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Limbang savour historic Isuzu Cup triumph BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Limbang savour historic Isuzu Cup triumph

Posted: 23 Dec 2013 02:46 PM PST

by Matthew T. Umpang, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on December 24, 2013, Tuesday

KUCHING: Limbang team officials hope that the Isuzu Cup triumph will pave the way for a new era in the development of football in Limbang.

Their team edged Kuching 3-2 at the Unimas Sports Centre in Samarahan last Saturday, marking the first time it has won the inter-division tournament.

Team manager Abdul Ajis Kon said yesterday the famous victory made it all the more worthwhile travelling all the way to Kuching to compete.

The team had set the target of making it to the semi-finals of the tournament.

"All the hard work, all the expenses and all our sacrifices paid off and this victory is indeed sweet. We can now walk tall among the big boys and we definitely fight to defend this title," he continued excitedly.

Asked about the potential that some of his boys may emerge as Crocs in future, Limbang assistant coach Hanapi Majini said, "I believe that we have talented young players who are good enough to represent Sarawak and Malaysia in the future. They are indeed a committed and enthusiastic bunch of players who are willing to do anything for both the state and country."

Indeed, he compared notes with The Borneo Post yesterday on a few of the unpolished gems just waiting to shine.

Eric Lanjap, the winger with an explosive pace to create headaches for opposing teams, has been called "the destroyer" by one rival team manager.

Alex Maxwell has the same gifts as Eric and provides vision for his team. Captain Mohd Aliff Hassan, a free kick specialist, can inspire his team mates with a 'never say die' attitude.

Apart from winning the thrilling final, Hanapi also highlighted Limbang's win over host Samarahan in the tournament's opening match and their victory over SFDP-Young Crocs, who also fielded talented youngsters.

Fans all over the state may be reminded of Limbang's current prized export for the state and country: Ashri Chuchu.

The explosive winger was instrumental in Sarawak's Malaysia Cup performance this year and Harimau Muda's recent SEA Games campaign in Myanmar.

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IPT students who won medals at Myanmar SEA Games stand to receive cash incentives — Idris

Posted: 23 Dec 2013 02:45 PM PST

PUTRAJAYA: Students from Higher Learning Institutions (IPT) who represented the country at the 27th Myanmar SEA Games and won medals would receive cash incentives from the government.

Education Minister II Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said athletes from IPT had contributed about 50 percent of the 43 gold, 38 silver and 76 bronze medals won at the Myanmar SEA Games by winning 24 gold, 19 silver and 40 bronze medals.

"The bulk of the athletes are from IPT and the number keeps increasing every games. It is indeed a proud achievement," he told reporters at the pre-launch of the Sukan Institusi Pengajian Tinggi (SUKIPT) 2014, here yesterday.

He said the Malaysian athletes contingent was made up of 186 IPT students, including Muhammad Irfan Shamsuddin (men's discus), Lim Chee Wei (karate), Nauraj Singh Randhawa (men's high jump) and Pandelela Rinong (women's diving).

Idris said gold medals winners would receive RM5,000 while the silver medal winner receives RM3,000 and a bronze medal was worth RM1,500.

After the gold medal feat in Myanmar, Muhammad Irfan, 18, would be competing in the Asian Track and Field championships and World Junior Athletics Championships in the United States next year. — Bernama

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Bring back the glory days of athletics, swimming, sepak takraw — Khairy

Posted: 23 Dec 2013 02:44 PM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin wants the athletics and swimming unions to work with the National Sports Council (NSC) to focus on establishing Malaysia as a powerhouse in the region for both sports.

Khairy who urged the NSC to carry out a post-mortem to analyse the drop in performance of both sports, including at the just concluded Myanmar SEA Games, wants special programmes to be initiated for the development of both sports.

"I do not want to elaborate on what has happened. As the Youth and Sports Minister I want to look forward and find ways to restore Malaysia as a regional powerhouse," he said in his Facebook posting, yesterday.

He said among steps to be taken by the NSC would be to increase development programmes at state and district levels to identify talent as well as improve the quality of coaches through the National Coaching Academy and engage foreign expertise for certain events.

Khairy also expressed his disappointment for the dismal performance of sepak takraw and badminton that have been iconic sports in the country.

"I have also announced NSC's preparedness to assist the Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) in efforts to 'rescue' the sport. I hope they (PSM) will work with the NSC to introduce special programmes aimed at winning the gold medal at the 2017 SEA Games that Malaysia will be hosting," he said.

Khairy said though the Malaysian contingent had surpassed the 40-gold medal target set for the Myanmar SEA Games by winning 43 gold, 38 silver and 75 bronze medals, in reality though Malaysia finished in fifth place behind perennial powerhouse Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia.

The Sports Minister also applauded the success of the back up squad athletes who managed to win nine gold, four silver and 12 bronze medals, the highest in the history of their participation in the games.

"I have asked the NSC to increase the number of programmes involving back up squad athletes so that we need not be burdened to look for replacement when elite athletes are not available or when they decide to retire," he said. — Bernama

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Limbang celebrates homecoming of football heroes

Posted: 23 Dec 2013 02:42 PM PST

by Salena Pail, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on December 24, 2013, Tuesday

LIMBANG: Limbang's string of five wins in a row and lifting the Sarawak Isuzu-FAS Under-19 Cup is proof of the talent of their young players.

This was the statement made by Limbang Football Association (LFA) chairman Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail yesterday.

He added that the success reflected the hard work and mission of LFA to produce footballers with the potential to represent the state and nation in the future.

He also commended his players for their high level of commitment, discipline and sportsmanship which contributed to Limbang winning the state title for the first time in history.

"The championship achieved today is not achievable in a blink of eye, but it took continuous effort through intensive training for the past five years," he continued.

Dr Rahman who is also Bukit Kota assemblyman, hoped that Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) would continuously monitor talented players from the division who have the potential to be upgraded to a higher level.

LFA vice-chairman Bulhaji Wahab reminded the players not to be carried away with the victory but to continue their hard work and effort.

The team took home the cash prize of RM3,000 and the challenge trophy.

One of their key players Eric Lanjap was adjudged as the best player of the tournament.

The Isuzu-FAS Cup, which was participated by a total of seven teams from various divisions in the state, was hosted by Kota Samarahan and held from Dec 15-21.

Meanwhile, the return of the players to the district was celebrated with a luncheon ceremony here yesterday.

The ceremony was also attended by Limbang Referee chairman Affzuandi Musiv and Limbang coach Hanapie Majini.

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Sporting success and controversies headline Malaysian sports

Posted: 23 Dec 2013 02:39 PM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Sporting success and controversies headlined 2013 as an eventful year for Malaysian sports as the local sporting calendar comes to a close with the conclusion of the Myanmar SEA Games.

After 18 days of competition, Malaysia ended their campaign in Myanmar with 43 gold, 38 silver, 76 bronze to finish fifth overall compared to the fourth placing in 2011 with 59 gold, 50 silver, 82 bronze won in Indonesia.

Squash queen Datuk Nicol David and shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei continued to provide the sparks that ignited the country's success in the international arena throughout the year.

Nicol, the seven-time world champion had started year 2013 at the wrong end after suffering two defeats, namely in the Cleveland Classic (Feb 5) and British Open (May 26) but bounced back to capture five titles in a row to establish herself as the darling of the sport.

The 30-year-old won five World Squash Association (WSA) titles clinching the Malaysian Open (Sept 15), Carol Weymuller Open (Oct 6), United States Open (Oct 18), China Open (Oct 27) and Hong Kong Open (Dec 8).

Chong Wei, the world number one became the first player to win the BWF World Superseries Finals for four consecutive years and added the South Korea Open, Malaysian Open, Indian Open, Indonesian Open, Japan Open and Hong Kong Open to his array of titles.

Just like success in sports competed by normal athletes, there was also success in paralympic sports when Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli brought home the gold medal from the F20 category (intellectually disabled) shot putt at the IPC World Athletics Championships in Lyon, France.

His success also brought about a transformation in the handing out of incentives under the National Sports Council (NSC) incentive scheme albeit his historical gold medal winning feat.

The 23-year-old became the first disabled athlete to enjoy the same amount of reward received by able-bodied athlete, following the announcement of the new scheme by the Sports Ministry on Aug 1.

Ziyad won gold with a throw of 15.32m – beating his personal best of 15.12m which earned him bronze at the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

The National Junior hockey's squad's fourth place finish at the Junior World Cup Hockey championship in New Delhi, India is a not he r feat worth mentioning along the lines of international success.

Coached by Muhammad Dharma Raj Abdullah, the squad went on to match the success of the 1979, 1982 and 1985 teams, and in the process surpass the top six target set by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC).

Success aside, the local sporting scene was not without its internal conflicts, controversies and drama, especially on and off the football field.

The appointment of suspended Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Tan Sri Annuar Musa in the National Football Development Plan (NFDP) by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, kicked up a fuss around the FAM corridors.

The FAM's cont ent ion was that since Annuar was suspended by the FAM earlier, the national body would not at tend any meetings called by the panel if Annuar was in the committee.

Annuar who is also the Kelantan Football Association advisor has since resigned from the committee and all other posts in football associations.

The FAM was also in the headlines again when the national body said it would not renew the services of its once revered coach Datuk K Rajagobal when his contract expires on Dec 31, apparently for the failure of the National squad to qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup.

Current Harimau Muda (National U-23) coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee will step into his shoes, temporarily, so says the FAM but whether he too will remain in the FAM's payroll remains a question when the National team, as the defending champion, returned home empty handed from the 27th Myanmar SEA Games.

The overall results of the Malaysian contingent to the Myanmar SEA Games was also below excellence after finishing fifth overall with 43 gold medals behind Thai land, Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Just like previous SEA Games, the sepak takraw team dished out a dismal performance to say the least, even losing to Laos in the process (men's doubles), prompting Khairy to call for a post-mortem. — Bernama

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Armstrong admission overshadows Froome dominance

Posted: 23 Dec 2013 02:32 PM PST

PARIS: Almost every year cycling reaches peak interest at the end of July with the culmination of the Tour de France, but 2013 was the year in which Lance Armstrong ensured mid-January saw the sport's defining moment.

Armstrong took to the US airwaves to finally admit what everyone already knew, that he had been a drugs cheat throughout his career.

Accepting an invitation from the queen of chat-show hosts Oprah Winfrey, whose inexperience as an investigative reporter – or perhaps due to contractual obligations – made for a rather shallow and unrevealing admission, Armstrong began the quest to rebuild his reputation by coming clean.

He admitted to have taken doping products, notably the blood-booster EPO, throughout all seven of his record number of Tour de France successes, of which he had already been stripped by the US Anti-Doping agency (USADA).

But he stopped a long way short of lifting the lid on the hows, whys and who were involveds of his sordid past, leaving many viewers feeling a sense of frustration at having been told no more than was already widely suspected.

But the end of that long-running saga, which had seen Armstrong relentlessly pursued by journalists aiming to uncover his dodgy dealings throughout his career, and then by a subsequent federal inquiry followed by a USADA investigation, promised to cast a shadow over the entire season.

And so it proved as Briton Chris Froome's excellence and domination of the greatest race of them all was accompanied by a steady stream of unsavoury speculation.

Time and again Froome was forced to answer questions about doping, about whether he was involved and about whether cycling could emerge from its tainted past into a bright new, and clean, future.

Froome himself was majestic, winning the Grand Boucle by more than four minutes from talented Colombian climber Nairo Quintana.

And he also did so without the dominance from Team Sky that his teammate and predecessor Bradley Wiggins had enjoyed the previous year.

He had crashed in the neutral zone on the very first stage in Corsica, effectively lost two team-mates to crashes early on in the race and was left isolated on stage nine, the day after his imperious victory up Ax 3 Domaines had put him in yellow.

Only gritty determination ensured he lost no time to the relentless attacks launched by a particularly sprightly Movistar team, whose leader Alejandro Valverde would eventually be eclipsed by younger statesman Quintana.

Froome's super-domestique Richie Porte had cracked that day but he came back to form in the final week to help his leader extend his lead with victory on Mont Ventoux.

It capped a fine year for Froome in which he won the Tour of Oman, Criterium International, Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine, while finishing second in the Tirreno-Adriatico.

It was a polar opposite year for Wiggins, who had decided to take on the Giro d'Italia only to be forced to withdraw after stage 12 following a miserable race in which a crash and puncture had lost him time before he then lost his bottle on wet descents and eventually caught a cold to boot.

He pulled out of his Tour de France defence due to injury and refocussed on the World Championships time-trial, but although he was dominant in that discipline the previous year, winning Olympic gold, this time he finished second to Tony Martin, who won for the third year in a row.

There was a shock in the road race in dire conditions with Rui Costa, of Movistar, triumphing ahead of a tearful Joaquim Rodriguez.

Vincenzo Nibali won the Giro d'Italia on home soil but came up short in his quest for a second Vuelta a Espana when American veteran Chris Horner, at the age of 41, stunned the whole field in achieving the greatest result of his life.For Rodriguez, who finished third at the Tour and fourth in the Vuelta, there was the consolation of finishing top of the overall UCI World Tour standings. — AFP

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