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Stiff competition expected BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Stiff competition expected

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 11:04 AM PST

FAS chief not ruling out Super League title chances

KUCHING: Sarawak's target in the Super League this season can only be decided when the league competition commences on Jan 18.

Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) president Datu Sudarsono Osman said FAS are being realistic about its chances as it felt that the competition from other teams is going to be very stiff and challenging.

"As we know, many teams are spending big amounts of money to get the best and well known players in their bid to win the Super League," he said yesterday.

"That will make the competition this season even more challenging with all teams having the chance to win the Super League crown."

He, however, did not rule out the chances of Sarawak winning the league this season.

To him, Sarawak are one of the teams who are capable of providing a strong challenge to maintain its reputation as the 2013 Premier League champions.

"Although the weather condition now is not very favourable for our training sessions, I am still happy with our preparations for our challenge in the new season."

"Everything is going on smoothly and the new import players have been gelling well their teammates," he added.

Sudarsono said Sarawak needed more friendly matches to uplift the performance of its players.

The team are heading to Kota Kinabalu today to play a friendly with Sabah tomorrow.

Sarawak will open its Super League campaign against the Armed Forces at Selayang Stadium on Jan 18.

Meanwhile, Sudarsono said FAS will be launching the new Sarawak team kit on Jan 8.

The FAS president hoped that Sarawak fans will turn up in full force to attend the launching at the State Indoor Stadium in Petra Jaya.

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Credible performance by Sarawak juniors in Sports Excel track meet

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 09:01 AM PST

by Marshall Tiong. Posted on January 3, 2014, Friday

KUCHING: The Sarawak junior track team put up a credible showing in the final race of the Sports Excel Junior Circuit at Kuala Lumpur's Cheras Velodrome.

In the tourney held from Dec 29-31, the fledging team competed in the 200m match sprint, individual pursuit, team sprint, scratch race and points race.

In the men's draw were Saxon Racing's Awang Adib, Viking's Mahathir Norsman and Mohd Fitri with Pahang SUKMA mountainbike XC gold medallist Rosnina Minggu and Viking's Norismieza Azeman competing in the women's section.

Rosnina had the best chance of an individual medal but had to settle for the fourth spot in both the match sprint and points race.

SMK Kuching High's top Sarawak junior Norismieza had to settle for fifth place in the individual pursuit when she failed to make the finals.

The Rosnina and Norismieza combination proved to be a boon for the team when they unexpectedly advanced to the finals of the team sprint where they had to be contented with a silver.

It would have been shocking if they had managed to beat their national juniors opponent.

The bronze medal went to Selangor.

The men's team were in tough fight against top flight competitions from the Malaysian junior team as well as those from top states Selangor, Terenganu and Johor.

The three inexperienced Sarawak riders put up a brave performance to earn several top 10 finishes.

Noting that the wet weather had wrecked their training for the meet, Sarawak track coach Faisal Dzulkaflee, who was assisted by Affendy Kadri, was nonetheless happy with the team.

"I am pleased with how the team responded against some of the top juniors in Malaysia, even though this was just an exposure trip for them," said Faisal.

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SLTA eyeing another good year in 2014

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 09:00 AM PST

by Ting Tieng Hee, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 3, 2014, Friday

KUCHING: The Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) are looking forward to another good year in 2014.

"We had a very good year in 2013 where we organised seven international tennis tournaments and as the SLTA president, I received the 'Sports For All' leadership award from the Youth and Sports Department Sarawak," said Dato Patrick Liew yesterday.

Liew said the seven tournaments were 21st Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup (1) ITF Junior Circuit (Grade 1), World Junior Team Competition Asia Oceania Final Qualifying (Boys), World Junior Team Competition Asia Oceania Final Qualifying (Girls), Junior Davis Cup Asia Oceania Pre-qualifying, Junior Fed Cup Asia Oceania Pre-qualifying, 9th ATF Asian 14 and Under Series and the 22nd Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup (II) ITF Junior Circuit (Grade 3).

Apart from the international events, SLTA also played host to the Majlis Sukan Sekolah Malaysia (MSSM) tennis championship in March, Play and Stay programme in January, Inter Division and Sarawak Closed in May, Sarawak Junior Masters in December as well as celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.

SLTA facilities were further upgraded with the completion of the changing rooms.

"We are confirmed host for five tournaments this year which are 23rd Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup (1) ITF Junior Circuit (Grade 1) in March, Junior Davis Cup Asia Oceania Final Qualifying and Junior Fed Cup Asia Oceania Final Qualifying in April, Asia 14 and Under Series in September and the 24th Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup (2) ITF Junior Circuit (Grade 3) in October," said Liew.

Liew added that SLTA are also looking for another good outing at Sukma XVII in Perlis from May 27 to June 4.

"We are confident of capturing four gold medals from Mohd Assri Merzuki in the men's singles, Ariez Elyaas Deen Hesham and Alvin Teng in the men's doubles, Aslina Chua in the women's singles and the men's team event," he said.

Sarawak captured three gold, four silver and three bronze medals to emerge the overall champions at Sukma XIII in Melaka four years ago.

It did not send a team to Sukma XV in Pahang in 2012.

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Saba, Pest score big wins in openers

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 09:00 AM PST

KUCHING: Sungai Apong Basketball Association (Saba) and Pest got off to winning starts in the 2nd Imperial Challenge Trophy Sarawak Basketball League (SBL), Kuching Zone as they thumped their rivals at Kota Sentosa Basketball Association Basketball Stadium on Wednesday night.

Saba, one of the tournament's favourites, registered their first win by beating Efos Kimbay 61-47 in men's Group B while Pest, who were powered by state and divisional players, thrashed K&L Farming 72-44 in the women's competition.

The Kuching Zone competition attracted seven men's teams and five women's teams.

Kuching basketball powerhouse Lord Tiger are drawn in men's Group A with NHN (Prudential) and Krypronite while the teams in Group B include Saba, Sentosa, Stranger and Efos Kimbay.

As for the women's contest, the teams are Pest, K&L Farming, Lord Tiger, Boon Ting Food Products and GT Industrial.

The competition sponsored by the Imperial Group of Companies kicked off simultaneously on Wednesday in Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu.

The four divisions are Miri which includes Limbang, Batu Niah, Bakong, Lawas and its surrounding areas, Bintulu which includes Tatau, Mukah, Sebauh, Selangau and its surrounding areas, Sibu which includes Sarikei, Kanowit, Kapit, Bintangor and its surrounding areas, and Kuching which includes Kota Samarahan, Sri Aman and its surrounding areas.

Finalists of each division will get to compete in the SBL finals in Miri from Feb 24-28.

Objectives of this tournament are to give local players the chance to showcase their talents and help Sarawak Basketball Association to identify new or unknown talents, and to nurture and prepare them for the coming major basketball tournaments.

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Murray’s new year starts with setback

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 08:58 AM PST

Wimbledon champion suffers stunning second round loss in Qatar

DOHA: Wimbledon champion Andy Murray warned of "bumps along the road" during his comeback from injury and his words proved prophetic as he began the new year with a stunning second-round loss in the Qatar Open.

Murray led by a set and 3-0 and yet lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Florian Mayer, the world number 40 from Germany, who seemed more surprised than anyone at how the contest turned around.

It was only Murray's second match on the tour after a back operation and a four-month absence, but for about an hour his lack of match practice had hardly seemed a problem as he took charge.

Then Mayer attacked more, Murray tired, and everything changed.

"It was amazing," said Mayer.

"To be honest in my mind the match was finished. I don't know how I came back. I played fantastic tennis. In the third set maybe he was injured, but I played well."

Murray however admitted to no injuries during the one hour 51-minute encounter, and whatever his physical discomfort it did not prevent him playing doubles later in the day.

"I am stiff and sore but that's to be expected," he claimed.

"It's more the joints rather than muscles. I have to get used to changing direction and playing at this level.

"I didn't have high expectations because I have not had many matches. I was playing well and moving well at the beginning."

It was nevertheless "a good day", Murray concluded.

"I lost two matches but got through without any niggles or injuries."

Mayer, a former top 20 player, slowly imposed himself on the match as Murray became more defensive, and after letting slip two break points for a 4-2 second-set lead, the Scot hurled down his racket and flung away his sweat bands.

He then served a double fault and dropped serve at the start of the third set and was never close to breaking Mayer after that.

"It's normal – you can't be a hundred per cent, you have to play some matches," the German graciously said.

"I am sure he will improve round by round in Melbourne."

However, the loss of court time in preparation for the Australian Open, which starts in little more than two weeks, may prove to be the most significant aspect of the setback for Murray.

There were early season uncertainties elsewhere too, as David Ferrer, the second-seeded Spaniard, his compatriot Fernando Verdasco, the eighth seed, and Philipp Kohlschreiber, the sixth-seeded German, all lost.

That trio were beaten by Daniel Brands of Germany, Victor Hanescu of Romania and Peter Gojowczyk of Germany respectively.

A day of considerable German success continued when Dustin Brown, a qualifier, saved four match points in a 28-point second set tie-breaker to win 3-6, 7-6 (15-13), 6-4 against Ivo Karlovic, the Croatian who had ousted fourth seed Tomas Berdych a day earlier.

For a while it seemed the biggest upset of all was possible, with world number one Rafael Nadal taken to three sets against another German in Tobias Kamke.

The qualifier played well before going down 6-3, 6-7(3-7), 6-3 against the legendary Spaniard.

"He took risks and played very well," said Nadal.

"But I had a lot of chances with my return and hope to make a few more tomorrow (Thursday).

"I don't know if I can win the tournament. Yesterday (against Lukas Rosol) was tough, today was tough, and it is difficult to think about winning titles when you are in the quarter-finals. But I am very happy to be there."

Nadal, who has never won this title in five attempts, next faces Ernests Gulbis, the seventh-seeded Latvian.

They are the only seeds remaining after fifth seed Richard Gasquet, struggling with a back strain, lost 6-2, 7-5 to his French compatriot Gael Monfils, a former finalist in Doha, in Wednesday's last match. — AFP

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Perfect serve sets up Williams-Sharapova semi

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 08:58 AM PST

BRISBANE, Australia: Serena Williams yesterday served a perfect first set on her way to setting up a blockbuster semi-final against Maria Sharapova at the Brisbane International.

The top seeded Williams didn't lose a point on serve during the opening set during her comprehensive 6-3, 6-3 win over Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova.

In stark contrast to Williams, Sharapova was forced to recover from an error-strewn start before eventually downing 2012 champion Kaia Kanepi in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Today's semi-final will be the 17th meeting between the two superstars of the women's game, who make no secret of their frosty personal relationship.

Williams holds a clear advantage over the Russian, winning 14 times against Sharapova, including the last 13 in a row.

Their most recent clash was in the final of last year's French Open, where Williams won a tight battle 6-4, 6-4.

"Some of the matches were a bit closer than others," Sharapova said of her run of 13 losses.

"I know I've tried and I didn't succeed in the last many times that I've played her, but I'm setting up an opportunity to go out there and try to change that, and I'm going to try to do that."

Williams, who lost only four times in 2013, was in irresistible form against Cibulkova.

The world number one said she had been working on her serve in the off-season, but was still surprised at not losing a point in the first set for the first time since juniors.

"She (Cibulkova) was returning really well, she stays so low to the ground and does so many good things, especially off the ground. She's just so powerful," Williams said.

"So of all the opponents, I definitely wouldn't expect it against her. But I was able to serve really well today."

The defending champion was so focused beforehand she almost went on court without her racquets, with WTA supervisor Donna Kelso having to remind her to take them with her.

"I was just ready to get on this court, ready to play," a laughing Williams said.

"I was just ready to get it started. I don't know – I just forgot 'em."

Earlier, Sharapova and Kanepi appeared overcome by nerves at the beginning of their match.

Both players hit 23 unforced errors in the first set but Sharapova began to reduce her error rate in the second and found the length with her groundstrokes, breaking Kanepi twice to level the match.

She then raced away with the third in 33 minutes as her first service percentage lifted from 40 to 84, finishing the match off with her eighth ace.

"I think with every match I'm going to improve," Sharapova said.

"I didn't come here thinking from the first or second match I'm going to be playing my best tennis of the year.

"I'm happy that I improved towards the end of the match – not really happy with the way I started."

There was an upset in the men's draw as Romania's Marius Copil downed an out-of-sorts Gilles Simon 7-5, 6-3.

The third seeded Frenchman made a host of errors against Copil, dropping serve once in each set to hand the match to his opponent.

In an all French battle, eighth seed Jeremy Chardy beat Nicolas Mahut 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3. — AFP

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