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World Cup draw 2014: Spain kick off with Dutch rematch, England handed tough BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

World Cup draw 2014: Spain kick off with Dutch rematch, England handed tough

Posted: 06 Dec 2013 11:10 AM PST

COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil: Reigning champions Spain will begin their defence of the World Cup with a rematch of the 2010 final against the Netherlands in Salvador on June 12 next year after the finals draw was made on Friday.

Spain, who beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the final in South Africa thanks to  a solitary extra-time goal by Andres Iniesta, were also handed a repeat meeting  with Chile, having defeated the South Americans in the group stage last time  around.

Australia complete the line-up in a tough-looking Group B, but there were  arguably even tougher draws elsewhere.

England find themselves in Group D along with Uruguay, Costa Rica and Italy.

A meeting with Uruguay, the 2011 Copa America winners and semi-finalists at  the last World Cup promises to be a hard enough test for England in their  second match in Sao Paulo on June 19.

However, before that they must face Italy in their opening game in the heat  of northern city Manaus on June 15 in a repeat of the Euro 2012 quarter-final,  which Italy won on penalties.

Germany and Portugal were drawn together in a testing Group G that also  included Ghana and the United States.

The two European nations will meet in their first match in Salvador on June  16.

The draw was kinder to host nation Brazil, however, as they seek to make up  for their failure to lift the trophy when they last hosted the finals back in  1950.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's side will face Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon in Group  A, with their opening match against the Croatians in Sao Paulo in June 12.

That will be the first game of the month-long competition, which will also  see Argentina take on Iran, Nigeria and the only tournament debutants,  Bosnia-Herzegovina, in Group F.

After scraping through qualifying via a play-off, France were drawn in  Group E with neighbours Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras.

Colombia will face Greece, the Ivory Coast and Japan in Group C, while  Belgium, another of the potential dark horses, will meet Algeria, Russia and  South Korea in Group H. -AFP

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Not bad for beginnersChinlone squad ends campaign with six bronze medals

Posted: 06 Dec 2013 10:09 AM PST

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar: The National Chinlone squad ended its Myanmar SEA Games campaign by winning another two bronze medals yesterday at the Wunna Theikdi C Indoor Stadium.

The two bronze medals won by the men's and women's teams that competed in the Chinlone Level 1 competitions yesterday, raised Malaysia's bronze medal tally in the sport to six.

The gold and silver medal playoff in the men's Level 1 competition will feature host country Myanmar and Cambodia while the women's event will see Myanmar take on Laos.

In the men's event, Malaysia and Singapore were awarded the bronze medals as losing semifinalists while Malaysia and Cambodia shared the bronze medal in the women's event.

Malaysian Sepak Takraw Association (PSM) deputy president Tengku Adnan Tengku Burhanudin said winning six bronze medals was indeed a commendable success considering the Malaysian players had only trained for about a month.

"The sport is new to Malaysia and we do not have specific players for Chinlone.

"However, the players showed good determination and skills to win bronze medals in every competition," he said.

The sport is popular in Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos, he said. — Bernama

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Sarawak Bumiputera badminton tournament on Dec 20

Posted: 06 Dec 2013 10:08 AM PST

SIBU: The Thumbs Up and Mael Tree will jointly organise the 'Sarawak Closed Bumiputera Team Thumbs Up – Mael Tree Badminton Championship / Kawasaki Badminton Bumiputera Challenge Cup 2013' at Thumb's Up Badminton on Dec 20-22.

According to the organising committee spokesman, Adli Ali Akebar the event is open to Bumiputra players only and the closing date is Dec 16 with the entry fee is RM150 per team.

The champion will take home RM2,000 plus the challenge trophy, an outright trophy and medals while the first runner-up will receive RM1,200 plus a trophy and medals.

For the second runner-up, they will receive RM800 plus a trophy and medals.

The prize giving will be held on Dec 22 and those interested can contact Adli at 0145795488 or 0198878067 for entry forms.

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DBR FC – Kampung Senari football friendly

Posted: 06 Dec 2013 10:07 AM PST

KUCHING: Kampung Senari narrowly defeated Damai Beach Resort (DBR) FC 3 – 2 in their friendly football match held at Stadium C, Petra Jaya recently.

Both teams were held to a 2 – 2 draw in the first half and played defensively after the breather with the soggy pitch giving the players a hard time to outrun their opponents.

Prior to the kick off, DBR general manager Zulkifli Othman disclosed the friendly game was part of the resort's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme and was aimed to foster cordial relations with the kampong folks.

"It was a good match and the players from both teams had enjoyed showcasing their hidden talents on the pitch," he said on the inaugural event which may be made into an annual affair.

Plans are in the pipeline for the resort to organise other sporting events for the kampung folks within Damai.

For their victory, Kampung Senari players walked home with RM500 cash while DBR FC which comprised of staff members from the resort, received RM300.

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Wong sole M’sian winner in Kids Golf World Championships Malaysia

Posted: 06 Dec 2013 10:06 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Nine year-old Jeneath Wong was the sole Malaysian winner in the Kids Golf World Championship Malaysia which ended here on Thursday.

Jeneath Wong captured the Girl's 9-year category at the tournament where juniors from 19 countries competed in 15 age group categories for Boys and Girls at the Pulai Springs Resort and the Palm Resort Golf & Country Club in Johor.

The Girl's 9-year category, which was played over 9 holes each day, saw Wong carding a score of 124 to defeat Annyka Chanel Cayabyab of the Philippines (127) and another Malaysian Sarah Madzri who also had 127 on the score card.

Muhammad Afif Mohd Fathi, who was in the lead in the Boy's 13-14 years category in the first two days lost by one stroke to Myanmar's Phone Pyae Chan Han who shot a 223 over three days.

Zulaikhaa Shaari who led the Girl's 13-14 age group over two days faltered with a 78 on the last day for a total score of 228 to gain second place behind Mikhaela Fortuna of the Philippines who scored 226 while Rivani Adelia Sihotang of Indonesia (233) finished third.

In the Boy's 12-year category, two local boys K Rhaasrikanesh (224) and Tee Jia Jin (228) finished second and third behind Jin Bo of China (218) while in the Girl's 12-year category Malaysia's Ally Yee ended second (250) edging compatriot Liyana Durisic on countback in the category won by Sitanun Jonglikit of Thailand with a score of (230).

The two Malaysian juniors who finished third in their respective age groups were Anson Yeo Bon Xiang (Boy's 5-7 years) and Marcus Lim Pang Chuen (Boy's 11 years).

Thailand players won the lions share of prizes by capturing seven of the 15 categories as Rapeepong Kosalutta (5-7 years), Pongsapak Laopakdee (8 years), Tanakrit Rattanadilok (10 years), Vanchai Luangnitikul (11 years) and Arthitayapong Sripatrprasite (15-18 age group) won titles in the Boy's category.

The Thai winners in the Girl's categories were Phitchanaj Phongthammarug (5-8 years) and Sitanun Jonglikit (12 years).

China's Jin Jiarui won the Girl's 10-year category while two Filipino girls Pauline Del Rosario (15-18 years) and Bernice Olivarez-Ilas (11 years) won their respective categories. The Boys' 9-year category was won by South Africa's Amilkar Bhana.

The championships offered world amateur ranking points for the players who finished among the top in their respective age groups and the prizes were presented by Chris Vonderkall, vice-president of US Kids Golf and C.C. Boo, the chairman of the Malaysian Golf Association's Rules Committee.

The tournament was presented by the US Kids Golf in partnership with the Royal Sporting House (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and managed by Concept Collaboration Sdn Bhd.

The championships was also sanctioned by the Malaysian Golf Association and supported by Malaysia Major Events, a division of the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau, an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. — Bernama

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Moyes demands response from slumping United

Posted: 06 Dec 2013 10:05 AM PST

LONDON: David Moyes has demanded Manchester United stop their season from spiralling out of control when the struggling champions face Newcastle today.

United manager Moyes endured a dispiriting evening at Old Trafford on Wednesday as his former club Everton stole a 1-0 victory thanks to a late goal from Bryan Oviedo.

The shock defeat left Moyes' men languishing in ninth place in the Premier League and trailing leaders Arsenal by 12 points.

It was the latest setback in a troubled start to Moyes' reign following his appointment as Alex Ferguson's successor and left their hopes of retaining the title hanging by a slender thread.

United have already lost four times in the league this term after losing just five matches in the entire 38-game campaign last season, prompting some critics to claim the Scot is out of his depth at Old Trafford.

But Moyes remains convinced United can salvage a traumatic campaign if they get back on track quickly.

"I am really disappointed, but we go again, keep going and move on to the next game," Moyes told MUTV.

"That is the good thing here, there are always more games. We just didn't reach the standards we would have hoped to (against Everton), but we have a chance to go again."

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew believes Moyes will get it right eventually, but he knows the intense pressure on United could help the Magpies when they visit Manchester today.

"I think everybody knew that the first person to follow Alex, it was going to be very, very difficult," Pardew said.

"But he's a strong man and I think he can handle it, and there's a long, long way to go.

"There's going to be a little bit of pressure on them and we have got to try to capitalise on that and make it difficult for them."

United's struggles have added to the growing sense that Arsenal's surge to the top of the table could be the prelude to a first English title for the Gunners since 2004.

Arsene Wenger's side, 2-0 winners over Hull in midweek, are four points clear of second placed Chelsea.

They face a tough test against United's conquerers Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, but Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta is confident the Gunners' superb run of form has given them the belief they can last the pace.

"The difference to previous years is we are top of the league when by now we would be 10 or 12 points behind whoever was first before," he said.

"The confidence and atmosphere is different and we want to maintain that.

"Does it matter we don't have the experience of winning the title before? No – as long as you have the quality, the ambition and togetherness that we have, I think we are in a good position to do it."

Chelsea travel to Stoke, with Frank Lampard warning his team-mates not to get complacent after back to back victories over Southampton and Sunderland.

Lampard, a scorer in the 4-3 midweek win at Sunderland, is pleased with Chelsea's improvement after a rocky patch but he said: "A lot of that is attitude and focus. We have got the squad, we have got the players, but we have to get ourselves up for every game.

"If we go up to Stoke with the wrong attitude we won't win, so it's up to us."

Manchester City, six points behind Arsenal in third place, travel to Southampton, who have slipped to eighth after three successive defeats.

City captain Vincent Kompany is hopeful a win at St Mary's will signal the start of a charge for the title from the 2012 champions.

"Now we go to Southampton and if we beat them then all of a sudden we've a lot of things in our hands again," Kompany said.

Fourth placed Liverpool, who host West Ham, look a strong contender to qualify for the Champions League after demolishing Norwich 5-1 in midweek and Reds midfielder Joe Allen admits the scintillating form of Luis Suarez holds the key to their challenge.

Uruguay forward Suarez scored four times against Norwich and Allen said: "That was a masterclass.

"There are not many teams in the world who would be able to cope with that kind of performance." — AFP

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