» »Unlabelled » Red giants eyeing at least two trophies this season BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

15:27:00

Red giants eyeing at least two trophies this season BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Red giants eyeing at least two trophies this season

Posted: 14 Jan 2014 11:18 AM PST

SHAH ALAM: Selangor are eyeing at least two trophies out of the three at stake in their M-League campaign this season, according to FA of Selangor (FAS) president Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Abdul Khalid, who is also Selangor Menteri Besar, said he was confident that the Red Giants now coached by their 90s player Mehmet Durakovic, were up to the task.

"Under Mehmet, the players believe Selangor can relive their glory days," he told a press conference called to unveil the team's new jersey at the SACC Shopping Mall here today.

Meanwhile, Durakovic had this to say: "All I can say is that my players will give full commitment on and off the pitch. We have a young squad and it will take time to gain success.

"I want to bring back Selangor to their old glory days, the passion and also the crowd such as when I played with this team before."

The 48-year Australian who signed a two-year contract with an option for a one-year extension added that hopes were high on him to end the team's three-year barren run.

The three trophies at stake for Selangor are the Super League Cup, Malaysia Cup and FAM Cup.

Team list:

———-

Goalkeepers:Muhammad Syamim Othman, Mohd Hamsani Ahmad, Mohd Farizal Marlias Defenders:Mohd Shazlan Alias, Mohamad Azmi Muslim, Stilianos Pantelidis, Muhammad Shahrom Abd Kalam, Mohd Bunyamin Umar (kapten), Mohd Rizal Fahmi Ab Rosid, P. Rajesh.

Midfielders:Abdul Shukor Jusoh, Junior Aparecido, Mohd Raimi Md Nor, K. Gurusamy,S. Kunalan, S. Veenod, Mohd Fitri Shazwan Raduwan, K. Satish.

Strikers:Andik Vermansah, Paulo Rangel, Ahmad Hazwan Bakri, Abdul Hadi Yahya, Muhammad Afiq Azmi, A. Thamil Arasu. — BERNAMA

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Talk of Sarawakian heading PSM denied

Posted: 14 Jan 2014 10:46 AM PST

by Matthew Umpang, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 15, 2014, Wednesday

KUCHING: The Malaysia Sepaktakraw Association (PSM) is in crisis over the national team's disastrous outing at the recent SEA Games in Myanmar.

The national media reported last week that the National Sports Council and PSM have been working on a revamp of the national governing body for the sport.

PSM's annual general meeting (AGM) is also due this coming June with the election, held every four years, of its office bearers .

There has been speculation on the ground that current PSM vice president Datuk Paruwadi Musa, who is from Sarawak, is a potential candidate for the top post.

No East Malaysian has ever held the presidency of the nation's governing body for sepaktakraw.

After numerous attempts to contact Paruwadi, The Borneo Post was only able to get him to finally break his silence after he was spotted at Kampung Tabuan Melayu here yesterday.

He spoke candidly when asked about reports in the media and speculation of his future role in PSM.

"Although I have ambitions, I'll set the record straight by saying that I have no intention in becoming the president of PSM anytime soon.

"All that is in my mind now is the development of sepaktakraw in Sarawak and Malaysia and I will do all the best I can to ensure that sepaktakraw moves forward," he said.

He also denied speculation that he could be appointed as the Federal Territory sepaktakraw president to facilitate nomination for his candidacy as the next PSM president.

"I do not know where the media get all these rumours and speculation from. What is important for now is that PSM stick together as a team in solving our problems," he said.

Yesterday morning, Paruwadi led a local procession to observe the Maulidur Rasul.

Fourteen contingents comprising some 1,000 grassroots leaders and participants from Kampung Tabuan Melayu and adjacent areas, various governmental and non-governamental organisations, and village committees took part in the annual tradition.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

M’sia can achieve 50-gold target in Myanmar — CDM

Posted: 14 Jan 2014 10:45 AM PST

NAYPYITAW: The Malaysian Paralympics contingent can achieve the 50-gold medal target set for the Myanmar Asean Para Games in Naypyitaw from Jan 14 to 20, said Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk M Saravanan.

"Based on the preparations, I am confident our paralympic athletes can achieve the 50-gold target. The athletes are spirited, committed and eager towin medals for the country," he told Bernama after visiting the Myanmar Asean Para Games Athletes Village, here yesterday.

Saravanan who arrived here on Monday, spent about an hour to mingle with the athletes and inspect the facilities at the Games Village.

He was expected to attend the opening ceremony at the Wunna Teikdi Stadium last night.

Saravanan who was impressed with the accommodation and facilities provided by the Naypyitaw Asean Para Games Organising Committee said the organisers had done a good job in ensuring the welfare of athletes was taken care of.

The Asean Para Games in Myanmar will feature 12 sports – athletics, boccia, football (5-a-side, 7-a-side), goalball, powerlifting, archery, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, Chess.

The 151-member Malaysian contingent will be taking part in 205 events, involving 11 of the 12 sports contested, except for sitting volleyball.

The performance of the athletes at the Asean Para Games is expected to be used as a platform to identify athletes for the Asian Para Games and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. — Bernama

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Chong Wei looks to fend off Chen in Malaysia Open

Posted: 14 Jan 2014 10:43 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's top-ranked badminton star Datuk Lee Chong Wei is determined to bounce back on home turf this week after a weekend loss in Korea to hard-charging world number two Chen Long of China.

The Malaysian Open kicks off today with the 31-year-old hometown hero smarting from his loss to Chen on Sunday in the singles final of the Korean Open.

The top two seeds are expected to cruise through their respective halves of the draw in Malaysia and could clash again in the final in Kuala Lumpur.

Chong Wei has dominated world badminton, holding the top ranking nearly uninterrupted since 2008 and winning seven titles last year.

But Chen, 25, is mounting a challenge to the Malaysian two-time Olympic silver medallist, beating Chong Wei in their last four meetings and holding an 8-7 edge in head-to-head competition.

For all his dominance, Chong Wei's career has been defined in part by his struggles against China's Lin Dan, who defeated Chong Wei in the last two Olympic gold-medal matches and the two most recent World Championship finals.

Chen has since emerged as China's strongest men's player, though he has struggled with injuries.

Chong Wei vowed to regroup at home and spend 2014 focusing on the sport's biggest prizes.

Determined to win the Malaysia Open for the 10th time, the Malaysian star said: "Everyone is dangerous."

"What happened in Korea is over. My target is to win 10 times. I know I am the hunted.

"That is why I can't just think of Chen Long. Everyone is dangerous," he told reporters Tuesday.

Chong Wei had earlier said that he will adopt a calm and cool strategy to win tournaments this year.

"I will turn my attention to the Malaysia Open and then take it a little easy. I will plan my tournaments carefully this year as there are many big tournaments," Chong Wei said.

"My target for 2014 will be the All England and of course the World Championships."

The prestigious All-England championships take place in March, while the worlds are in August.

The women's singles competition, meanwhile, is a more open race among five key contenders.

From China, they include Olympic champion and current world number one Li Xuerui, former world champion Wang Yihan, as well as Wang Shixian.

World champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand and Taiwan's Tai Tzu-ying also are in the hunt.

Wang Yihan defeated Ratchanok on Sunday for the Korean Open title.

In doubles, women's champions Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang have withdrawn as the latter has yet to recover from an injury she suffered during the BWF World Superseries Finals last month.

The other two reigning world champions – Indonesia's Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan for the men, and the mixed Indonesian pairing of Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir – are also contesting.

Denmark's Christinna Pedersen will compete in both the women's and mixed doubles.

Pedersen won in both events at the BWF World Superseries Finals last month in Malaysia. — AFP

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Fed takes fast route out of Aussie heat

Posted: 14 Jan 2014 10:42 AM PST

MELBOURNE: Four-time champion Roger Federer took the express route out of sizzling heat at the Australian Open yesterday as a ball boy and Canada's Frank Dancevic were felled by soaring temperatures.

After women's champion Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki safely made it through, Federer took to centre court with the mercury hitting 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

Despite the stifling conditions, the Swiss star, playing a record 57th consecutive Grand Slam tournament, eased past Australia's James Duckworth 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in an hour and 46 minutes.

Federer, 32, said it was great start to his Grand Slam partnership with Stefan Edberg, the six-time major-winner who has joined him as a coach.

"It's great fun to be playing in front of him and it's been a dream come true for me," Federer said of the Swede, who was watching from the stands.

"I used to watch his matches and get inspired to play this great game so to have him in my corner through the year and this tournament is very special and I can't be thankful enough."

Azarenka made hard going of her 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 win over 91st-ranked Johanna Larsson, while 10th seed Wozniacki beat Spain's Lourdes Dominguez Lino for the loss of just two games.

But the day's dominant theme was the intense heat, which soared to 41.6 Celsius (106.9 Fahrenheit) by late afternoon and hotter on the rubberised blue courts.

Canada's Dancevic needed medical attention after appearing to faint and Chinese player Peng Shuai also had treatment when she fell ill during her defeat to Japan's Kurumi Nara.

During his loss to Milos Raonic, Daniel Gimeno-Traver rushed to the rescue of a ball boy who collapsed on court.

"It felt pretty hot, like you're dancing in a frying pan or something like that," Azarenka said. "I don't think anybody wants to go outdoors right now."

France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga went through in straight sets against Filippo Volandri but Japan's Kei Nishikori, a quarter-finalist in 2012, took five to subdue Australia's Marinko Matosevic.

Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov beat American player Bradley Klahn but 13th seed John Isner was forced to retire with an ankle injury while playing Slovakia's Martin Klizan.

Wozniacki, flashing her eight-carat diamond engagement ring from golfer fiance Rory McIlroy, said she was ready for a new start after hooking up with Maria Sharapova's ex-coach Thomas Hogstedt.

"I have achieved so much in my career already," said the former world number one, still looking for her first Grand Slam title.

"But at the same time, when I go on court and when I play tournaments I want to win.

"For me right now I try to focus on the Grand Slams. It's tough, it's never easy. You have to win seven matches. There's always going to be some tricky opponents along the way."

World number one Rafael Nadal and Russian star Sharapova will miss the worst of the day's heat when they headline the evening session against local hope Bernard Tomic and American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Temperatures are forecast to stay high this week in what could be one of Melbourne's most severe heatwaves on record. — AFP

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Quick-fire Arsenal back on top

Posted: 14 Jan 2014 10:40 AM PST

LONDON: Arsenal swept back to the top of the Premier League as two goals in the space of 60 seconds clinched a 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Monday.

Arsene Wenger's side had slipped down to third after title rivals Chelsea and then Manchester City took turns at the top over the weekend.

But Arsenal reclaimed pole position, moving one point clear of second placed City, thanks to a quick-fire double at Villa Park.

England midfielder Jack Wilshere opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a cool finish from Nacho Monreal's pass.

And the Gunners struck again less than one minute later when France striker Olivier Giroud showed great technique to control Wilshere's pass and fire past Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan for his 12th goal of the season.

Christian Benteke reduced the deficit with a diving header in the 76th minute, but the Villa striker's first goal since September came too late to spark a fightback from the hosts.

A bad night for Villa was capped by an injury to Nathan Baker that saw the young defender taken to hospital with a mild concussion after being stretchered off wearing an oxygen mask.

Wenger was impressed with Arsenal's spirited display against a Villa side who finished strongly.

"It was vital because the first half was more about playing, and the second half was more about fighting," he said.

"They made it very physical, put the ball up high in the air and we had a very good resilient performance in the second half. Overall we have shown again both sides of the game."

Asked how he rated Arsenal's title chances, Wenger added: "Let's take care of our performances, we have got to go forward and always get the points.

"Then we can see if we can make a difference with the other teams." — AFP

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.