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Harimau Malaya move up to 154th in FIFA ranking BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Harimau Malaya move up to 154th in FIFA ranking

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:22 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: The national football squad (Harimau Malaya) closed the 2013 calender with an improvement of its ranking to 154th place in the world.

The latest ranking which was issued by FIFA today meant the squad under Datuk K Rajagopal had moved four steps up compared to its 158th position last month.

In January, the Harimau Malaya were 158th followed by 159th in February, 164 (March), 163 (April), 161 (May) 159 (June and July), August (162), September (161) and October (160).

The latest position saw the squad grouped with Liechtenstein, Puerto Rico and India.

Among South East Asian nations, Malaysia, however, dropped two steps to seventh place behind Philippines (127), Myanmar (130), Vietnam (144), Thailand (146), Singapore (150) and Laos (152).

At the Asian level, Malaysia went up one notch to 30th out of 46 nations.

Meanwhile, 2013 Confederation Cup runners up, Spain continued to retain its status as the best team in the world by collecting 1,507 points while Germany and Argentina retained their positions in number two and three, respectively.

Germany and Argentina, each, collected 1,318 points and 1,251 points. The FIFA ranking involved 209 nations. — BERNAMA

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Malaysia lose in shootout

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:01 AM PST

Indonesia edge Harimau Muda on penalties to reach SEA Games final

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: Indonesia beat Malaysia 4-3 on penalties in the first semi-final of the men's under-23 football at the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar yesterday, avenging a 2011 final defeat by their arch-rivals.

Malaysia, who clawed their way back into the match with a late goal to force extra-time, had their first two penalties saved, easing the pressure on the Indonesian penalty-takers.

The game finished 1-1 in normal time, with a late goal from forward Thamil Arasu cancelling out a spectacular strike from Bayu Gatra after 30 minutes of a game which the Indonesians dominated.

Extra-time was a dour affair with both teams flagging on the large pitch at the purpose-built Zeyar Thiri stadium in Myanmar's remote capital Naypyidaw.

But the win was sweet revenge for the Indonesians, who lost 3-4 on penalties to their neighbours and intense rivals in the final of the 2011 Games, in front of a 90,000-strong home crowd in Jakarta.

The Malaysians were bidding for their third straight SEA Games gold in the showpiece event of the hotly contested competition.

After a frantic start, the Indonesians began to assert themselves, zipping the ball across the pitch.

But neither side could craft a breakthrough, with both defences playing deep.

Bayu Gatra broke the deadlock, turning expertly on the right-hand side near the halfway line, before darting inside and playing a one-two on the edge of the box.

He then clipped the ball over the advancing Malaysian keeper.

With time running out Malaysian striker Thamil Arasu hooked the ball home from six yards after Indonesia failed to clear a low corner, sending the game into extra time.

Indonesia, who broke the hearts of local fans with a narrow 0-1 win over Myanmar to progress from the group stage at their expense, will play the winner of the Thailand-Singapore game later Thursday.

Tomorrow, Indonesia will try to end their SEA Games hoodoo after going more than two decades without winning gold. — AFP

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Pandelela shines as divers sweep two more SEA Games gold medals

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 09:43 AM PST

NAYPYITAW: Malaysian divers were in a class of their own at the Myanmar SEA Games when they swept the two gold medals offered on the second day of the diving competition at the Wunna Theikdi Aquatics Centre here yesterday.

London Olympics bronze medallist Pandelela Rinong Pamg and Ooi Tze Liang powered Malaysia's dominance in the sport in their respective events.

Pandelela easily beat five participants including compatriot Loh Zhiayi for the gold in the women's 10m platform with 346.60 points. Zhiayi made it a 1-2 for Malaysia in the event when she clinched the silver medal with 292.10 points while the bronze medal went to the host country's diver Saw Hla Nandar who collected 233.15 points.

When met by reporters, Pandelela said she put her Olympic glory behind her in the SEA Games competition.

"My focus was on executing the perfect dive," she said.

Earlier, Tze Liang redeemed his disappointment of a silver medal on Wednesday when he won the men's 3m springboard event with 431.90 points yesterday.

Another Malaysian, Chew Yi Wei took the bronze with 314.20 points and the silver went to Singaporean diver Lee Mark Han Mi who collected 324.15 points.

Tze Liang said he was elated with the win and after this he would be focusing on preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland and the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea next year. — Bernama

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FAS get Isuzu Cup to unearth talents

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 09:42 AM PST

KUCHING: Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) president, Datu Sudarsono Osman expressed hope for the ongoing Isuzu Cup Under-19 inter division football tournament to serve as a good platform to unearth more talents.

He was encouraged by the latest development of national Under 23 player, Ashri Chuchu from Lawas in Limbang who is representing Malaysia at this year's SEA Games in Myanmar.

"Ashri is a product of our youth development in Sarawak and I do believe we can scout more local talents like him in the future," he said on the player who first donned state colours in 2009.

Limbang team had performed well in this year's Isuzu Cup Under 19 inter division football tournament organised by FAS and Samarahan Division Football Association (PBBS).

Selected to join the Crocs because of his speed and precision passes, Ashri rose through the ranks via the Tabuan Jaya sports school footballing system.

Sudarsono too had expressed hope for more locals to play for Sarawak team in the near future and said that the Isuzu Cup, for a start, is one way to identify more of such talents.

"It is not impossible that more players like Ashri, will one day play for the Crocs and do well for the country at the same time," he said on the hard work and determination needed to boost standard of football in the state.

The Isuzu Cup will enter its final round tomorrow where Limbang will take on Kuching for the championship's title.

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DM Sri Tabuan A, Thumb’s Up in Richard Riot badminton showdown

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 09:42 AM PST

by Ting Tieng Hee, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on December 20, 2013, Friday

KUCHING: Kong Chee Kiat and Lai Zing Neng powered DM Sri Tabuan A into the final of the Dato Sri Richard Riot Jaem Badminton Tournament at Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) Hall last Sunday.

They beat brothers Adam Lau and Alfred Lau of Club Ace A 21-17, 21-18 in the first men's doubles semi-finals based on the best of three ties.

In the mixed doubles, Vong Xiang Wei and Tchong Tze Ley were simply too good for Chung Sing Yang and Ang Lee Ching after winning the match 21-15, 21-7.

DM Sri Tabuan A will take on Thumb's Up in the final tomorrow at 2pm after the latter also blanked their opponents DM Sri Tabuan B 2-0 in the other semi-final.

Wong Kong Who and Ng Fen Hung grabbed the first point for Thumb's Up by beating Ting Sing Kiat-Ang Wee Chin 21-15, 21-19 in the first men's doubles.

The mixed doubles saw Thumb's Up's Kong Fei Long and Ngu Kek Lim losing the first set 11-21 to Kelvin Jee-Michelle Tan before storming back to win the next two sets 21-14, 21-8.

Prior to the semi-finals, Thumb's Up edged Siol 2-1 in the last eight while DM Sri Tabuan A were 2-0 winners over Sejalai.

Twelve teams with 104 players participated in the inaugural tournament organised by the Pertubuhan Penduduk Kampung Pichin, Serian.

The champion will walk away with RM3,000 cash while second place team will receive RM1,000 cash.

Human Resources Minister Dato Richard Riot Jaem will close the event and give away the prizes to the winners on Saturday.

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Unbeaten Malaysia cruise to final

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 09:40 AM PST

Women's hockey team to face Thailand today in SEA Games gold medal match

YANGON: Malaysia whipped Indonesia 10-0 in their final preliminary match to set up a date with Thailand in the final of the women's hockey competition at the Theinphyu Hockey Stadium today.

With the win, Malaysia, the pre-games favourite for the gold medal in the 27th Myanmar SEA Games, also kept its 100 per cent unbeaten record intact.

Thailand booked their berth in the final after edging Singapore 4-2 in their other deciding match played yesterday.

Norbaini Hashim's 5th minute goal opened the floodgates for Malaysia's 10-goal feat while Norhidayah Ahmad Bokhari made it 2-0 from a penalty corner strike in the 12th minute.

Seven minutes later Norhasliza Md Ali added the third before Norbaini was again on target for her second of the match and Malaysia's fourth in the 23rd minute.

Norhashikin Halim made it 5-0 before halftime from a penalty corner strike in the 29th minute but the goals continued to flow in the second half as Nadia Abdul Rahman added the sixth in the 41st minute.

Nurul Nabihah Mansur came into the scoring act in the 57th minute to make it 7-0 before Nuraini Abdul Rashid added a brace in the 62nd and 64th minutes while Rabiatul Adawiyah Mohamed completed the rout with a clinical strike in the 66th minute.

Meanwhile, Norbaini emerged as the top scorer in the competition with eight goals thus far but the SEA Games does not offer a golden boots award.

Coach Mohd Nasihin Nublin Ibrahim said despite the emphatic win, the players did not go all out in the match as a precaution to reserve their energy for the final today. He said though Malaysia had beaten Thailand in their preliminary match, the final would be different ball game. — Bernama

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