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Breaking the Chinese monopoly BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Breaking the Chinese monopoly

Posted: 15 Feb 2014 09:40 AM PST

KUCHING: Malaysia will be going all out to break the Chinese stranglehold on the diving competition at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea from Sept 19 to Oct 4.

National diving coach Yang Zhuliang said he is confident that the Malaysian diving team can at least bring home a gold medal from the 17th edition of the Games.

His confidence is based on the impressive performance of the Malaysians in international competition for the past four years.

"In terms of standard, the women divers have closed the gap on their counterparts from China and they need only to perform consistently and improve on the execution of techniques."

"China are not invincible and they are beatable, especially the newcomers who will be under pressure to perform. In the individual competition, we are only 80 points behind while for the team synchronised events, we are only 40 points behind China," he said.

Malaysia are now ranked second behind China in Asia and in the last Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, Malaysia won four gold and five bronze medals, with Bryan Nickson Lomas and Leong Mun Yee capturing two silvers each.

Yang said it would be hard to repeat this feat in Incheon because many senior divers have already retired.

"We no longer have Bryan, Yeoh Ken Nee or Wang Qiang in the team whereas the Japanese and South Koreans are a improved lot.

"China may field a big team this time and I have high hopes for our women to challenge them for the country's first diving gold from the Asian Games," he added.

As for the Commonwealth Games, Yang felt that Malaysia will give Canada, Australia and England a good fight.

"It won't be easy for Pandelela (Rinong) to defend her 10m platform gold either as her opponents will not be too far behind," he said.

Pandelela won Malaysia's first Commonwealth Games diving gold in the women's 10m platform in New Delhi in 2010.

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Ten-man Crocs cling on to narrow victory

Posted: 15 Feb 2014 09:39 AM PST

by Matthew Umpang reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 16, 2014, Sunday

KUCHING: Sarawak edged Perak by a solitary goal scored by Milorad Janjus from a free kick taken just outside the penalty box which sailed over the visitors' defensive wall and swerved into the right corner of the goal leaving keeper Razi Effendi Suhit stranded in the eighth minute at Stadium Negeri here last night.

The match was an ill-tempered encounter and the referee was the busiest man in the pitch having to flash out nine yellow cards and one red card.

Perak went into the match with the bitter memory of a 6-1 thrashing by the Crocs at the same venue last year and when Janjus scored with his spectacular free kick the home fans sensed that history would repeat itself with another whitewash for the visitors.

It was not to be as that goal proved to be the only one scored in the match but there was no lack of excitement with plenty of full-blooded tackles resulting in those yellow cards.

Sarawak had a few chances in the first half to increase the lead but they all went a begging.

In the second half Perak played with more urgency as they surged forward looking for the equaliser but like their hosts they too failed to convert any of the chances they created.

The crocs defended stoutly and looked dangerous in their counter attacks with captain Joseph Kalang Tie almost increasing their lead in the 79th minute when his bicycle kick went straight to the Perak goalkeeper's hand.

Late in the game Perak introduced  their Bosnian import Zelimir Terkes and his presence spurred them to a higher tempo in their attempts to salvage at least a point from the match.

The visitors were given a boost in the 70th minute when Sarawak's Junior Eldstal was shown the red card  but the 10-man Crocs fought a rearguard battle as they withstood the late Perak onslaught to claim three points to move second in the table with nine points from five matches just one point behind table toppers Terengganu.

Two other teams Kelantan and Selangor are also on nine points but have inferior goal difference.

Sarawak will next play Felda United in the FA Cup quarter-final second leg at home  next Tuesday.

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UiTM given green light to feature foreign swimmers

Posted: 15 Feb 2014 09:38 AM PST

SHAH ALAM: The feat of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in sweeping 18 gold medals in swimming at the second Malaysian Institution of Higher Learning Games (Sukipt) with help of several foreign students should not be disputed.

UiTM Student Affairs Deputy Vice-Chancellor Datuk Dr Abdullah Mohamad Said said the foreign students who represented UiTM had been approved at a Sukipt Technical and Competition Committee meeting earlier.

"They were students registered with UiTM even though they are foreign students," he told reporters at Dewan Agong Tuanku Canselor, UiTM here yesterday.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) had on Wednesday sent an official protest to the organisers but was rejected by Sukipt Technical and Competition Committee.

The swimmers in question were Alexis Wijaya Omar, Denis Josua Tiwa, I Gede Siman Sudartawa, Kathriana Mella Gustianjani and Mutia Setradarma.

On Friday, Education Ministry Sports Division chief secretary Hazally Jali said Sukipt was more concerned about the strength of each institution and that who represented the university was secondary.

"This (using foreign students) is nothing new. Technically this is allowed, it is not wrong because they are enrolled with the universities they are representing.

"Even if they come for just a semester, for example just six months, they are still considered students of the particular institution. Nevertheless, this is something that needs to be relooked where future editions of the Games are concerned," he said at the Darul Ehsan Aquatics Centre here, the venue for the aquatic events. — Bernama

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Stage set for All-Star showdown

Posted: 15 Feb 2014 09:37 AM PST

NEW ORLEANS: NBA scoring leader Kevin Durant looks forward to Sunday's NBA All-Star Game but is also excited about US prospects at this year's Basketball World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

The 25-year-old Oklahoma City Thunder forward, who averages 31.5 points a game, will lead the Western Conference against Miami's LeBron James and the Eastern Conference at New Orleans in Sunday's 63rd edition of the annual elite showdown of basketball talent.

Durant, the 2012 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, will try to spark a fourth win in a row for the West.

"We all like to see good basketball," Durant said. "I just go out there and play my game, control what I can control, play as hard as I can play, play the best I can for my team. That's all I can control."

Durant, who has led the Thunder to an NBA-best 43-12 record at the mid-season break, has 33 30-point games this season, 14 more than second-best James. He knows many All-Star players are happy to have a few days off from the grind of the season.

"A lot of these guys have a lot of load to carry," he said. "I'm sure a lot of these guys just want to relax and get off their feet."

Durant is excited for this year's Basketball World Cup, formerly known as the World Championships, to be played in Spain, the homeland of Thunder teammate Serge Ibaka and the club that pushed the US team, which included James and durant, before losing in the 2012 London Olympic final.

"I'm looking forward to World Cup. It's something that's an honour to play in," Durant said. "I'm looking forward to playing against Serge. It's something that should be good for a lot of guys in our league.

"Being in the Olympics last time was a great experience. I hope I get the opportunity to go again. You basically have to sacrifice and give it up for your country. That's what makes it exciting."

Durant said he hopes to join such NBA standouts as Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge and Los Angeles Clippers star Blake Griffin on the US team in Spain.

"The game is growing globally year by year," Durant said. "I would like to visit a lot of countries and be an ambassador for the game."

James, the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player who has led Miami to the past two league titles, will lead the Eastern Conference squad.

Elaborating on comments that he would one day be knocking someone off the NBA's "Mount Rushmore" of four top all-time stars, James said the league needs room for more than his favorite icons – Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Oscar Robertson.

James said he would want to add Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and ex-Laker legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the elite list.

"It's hard to knock anybody off," James said. "There needs to be another mountain built. There are so many greats that have played this game."

Asked if he was currently the NBA's top player over James, Durant dismissed the idea of comparisons but noted, "I've always had confidence. Let's put it that way."

Cleveland's Kyrie Irving said he would pick Durant over James if he had to select only one.

"KD or LeBron, it could go either way. I would pick KD. He's on fire," Irving said.

"They are both great players. If you get the chance to choose either one, I don't think you could go wrong." — AFP

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MTSDA sending two exponents to Euro 2014 tourney

Posted: 15 Feb 2014 09:33 AM PST

by Jenifer Laeng reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 16, 2014, Sunday

MIRI: The Miri Tang Soo Do Association (MTSDA) will be sending two players to the European Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do Federation (EMTF) Euro 2014 Tang Soo Do Championships to be held at Copper Box Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London from Oct 4-5.

President of MTSDA Master Tiong Ching Chiong  told thesundaypost MTSDA  would send two of its top athletes to the competition and they would join players from the peninsula in the Malaysian team.

"We are delighted that we have been invited to take part in the prestigious competition and we will be sending two top athletes from our association here to combine with teams from the Federation of Malaysia Tang Soo Do Association," Tiong said.

He added that more than 10 countries, mostly European would be taking part in the competitions.

He said, one of his goals was to expose its athletes to international competitions and learn from competing against players from European countries.

"It is by exposing them to many competitions and sending them to international competitions, that we will be able to produce better and more competitive athletes," Tiong added.

He said, because of limited budget, the association hoped to get financial support from relevant agencies.

"We would do what we can to help the athletes, but we are also in need of support from others," he told.

Among the categories are sparring, traditional Hyung, Chil Sung, Chang Bong Hyung, Gung Bong Hyung and Tando Hyung.

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KGS introduces new captain to members

Posted: 15 Feb 2014 09:32 AM PST

by Matthew Umpang reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 16, 2014, Sunday

KUCHING: Dr David Sylvester Ling was officially unveiled as the new captain of Sarawak Golf Club (KGS) yesterday.

He was elected in December last year and along with a few other new club management committee members.

All of them, including Dr Ling, were introduced to club members during a prize-giving ceremony of the 2014 Chap Goh Meh Special Golf tournament at the KGS clubhouse.

KGS vice president Dr Mohd Syafiq Abdullah, hoped the new management committee would take the club to greater heights and success as the number one golf course in Sarawak.

"I wish them success and good luck in running this club as they have been given the faith by the very members of this club. I am sure that the club members have made the right decision," he added.

Meanwhile Ling commented in his speech that one of his first tasks would to find the right balance between what the club and its members need.

He cited the rental price of the buggies at the club as a point of contention among members saying he wanted everybody to sit down together to find a solution to the matter.

Apart from that, he would also try to upgrade the club and its course to maintain the club's status as the best in the state.

One of the measures taken by the new management committee was to appoint a golf superintendant to oversee the day to day operations at the club and improve its service.

"We must improve if we want to go forward and remain the best here in Sarawak."said Ling.

KGS will hold several international tournaments this year and one of them is the Chief Minister's Cup youth tournament.

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