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Vital to set up badminton centre in Sarawak BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Vital to set up badminton centre in Sarawak

Posted: 17 Nov 2013 03:07 PM PST

Posted on November 18, 2013, Monday

KUCHING: It is vital for Sarawak and Sabah to have training centres to develop and groom future badminton stars for the country.

This is because of geographical conditions as it is difficult for potential shuttlers in the two states to go for further training and exposure in tournaments.

"It is critical that East Malaysian states have a centre like we have in Bukit Jalil where the top players are brought to Bukit Jalil Sports School to train. That is where our top players come from," said BAM president Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff.

Saying that the plan to have a centre in Sarawak was under way and had received the support of the Education Ministry, he added that Sarawak Badminton Association president Datuk Amar Abdul would play an important role in identifying the kind of facilities, the land, the school and the teachers for this purpose.

"If BAM has the ability and resources, why not set up a training centre in Sarawak to develop and produce more future talents after badminton models like Lee Chong Wei, Koo Kien Keat and other world class players?"

Mahaleel was in Kuching to watch the Maybank Malaysia Kuching International Challenge Badminton Championship at the State Indoor Stadium.

He was very impressed with the venue, facilities and the organisation of the international event.

"It is well organised and the facilities are excellent. The State Indoor Stadium is a good venue for the tournament which is something I wish we could have permanently for SBA that you can have a regional centre here," said Mahaleel.

Meanwhile, BAM is also proposing to have a badminton league similar to that of the FAM league where all states can participate in.

"We need to look for money because it is expensive to organise such a league. If the BAM council approves and if we have the sponsor, we will kick it off next year," he said.

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Mohd Arif wins Maybank International singles title

Posted: 17 Nov 2013 03:05 PM PST

by Ting Tieng Hee, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on November 18, 2013, Monday

KUCHING: Mohamad Arif Abdul Latif provided the only cheer for Malaysia yesterday when he won the men's singles title of the Maybank Malaysia Kuching International Challenge Badminton Championship at the State Indoor Stadium.

Malaysia had entered three finals but Arif was the sole champion for the host nation when the tournament's second seed player eased past Indonesian challenger Ivanudin Rifan Fauzin 21-12, 21-13 in the men's singles final.

With the victory, Arif collected a trophy and prize money of US$1125 (RM3,487) while Ivanudin received US$570 (RM1,767).

The all-Chinese Taipei women's singles final saw third seed Hsu Ya Ching facing little problem in overcoming the challenge of unseeded Pai Yu Po, winning in straight sets of 21-6, 21-13.

World No. 40 pair from Malaysia and tournament top seeds Amelia Alicia Anscelly and Soong Fie Cho went down fighting 17-21, 14-21 to the Japanese pair of Kugo Asumi and Yui Miyauchi in the women's doubles final.

The Malaysians, when interviewed after the game, said they were not very satisfied with their performance yesterday as they had aimed to win in Kuching.

"We are looking to improve our world rankings from No. 40 to No. 30," said Amelia.

The national women's doubles number two will next play in the Vietnam GP.

Coached by Rosman Razak, the pair had competed in seven tournaments before flying over to Kuching.

They were the women's doubles champion at the Islamic Solidarity Games, runner-up in the France International Challenge and quarterfinalists at the Asian Badminton Championships in Chinese Taipei.

Meanwhile, Indonesia swept two titles through Selvanus Geh-Alfian Eko Prasetya in the men's doubles and Alfian Eko Prasetya-Shendy Puspa Irawati in the mixed doubles.

In the first final of the day, Alfian and Shendy, who were the third seeds, put up an excellent display of fast attacking and good defending to beat the second seeds from Chinese Taipei, Wang Chi-Lin and Wu Ti Jung 21-15, 21-16 to lift the mixed doubles crown.

Alfian completed a double win after he partnered Selvanus as seventh seeds to outclass the Malaysian pair of Chooi Kah Ming-Teo Ee Yi 21-15, 21-13.

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Viking dashes Corbusier’s hopes in Juniors race

Posted: 17 Nov 2013 03:00 PM PST

by Marshall Tiong, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on November 18, 2013, Monday

KUCHING: Team Viking's succeeded in stopping Team Corbusier in the Sarawak Health Road Challenge when they won the junior event last Saturday.

With Reza Nuracman and Tegar Maulana from their Indonesian partner Team Kalbar in Viking colours, they beat Corbusier's in-form Garry Tay in the 56km race.

The race began in fast and furious fashion as teams try to breakaway early on. As expected, Corbusier put their riders in the front but were countered by Viking and Saxon.

Viking also tried for a break but the blue train of Corbusier was able to nullify their attempts. Midway through the race, the Viking duo and Tay teamed up to plan the winning move.

They would not be challenged and the trio fought it out in a sprint finish that was won by Reza.

"I knew the break was going to work as I got Tegar with me and Garry also. It was good to have Garry in the break as we could work together," said Reza.

He was confident of the sprint as they already had a plan if it should come down to a sprint finish.

Tegar was his lead-out man and when they were 300m from the line, the pair set it up perfectly.

Reza came out of Tezar's slipstream and the Corbusier junior could not counter.

"When I began the lead-out, I knew Reza was going to win," said Tegar.

For Corbusier's Tay, it was tough as he was on his own.

"We had been going all out for 20-plus kms. At the line, I had nothing left. There were two of them and I was on my own. There really was not much I could do," said Tay.

Reza finished in 1hr 22mins 17secs with the top three separated by seconds.

The race was marred by a big crash in the closing stages as the adrenaline-fuelled juniors went for a bunch sprint.

Saxon Racing's Aiman Azril was their top finisher.

"I was in front so I managed to avoid the crash," said the SMK Petra Jaya student.

The three who were badly hurt in the crash were Corbusier's Azka Nabil and the Viking's duo of Azrean Iliya and Topik Sirajudin.

"Azrean needed stitches on his head and Topik dislocated his shoulder but we are still waiting for X-ray results," said Viking team manager Affendy Kadri.

Team Corbusier principal Safri Mohamed said that Nabil is recovering well from the incident.

In the women's race, it was heartbreak for Team Viking's Norismiza Azeman.

The SMK Kuching High student broke away with Indonesia's Emerensiana Darlina and Bella Juliani of Team Panther-Landak. With 100m to go from the line, the trio sprinted for it.

The Viking rider cramped up so badly she was beaten by Corbusier's Erra Safira who was 30secs behind as Emerensiana won and Bella came second.

Jessica Chiam was fourth.

"I felt a twinge in my left leg one km from the line but I though nothing of it. I kept pushing but 100m from the line, it came on so badly I just couldn't move," said Norismiza, who finished fifth.

Team manager Affendy could hardly believe it.

"It was in the bag, at least a top three. It just had to happen so close to the finish," said Affendy.

In the master's race, the field also consisted of Indonesian SEA Games medallist Roger Astra Sellepan and former Sarawak junior Liew Shin Fook.

Corbusier's Frank Voon won the 56km race in 1hr 36mins. Corbusier's Hj. Supian Nor was the hot favourite but found himself tightly marked.

"They were all over me so I told Frank to go for it and I would try to control the pack," said Supian.

It worked as Voon was able to ride away and won without difficulty.

Second was Eramshah Abdul Rahman of Team 160 while Roger Astra was third for MasWing. The 105km Open race was scheduled for Sunday.

Saxon Racing's Seiji Borhan is hopeful his team would do well in the Sarawak Closed portion of the race.

"We are hopeful of a good showing in the Closed. The Open event is difficult as our training has not been adequate," said Seiji.

The team are placing their hopes on former state rider Syamsul Ali Hamdan.

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Bolt, Fraser-Pryce named as IAAF athletes of year

Posted: 17 Nov 2013 02:57 PM PST

Posted on November 18, 2013, Monday

MONACO: Jamaican sprint duo Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce were on Saturday named as the IAAF's male and female World Athletes of the Year for 2013.

The 27-year-old Bolt, who also won the award in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012, successfully defended both his 100 and 200m titles at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow this summer, winning the latter in a 2013 world-leading time of 19.66 sec.

He concluded his world championships by anchoring a Jamaican quartet to the gold medals in the 4x100m relay.

Bolt also won 10 out of his 11 100m races (including heats), and was unbeaten in his five races over 200m.

He beat off strong competition from British distance runner Mo Farah, who followed up on his 5,000-10,000m double at the London Olympics with two golds at the Moscow worlds.

"Wow … another IAAF athlete of year award. I'm beyond honoured … Jamaica this one is for you guys," tweeted Bolt.

Fraser-Pryce, 26, regained her 100m title at those world champs, her winning time of 10.71sec the fastest of the year.

She also clocked the fastest 200m time of the year (22.13) at the Jamaican championships in June and went on to win world gold in Moscow.

Like her compatriot Bolt, she also anchored the Jamaican 4x100m team to victory, a national record and the second fastest time in history. Both athletes received a prize of US$100,000.

The sole consolation for Farah was that his coach Alberto Salazar won the IAAF's coaching achievement award.

The Cuban-born American has guided the career of Farah as the Somali-born Briton stormed to a famous distance double-double. — AFP

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Ivory Coast, Nigeria qualify for World Cup

Posted: 17 Nov 2013 02:56 PM PST

Posted on November 18, 2013, Monday

CALABAR, Nigeria: Ivory Coast joined Nigeria in the World Cup finals on Saturday after a 1-1 draw against Senegal gave them a 4-2 aggregate win on a tense night in neutral Casablanca.

Ivory Coast reached a third successive World Cup but they had to survive a tense conclusion to their play-off second leg clash after Senegal had gone ahead 1-0 on the night through a 77th-minute penalty by substitute Moussa Sow after the lively Sadio Mane was fouled by Didier Drogba.

Another goal would have put Senegal through on away goals but Ivory Coast finished on top when Salomon Kalou drew his team level in stoppage time courtesy of a quick counter attack just moments after Kara Modji failed to double Senegal's lead from six yards.

Earlier on Saturday, Nigeria qualified for a fifth World Cup after beating Ethiopia 2-0 at home in Calabar for a 4-1 winning aggregate.

In a match played in Casablanca after Senegal were punished for crowd trouble at home, Ivory Coast attacked from onset, forcing the Senegalese to concede two corners in the first five minutes.

Idrissa Gueye of Senegal fired at the Ivorian goal from the edge of the box after 13 minutes, but the ball sailed wide.

In the 18th minute, goalkeeper Boubacar Barry did well to keep out a Senegal free-kick as the home team pressed for an opening goal.

Gervinho, from Italian club Roma, continued to be a serious threat to the Senegalese defence with his tricky down the flanks.

In the 34th minute, Papis Cisse fired at goal for Senegal, but his snap shot again did not trouble goalkeeper Barry.

Yaya Toure was denied a goal in the 42nd minute when he got into the box and fired at goal but a Senegal defender got his foot to block the shot for a corner.

Sadio Mane came close to giving Senegal the lead in the 63rd minute but his shot sailed wide off target.

Senegal continued to pile on the pressure after their penalty in the 77th minute for the goal that would have qualified them for the World Cup, but it was not to be.

"I am proud to be part of a team from a small country which has qualified for three World Cups in a row," said Ivory Coast star striker Didier Drogba.

"We want to do something special at the World Cup. The last two tournaments were difficult.

"In Brazil, we hope to have a greater chance of at least making it out of the first round."

In Nigeria, Victor Moses gave the home team the lead after 20 minutes when he tucked away a penalty after Anyalem Hailu handled the ball inside his box.

Substitute Victor Obinna doubled Nigeria's lead on 82 minutes when he fired home a free-kick to kill off the game and the tie.

The reigning African champions march on to their fifth World Cup finals having also featured at the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010 tournaments.

But the Super Eagles' display on Saturday inside the packed 15,000-capacity UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar was laboured and, until Obinna's late goal, Ethiopia were still in with a chance.

CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa said it was a dream come true to qualify for what will be his first World Cup, but he blamed the hot weather for the team's subdued outing.

"I thank God for the World Cup ticket, it is a dream come true for me. It has been my dream to go to the World Cup and I have made it," Musa remarked.

"We would have done a lot better today but the weather was hot and this worked against us."

Celtic defender Efe Ambrose came close for Nigeria right at the start of the game and goalkeeper Sisay Bancha then made a one-handed save from Emmanuel Emenike from 10 yards out. — AFP

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Bulls rout previously unbeaten Pacers

Posted: 17 Nov 2013 02:53 PM PST

Posted on November 18, 2013, Monday

CHICAGO: Britain's Luol Deng scored 23 points and Derrick Rose added 20 in his return from injury Saturday to power the Chicago Bulls over previously unbeaten Indiana 110-94.

The Pacers, who fell to 9-1, had been the NBA's last undefeated team and the first club to win so many games to start a season since the Dallas Mavericks in 2002.

But a night after the Pacers ripped Milwaukee, the host Bulls outplayed Indiana from the start, seizing a 31-20 lead after the first quarter and a 60-35 half-time advantage.

Chicago's biggest lead of the night was 33 points before the Bulls, 5-3, benched their stars and left the reserves to finish off their fourth win in a row.

Bulls playmaker Rose, who had not practiced since injuring his right hamstring in a victory Monday over Cleveland, was named a starter shortly before the game and showed he was ready to return with a solid performance, hitting 6-of-11 shots from 3-point range and 7-of-16 overall in 31 minutes on the court.

Roy Hibbert had 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Pacers, who had seven double-figure scorers. — AFP

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