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Nine teams vie for lion dance honours BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Nine teams vie for lion dance honours

Posted: 14 Dec 2013 02:31 PM PST

KUCHING: Muslim girls should not shy away from tough sports like Wushu.

They should emulate Yong Arifah who won a gold medal in Taiji Quan in the Malaysia Education Ministry's National Junior Wushu Championship 2013.

The call was made by Welfare, Women and Family Development minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah at the opening of the 1st Sarawak Lion Dance Championship 2013 on Friday night.

Fatimah also congratulated the Wushu, Lion and Dragon Dance Federation for successfully hosting the event.

The two-day championship will see nine teams battling it out to be the best performer. They are Bintulu Tua Pek Kong Followers Society, Sarawak Tong Wei Unicorn Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe B, Hoo Poo Miaw Jar Longshi Association, Kuching Hong Yang Dragon and Lion Dance Association, Kuching Highlian Lion Dance Troupe, Taijiquan Association of Kuching, Sarawak Tong Wei Unicorn Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe A, Che Chuan Khor Moral Uplifting Society Dragon and Lion Dance and Dragon and Lion Dance Association Kota Sentosa, Kuching.

According to the organising chairman Dato Seri Charles Voon, the event also aimed to promote tourism in Sarawak through culture and unity and to exchange ideas or skills among participants.

He added that Chinese lion dance is a tradition which is believed to be auspicious and is a symbol of good luck. Today, it is performed everywhere and considered as a multi-cultural activity in Malaysia.

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Sarawak confident of 3 gold for Petanque at Sukma 2014

Posted: 14 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST

by Anthony Aga. Posted on December 15, 2013, Sunday

SARATOK: Sarawak Petanque Association (Pepsar) is optimistic about achieving its target of at least three gold medals for next year's Sukma (Malaysia Games) to be held in Perlis.

"Our medal prospects are in the men's and women's team, doubles and shooting events, and the men's triple and women's singles," said Pepsar president Janudin Abdul Rahman at the closing ceremony of Petanque Sukma Squad selection session at Sri Krian community hall here last Friday.

A total of 11 male and 11 female players have been picked to take up the state's challenge at Sukma 2014.

The men selected are Eirwan Junaidi, Ezrihafizurahman Razali, Mohamad Zafari Merais, Muhammed Ezzaimel Abdullah, Sesmond Mancha Ngipa Lambat, Muhamad Ariff Mahmud, Faizul Pa'ie, Abang Muhammad Izzuddin Abang Misbahhuddin, Muhammad Saifullah Bustaman, Isma Azad Rusili and Arash Syah Rusili.

The shortlisted women are Siti Mazieana Zaidi, Safinaz Abu Baka, Nur Athirah Nabilah Abu Bakar, Salus Zaini, Nur Durratul Hikmah Yazit, Irene Charles, Siti Khairunnaimah Bujang, Nur Nabila Shahida Basri, Siti Nur Hardierah Johar, Nazatul Maziah Suhaidi and Caroline Viana Desa.

Appointed as team officials are Abang Shamshudin Abang Ahmad (manager), Muhamad Fuad Agustine Abdullah (assistant manager), Mohd Hamidi Mustapa (head coach),Yazit Belon (men's coach) and Dayang Badariyah Abang Yaakub (women's coach).

As preparation for Sukma, the state squad will participate in several tournaments including Sri Santubong championship this month and April next year, and a tournament in Malacca next month. They will also join the national team's centralized training preparing for a championship in Thailand in February next year.

Meanwhile Kalaka state assemblyman Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz, who was guest of honour at the ceremony, thanked Pepsar for choosing Saratok as the venue to select the state players.

" I am most glad to note that several local players had been selected to represent the state," he said.

As a gesture of support, he contributed RM5,000 to Pepsar and a similar amount to Saratok Petanque Association.

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Thunder thump depleted Lakers

Posted: 14 Dec 2013 02:25 PM PST

OKLAHOMA CITY: The return of Kobe Bryant hasn't proved a panacea for the Los Angeles Lakers, who were thumped 122-97 by NBA Western Conference rivals Oklahoma City on Friday.

Kevin Durant scored a game-high 31 points and added eight rebounds and five assists for the Thunder, who have won all 11 of their home games this season.

Serge Ibaka and Russell Westbrook both had double-doubles. Ibaka scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Westbrook scored 19 points and delivered 12 assists.

Reggie Jackson chipped in 19 points off the bench for the Thunder, who notched their 13th victory in their last 14 games.

The Lakers, meanwhile, fell to 0-3 since Bryant returned last week for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon in April. Bryant finished with 13 assists, but turned the ball over seven times and scored just four points in just over 23 minutes.

Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said it would take time for Bryant to find his top form, and to balance his duties as scoring threat with those of a point guard keeping the Lakers offense going.

Bryant has inherited the latter role with all three of the Lakers' true point guards – Steve Nash, Jordan Farmar and Steve Blake – on the injured list.

"He's got to do both," D'Antoni said of Bryant's dual role as scorer and distributor. "And he knows that. He'll get better every game, I think he's gotten better every game."

D'Antoni also praised big man Pau Gasol, whose publicly expressed concerns about his role in the offense were greeted this week by an admonition from D'Antoni just to "play harder."

"I thought Pau played well tonight," D'Antoni said of the Spaniard, who scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. "He was aggressive, which we have to have."

Nick Young drained four three-pointers en route to a team-high 17 points for the Lakers, who have allowed 100 or more points in six straight games.

Defensively, D'Antoni said, his team needs to be "tougher, saltier, grittier."

A fast-break layup by Bryant brought the Lakers within 25-20 with just under four minutes left in the first quarter. However, a four-point play from Durant highlighted an 11-2 Thunder run that gave the hosts a 14-point cushion.

Oklahoma City's 38 first-quarter points were the team's most in any quarter this season.

The Thunder led 66-51 at halftime and 94-74 going into the fourth. "They're a good team and they just beat us," D'Antoni said. — AFP

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M’sian women hockey squad set world record in Myanmar

Posted: 14 Dec 2013 02:21 PM PST

YANGON: Malaysia has created a world record in hockey when the national women's hockey squad thrashed Cambodia 36-0 in a second preliminary SEA Games match in Myanmar here yesterady.

The national squad scored a goal at an average of two minutes, with 18 goals in the first half and another 18 goals in the second half in the 70-minute match.

Earlier the record for the most number of goals scored was held by Argentina when they defeated Peru 26-0 in the South American Women Hockey Championships in Santiago, Chile on March 23, 2003.

On Friday, Thailand equalised the record when they beat Cambodia 26-0.

In the match at the Theinphyu Hockey Stadium, Noor Hasliza Md Ali emerged as the best scorer with six goals in the 14th, 25th, 42nd, 43rd, 62nd and 64th minutes while Nuraini Abdul Rashid netted five goals (4th, 5th, 39th, 56th and 67th minutes).

Fazillah Sylbester Silin also contributed five goals in the 15th, 31st, 35th, 55th and 60th minute while Nobaili Hashim scored four goals in the 16th, 30th, 39th and 65th minute.

Norazlin Sumantri slotted in four goals in the 12th, 21st, 25th and 60th while skipper Nadia Abd Rahman scored two goals in the 5th and 51st, Norhidayah Bokhari (21st and 28th); Rabiatul Adawiyah Mohamed (40th and 55th).

The other five goals came from Norashikin Halim who scored in the 46th minute, Nurul Nabila Mansur in the 23rd minute, Raja Norsharina Raja Shabuddin in the 18th minute, Siti Nuramira Rohani in the 70th minute and Surizan Awang Noh in the 52nd minute. A Cambodian player also scored an own goal to put Malaysia 36 goals up.

National coach Mohd Nasihin Nublin Ibrahim said the mega win was shocking and the best warm-up before facing Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia in the subsequent matches.

"I expected the squad to win but not with such a massive scoreline and the players have to maintain their form for the remaining matches.

Malaysia will next meet Singapore tomorrow, Thailand on Tuesday and Indonesia on Thursday. — Bernama

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‘Unfair’ if Ronaldo denied Ballon d’Or — Real

Posted: 14 Dec 2013 02:04 PM PST

MADRID: Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said Friday it would be unfair if star striker Cristiano Ronaldo failed to win the Ballon d'Or for World Footballer of the Year in 2013.

"I am convinced he will win because it would be an injustice if he didn't when everyone knows he's the best player in the world," the Real president told reporters during annual Christmas drinks with the media.

Ronaldo has been shortlisted alongside Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich's French winger Franck Ribery for the Ballon d'Or, which is to be presented in Zurich on Jan 13.  The Portuguese won the award in 2008 but he has had to watch it being handed over to Argentine archrival Messi in every year since.

This year, the injury-hit Messi seems to be less of a favourite while Ronaldo has been dazzling on the pitch. On Tuesday, he became the first player to score nine goals in the group stages of the Champions League as Real won 2-0 away at FC Copenhagen.

Nevertheless, the 28-year-old striker was clearly upset by recent comments by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who described Ronaldo as a "commander" and mocked his demeanour on the field. Blatter also said he personally preferred Messi as a player.  Questioned by reporters, Ronaldo later refused even to confirm he would attend the Ballon d'Or ceremony this year.

But Real's chief was confident the player would turn up. "Until now he has always gone to the awards," Perez said.

The club president said he hoped Real would win their longed-for 10th Champions League trophy. "It would be a gift for all our fans, especially for our members," he said.

Perez added he and coach Carlo Ancelotti are hoping Xabi Alonso will extend his contract, which expires next summer. "He knows we would be delighted if he carries on with us next season," said Perez.  The Real chief said he had not heard anything from club officials of a possible departure by Argentine international Angel Di Maria, who has lost his starting place in the team.

"I asked and they told me no-one had approached the club," Perez said. — AFP

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Muay Thai has potential to create champions

Posted: 13 Dec 2013 08:52 AM PST

KUCHING: Ministry of Social Development (KPS) will continue to support the development of Muay Thai kick boxing in the state to promote healthy lifestyle among the public especially youths.

The ministry's permanent secretary Affandi Keli said Muay Thai is fast gaining popularity among the younger generation and there is potential for the sport to produce national and international exponents.

"We will fully support activities and tournaments involving Muay Thai in the state. What we need to do is to get cooperation from all those interested to further develop the sport in the state.

" We would like to see our kick boxers compete at international arena," he told a press conference at his office in Masja complex in Petra Jaya her yesterday.

He also disclosed that an international tournament will be held here next year in view of the popularity of the sport in the region.

"Nowadays sports is not only a platform to foster closer relationships and unity but also seen by many as an industry with various economic and tourism potentials," he pointed out.

On another note, the Saratok Muay Thai Competition is to be held tomorrow at the indoor Futsal Lakis Saratok Hall from 9am to 5pm and it is offering the Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom challenge trophy.

Kelab Muaythai SS Fighters, Kelab Muaythai Bintawa (TMG), Kelab Muaythai Lundu and Kelab Muaythai KPS are sending their top kick boxers in the event which is also being held in conjunction with Christmas celebration in Saratok.

The opening ceremony will be graced by political secretary to the Chief Minister, Peter Howell Jilan who is representing Social Development Minister and Saratok MP, Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom.

Kelab Muaythai Lempong and Kelab Muaythai Kenyalang will also be participating in another series of the tournament to be organised by KPS in collaboration with Kuching Muaythai Association.

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