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Dortmund sign Friedrich to ease injury list BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Dortmund sign Friedrich to ease injury list

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 03:40 PM PST

Posted on November 22, 2013, Friday

Borussia Dortmund have reacted to their long list of injuries ahead of Saturday's Bundesliga showdown with Bayern Munich by signing ex-Germany defender Manuel Friedrich until the end of the season.

Second-placed Dortmund host Bundesliga leaders Bayern with Pep Guardiola's European champions four-points clear at the top.

Borussia were dealt a double injury blow on Wednesday when scans revealed both centre-back Mats Hummels and left-back Marcel Schmelzer returned with injuries from international duty with Germany.

Torn ankle ligaments will keep Hummels out until mid January, while a torn calf muscle means a three-week lay-off for Schmelzer.

With centre-back Neven Subotic out for six months with torn ligaments and right-back Lukasz Piszczek only just back in training from surgery, Dortmund will face the league leaders without their entire first-choice back four.

Having been released by Bayer Leverkusen at the end of last season, centre-back Friedrich, 34, was previously without a club and made the last of his nine appearances for Germany in February 2008.

"We have reacted to the injuries in our defence. Manuel Friedrich has extensive experience and has made a good impression in training," said Dortmund's director of sport Michael Zorc with Friedrich having signed a contract until June 2014.

Friedrich is set to partner Greece international Sokratis Papastathopoulos at centre-back against Bayern and has also played for Werder Bremen and Mainz in his Bundesliga career, making 247 league appearances and scoring 15 goals.

"I am thrilled to be allowed to run out in the Borussia Dortmund jersey," said Friedrich, who had been training with third division Rot-Weiss Oberhausen to stay fit.

"Until now, I had only done that as a guest in Dortmund and when the famous "Yellow Wall" (of Borussia fans) was against, not supporting you.

"I'm looking forward to a cool time in the black and yellow jersey."-AFP

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National golfers win 15th Int’l Jr titles

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:40 AM PST

by Ting Tieng Hee, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on November 22, 2013, Friday

KUCHING: National juniors, Bryan Teo Wiyang and Siti Zulaikhaa Shaari emerged champions at the Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup 15th International Junior Golf Championship after bagging the boys' and girls' overall champion titles at Sarawak Golf Club (KGS) yesterday.

Teo, who turned 13 on Tuesday, fired 77 yesterday for a three-day total gross score of 225 to win the Boys' B title and also the Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup. The title was the first for the form one student of SMK Jit Sin, Penang who competed in the 2009, 2011, 2012 editions.

"I feel great for winning the overall champion's title here today and I enjoyed myself playing here although the weather was rather hot," said Teo from Malaysian Golf Association (MGA).

"I played very well on the first day where I fired a 71 and the 77s on day two and today wasn't too bad. I was quite confident and I just played a relaxed game and not worry too much about how the defending champion Paul San fared."

"When Paul withdrew on the second day due to high fever, I knew I had the chance of bagging it so I grabbed that chance," said the national U15 boys number one player.

Earlier this year, Teo also won the Maybank Junior Open in June, the MSSM Golf Championship in Karambunai Golf Resort in March and winning the Boys' U15 title at MSS Pulau Pinang golf championship.

He will represent Malaysia at the Asean Schools Golf Championship in Manila, Philippines next week together with Amir Nazrin Jailani, Daim Abdul Rahman, Albright Chong and Solomon Emelio.

Teo will round up his season by competing in the Tan Sri Muhyiddin golf championship at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in December.

The runner-up in Boys' B was Daeng Abdul Rahman Ad Aziz of Johor with a 233 while Immanuel David was third on 243.

The Boys' A title was won by Daniel Mohd Sidek after carding a total score of 232, finishing just a stroke ahead of Amir Nazrin Jailani who pipped Reza Iskandar Juaraindra to second place on count back (OCB).

Fourth and fifth were Thailand's Sangchai Kaewchareon (237) and Aaron Lau Zhun Min (239 OCB) respectively.

Adam Arif Madzri took the Boys' C title after returning a total score of 239 while second to fifth place winners were Tee Jia Jin (243), Aqil Alfiq Rosli (246), Vichaichan Rattanakhunchai (248 OCB) and Victor Ng Yu Kai.

Weerawish Narkprachar led from start to finish to clinch Boys' D title with scores of 76, 67 and 75 for a total score of 218.

Those finishing in second to fifth positions were Feirish Nor Feizal Nor (231), Muhammad Aqil Md Nadzrul (239), Mohd Aiman Al-Hakim (245) and Elden Sim Zhen (255).

The girls' overall champion was decided by a play-off and Siti Zulaikhaa of Malaysian Ladies Golf Association (MLGA) and Jaclyn Chen Jin Yi had to play three times before the former grabbed the title.

Zulaikhaa was playing in Girls' B while Jaclyn was playing in Girls' Special and A. Both returned with similar scores of 237 over the three days of competition to win their respective categories.

"I feel very excited and happy to win two titles in this championship and I would like to thank all my friends, teammates and the parents for their strong support throughout the competition," said Zulaikhaa.

"I never thought I was going to play in the play-off and I guess I was lucky to have beaten Jaclyn in the end."

She did not do too well on day one, carding a 83 as she was affected by a stomach upset but the 14-year old student of SMK USJ8, Subang Jaya recovered strongly to post a 79 on the second day and a 75 yesterday.

"I played well today, my putting was good and I managed to score many pars," said Zulaikhaa who won the Girls' C title at the 7th Leg Sportexcel National Junior Circuit at Samarahan Country Club (SCC) last week and the US Kid European Championship 2013 as well as finishing runner-up in the Girls' U14 at the 2nd Gullane Golf Championship in Scotland.

Finishing in second place in Girls' B after Zulaikhaa was Ashley Lau whose score was 241, followed by Qistina Balqis Azhar (245), Janejilla Marston (250) and Geraldine Wong Xiao Xuan (252).

The runner-up in Girls' Special and A was Chong Yong with her score of 240 and two strokes further back in third place was Tham Soot Yuet.

Fourth and fifth were Ong Shi Qing (245) and Priscilla Huang Yunn (284) respectively.

Thailand swept the Girls' C and D titles where Arpichaya Yubol posted a three-day score of 231 and Pimpasa Sisuthham had a total score of 246.

The championship also witnessed a hole-in-one by Malcolm Ting Siong Hung of Miri Golf Club while Muhammad Aqil Md Nadzrul, Elden Sim Zhen and Weerawish Narkprachar achieved eagles during the event.

A total of 131 juniors from 24 clubs/associations from Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand took part in the championship.

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Pandelela gets incentive from DCF

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:40 AM PST

Posted on November 22, 2013, Friday

KUCHING: The Dayak Cultural Foundation (DCF) presented state diving queen, Pandelela Rinong with a RM30,000 cash incentive for her sterling performance in last year's London Olympics.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Alfred Jabu Numpang, the foundation's chairman presented the incentive at a brief ceremony held at State Legislative Assembly Complex (DUN) yesterday.

"We at DCF are fulfilling our promise to Pandelela to give her cash reward and we finally had the opportunity to hold this ceremony as her (Pandelela) schedule is packed with training session and tournaments all over the world," Jabu enthused.

He expressed hope for the incentive to spur Pandelela achieve greater heights in diving at world level.

Jabu also praised the diver for being a role model for the people especially youths and that her achievement will inspire others to follow suit.

"Pandelela does not only brought honour and pride to the Dayak community, but to the whole Sarawakians specifically and to Malaysian in general," he added.

Meanwhile, Pandelela was all smiles when asked to comment on the incentive which she modestly said that it will be bank into the kitty for future use.

DCF also presented RM10,000 cash incentive state divers, Tracy Vivian Tukiet and Bryan Nickson Lomas for their achievements at national level and for qualifying for the London Olympics.

Also present at yesterday's event were Pandelela's parents Pamg Joheng and Hartini Laming, Land Development Minister Tan Sri James Masing, and Public Utilities Assistant Minister Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.

Meanwhile, Pandelela had disclosed that she is competing only in the 10 metre platform individual category in the coming Myanmar SEA Games next month.

"I will only compete in the 10 meter platform which I am confident of winning the gold medal," she said on the decision which was made as the national diving squad will feature junior divers for the 10 meter platform double category.

She will also be in Sibu tomorrow for the State Sports Award ceremony before returning to China to undergo intensive training prior to the SEA games next month.

Pandelela had several international stint such as the World Championship Series in Dubai and Mexico and the Diving Grand Prix in United States following her success in the London Olympics last year.

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Junior golf development gets government support

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:39 AM PST

Posted on November 22, 2013, Friday

KUCHING: Sarawak government is committed in providing the necessary support and financial assistance in the development of junior golf in the state.

The government had contributed over RM1 million towards the organising of the Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup International Junior Golf Championship since 2008.

"The Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup International Junior Golf Championship provides an avenue for our junior golfers to expose themselves in competitive golf while meeting and making new friends in their neighbourhood region," said Senior Minister cum Minister of Social Development Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom yesterday.

"Golf today is no longer just a game but a career and a lucrative one, as one can see in the mass media how much earnings world professional golfers can make in their winnings, sponsorships, endorsements and the likes," he said at the closing of the championship at Sarawak Golf Club (KGS).

His text of speech was read by Assistant Sports Minister, Datuk Lee Kim Shin who is also Assistant Minister of Communications.

"The state government realises the importance of the junior golf development programme in developing and producing world class golfers and has committed to continuously provide full support and financial assistance in the development of such programme," said Mawan.

The minister expressed satisfaction on the encouraging response towards the 15th edition of the Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup this year with the youngest was a six-year boy from Kuching.

"Golf which once upon a time was a game for the upper class community, has now penetrated into all levels of working class and it is no longer a game for adults as we can see more and more junior golfers emerging even in competitive golf," he pointed out.

Having credited the parents for introducing the game to their children, Mawan said golf may bring about positive changes to a person not only as a golfer but his/her perception in things, situations and challenges which may eventually help build up his/her confidence as he/she grows up and dealing with life challenges.

He congratulated and thanked the Sarawak Golf Association led by its president Brian Chien and his organising committee and the host club KGS for once again successfully organised the Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup International Junior Golf Championship for the 15th year.

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Team work prevails at Corbusier

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:38 AM PST

by Marshall Tiong, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on November 22, 2013, Friday

KUCHING: In road racing, there is nothing more important than team work and Team Corbusier's rider, Fito Prilanji just did that to ensure his team's victory at the recent Sarawak Health race.

"I had to do it for the team…it is more important for the team to do well," said Fito who sacrificed his personal ambitions for the sake of the team.

In the race, Fito was in a seven men break that included three teammates in addition to the opposing Kalbar and Viking riders.

When Kalbar's Radian Saputro and Viking's Iqbal Fernando broke away, he made the decision to assist fellow team mates, Laurel Lauridsen Adrian and Yudi Rachman to join the pursuit.

Fito had chosen to stay close on the wheel of Kalbar's Bentar Sari, slowing him down and letting the four men break succeed which Laurel could have won the race to end his season on a positive note.

"The team comes first," said Fito, a pro with Brunei's Team CCN and had won the Sarawak Cyclefest with Corbusier.

"They will let me know early next year if i will continue with the team," said the rider who is in the final months of his contract with CCN.

The 21-year-old from West Kalimantan is CCN's specialist climber and just completed the 600km Tour of Ijen in East Java three weeks ago.

He was 28th out of 80 finishers, behind Taiwanese teammate Yinh Chih Wang who was eighth.

The race results had shown the gap between Sarawak riders and their cross-border rivals with only Laurel, a Sabahan, was among the top 10.

Team Corbusier and Viking are using top Kalimantan riders as they add to the quality of the racing but they were reminded to also nurture homegrown riders.

Corbusier had started its junior programme while Viking is rebuilding theirs while Saxon Racing's juniors, Hamif Kamaludin and Fitri Hassim representing Sarawak in the national GP series.

Corbusier's programme looks to be on track with Garry Tay posting strong results, including a second place in the Sarawak Health 56km junior event after beaten by Kalimantan's Reza Nuracman and Tegar Maulana both riding for Viking.

Indonesia's 1989 SEA Games medallist Roger Astra Sellepan took part in the masters event which attracted a large 72-strong field which include former state rider, Liew Shin Fook back after three decades and his teammate, Teo San Kui both of Team Elite.

Now if the Jordan Pang and Jackson Goh-led Team Kenbirds were set to return , we will have the three top teams of the 1980's which include Viking, back on racing.

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Uruguay complete World Cup line-up

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:34 AM PST

Posted on November 22, 2013, Friday

Squad become the last of 32 teams to qualify for next year's tournament in Brazil

MONTEVIDEO: Uruguay sealed their spot at the 2014 World Cup finals after a goalless draw at home to Jordan in the second leg of their intercontinental playoff on Wednesday saw them advance 5-0 on aggregate.

Uruguay, the last of the 32 teams to book their place at the finals in Brazil, had all but secured their berth with a crushing 5-0 victory in the first leg in Amman last week.

"We're all happy because the truth is it's been a hard road," striker Edinson Cavani told reporters after Uruguay's 18th match of the qualifying campaign. "We have to enjoy it."

Left back Martin Caceres suggested that winning the first leg by such a big margin had made it harder to concentrate in the second.

"After winning 5-0 it was going to get complicated, we knew we had to take the match seriously," he added.

"We'd have liked to give the crowd a triumph and at least one goal to shout about but it wasn't to be, that's football."

Despite needing to score at least five to have any hope of overturning the deficit, Jordan defended deep and in numbers on Wednesday, denying the South Americans scoring chances and making sure there would be no repeat of the 5-0 mauling.

The closest the home side came to scoring was when centre back Diego Godin headed against the bar just before halftime, but the lack of goals failed to dampen celebrations on the pitch or among the crowd of 60,000 in the stands.

"(Jordan) got what they wanted, a dignified role and a result that I suppose for them is very important," coach Oscar Tabarez told the post-match news conference.

"We must accept … that the main reason why we couldn't win was our rivals' good tactics."

Jordan's Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan was pleased with his team's reaction to their punishing defeat at home.

"We played very well, we met a very good team, very strong, with players from different parts of the world," Hassan said.

"I want Uruguay to have a good World Cup in Brazil."

Before kickoff, the crowd at the Centenario were treated to a video of Alcides Ghiggia's winning goal when Uruguay upset Brazil 2-1 at the Maracana to win their second World Cup in 1950, the last time their northern neighbours hosted the finals.

The 86-year-old, the sole survivor of that "Maracanazo" team, also spoke to the crowd ahead of the game.

"At the Maracana (final) there were 30 Uruguayans," he said in the centre circle. "Today I have the luck to celebrate with all these people here and it's very emotional for me."

Jordan's packed defence gave 2010 semi-finalists Uruguay few openings.

Cavani, who scored a sublime free kick in the first leg, had two efforts that went over the bar while Luis Suarez worked tirelessly to find openings but often found himself forced out wide.

Uruguay captain Diego Lugano headed a corner wide of the far post just past the hour and Jordan took heart from the scoreless first half and were more daring after the break.

It was the fourth World Cup qualifying campaign in a row in which Uruguay went into a playoff, having finished fifth in the South American group behind Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador.

Uruguay reached the 2002 finals by beating Australia, but lost to the same opponents in the campaign for Germany 2006. They went to the 2010 finals in South Africa after overcoming Costa Rica. — Reuters

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