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Malaysia still among the best in South East Asia — Subahan BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Malaysia still among the best in South East Asia — Subahan

Posted: 04 Jan 2014 08:15 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: The Harimau Malaya squad is among the best in South East Asia as it still has the chance to qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia.

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) vice-president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal denied the country's football standard has dropped lower than other countries in this region.

"Malaysia still has the chance to become the only country from South East Asia to qualify for the Asian Cup. Although qualification will depend on the Iraq result, we will go for a win against Yemen," he told reporters after the launch of FIFA World Cup trophy tour at Putra World Trade Centre, yesterday.

Malaysia is scheduled to face Yemen on March 5 in Dubai, the final match before the Asian Cup tournament starts on January 4, 2015.

He said 2014 will be a busy year for the Harimau Malaya and Harimau Muda squads with various international competitions and friendly matches.

They include the AFF Cup at year end and the match against Singapore to mark the opening of a new stadium there in May.

Subahan said FAM has shortlisted five coaches, to replace Datuk K. Rajagobal whose contract as national coach expired on Dec 31.

The coaches comprising three foreigners and two locals are being scrutinised by FAM president Sultan Ahmad Shah and the executive council members.

He said Harimau Malaya temporary coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee still has a role to play even after the new coach was appointed.

"Kim Swee can still give input on the players, especially those from the Harimau Muda squad," he added. — Bernama

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Audrey Chan gets national wushu call-up

Posted: 04 Jan 2014 08:15 AM PST

KUCHING: Sarawak's rising wushu star Audrey Chan Yee Jo has taken another big step in her career by joining the national back-up squad on Wednesday.

The 16-year-old from SMK Jalan Arang Kuching will report to Bukit Jalil Sports School today and start school tomorrow.

Audrey got the national call-up from the National Sports Council in early December following the recommendation from the Wushu Federation of Malaysia.

She was selected based on her good achievements in Sukma and the national wushu championship.

"I am very excited and happy that I have been called up to join the national back-up squad," she said when met recently at the state elite wushu training centre at Kota Sentosa Sports Centre at Jalan Stakan.

Audrey said it had taken her about a week to make her final decision after seeking opinion from her friends, relatives and mentor Ling Ung Hee, who is MSNS Centre of Excellence for Wushu, Kuching coach.

"My parents also supported my decision and I am very grateful for their support and understanding," she added. While at Bukit Jalil, Audrey will be leading a new life to cope with her studies and training. "It will be a different life for me in Kuala Lumpur where I have to look after myself and be independent," she said.

Audrey took up wushu when she was only six years old and trained under Ling before she was roped into the state wushu squad for Sukma and other national championships.

A consistent performer in the Sarawak Wushu Championship and national competitions, Audrey's string of achievements include taijiquan, taijijian golds at National Day Martial Arts Championship from 2008 to 2010, taijiquan gold and taijijian silver at the National Junior Wushu Championship in 2008, taijiquan silver, taijijian bronze at the MSSM Wushu Championship in 2010, taijiquan bronze and taijijian bronze at Asian Junior Wushu Championship in 2011, taijiquan bronze and taijijian silver in the National Wushu Championship in 2011.

At Sukma Pahang in 2012, Audrey captured a bronze in taijiquan and last year at the National Wushu Championship, she bagged the silver in taijijian.

While with the national team, Audrey will stand the chance of representing Malaysia at the 12th World Junior Wushu Championship in Turkey and the 17th Asian Games in South Korea this year.

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Six-month delay in completion of Sibu Volleyball Stadium

Posted: 04 Jan 2014 08:12 AM PST

SIBU: Shortage of manpower has inadvertently caused another six-month delay in the completion of the RM10-million Sibu Prudential Volleyball Association Stadium at Rejang Park housing estate here.

Initially due for completion in Dec 2013, the stadium is now expected to be ready by June 30 this year.

Sibu Volleyball Association (SVA) President Dr William Ting Wei Ung could only wait patiently as he provided an update on the project.

Ting said the main portion that remained uncompleted was the laying of the high-tech rubberized flooring on the surface of the volleyball court.

"The laying of the high-tech rubberized flooring materials imported from Germany is in compliance with international standards and we want all our guests to know that our volleyball stadium is one of the best equipped and furnished in the country."

Only the fourth floor of the four-storey administrative block is awaiting final completion.

Ting reiterated that the stadium would eventually be a Sibu landmark and the people of Sibu ought to be proud for being part of it.

He recalled the tireless contribution of the top SVA leadership in sourcing funds and the venue for the stadium.

Prudential Assurance Malaysia Bhd (PAM) came into the picture when it pledged a contribution of RM3 million towards the cost of the stadium.

Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, speaking during the earth-breaking ceremony in 2011, also promised to play his part.

"Of course, there are still lots of enthusiastic volleyball supporters out there who had poured in their help in one way of another and, all the same, we are grateful to them for their immense contribution towards SVA," Ting added.

When fully completed, the 4-storey building, which includes the adminstrative block, a gym and a canteen, will be the country's only volleyball stadium with the state-of-the-art facilities with a seating capacity for 3,000 to 5,000 people.

SVA also plans to host major volleyball tournaments, including international competition, in the stadium to generate more interest in the game. It will also be the training ground for local players.

Ting said Sarawak's endeavour to push volleyball standards to greater heights was the envy of other states, so much so that the existing Rejang Park Volleyball Court was recently picked as a training ground for the national women's team who took part in the 2013 Myamnar SEA Games.

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Revolving point guard door again turns for injury-hit Lakers

Posted: 04 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

JUST when the Los Angeles Lakers thought their injury problems could not worsen, they were preparing to face the Utah Jazz with a player who was competing in the NBA Development League only two weeks ago.

Eight players have so far missed games due to injury during a nightmare 2013-14 season for the Lakers and their revolving door of point guards has turned out a sixth starter in that position with Kendall Marshall suiting up against the Jazz on Friday.

Marshall, 22, was acquired by the D-League's Delaware 87ers on Dec 3 before being signed up by the Lakers just 17 days later as their casualty list deepened.

"Stuff is happening pretty fast," Marshall, who is averaging 5.3 points and 2.5 assists in four games as a bench player for Los Angeles, told reporters after learning he would start against the Jazz.

"It's unfortunate with some of the injuries that we're having, but it's up to us collectively as a team to kind of figure it out. I just have to take advantage of it and try to help the team."

Marshall, the 13th overall pick by the Phoenix Suns in the 2012 draft, becomes the Lakers point guard following a rash of injuries to Steve Nash, Steve Blake, Kobe Bryant, Jordan Farmar and Xavier Henry.

Nash has nerve damage in his back, Blake a torn ligament in his right elbow, Bryant and Henry have knee injuries and Farmar a torn hamstring.

The almost unbelievable casualty rate has raised suspicions of a possible jinx, prompting shooting guard Jody Meeks to avoid using the words 'point guard'.

"It seems like they (the point guards) always get hurt, so I say 'decision-maker' instead," smiled Meeks, who is expected to be Marshall's backup.

"But no matter who it is or what it's called, the Lakers need hustle and effort there, and in every other position. The one thing we can control is our effort, and we have to do that."

The (13-19) Lakers will be bidding to snap a six-game losing streak when they host the Jazz and their coach Mike D'Antoni has been hammering home the need for a fighting spirit.

"We're going to do everything we can to win every game and every second," said D'Antoni. "That's our mindset and that's what it has to be.

"It's just hard to sustain it (effort) sometimes because your confidence is shaken, you don't have the swagger we had. You can't control other things like injuries. Our job is to win. We're not doing that right now and it needs to start."

Spanish forward Pau Gasol, who has missed three games recently because of an upper respiratory infection, agreed that a collective Lakers surge was urgently required with everything "far from ideal right now".

Gasol said: "It takes a big group effort, really coming in with a special and positive mindset, pulling each other out and helping each other out. Make it hard on the opponents because right now the opponents, they see blood.

"They see a team struggling and they say, 'Let's beat them again, bury them deeper.' We've just got to make sure we let teams know it's not going to be a walk in the park.

"We still have five guys out there on the floor playing basketball. If we play together, we play with intensity and energy, we can make things happen and have good games." — Reuters

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