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Sava celebrates highly successful year BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Sava celebrates highly successful year

Posted: 25 Feb 2014 08:51 AM PST

by Philip Wong, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 26, 2014, Wednesday

SIBU: A cohesive team of strong leadership combined with an aggressive approach and hard work from both coaches and players contributed to the success of the Sarawak Volleyball Association (Sava) over the last few years.

Sibu Volleyball Association Chairman Dr William Ting Wei Ung said this at the appreciation luncheon held for the outstanding performance of Sava last year.

Among those attending the luncheon were Sava president Temenggong Vincent Lau Lee Ming and national women's team chief coach Moh Ung Ming and chairmen from the respective affiliates.

Ting cited the achievements resulting from the participation in 10 national volleyball tournaments under the various boy's and girl's categories last year.

"We emerged champions in seven categories, twice as first runners-up and once as second runners-up. Even though it was not a perfect 10, the 7-2-1 results had highly motivated us," he said.

Of the 10 tournaments, he highlighted the 2013 Malaysian Open Women's Volleyball championship held in Johor.

"Our powerful and formidable women team took part in the championship which was only organised after a 10-year lapse and we came back with the title after easily ousting Johor 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-17) in the final showdown. Again, it displayed the depth of our players," he added.

The Malaysia Volleyball Association (Mava) also picked the Sibu Volleyball Centre for the national women's team to conduct their training for the Myanmar SEA Games.

"All these events borne testimony to the strong influence that Sava has in the eyes of the Mava, and affirm the belief that Sibu still holds the key as far as the development of volleyball is concerned," he said.

"Our success today is not built overnight. It was laboriously nurtured through years of perseverance and hard work. We want to build a legacy for the next generations of players to emulate."

Ting expressed his gratitude to the national women's coach Moh for his drive and undying efforts to help raise volleyball standards to greater heights.

"Moh has been instrumental on the rapid rise of the volleyball standard in Sarawak and all of us should be grateful to him," he added.

Sava president Temenggong Vincent Lau Lee Ming was also picked for special mention.

"Lau is not only supportive of the sport but has in one way or another helped to ensure that Sava remains relevant."

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Lucas Kallang is new Sports Council director

Posted: 25 Feb 2014 08:50 AM PST

by Karen Bong, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 26, 2014, Wednesday

KUCHING: Acting director of Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) Lucas Kallang Laeng has been appointed to lead the council.

The previous director Francis Nyurang Ding retired from the position in November last year.

Social Development minister Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom confirmed yesterday that the letter of recommendation for the appointment has been formalised.

"We believe he has all the experience to run the council having served as the deputy director for a long time," he told reporters after the presentation of the Chief Minister's Cup by Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) at his office in Baitulmakmur Building, Petra Jata here.

Mawan also said that former director Francis Nyurang would also be retained in a different capacity in the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC).

"This is because Sukma 2016 is our focus and we cannot lose the experience in which the teams have put much effort into building all the programmes towards the success of the event," he added.

"The government is very serious as we are targeting to win more golds. We do not want to lose the existing teamwork and spirit towards winning," he emphasised.

On preparations for Sukma 2016, Mawan said it was still in the process of updating and improving all the facilities.

"We will do our best especially for sporting events in which we could excel and win more gold medals."

"If the facility is short or lacking, then we will rush to oversee problem and further improvement that are needed as financial aid has been made available," he explained.

Mawan also noted that there was a gap between facilities for major competition events and training but assured that his task force will ensure all things were in place.

"We understand that time is running out and we will push to our limits to get things done properly. In fact, we are almost there," he explained.

On the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC), Mawan announced it would be operational very soon after the restructuring programme has been formalised.

"When the restructuring programme including administration is completed, we will present it to the state secretary and later the cabinet for approval," Mawan added.

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Malaysia needs sports university — Second Education Minister

Posted: 25 Feb 2014 08:48 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Setting up a sports university is vital for the development of sports in the country said Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

Idris said in view of the need, he was ready to discuss the prospect with any interested party, including local universities.

"To me, universities play an important role in moulding athletes for the betterment of sports in the country," he said after opening the Malaysian University Sports Council (Masum) International Conference, here yesterday.

"Success in sports must be viewed seriously and setting such an institution (sports university) is vital," he added.

Idris said the participation of universities in sports was important since the bulk of athletes who represented the country at the Myanmar SEA Games were from universities.

"The presence of 30 per cent athletes from universities, contributed 53 per cent of the gold medals," he said.

The two-day conference organised by Masum with the cooperation of the Education Ministry's Higher Education Sports Section, would be participated by 150 delegates from throughout the world, including Russia, Nigeria, Tunisia, Oman and Ghana. — Bernama

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Memorable moments from the Sochi Winter Olympics

Posted: 25 Feb 2014 08:45 AM PST

SOCHI, Russia: Questions about Sochi's suitability to host the Winter Olympics will not go away once the flame has been extinguished but in the expensively-built stadiums and snow resorts the athletes put on a dazzling show.

Whether skiing, sliding, jumping or somersaulting, their performances ensured a captivating couple of weeks in the Caucasus and for TV viewers around the world.

Here are a selection of highlights.

NO SHAUN, BUT SUNSHINE, STYLE AND SMILES

After weeks of negativity about security and costs, the Games made a flying start as American snowboarder Sage Kotsenburg won the first ever Olympic slopestyle gold.

Shaun White's withdrawal over safety fears was forgotten as, with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky, Kotsenburg produced a spectacular run down the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park obstacle course to whoops and hollers from the large crowd revelling in the eye-catching new discipline.

RUSSIA GETS A NEW ICE DARLING…THEN ANOTHER

With President Vladimir Putin watching on in the Iceberg Stadium, pint-sized Russian teenager Julia Lipnitskaya melted hearts with a breathtaking performance as the hosts won the figure skating team event gold.

It was an ice-breaking moment which reverberated around a sceptical world and filled Russians with pride.

Lipnitskaya failed to shine in the individual final, but team mate Adelina Sotnikova stepped forward to win gold instead.

THE FIRST WOMAN TO FLY

Teenage American ski jumper Sarah Hendrickson soared through the air to become the first woman to perform a competitive jump in the Olympic Games, going on to finish 21st.

Germany's Carina Vogt flew 104.5 metres to win the milestone event, the culmination of a 13-year fight by female athletes to be allowed to take part.

THE FIRST TIE FOR GOLD IN ALPINE SKIING

After a muscle-burning descent down Rosa Khutor's 2,713 metre Olympic women's downhill run Slovenia's Tina Maze and Swiss Dominique Gisin could not be seperated, both clocking one minute 41.57 seconds to share the top of the podium.

There were gasps from a stunned crowd as the scoreboard flashed up identical times, the first occasion an Olympic skiing race had seen joint winners.

LUCKY 13 FOR NORWEGIAN GREAT BJOERNDALEN

Ole Einar Bjoerndalen earned a record 13th Winter Games medal as he helped Norway to the biathlon team mixed relay title.

The 40-year-old edged ahead of former cross-country skier Bjorn Daehlie and moved alongside his compatriot as the leading all-time Winter Olympics gold medallist with eight.

COLOGNA SHOWS OLYMPICS SPIRIT IS ALIVE AND WELL

Switzerland's Dario Cologna proved there is time for losers as he waited nearly half an hour after winning gold in the men's 15km cross-country to congratulate Peru's Roberto Carcelen who finished last, 27.59 minutes behind.

Carcelen, 43, crossed the line with the Peruvian flag in his hand and applause ringing in his ears.

DANGER LURKS FOR OLYMPIC DAREDEVILS

Four years after the death of a Georgian luger in Vancouver, the risks Winter Olympians take were again highlighted as Russian ski cross athlete Maria Komissarova broke her back during a training run for the extreme sport.

She was rushed to hospital for a six-hour operation and then moved to a clinic in Munich.

At the end of the women's ski half pipe event later in the Games, course workers came down the pipe in the shape of a heart in memory of Canadian freestyler Sarah Burke who died in an accident two years ago.

"MIRACLE ON ICE" REMATCH PRODUCES REMARKABLE FINALE

American sports fans voted their team's upset win over Russia's "big red machine" in the 1980 Olympics as the most memorable match of the century so there was an understandable buzz about the rematch in Sochi, albeit with a totally different political and sporting backdrop and nothing vital at stake.

The Sochi preliminary match took place in an electric atmosphere, with President Putin watching, and will be remembered for the remarkable shootout that decided it.

Level 2-2 after overtime, the shootout ran to eight attempts each before TJ Oshie settled it for the Americans with his fourth goal from six personal shootout attempts.

GOLDEN HOUR FOR AHN

Viktor Ahn, an adopted Russian after switching allegiance from South Korea, won two gold medals in an hour at the Iceberg.

He confirmed himself amongst the Olympic greats with victory in the 500 metres individual and 45 minutes later returned to help Russia win the 5,000m relay.

BRITAIN WINS FIRST EVER OLYMPIC MEDAL ON SNOW

Jenny Jones, 33, won a bronze medal in the women's snowboard slopestyle event to end a 90-year wait for her country's first Winter Olympics medal in a snow sport.

Even more remarkably, Jones was the oldest snowboarder in the slopestyle, the usual preserve of cool young dudes.

The previous 22 British medal winners had all competed on the ice, in sports such as figure skating and skeleton.

JAPANESE VETERAN KASAI JUMPS TO SILVER

Japan's 41-year-old Noriaki Kasai, flying against athletes not even born when he started competing in ski jumping, produced two monster leaps to snatch a silver medal in the men's long hill at the RusSki Gorki Jumping Centre.

Kasai had appeared at every Winter Games since Albertville in 1992 and finally won an individual medal.

With only one man left to fly he was in first place, only for Poland's Kamil Stoch to move ahead by the narrowest margin.

CONTROVERSY AND CONSPIRACY ON ICE

Figure skating often conjures sub-plots, finger-pointing and general bitchiness and these Games proved no different.

First Russia's glamour boy Yevgeny Plushenko pulled out of the men's competition, having been controversially selected.

Then Russian teenager Adelina Sotnikova won the women's individual title amidst accusations from South Korea of biased judges after their Vancouver winner Kim Yuna was beaten into second. — Reuters

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Grunewald reinstated as US indoor women’s champion, worlds team

Posted: 25 Feb 2014 08:44 AM PST

SALVO, NORTH CAROLINA: Gabriele Grunewald has been reinstated as the US indoor women's 3,000 metres champion and named to the American team for next month's IAAF World Indoor Championships, USA Track and Field said on Monday.

The decision came after fellow runner Jordan Hasay, who would have replaced Grunewald on the team, withdrew her protest of the original results.

"I've got nothing but love for úJordanHasay," Grunewald said on her Twitter account.

"She is a shining light of sportsmanship and integrity in track and field."

Grunewald, a cancer survivor, had easily won the race on Saturday at Albuquerque, New Mexico, but after a series of protests and appeals had been disqualified for impeding Hasay late in the race.

The controversial decision produced a storm of protest on social media and led to a number of contestants in the women's 1,500 metres on Sunday locking arms after the race and walking down the track in support of Grunewald.

"Thrilled to see news of my reinstatement," Grunewald said.

"I hope this unfortunate situation can be avoided in the future."

She added in a statement to Reuters: "This was never an issue between myself and Jordan, it was more an issue with the process and the steps that were taken to get to where we did.

"For the first time I get to represent the United States at a major championship and I couldn't be more excited."

She will be joined by runner-up Shannon Rowbury in the 3,000 metres at the March 7-9 world championships in Sopot, Poland.

The top two finishers in each US trials event qualify for the world championships provided they have the qualifying standard.

Hasay had finished fourth in the final but was eligible for the US team with Grunewald disqualified because she had met the qualifying standard and the third place finisher had not.

"Since Saturday evening my emotions have ranged from despair to determination to go to Poland and represent my country as best I can," Hasay said in a statement.

"After much thought and consideration, however, I have decided to withdraw my protest as I do not want to make a national team under these circumstances."

USATF chief executive Max Siegel announced Grunewald's reinstatement after speaking with Paul Doyle, Grunewald's agent, and Alberto Salazar, Hasay's coach, who had filed the initial protest and subsequent appeals.

Siegel said USA Track and Field "will address our processes to try to minimise the potential for controversy or misunderstanding in the future".

Salazar made clear Hasay felt withdrawal was the right thing to do and with the agreement of all parties Grunewald was reinstated, USATF said in a statement.

"My intention was what every coach wants – to advocate for my athlete," said Salazar, who also coaches British double Olympic champion Mo Farah and Americans Galen Rupp and Mary Cain.

"It was a physical race and when I saw the contact and the flag go up, I filed a protest.

"I appreciate Max's involvement and wish nothing but the best for Gabe and Shannon in Sopot." — Reuters

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19 swim records at age-group meet

Posted: 24 Feb 2014 09:07 AM PST

by Conny Banji, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 25, 2014, Tuesday

SIBU: The 41st Sarawak Age-group Swimming Championship ended at Bukit Lima swimming pool here last Sunday with 19 records re-written.

Twelve were created by swimmers from Kota Samarahan Amateur Swimming Association (Kotas) with the remaining seven by Sibu Amateur Swimming Association (Sasa) swimmers.

Kotas swimmer Welson Sim continued his record-smashing feats in the Boy's A division to establish a total of six new standards. Five were in the freestyle events – 24.56" (50m); 53.39" (100m), 1:56.63 (200m); 4:04.83" (400m) and 16:39.08" (1500m). His new record for the 50m backstroke is 28.35".

Two female swimmers from Kotas also did well in creating two new records each. Angela Chieng stopped the clock at 4:32.67" and 9:12.86" in the 400m and 800m freestyle respectively for Girl's A. Tan Tying, competing in Girl's B, finished in 36.75" and 9:39.28" for the 50m breaststroke and 800m freestyle.

Alex Tiong in Boy's A and Nee Gui Ping in Boy's B were outstanding among Sasa swimmers. Alex broke three records – 1:02.47" (100m backstroke); 2:15.36" (200m backstroke); 4:54.56" (400m individual medley). Nee Gui Ping smashed the old records in 50m and 100m butterfly with new times of 27.12" and 1:00.40."

Kotas swimmers established two new relay records. Their Girl's A team returned with 4:27.40" and 5:03.78" in the 4x100m freeestyle and 4x100m medley.

Coincidentally, another two records were also set in similar relay events in the Boy's A by the Sasa team with new times of 3:47.22" and 4:12.06."

Kotas and Sasa swept nine of the ten individual best swimmer awards.

Awards for the boys went to Vernon Lee of Kotas (Men's Senior); Welson Sim of Kotas (Boy's A); Nee Gui Ping of Sasa (Boy's B); Zachary Tan from Kuching Amateur Swimming Association (Boy's C) and Hii Puong Wei from Kotas (Boy's D).

The other five awards were claimed by Nita Wong of Sasa (Women's Senior); Angela Chieng of Kotas (Girl's A); Tan Tying of Kotas (Girl's B); Mandy Teo of Kasa (Girl's C) and Natasha Teo of Kasa (Girl's D).

Sarawak Amateur Swimming Association president Larry Sng officiated at the prize-giving ceremony.

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