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Blatter hits back in Qatar World Cup 2022 row BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Blatter hits back in Qatar World Cup 2022 row

Posted: 22 Nov 2013 12:00 PM PST

FIFA boss Sepp Blatter on Friday hit back at criticism over work conditions on World Cup venues in Qatar, accusing European companies and saying France and Germany pushed the Qatari bid for "economic interests".

In a report this week, Amnesty International said migrant workers were being treated like "animals" and urged FIFA to press Qatar to improve the conditions of foreign labourers, most of them from South Asia.

However Blatter said the blame lay squarely with the European companies operating in the Gulf State.

"The big companies working there are European companies, most of them. The constructor is responsible for the workers," Blatter told reporters in Rome, adding that FIFA "deplored" the situation in Qatar.

"The Europeans are unhappy but it was pressure from European countries that brought this World Cup to Qatar because there were so many economic interests," he said.

"Two of these countries that made pressure are France and Germany… European politicians and heads of state of these countries should say what they think of the situation. It can't all be on FIFA," he added.

The Gulf emirate, which rejects claims of slavery-style conditions in what is one of the world's wealthiest nations per capita, said it would include the findings in an inquiry it has already launched.

Following Amnesty's report, FIFA has already called for Qatar to take concrete steps by March to resolve the issue and Blatter called the situation "unacceptable".-AFP

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Thai golfers shine at Sarawak Int’l Junior tournament

Posted: 22 Nov 2013 09:26 AM PST

by Ting Tieng Hee, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on November 23, 2013, Saturday

KUCHING: Thai juniors continued to stamp their mark in The Chief Minister's Cup 15th Sarawak International Junior Golf Championship with good results at Sarawak Golf Club (KGS) on Thursday.

The 14-member team including six girls from International Sports Federation (ISF), Thailand captured three titles and two fourth placing in the state's biggest junior golf meet organised by Sarawak Golf Association (SGA) and hosted by KGS.

Weerawish Narprachar emerged champion in Boys' D while Arpichaya Yubol in Girls' C and Pimpisa Sisutham in Girls' D.

Those finishing among the top 10 were Sangchai Kaewchareon (fourth) and Jarunkorn Kornkokkruat (ninth) in Boys Special and A, Vichaichan Rattanakhunchai (fourth) in Boys C, Putthinan Thaworn (ninth) in Boys D while Thayanee Boonariya finished sixth in Girls Special and A.

"Our juniors have done reasonably well and I am pleased with their performance considering most of them are first-timers in this competition," said team manager Pongnat Vatanasak.

According to him, the juniors were here mainly for the exposure and ISF had been sending teams to the tournament the past 10 years.

"It is the first stepping stone for them before they go further to play in Australia, Europe and even the US," he commended the tournament which became one of Thai juniors favourite event including that in Singapore.

"We played in Singapore Junior Open in June this year," said Pongnat, adding that ISF is the third biggest golf body in Thailand in terms juniors players and golf development.

"We feel like coming home every time we come to Kuching to play in this championship. I have made a lot of friends here and we really enjoy playing here and the great hospitality provided by Sarawak," said Pongnat.

On junior golf development in Thailand, Pongnat said ISF had made a great step forward it was recently appointed as Thailand's agent for Lee Westwood Golf School in Orlando, Florida.

"One of ISF juniors, a 14-year-old boy, has already been admitted to this school earlier this year and we are looking to send more of our juniors there," he said.

Saying it costs about US$50,000 annually to study and learn play golf at the school, Pongnat added that it was beyond the means of most families.

He added "We have an option to set up a branch of Lee Westwood Golf School in Thailand where we plan to do packaging with an international school."

If this plan materialises, the school will accept local students and also those from countries in the Asean region including Malaysia.

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Pandelela hot favourite to win MSNS Sportswoman Award

Posted: 22 Nov 2013 09:25 AM PST

SIBU: Olympian Pandelela Rinong Pamg is expected to win the state's Sportswoman Award at the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) Sports Awards 2011/2012 to be held at Kingwood Hotel tonight.

The 20-year old national diving queen from Bau is the leading contender for the award which she had won two years ago based on the numerous achievements to her credit, the most notable of which is the 10m platform women's individual bronze medal at last year's London Olympics.

Pandelela, who was crowned National Sportswoman 2011, also won the 10m platform gold at FINA GP Canadian Open, 10m platform synchronised bronze at World Series, Moscow and one silver, two bronzes at World Series Beijing/Dubai in 2012.

Her achievements in 2011 were a gold medal in 10m platform at SEA Games in Palembang, Indonesia, silver in 10m platform at University Games, Shenzen, China, and silver in the same discipline at World Series Beijing.

Although Pandelela is the favourite to win the award, the achievements of national kegler Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore also merit consideration.

Her best exploit was winning a gold and bronze at 26th SEA Games in Palembang in 2011.

Other nominees in this category are taekwondo exponent Morren Ulai Lian and volleyballer Stephanie Law Feng Nie.

Hammer thrower Jackie Wong Siew Cheer, 21, is the forerunner for the Sportsman Award having registered excellent performances at state, national and international competitions.

In 2011, he won the bronze at SEA Games in Palembang, Indonesia, a gold at Sri Lankan Open, a gold at Borneo Games, a gold at Malaysian Open, Grand Prix Bukit Jalil, Malaysian Closed and Sarawak Open.

Last year, Jackie won gold at Asean University Games, Sukma Pahang, Sarawak Open and a silver at Hong Kong Open.

He is currently ranked national number one and was number three in South-east Asia 2011-2012.

Jackie's rivals are diver Bryan Nickson Lomas, swimmer Vernon Lee and kegler Russell Paul Issac.

The nominees for the Promising Sportsman are Ahmady Rady (taekwondo), Mohmmad Arif Zulhilmi Alet (athletics) and Jonathan Ding Sagan (ten-pin bowling) while in the running for the Promising Sportswoman award are Angela Chieng Chui Fui (swimming), Angela Tang Ling Hui (volleyball) and Grace Wong Xiu Mei (athletics).

The contest for the Paralympic Sportsman is between Jamery Siga (swimming), Suhaili Laiman (badminton) and Jimmy Siang (ten-pin bowling) while the nominees for Paralympic Sportswoman are Nabilah Ahmad Sheriff (badminton), Fatimah Wagimin (powerlifting) and Batricia Richeal Sentau (athletics).

Other categories include Best Coach, Best Paralympic Coach, Best Sports Leader, Best Men's Team, Best Women's Team, Best Association and Special Awards.

Meanwhile, there are three nominees each for Best Sportswriter in English and Bahasa Malaysia and two for Chinese while three nominees will vie for the Best Sports Photographer award.

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Sports a unifying factor, says SDNU Kapit chief

Posted: 22 Nov 2013 09:25 AM PST

by James Ling, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on November 23, 2013, Saturday

KAPIT: Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) Kapit branch chairman, Joseph Jinggut had called for more sports and games to be held with the aim to promote cordial relations among the community.

He said unity among the people can be achieved through sport and games which is also good to promote better understanding among the people.

He was speaking at the opening of Kapit's Inter-team badminton tournament at Bletih Indoor Stadium with Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom challenge trophy up for grabs.

"Official and player from Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri, welcome to Kapit. We know Kapit's logistic is quite difficult but we hope for more teams from other division to participate," he said while welcoming the 12 teams taking part in the event.

Earlier the organising committee chairman, Kumbong Garit from Kapit Combined Education Department thanked his committee members for the job well done.

"Don't take the result too seriously. There's only one champion and the best got it. Our ultimate aim to unite through sport, get to know each other, foster friendship and co-operation", he enthused.

The competitions is open only to men with each team must enter three pairs of doubles and one for the veteran category with age 45 years old and above.

The champion will receive RM3,000 plus the challenge trophy while the first runner-up will get RM2,000 and a trophy while the third and fourth places to receive RM 500 and a trophy each.

The participating teams were OUNA Bintulu Se-Tech, Sekaban, Senang Ati, SDNU Menoa Kapit B, Sarakup Bungai Nuing, West Motor, SDNU Hq, SDNU Bintulu Town, Markat-TJ, SDNU Menoa A, Sarakup Sengalang Burung and SDNU Menoa C.

Also present during the opening ceremony were SK Sungai Amang headmaster John Lang, SK Sungai Bena headmaster Christopher Kayan, Johary Janggu from Maybank, SADIA chairman Edward Manggah, SDNU secretary Dolly Cheling and James Sandak from Kapit District Office.

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Bjorn reigns supreme at Royal Melbourne

Posted: 22 Nov 2013 09:24 AM PST

European Tour veteran takes lead at World Cup, hopes to represent Denmark in Olympic

MELBOURNE: Thomas Bjorn shot a three-under-par 68 in the second round of the ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf yesterday, taking a one-shot lead and declaring he harbours hopes of representing Denmark in the 2016 Olympic Games.

The 42-year-old, who made his last Royal Melbourne appearance eight years ago, moved to eight-under par in bright but testing conditions.

The reigning Omega European Masters champion sandwiched five birdies in between first and last hole bogeys.

"There were a couple of instances today that really tested me as I three-putted the first but then after that I kind of patiently worked my way into the round," Bjorn said.

"I didn't play quite as good today on the front nine as I did on day one, but on the back nine today, I played awesome despite three putting 14 and then got a bit unfortunate on the last," he said.

Golf returns to the Olympic Games in 2016 for the first time since 1904.

For this reason, the International Federation of PGA Tours has changed to a World Cup format to mirror the intended format of competition in Rio de Janeiro.

Bjorn is currently ranked 44th in the world and 14 places ahead of the next best Dane in 23-year-old Thorbjorn Olesen and his playing partner this week.

At this stage it will ensure Bjorn will qualify for all four Majors and all four WGC events next season.

When golf does return to the Olympics Bjorn will be 45 years old, however he has shown he has lost none of his competitive edge, winning four of his 17 career European Tour victories since turning 40.

"It's always been in my mind to compete in at least one Olympic Games," Bjorn said.

"Since turning 40 I have been playing some of the best golf of my career but then I also have to stay healthy and stay focussed."

Bjorn singled out Paul Elvstrom, one of Denmark's greatest-ever summer Olympians, who competed in eight Olympic Games from 1948 to 1988, winning four gold medals.

"What Paul Elvstrom achieved in sailing for Denmark was remarkable so to just tee up in Rio de Janeiro representing Denmark in an Olympic Games would be incredible, but… (there are) many more years before I can begin to think like that" said Bjorn.

American Kevin Streelman birdied his opening four holes but then dropped three shots at the eight and ninth holes in a round of 68 to be in second place on seven under par.

Australia's Jason Day (70) and Portugal's Ricardo Santos (69) are tied in third place on four under par.

World No. 2 and reigning Masters champion, Adam Scott posted a 68 to be lying in a share of 21st place at one over par.

In the team event it is the defending American pair of Streelman and Matt Kuchar, who shot a second round 68, who lead by three shots with a 10-under par tally.

Australasian PGA Tournaments Director, Andrew Langford-Jones has defended criticism from a number of players, including Australia's Jason Day, that the hot and windy conditions are making parts of the Royal Melbourne course 'unfair'.

"The greens staff have had challenges preparing the course for back-to-back tournaments and while the greens have compacted a bit, the Federation of Golf Tour's view is that the set-up of Royal Melbourne is where we were hoping it would be," Langford-Jones said. — AFP

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Rodgers backs Liverpool to cope with derby pressure

Posted: 22 Nov 2013 09:23 AM PST

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers goes in search of his first win in a Merseyside derby against Everton confident his players are better equipped for the challenge than before.

After two draws in Rodgers' first experiences of the derby atmosphere last season, the Reds hope to give the boss a maiden victory in today's meeting at Goodison Park.

Liverpool are just two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, while Everton are three points adrift of their hated neighbours in sixth.

With so much at stake, Rodgers expects the 221st Merseyside derby to be as frenzied as ever and believes his team are now more battle-hardened and capable of thriving in such a testing situation.

"It's a really hostile environment to go and play in," Rodgers said.

"Goodison is a really good venue for football and it's a ground that will test your character.

"But that's something we will look forward to because, if there's one thing that we've improved in the time that I've been here, is there's resilience in the team.

"We will lose games but our ability to bounce back and to be resolute is improving all the time. So it will be a good ground to go and play in.

"And it will be great for us to go and play our football.

"Every game away from home is a test of character. But, of course, when it's a derby game and the rivalry and the history of this game is there, it will always test you."

Everton boast an impressive home record, having not lost at Goodison Park since December 2012, and caught the eye in victories over Chelsea and Newcastle this season.

And Rodgers, who will check on the fitness of striker Daniel Sturridge (thigh) but should have captain Steven Gerrard (hip) available, believes their city rivals will be among those teams who are a threat to his side's ambitions to break into the top four.

"They'll be up there challenging this season, but their recent history shows you that," Rodgers added.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez agreed that the derby takes on added significance due to the bright start made by both teams.

The Spaniard has no fresh injury worries with striker Arouna Kone (knee) still out along with long-term absentees Antolin Alcaraz (groin) and Darron Gibson (knee).

"It is a massive game. First and foremost, it's a glamorous fixture," Martinez said.

"It's one of those games that is followed worldwide and the significance, the passion and the history is reflected in the game.

"This one is more important because both teams are in the top six and both have had strong starts to the season.

"Liverpool's start speaks for itself. They are really good in possession and play with good intensity.

"They have really good individuals. That partnership up front of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge has a real goalscoring threat, so you can see why they've been so successful this season.

"We're unbeaten at home in 2013 and this is a real opportunity to start the middle third of the season with a very strong test, and the derby is just that." — AFP

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