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Serena, Jankovic have another spat in Dubai BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Serena, Jankovic have another spat in Dubai

Posted: 21 Feb 2014 08:52 AM PST

DUBAI: World number one Serena Williams' comeback trail endured further feisty moments with Jelena Jankovic, the former world number one from Serbia, On Thursday before she reached the semi-finals of the Dubai Open.

The two have exchanged testy words on several occasions, the last time in October when Jankovic appeared to question Serena's sportsmanship at the WTA Championships in Istanbul.

Now, near the end of Serena's impressive 6-2, 6-2 win, a dispute blew up over the speed at which the rallies were conducted, an issue which has been a contention between them several times.

It happened when Jankovic appeared to slow the pauses between rallies to the speed she thought Serena had been taking, prompting Serena to hold her arms out wide.

This caused Jankovic to walk towards Kadir Nouni, the French umpire, complaining at length, once gesturing towards Serena as she did so.

The match lasted another four points, when there was a further exchange of words between Jankovic and Serena.

Afterwards Jankovic suggested the umpire might have been at fault. "First he tells me I'm serving too fast," she said. "Then when I took my time. It was like one minute.

"So you never know what to do. Usually if I go over 25 seconds with whoever I play, you know, warning, time violation. Here it's like you can do pretty much whatever.

"I have to follow who knows which rules. If it's 25 seconds, you play 25 seconds. If it goes over, someone's not ready, you should be ready. I follow when she (Serena) serves no matter how fast or slow she plays."

Serena was placatory. "I told her at the end I didn't mean anything, and I'm sorry if I played slow.

"She was like, no – it was more that they say she plays too fast and then they say she plays too slow.

She said she couldn't get right."

It nevertheless felt like a sequel to more heated exchanges between the two at Charleston in April when Serena claimed she was not ready to receive and made Jankovic restart her service motion, with Jankovic replying "how long do I have to wait?

That dialogue apparently concluded with Williams saying: "Honestly, you got a problem?"

This time she took trouble to take the heat out of the exchanges.

"I just wanted to make sure. I don't like to have a beef with anyone. I was like, look, are we cool? Because I'm cool with you. I'm sorry if anything didn't go right." — AFP

Serena has every reason for focusing on her tennis. It was as impressive as it had been uncertain in the first set of her comeback match against, Ekaterina Makarova, an unseeded Russia, on Tuesday.

It made her a strong favourite to reach her first final in six weeks, as it earned her a meeting with unseeded Alize Cornet of France, who defeated Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 7-5, 6-3.

There could even be an all-Williams final for the first time in more than four years.

Elder sister Venus Williams continued to raise hopes of a return to the top echelons with her third straight sets win in a row to reach a semi-final against Caroline Wozniacki, the former world number one from Denmark.

The seven times former Grand Slam winner overcame Flavia Pennetta, the seed-destroying Italian, by 6-4, 7-5, with a mixed performance which included a slow start and a tense finish but some typically powerful ground stroking during the guts of the match

Asked how she had managed to recover from her illness and fitness problems, Venus, still ranked outside the top 40, said: "I pray and try a million different things all the time.

"Serena has been extremely supportive and my family have changed their life style for me. It makes me feel better." – AFP

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Kazakhstan clinch two Final Qualifying berths

Posted: 21 Feb 2014 08:49 AM PST

by Ting Tieng Hee, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 22, 2014, Saturday

KUCHING: Kazakhstan emerged as the biggest winners at the Pre-Qualifying of the ITF World Junior Tennis Competition (Boys) and the Junior Fed Cup at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association Tennis (SLTA) Centre yesterday.

The fourth seeds upstaged tournament favourites and top seeds Lebanon 3-0 in the final match yesterday to emerge the champions in the ITF World Junior Tennis Competition (Boys) Pre-Qualifying.

Rodion Pak got the Kazaks to a winning start by beating Kevin Chahoud 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in the first singles and his teammate Dostanbek Tashulatov kept the winning momentum going by blanking Karim Najia 6-0, 6-0 in the second singles.

Dostanbek then teamed up with Rodion to beat Karim Najia-Karim Slaibi 6-1, 6-0 in the doubles.

Syria, the second seeds, finished in third spot after they edged Turkmenistan 2-1 in the play-off match.

Kazakh claimed their second ticket to the Final Qualifying when their girls team finished top of the five-team Junior Fed Cup Pre-Qualifying.

The tournament seeds, who remained unbeaten throughout the competition, beat second seeds Sri Lanka 3-0 in their final round-robin match to collect four points from four wins.

Finishing in third to fifth spots were Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.

Meanwhile, in the ITF World Junior Tennis Competition (Girls) Pre-Qualifying, third seeds Kyrgyzstan also sprung a surprise by finishing top in the competition with a 2-1 victory over second seeds Singapore.

Ermeka Nurgazieva delivered the first point for Kyrgyzstan when she beat Maxine Ng 6-2, 6-3 in the first singles.

In the second singles, Charmaine Seah put Singapore level by registering an impressive 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Eliza Akarova.

Ermeka and ELiza then overcame Charmaine-Ashley Yim 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 to hand Kyrgyzstan a historic win.

Host team and top seeds Malaysia could only manage the third placing after they beat Turkmenistan 3-0 in the play-off for third/fourth position.

The Malaysians were beaten by Singapore 2-1 a day earlier.

Today's matches will see other teams playing for the minor placings.

Finalists of the ITF World Junior Tennis Competition (Boys/Girls) Pre-Qualifying will return to Kuching for the Final Qualifying tournament to be held from May 5-11.

The finalists of the Junior Fed Cup Pre-qualifying shall play in the Final Qualifying in New Delhi, India in April.

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2013 a fruitful year for SVA, says Lau

Posted: 21 Feb 2014 08:48 AM PST

SIBU: Sarawak Volleyball Association (SVA) president Temenggong Vincent Lau has described 2013 as an outstanding and excellent year for the association.

"We took part in 10 national championships for the boys and girls and we emerged seven times champions, two times runners-up and a third placing. This is really extraordinary," he said at an appreciation luncheon for the players and SVA officials yesterday afternoon.

Among those present were Sibu Volleyball Association chairman Dr William Ting, Malaysia Volleyball Association chief coach Moh Ung Ming and the chairmen of the Volleyball Associations of Limbang, Mukah, Miri and Meradong and Sarawak State Sports Council, Sibu chief Hii King Hung.

Lau admitted it was not easy to notch up such a wonderful result which he narrowed it all down to their leadership qualities.

"Without great cooperation among the top leaders down the ranks from the coaches to the players, we could have never registered such a good achievement," he said.

For this year, Lau hoped SVA would continue to produce surprises.

Lau said Sarawak's status of being a volleyball powerhouse did not came overnight but it was nurtured after many years of hard work.

"SVA have been pouring in tremendous amount of efforts to maintain the current performance of the team which has also become an envy of many other sports associations. We reap what we sow," he added.

Lau also wanted financial support from the government to enable SVA organise more high-level championships.

"In the past, we have been depending mostly on the NGOs and private individuals for financial support. We have never got a single sen from the government to finance our events."

For the Malaysian women players who took part in last
year's Myanmar SEA Games,
Lau, who was also its team manager, said the games was a good platform for the players to gain exposure.

"The players may not have won anything but the opportunity to take part in the Games should also have clearly indicated to the government that women volleyball in the country is on the rise again."

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WFS coaches get approval to teach wushu in schools

Posted: 21 Feb 2014 08:48 AM PST

KUCHING: The Wushu Federation of Sarawak (WFS) have obtained the green light from the State Education Department for its coaches to teach wushu in schools in the state.

In disclosing this yesterday, WFS secretary William Kong said coaches from its seven affiliates are now free to teach wushu, which is a school co-curriculum subject, in the schools.

"The affiliates are Kelab Wushu Serian, Kelab Wushu Sekama, Kelab Wushu Bandar Kuching, Kelab Wushu Saratok, Kelab Wushu Jelutong, Kelab Wushu Permai Timur, Kelab Wushu Sungai Merah and Kelab Zhong Hua Wushu Piasau," he said.

Kong added that WFS has also applied for the permission to be given to its latest affiliate Kelab Wushu Satok.

The State Education Department introduced a new directive on self-defence classes in schools early last month that all associations need to register with the Department and apply for permission to teach self-defence sports such as taekwondo, karate and wushu in schools.

"WFS' application in this matter was approved by the State Education Department in the middle of January and we have forwarded a copy of the approval each to our affiliates," said Kong.

"The Federation welcomes and wholly supports the new directive and we hope that the State Education Department can go one step further by working with the official state parent body of a particular sport in selecting and allowing qualified coaches recommended by that parent body to teach the sport in schools.

"This helps the Department to be very clear as to who is overall responsible for a particular sport at state level."

Kong said the coaches would have been vetted by the chief coach or a qualified examiner who is recognised by the national governing body for the sport.

"For instance, our deputy president James Ting, an 8th Duan practitioner, is the only examiner for wushu upgrading appointed by the national wushu body Wushu Federation of Malaysia (WFM) for Sarawak and Sabah.

"More importantly, by training under the recognised coaches, the students have the opportunities to participate in official championships organised in and outside the country," added Kong.

"WFS would like to thank the director of the State Education Department Abdillah Adam and his officers in guiding and assisting the Federation's members in conducting coaching classes in schools as well as organising competitions at divisional and state levels," he said.

WFS was registered with the Sarawak Sports Commissioner's Office in June last year and the Federation is officially recognised as the state's wushu governing body by the State Education Department, Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS), and the WFM.

For wushu students to qualify for national competitions such as Sukma (Malaysia Games), Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia (KPM) Wushu Championship, National Wushu Championship and international competitions such as Asian Junior Wushu Championship, World Junior Wushu Championship, World Wushu Championship, Asian Games and SEA Games, they must be a member of WFS affiliates.

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Team Corbusier eyeing more glory

Posted: 21 Feb 2014 08:45 AM PST

by Marshall Tiong, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 22, 2014, Saturday

Sarawak's top cycling outfit start season at Shah Alam Criterium

KUCHING: Sarawak's top cycling outfit Team Corbusier, begins its 2014 campaign this weekend in Peninsula Malaysia.

With no races announced for Kuching, or Sarawak for that matter, Corbusier will start its race calendar in Selangor at the Shah Alam Criterium.

They will be fielding the core of its successful 2013 Sarawak Health race team.

Leading their charge will be West Kalimantan's Fito Prilanji and Yudi Rachmad with local racers Laurel Lauridsen Adrian and Zaid Ismail.

UiTM's Charles Diking would have been included in the squad if not for collegiate commitments.

Fito captained Corbusier's Health race winning team which saw Laurel winning the race after a superb lead-out by Yudi. The Indon pro will be a key feature for Corbusier this season after being dropped from Team CCN, the Brunei-based UCI team.

"Fito will be riding extensively for us this season," said Team Corbusier principal Safri Mohammed.

After a fine debut season, the team are now focusing on getting its local riders established.

With the help of Aussie pros Paul van der Ploeg and Dan Bonello, Corbusier established itself in the Malaysian cycle racing scene as an exciting team willing to take chances.

"We tried very hard to get recognised last year. Now, we are a known factor," said Safri. One of their targets for this season is to race in Malaysian races which carry ranking points as they focus on their corp of talented local riders.

"This year, we are going to try to get our young local riders established in the elite level," said Safri.

To that end, they will be racing in the Malaysian GP Series and UCI races.

One of their first UCI races will be the Chief Minister's Cup in Malacca.

They will certainly be racing in the Jelajah Malaysia and the Tour of Borneo.

The Borneo race was where they scored their first ever victory when Ploeg outsprinted the bunch to take the first stage. With the success of their UCI squad, the progress of their development squad has taken on an added emphasis.

"I am really pleased to see our juniors, especially the U19 squad, progressing very well," Said Safri.

He recognised the need to establish a proper vehicle to enable their up-and-coming riders to make it at the national level.

The team are working with the Sarawak Cycling Association and various agencies in an effort to achieve this goal.

Safri's vision for Corbusier is to see it become a platform not just for Sarawak riders but riders from throughout Borneo as well. As he sees it, they already have Kalimantan pros like Fito and Yudi in addition to Sabahans Laurel and Charles.

Top Sarawak masters racer Supian Nor is the team's coach and they also have top junior Garry Tay who is now training with the Sukma squad in Perlis.

Another rider who is key to the team's plan is Bintulu-based Sylvester Ding.

The local uni grad was a key support rider in the Jelajah and Safri is keen to use him in future stage races, provided his work commitments does not clash with the races.

The team also have the 'X' factor in the form of Aussie Ploeg, who is the current world champion in the mountainbike eliminator event.

Nobody would have thought that a small Borneo-based club would have this in their resume when Corbusier signed Ploeg to race in the UCI races in 2013.

There is no Malaysian team with a tie to a world champion. Safri acknowledged this marketing coup and is hoping to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.

"We would love to bring Paul here for a race. It just needs the right sponsors and I am hopeful we an do that."

Just imagine the buzz this would create if a true-blue Rainbow Jersey-wearer were to show up here in the Capital City.

For the uninitiated, the Rainbow Jersey is the jersey awarded to all UCI world champions.

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Betty Hoong shines in school athletics meet

Posted: 21 Feb 2014 08:45 AM PST

by Philip Wong, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 22, 2014, Saturday

SIBU: Eight records were written but it was state thrower Betty Hoong King Ching who stole the limelight in the annual SMK St Elizabeth athletics meet which ended at Tun Zaidi Stadium yesterday.

Betty contributed two records in the Girls' U18 Discus with a distance of 29.09m to eclipse the old mark of 25.16m and shot putt (9.43m).

She was also adjudged the best sports girl in the Girls' U18 category.

Cristassia Charlie set a new record in Girls' U15 3,000m walk with a time of 19:48" to beat the old time of 22:06.09".

In Girls' U14, Hung Ching Ching leapt to a new distance in the triple jump with a new record of 9.11m while Sia Chee Sang soared to a new height of 1.29m in the high jump.

Three records in the Girls' U13 category also tumbled. Alvina Tiong Mee Ling contributed the 100m record with a new time of 14.30", Malvina Sereena Dannel Banjamin took the triple jump gold with a new record of 8.93m while Blue House smashed the 4x100m relay record with a new time of 1:02".

The Girls' U15 best girl was Cristassia. Besides lifting the title in the 3,000m walk, Cristassia also emerged champion in the 800m and second in the 1,500m.

Ching Ching was adjudged the best girl in Girls' U14 category while Alvina was the best girl in the Girls' U13 category.

Blue House garnered 655 points to emerge overall champion, followed by Red House with 541 points, Green House with 499 points and Yellow House with 378 points.

In the special invitational tug-of-war competition, SMK St Elizabeth were the champion, followed by SMK Agama and SMK Tung Hua.

Robert Lau Hui Yew, a member of the school's board of directors, gave away the prizes.

Among those present at the function were principal Clement Chieng, senior assistant I David Teo Wu and senior assistant for co-curriculum SL Kiew.

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