

Meanwhile, Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) director Francis Nyurang Ding lauded Pandelela’s achievement in the national sports award and said it would serve to inspire other local athletes.

“She is a role model to all of us and we are very proud to have her as the first local athlete to ever win the prestigious award for two consecutive years,” Francis added.

North and South Korea have been in a state of heightened military tension since the North carried out its third nuclear test in February, raising concerns over the staging of the Asiad in September-October next year.

“The Korean peninsula seems shrouded by the dark clouds of conflict, something which worries many of us,” Incheon Mayor Song Young-Gil said this week, during a site visit by the Olympic Council of Asia.

“However, our determination to bring peace is stronger than ever before,” Song said.

“Just as the (1988) Seoul Olympics helped to tear down the wall of the Cold War, 2.9 million Incheon citizens and I are determined to make the Incheon Asian Games a peace festival to melt down all conflicts in Asia,” he added.

North Korea’s participation in the Games is still in question, although an Incheon municipal spokesman said there were “no signs” it planned to boycott the event. Although the two Koreas compete separately at major sporting events, they have sometimes joined together in opening ceremonies such as the Sydney and Athens Olympiads in 2000 and 2004, and the Doha Asiad in 2006. In recent years however, the North has insisted on marching separately. The 17th Asian Games in Incheon will run from Sept 19 to Oct 4. — AFP

BACK-TO-BACK: Pandelela Rinong receives the Sportswoman Of The Year Award from Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah as Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek (left) looks on during the 2012 National Sports Awards in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama photo

State diving star wins second title as badminton ace Chong Wei clinches fourth Sportsman award

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei and diver Pandelela Rinong were crowned National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year at the 2012 National Sports Awards on Tuesday.

The prestigious annual national sports award held at a leading hotel here saw Chong Wei clinch his fourth National Sportsman crown (2005, 2008, 2011) while Pandelela wins her second title after having won it in 2011.

Pandelela, 19, eclipsed pre-award favourite and popular candidate Datuk Nicol David who had won the title seven times consecutively and other nominees on the list, Nur Suryani Muhamed (shooting) and Fatehah Mustapa (cycling), Esther Cheah (tenpin bowling), Chai Fong Ying (wushu), Quzandria Nur Muhamad Fathil (equestrian).

The national diver had won a bronze medal in the 10m individual platform at the Fina/Media Diving World Series) in Dubai, a silver at the first series of the 2012 Fina World Diving Championships in Moscow, Russia plus the gold medal at the 26th SEA Games.

The highlight of her achievement was winning the 10m platform bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Chong Wei, the country’s most celebrated single’s player, held the world’s number one player ranking for a record 40 months since 2008 until last year and after losing the number spot due to injuries, has managed to regain his number one status.

The best achievement of the 30-year-old player last year included being champion in five international championships among them, the Super Series and the Super Premier Series under the ambit of the World Badminton Federation.

Other sportsman nominees were Muhd Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek (tenpin bowling), Bryan Nickson Lomas (diving), Ricky Leong Tze Wai (karate), Sazali Abd Samad (weightlifting), Khairul Anuar Muhamad (archery) and Yu Peng Kean (fencing).

Chong Wei and Pandelela respectively received a trophy and RM20,000 cash from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.

Meanwhile, winner of the National Paralympic Sportsman award received RM10,000 but there was no winner for the woman’s category. — Bernama

PROUD OWNER: Cardiff City owner Tan Sri Vincent Tan during the launching of ‘Experience The Fire & Passion Of Cardiff City FC’ at Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur, in this Feb 6 file photo. — Bernama photo

Malaysian-owned Welsh club back in top flight after 51-year absence

LONDON: Tears flowed as Cardiff City reached the English top flight for the first time in the Premier League era following a 0-0 draw at home to Charlton Athletic in the Championship on Tuesday.

The result guaranteed their return to the elite after a 51-year absence and prompted delirious fans to spill onto the pitch in celebration at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Cardiff will join fellow Welsh side, and sworn rivals, Swansea City in the Premier League next season, when there will be two teams from Wales in the English top flight for the first time.

The Bluebirds last played among the English elite in 1962 and were playing in the fourth tier as recently as 2001.

Ironically, their promotion comes at the end of a season that began amid angry protests at Malaysian owner Tan Sri Vincent Tan’s controversial decision to change the club’s home kit from their habitual blue shirts with white socks to red shirts with black shorts.

He also altered the club’s crest, with a red dragon taking the place of the traditional bluebird, which was moved to the base of the badge.

Cardiff will now look to seal the Championship trophy by winning at Burnley on Saturday.

Cardiff forward Craig Bellamy, formerly of Liverpool and Manchester City, burst into tears at the final whistle, having returned to his home-town club last year to lead their push for promotion.

“It’s nice to be over the finish line. We deserve to go up, there’s no doubt about it,” the Wales international striker told Sky Sports.

“Let’s enjoy tonight and see where the next two weeks take us, try and finish as champions.

“This city’s been craving it for a number of years now. It’s going to be good.”

Charlton’s Johnnie Jackson came close to spoiling the promotion party on an emotional evening in the Welsh capital when he curled a free-kick against the post in the first half.

Craig Noone thought he had scored for the hosts late in the second half, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.

It mattered not, though, as news of third-place Watford’s 1-0 defeat at Millwall guaranteed Cardiff’s promotion and sparked the pitch invasion that greeted the final whistle.

“It’s not really sunk in right now,” said manager Malky Mackay in an on-pitch television interview as he surveyed the scenes of celebration.

“There was a lot of hard work by a lot of people at the club and I’m delighted for these people.”

There were tears of a different sort at Ashton Gate, after Bristol City’s 1-0 loss at home to Birmingham City consigned them to relegation to the third tier.

Despite their loss at beaten FA Cup semi-finalists Millwall, Watford remain six points behind second-place Hull City, who lost 1-0 at relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Neither Brighton and Hove Albion nor Crystal Palace could capitalise on the misfortunes of the two teams above them though.

Brighton’s 0-0 draw at Peterborough United was nonetheless enough to take them above Palace into fourth place after the Eagles crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Ipswich Town.

Leicester City returned to the play-off places at the expense of Bolton Wanderers after a hard-fought 3-2 win over Dougie Freedman’s side at the King Power Stadium.

Meanwhile, 2008 FA Cup winners Portsmouth’s slide down the divisions continued as they were relegated to the fourth tier following Oldham Athletic’s 1-0 win over Yeovil Town in League One.

Portsmouth succumbed to severe financial problems following their relegation from the Premier League three years ago, but the club’s fans agreed a historic takeover of the club last week. — AFP

Playing his final round in the company of 55-year old Scot Sandy Lyle, the 1988 Masters champion, the 14-year-old Chinese schoolboy carded a three-over 75 which left him at 12-over 300 for the tournament.

He ended up fourth from bottom of the 61-strong field that survived the cut, but Guan had already left an indelible mark on the tournament as the youngest-ever player to compete in the Masters and the second youngest in any of the major tournaments.

Bogeys at the first, fifth and sixth saw him reach the turn in 39 and he dropped a further shot at the 11th before finally bagging a birdie at the par-five 13th, his first since sinking a putt from the edge of the 18th green in the first round.

Another birdie followed at the par-three 16th before he bogeyed 17 and parred 18, where he doffed his cap to the fans already clustered around the green in anticipation of the tournament climax still hours away.

“It’s not easy to play here and make the cut and be the low amateur and I think I did a pretty good job,” said Guan, who completed the tournament without a double bogey on his card and without a three-putt.

“I’m a little bit tired today. Still a lot of things to improve. Short game is good, but could still get better and my driving has to get a little bit longer. Yes, everything needs to improve.”

With the leaders yet to go out, the finale to Guan’s first Masters largely went unnoticed, but he had already attracted the crowds and the plaudits by making the cut against all the odds with rounds of 72 and 73.

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jack Nicklaus had all expressed their admiration for his stroke-making skills and composure in the line of fire, especially when he was handed a penalty stroke for slow play near the end of his second round. — AFP

TOP PLAYER: Connie Sii (left) from SMK St Elizabeth receiving her medal from the school principal Clement Chieng after winning the Girls’ Under 18 singles title of Sibu’s Inter-Schools Badminton Championship which ended yesterday.

SIBU: Roland So King Leong from SM Catholic and Connie Sii from SMK St Elizabeth were respectively crowned as champions in the Boys’ and Girls’ Under 18 singles of Sibu’s Inter-Schools Badminton Championship which ended yesterday.

Roland defeated SMK Sacred Heart’s Choo Chun Xien 21-12, 19-21, 21-13 in the final to win the title for the first time while Connie edged SMK Sacred Heart’s Karen Tiong Jia Ling 19-21, 21-14, 21-9 to bag the girls’ title.

The joint third placing in the Boy’s section went to SMK Methodist’s Adam Yii and SMk Sacred Heart’s Hii Shieng Khai.

In the Girls’ section, the joint third placing went to Ling Chung Jing and Sally Tiang Ching, both from SM Catholic.

In Boy’s Under 18 doubles, SMK Deshon’s Kelvin Kong and Geoffrey Tie beat SMK Sacred Heart Shieng Khai/Henry Tang to lift the title. The joint third went to Kelvin Tan/Amirul Suraj Munir and Adam Yii/Samuel Wong, both from SMK Methodist.

In Girls’ Under 18 doubles, SMK Methodist Sally/Chung Jing took the crown whn they edged SMK Elizabeth Connie/Hii Hui Sin. The joint third went to SMK Elizabeth Evonne Law/Jesica Chiew and SM Catholic Loh Siew Ling/Esther Ho. SMK Methodist was champion in the Boys’ U-18 category, followed by SMK sacred Heart and SM Catholic.

In the Girls’ U-19 category, SMK St Elizabeth was champion, followed by SM Catholic and SMK Tung Hua.

In the Boy’s U-15 category, SMK sacred Heart was champion, followed by SM catholic and SMK Methodist while SMK St Elizabeth also took the title in the Girls’ U-15 category, followed by SMK Methodist and SM catholic.

In the Boys U-12 category, SJK (c) Chung Sing was champion, followed by SJK (c) Taman Rajng, SJK (c) Tung Hua and SK Perbandaran Sibu No. 4.

In the Girls’ U-12 category, SJK (c) Taman Rejang was the champion, followed by SJK (c) Methodist and SJK (c) Chung Sing.

The championship was jointly organized by SMK St Elizabeth and SMK Guong Hua with 65 players took part in the junior category while 118 in the senior category.

Meanwhile, the selection committees had shortlisted the players who would represent Sibu in the coming state-level championship to be held in Sarikei from May 7-10. The selected players were Roland So Choo Chung Xien, Adam Yii, Hii Sheng Khai, Kelvin Kong, Connie Sii, Karen Tiong Jia Ling, Ling Chung Jing, Sally Tiang and Hii Hui Sin (Under 18 category), Choo Chung Cheng, Paul Ling, Kenny Tong, Randy Lee, Amy Law Ung Ching, Asvinollia Anthony and Agnes Tiong Nin (Under 15 category). The full results for other categories are Boys’ U-15 Singles: Choo Chung Cheng (champion), followed by Paul Ling, Dennis Hung and Kelvin Wong Girls’ U-15 Singles: Amy Law (champion), followed by Josephine Yii, Asvinollia Anthony and Agnes Tong.

Boys’ U-15 Doubles: Paul Ling/Chung Cheng (champion), followed by Kenny Tong/Randy Lee, Jason Ha/Gabriel Lau and Johan Ko/Kelvin Wong. Girls’ U-15 Doubles: Amy Law/Ngu Xiang Chie (champion), followed by Alvena Anne Alas/Asvinollia Anthony, Agnes Tiong Hin/Joyce Pang, Josephine Yii/Fatin Sasqia.

Boys’ U-12 Singles: Jordan Lee (champion), Andy Ngy, Brendan Chieng and Wilson Tiong Girls’ U-12 Singles: Karen Lau, Lau Li Shing, Connie Yu and Asvelyca Anthony Boys’ U-12 Doubles: Brendan Chieng/Jordan Lee, Evan Ting Heng Ong/Clarence Ting/ Eric Ho/Jonathan Yii, Ednes Wong/Kong Chung Jiun Girls’ U-12 Doubles: Lau Li Shing/Chieng Ying Shi, Karen Lau/Connie Yu, Winnie Wong, Emily Tiong and Jasmine Ting/Isabelle Sim.

The teenager rewrote a new meet record in the Girls’ Under 18 hammer throw with a new distance of 43.02 m which is shy of the national record.

“It is not far from the national record of 46.62m and given the time, I am confident that it would be within reach in the next couple of years,” Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) chief thrower coach Ling Neng Thung told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Grace who is a national shot putter had been in her element and earlier had shattered the Girls’ Under 14 shot putt 10-year-old national record after she covered a new distance of 11.39m to erase the former national record set by Siti Nurul Ain of Negri Sembilan in 2003.

However, it was Eric Tiong Ing Keun who stole the limelight on the last day of championship when he grabbed the overall Best Boys title.

The 14-year-old student of SMK Tong Hua broke the record in Boys’ Under 14 with a throw of 13.88m to beat the 13.27m set by Ting Aik Hou in Miri in 2011.

Currently training under coach Leong Siong Keong, Eric had been training under his former coach Tiong Ah Kai before he was roped in by Leong for intensive training.

“The writing is already on the walls that Eric is another star in the making,” said Ling while expressing hopes for the teenager may be taking over the mantle once the senior throwers had retired.

The best overall Girls’ title went to Queenie Ting Kung Ni, 16, for her national record-breaking throw in the Girls’ Under 18 with a new distance of 39.70m.

The old mark of 38.75m was established by Phang Hua Mei in 2006.

The other records for the day were achieved by SMK Julau Banended Limau in Girls Under 18 in 5,000m Walk (28:22.6”), SMK Kai Chung’s Lee Yung Feu in Boys Under 218 High Jump (1.84m), SMK Julau Roy Abit in Boys Under 14 200m (24.8’), Sarikei District Josteweard Rundang in Boys Under 12 200m (26.4’), SMK Bandar Bintangor’s DeliIkau in Boys Under 12 200m (24.9’), Meradong Dirtysrtci Boys Under 12 4 x 200m relay (1:55.7”), SMK Julau Girls U 14 4 x 100m relay (55.6”) and 4 x 400m relay (4:42.8”)

Earlier records included SMK Julau’s Kesian Sekapi in Boys U 15 triple jump (12.32m), SMK Meradong’s Tilloston Welfered in Boy’s Under 18 10,000m Walk (53:50”), SMK Tong Hua’s Eric Tiong Ing Kuen in Boys’ Under 14 shot putt (13.88m), SMK Julau Lydia Epin in Girls Under 15 high jump (1.47m), Sarikei District Clarence Wong in Boys Under 12 shot putt (12m) and Julau District Mac Ronald Labang in Boys Under 12 high jump (1.42m).

“It will be better for competitions that clashed with polling day to be rescheduled so as to avoid any inconvenience to participants who may have to carry out their obligations as voters.

“However, if the date of a major international competition cannot be changed due to logistics involved, it cannot be avoided,” he told Bernama when met at a Malaysia-Palestine humanitarian contribution event, here, yesterday which was attended by Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Sultan Ahmad Shah.

The Election Commission had yesterday announced that nomination day for GE13 would be April 20, while polling day has been fixed for May 5.

Shabery said the charity match between Malaysia-Palestine netted RM1,140,172.25 through ticket sales and sponsorship from corporate bodies.

From the amount, RM717,891.75 was handed over to the Lahad Datu Heroes’ Fund while another RM415,635 was handed to the Ambassador of Palestine Abdelaziz Aboughosh by Sultan Ahmad Shah.

The Perdana Global Peace Foundation received RM6,646. — Bernama

BETTER THAN 2012: Francis (fifth left) handing over the state colours to Tan (fifth right) and the state team while (from sixth right) Ting, Kong, Chia and coach Ling Ung Hee look on.

KUCHING: Sarawak are looking to do better in the 4th Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia (KPM) Wushu Championship in Ipoh, Perak from April 12-14.

“We are hoping to do better than our 13-gold, 15-silver and 5-bronze medal haul at last year’s championship which was also
held in Ipoh and I am confident that our young exponents will deliver,” said Wushu, Lion and Dragon Dance Federation of Sarawak (WFS) secretary James Ting yesterday.

He picked national juniors Elvic Bong Qian Zheng and Clement Thian Fung Seng, Jaclyn Chia Pei Shien, Felicia Ma Hui Qi and non-Chinese exponent Yong Arifah Khairul Kok as the potential gold medallists.

Ting also placed hopes on the younger exponents to win some medals in the foundation routine events.

“The main purpose of competing at this national junior meet will be giving our young exponents competition exposure in our preparation for Sukma 2014 and 2016,” he said.

Eight members in the team are identified as back-up athletes for the 2014 and 2016 Sukma.

Apart from that, it was also to gauge the standard of the state exponents who are in the development programme.

“As this is a competition organised by the Education Ministry and that wushu is now a co-curriculum subject in schools, we must show our support by fielding a team,” said Ting.

The state team coached by Ling Ung Hee comprise 26 members, 12 of whom are girls.

Seven-year-old Adam Chang Wen Han from Kuching is the youngest member while the oldest is Farold Tan Yi Chie from Miri.

Other members of the boys team are Chiew Sow Hong, Edmund Tan Yuh Xiang, Terence Ma Yung Foong, Bong Yun Phin, Adrian Chin Kiong Pei, Lawrence Loi Ming Xian, Joel Chua Hsien Zhi, Bryan Hon Sheng Chun, Allison Chin Kuok Ping and Ting Yoon Hao.

The girls include Bong Yun En, Lim Chun Feng, Cynthia Chang Mei Shien, Mandy Lim Xin Hui, Sharifah Farah Shahirah Shahab, Tan Kai Sing, Landy Liew Jia Yee, Aria Alexis Kuek Yi Ying and Vanessa Xin Lim.

They will participate in 40 events from Group A to D including foundation routines, junior patterns and standardised routines.

However, Sarawak are not fielding any participant in the sanshou events.

Last year, Sarawak finished second overall behind Melaka and ahead of Negeri Sembilan.

Meanwhile, in a simple ceremony at Civic Centre Kuching yesterday, Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) director Francis Nyurang Ding handed over the state colours to team manager Tan Joo Chua.

Also present were WFS treasurer William Kong and MSNS coordinator for wushu Thomas Chia.

KICK OFF: Ellen (second left) releasing the balloons to officially kick off the 39th Sarikei Division MSS Track and Field Meet as (from right) Law, Abdul Muin and others look on.

SARIKEI: The 39th Sarikei Division School Sports Council Track and Field Meet which kicked off at the Sports Complex here last Tuesday attracted some 850 athletes from throughout the division.

They represented 12 secondary schools while the rest were primary schools pupils representing Julau, Meradong and Sarikei Districts.

The athletes competed in a total of 132 track and field events during the three-day meet which was officially opened by Head of State Education Human Development Management Sector, Ellen Manium Engang.

Among those present during the opening ceremony were Sarikei District Education Officer Abdul Muin Abdul Kassim, Julau District Education Officer Kerebo Bugik, Principal of host school SMK Sungai Paoh Law How Ting and other principals and headmasters.

WELCOMING THE PATRON: Abdul Karim (centre) showing off the souvenir given by PSENS after the association announced him as patron last Sunday. He is also seen in this picture wearing a patron’s blazer as Abdul Rahman (left) and his deputy (Rtd) Major Amir Abdullah Mohd Hassan (right) look on.

KUCHING: Sarawak Equestrian Sports Association (PSENS) is optimistic that, with proper training programmes and development, the state will be able to compete actively in the sport in four to five years.

According its president Abdul Rahman Sepawie, the sport is still relatively unknown in the state.

“I am very sure that whenever you mention about horses in Sarawak, many would have imagined a horse race track. It is actually a much different sport altogether,” he added.

Abdul Rahman shared that the sport involves the discipline of both the rider and the horse itself. He also revealed how the association aims to promote the sport.

“One of our first steps is to go to schools. PSNES have chosen to adopt a few schools here in the state for the purpose of equestrian development,” he said.

Abdul Rahman noted that the sport is new in Sarawak and the facilities are inadquate.

Among the obstacles faced by association is the issue of breeding horses. The state still lack trained professionals including equestrian horse riders too.

Apart from that, most well-trained horses have to be brought from Peninsular Malaysia and such procedures are costly.

“It is not only that we have to bring them from Peninsular Malaysia, the horses must be sent to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah first for quarantine,” he said.

This because Sarawak does not have such facilities.

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Housing Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah have pledged a grant of RM5,000 to the PSENS during a fund-raising dinner last Sunday.

It was also announced at the dinner that the assistant minister is now the patron of PSENS.

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) vice president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said the association would wait for an announcement from the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday, before deciding the duration of suspension.

“We will suspend the M-League for a specified duration to allow all those involved in the 13th General Election (GE13) process to carry out their duties and responsibilities as voters.

“In fact players and officials are also involved in the voting process. The suspended matches will be rescheduled on a later date,” he told reporters when met, here, yesterday.

Hamidin who is also the FAM local competition committee chairman reminded fans and supporters to avoid using the stadium as a venue for politics by bringing flags of political parties.

“No political part flags are allowed into the stadiums during matches. This is not a new directive but has been in practice for a long time,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hamidin urged state and club teams playing in the M-League to use the 14 days ‘window’ period for the registration of new players wisely by signing quality players, since there would be no extension of the period.

The 14-day window period which starts today ends on April 22.— Bernama

But if top promoter Bob Arum gets his way — and he usually does — the country will be the future of the sport.

“For any serious business person… it’s a country of 1.4 billion people and it’s a country that’s emerging economically to be a real super power,” said Arum, founder and chief executive of Las Vegas-based Top Rank promotions.

“It’s a country where people are just starting to have the opportunity to sample what we in the West are used to, like professional boxing.

“I think if it’s done right, this will be the premier audience for the sport of boxing in the world,” Arum, 81, told reporters after staging a night of boxing at the grandiose The Venetian hotel-resort in the casino haven of Macau.

Arum has lumped his bets on China’s two-time Olympic champion Zou Shiming, who was making his professional debut on Saturday. Top Rank estimated 300 million people in China would tune in live to watch the 31-year-old flyweight.

Zou defeated the unknown Mexican Eleazar Valenzuela on a unanimous points decision in their four-round non-title bout. The home hero reportedly picked up a cool  300,000 for his trouble.

The Zou-Valenzuela match-up got top billing even over a WBA/WBO world title fight.

“If it’s done right, only if it’s done right,” Arum said of his undisguised ambition of tapping into China’s vast population and their growing wealth.

“You can’t give them junk, you have to give them quality and do it in a sensational place like The Venetian arena.

“You have to put the event on free television so it reaches the biggest possible audience in China, which is what we did here. It was on CCTV-5, it was on all the regional networks, it was on the Internet portal.

“So we reached everybody, and that is what we will continue to do. That’s what we are going to do this summer, when we do another outstanding card here. — AFP

The state contingent comprising 258 athletes and officials are competing in 15 out of the 20 events organised by the National Sports Council (NSC) and hosted by Kuala Lumpur.

Sarawak chef de mission Affandi Keli said the events to be competed are bodybuilding, volleyball, handball, basketball, futsal, muay thai, table tennis, artistic gymnastics, fencing, cricket, rugby, judo, softball, kabbadi and silambam.

“Kabbadi and silambam are the latest additions to our list and I hope our athletes can do us proud in Kuala Lumpur by winning medals,” he said after chairing a meeting cum dialogue session for Sukma XVI held yesterday.

However, Sarawak will only know by next week the actual number of events it will be participating as each event requires the participation of at least eight teams. NSC is expected to have a meeting on that matter.

Affandi, who is permanent secretary to Ministry of Social Development, said Sarawak won only two gold medals at Sukma XIV in Kuala Lumpur two years ago and it is targeting for its athletes to win 10 gold medals in the coming Sukma.

Previously, the state athletes also won four silvers and eight bronzes to put Sarawak in 12th position ahead of Pahang who only garnered one gold.

Affandi sees potential medals in artistic gymnastics, table tennis, volleyball, muay thai, silambam and bodybuilding.

He said there was a need to focus on sports which offer the most gold medals adding that the ministry together with MSNS will monitor closely sports associations and athletes in their preparation for Sukma.

Apart from that, they will be looking at the quality of coaching which was one of the areas that Sarawak lacked in previous Sukma.

“We will get more foreign coaches from China, South Korea and Thailand and may send local coaches overseas to upgrade their coaching skills,” he said.

Another area that the government would be looking into is building new sports facilities that are of world class and upgrading the existing facilities in the state.

“Works on the new aquatics centre at the Sarawak Stadium Complex has commenced today and we may build other facilities for gymnastics, lawn bowls, petanque and a shooting range,” said Affandi who disclosed the ministry will also be submitting a request to the federal government to set up a national sports school in Sarawak.

“The fifth national sports school was set up in Sabah last year and since we have a bigger population than Sabah, we should be getting one too,” he said.

“This Sukma is very important to us because we want to see where we are and it will enable us to prepare well for 2016 where we will be playing host.”

He advised the various sports association to build up their teams if they wanted their sports to be included in Sukma 2016.

“You must also start developing more officials and judges so that we can have enough technical people to run the competitions in 2016,” he added.

Earlier, MSNS director Francis Nyurang Ding reminded sports associations’ officials and coaches to study the requirements, rules and regulations for their respective sports.

“We don’t want any athlete to be disqualified just because a simple requirement like a medical certificate to certify that the athlete is fit to compete was not met,” he pointed out.

“It is also very important for you to know where the venues are and you must also be cautious on what food and medicine they take during Sukma lest they test positive for drugs.”

Francis said Sarawak will be sending a smaller team this year due to financial constraints but the sports associations can field more officials at their own expense.

Also present during the function was MSNS assistant director Abdul Mutalib Mohamad.

COURTESY CALL: State Education Department Director, Abdillah Adam (centre) and his officials posing for a group photo with president of Special Olympics of Kuching chapter, Datin Dayang Mariani Abang Zain during the recent courtesy visit to his visit. Also present were (from left) Abdul Hamid Adenan, Vendery Milah Nata and Special Olympics Kuching secretary, Sanfa Guel (extreme right)

KUCHING: State Education Department may set up a working committee to look into ways on how to support the development of Special Olympics athletes and their coaches.

This was mentioned by State Education Director, Abdillah Adam during the recent visit by president of Special Olympics Kuching chapter, Datin Dayang Mariani Abang Zain.

“We will do our best to help out and perhaps we may set up a committee to look into this,” he said.

According to him, the department had always supported the development of sports and games among special athletes who are still schooling with the pool of coaches normally consist of their own teachers.

He said the department had always keep track on schools with students who are physically and intellectually challenged but are active in sports and games.

Sarawak, according to him, has a lot of special athletes who are still schooling and they had helped to make the state a sports powerhouse such as in the Paralympics.

Meanwhile, Mariani informed Abdillah that local athletes had represented Malaysia at international level competitions and they need the support from Education Department on many aspects.

“Most of our athletes are students and their coaches are also their teachers…they need the support and encouragement from the State Education Department to stay on as well as to go further,” she enthused.

“We need the help from the department in terms of giving the green light to relevant school authorities to allow students and their teachers from special education classes to join us in Special Olympics,” she added.

According to her, the club needs more teachers to become volunteer coaches who can train and groom the athletes to participate in future local, national and international events.

Mariani announced that Special Olympics of Kuching is aiming to train and groom its athletes for the coming 2015 Special Olympics Summer Games to be held in Los Angeles, USA.

“We have high hopes for our athletes to compete in tennis, aquatics and possibly in athletics for the coming 2015 LA Games but they need to be well trained first,” she said.

On that note, Mariani said the club is planning to have more volunteer coaches who can help in training and grooming of special athletes.

Early this year, Special Olympics of Kuching had gained the support from Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) to use its facilities to train the 2015 LA Games bound athletes.

But the club had told SLTA that local tennis coaches would have to undergo a short workshop on how to discharge their duties among athletes who are intellectually challenge.

The coaching approach towards the target group is different and coaches must be certified by Special Olympics before they can start working with the special athletes.

In that respect, Special Olympics of Kuching is planning to organise a “Volunteer Coaches Workshop” soon and is open to those interested in working with the special athletes.