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Troubled Kelantan play host to Crocs tonight BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Troubled Kelantan play host to Crocs tonight

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 12:00 PM PDT

KUCHING: Off-field events may have a big influence on the outcome of tonight's match between Sarawak and Kelantan at the Sultan Mohamad IV Stadium.

Kelantan sacked their coach Steve Darby last Wednesday following a run of poor results which for the management and their fans was unacceptable as the team had been the dominant force in the Super League in the past three seasons.

Kelantan's home ground advantage may be negated by the loss of their manager and low confidence but Sarawak's coach Robert Alberts cautioned that the instead of being distracted by their off-field troubles the Kelantan players could be fired up to prove they were still a force to be reckoned with.

"They might have this mentality to prove everyone wrong as they have been criticised for their performances this season but we chose not to dwell on their troubles as we just want to focus solely on winning this game," he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

The Crocs on the other hand have their tail up at the moment up following their two match winning streak after a patch of indifferent form.

Sarawak beat struggling ATM team 3-2 at home on April 8 and then went on to surprise high-flying Terengganu edging them 2-1 at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah last Friday.

Prior to this mini revival Sarawak were on a bad run of four games without a win stretching from 3-1 away loss to Pahang to the 3-1 defeat at home to Terengganu on April 5.

Fatigue might hamper the Crocs tonight as Alberts lamented that the team had not much time to recover after the last match.

However he believed that his players would go all out tonight as the Super League would take a three-week break after this week. And then there is that little business of avenging their 0-1 defeat to Kelantan at the Stadium Negeri in January.

Sarawak's next match after tonight will be against Sime Darby at home on May 10.

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Leong, Nicholas, Kheng Hwai lead local charge at Malaysian Open

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 09:39 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Three local professionals – Ben Leong, Nicholas Fung and Khor Kheng Wai – carded identical even par 72 scores in the first round of a lightning disrupted 2014 Maybank Malaysian Open to stay seven strokes off the pace at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, here yesterday.

"I haven't been in this kind of environment for quite a while, so I am very happy and pleased. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's round," said Leong, who was down with injury for some time and started playing golf only in December.

"To be honest, I'm pretty nervous at the start. It wasn't easy. I think that I need a few more round to get use with the competition. I can't say that I've improved 100 per cent but it is good enough for me. I have to improve on many things and I have to sharpen my game."

The Sabahan would have scored a one-under 71 today but bogeyed the 18th hole when he needed only a par.

Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour regular, Khor Kheng Wai was happy with his performance when he shot an eagle in the opening round.

"It was a great start. I had a lucky bounce on the fifth hole to make eagle. I still tried to make birdies after that but I was unlucky with some putts. It felt good to be playing well because I haven't been playing well in the last few weeks.

"I was riding on some confidence after shooting three-under early in the round so hopefully I can stick to the same game plan tomorrow," he said adding that he had improved his game with the help of his new coach, Ng Shern Wei.

"He has been helping me a lot. We've been working on my swing to get more consistent shots which cut down a lot of problems for me," he said.

Nicholas Fung meanwhile, carded four birdies but added four bogeys to break even and end with a 72. — Bernama

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Assri still a long way from top ATP ranking

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 09:38 AM PDT

KUCHING: Sarawak ace Mohd Assri Merzuki still has a long way to go in his quest to be among the top ATP players in the world.

The 19-year-old professional from Kampung Semariang, Kuching showed glimpses of promise when he competed in the Manila and Kuching legs of the ITF Men's Futures US$15,000 tournament recently.

Assri crashed out of the men's singles first round in Manila but made the finals of the men's doubles with his partner from Czech Republic Ivo Minar.

In the Kuching leg, Assri beat compatriot Marco Danielo Geronimo 6-0, 6-1 in the first round only to lose 5-7, 1-6 to eventual finalist Carlos Boluda-Purkiss, the tournament seventh seed from Spain in the second round (last 16).

In the men's doubles, Assri and Ivo reached the semi-finals where they lost 3-6, 3-6 to the Chinese Taipei pair of Ho Chih-Jen and Hung Jui-Chen.

"Assri was unlucky to play the top seed in the first round men's singles but in the doubles, he and Ivo did well to reach the final where they lost to the top seeds," said his coach Doru Murariu who is from Romania.

According to him, Assri had an easy draw in the first round against Marco but it was really tough for him to play the former top 20 ITF ranked player.

"Assri had the chances against Carlos but he couldn't make good his chances. He still needs confidence and self-belief that he is capable of beating those who have higher rankings than him.

"His game is there and he showed the ability to become a good doubles player. With the good results in Manila and Kuching, I believe Assri will now be ranked in the ATP men's doubles top 900 and around 1,300 in the men's singles," said Murariu.

In the transitional period from an ITF junior to an ATP pro, Murariu felt that Assri need to get used to playing against higher ranked players.

"Our emphasis is on the doubles where Assri's goal is to be in the ATP top 500 in the men's doubles rankings," he added.

"This is achievable because he has developed a very fast game at the net, his serve is more consistent, and he also enjoys playing in the doubles."

Assri has returned to the US for another two weeks of training at Tennis Players Fitness Institute in Bradenton, Florida before flying to Turkey to play in two Men's Futures US$10,000 events which will be part of his preparation for the Sukma XVII challenge in Perlis in May.

After Sukma XVII, Assri will represent Malaysia in the Davis Cup in Iran after which he will head for Europe to play in clay court tournaments where he can play better.

Another state Sukma player Aslina Chua is also training at Tennis Players Fitness Institute for three months in preparing for Sukma challenge.

"She is fitter, lost some weight and her game has improved a lot especially from the baseline," said Murariu.

Aslina is playing in weekend tournaments (ITF juniors or national juniors) in and around Florida.

She will fly to Turkey together with Assri to play in Women's Futures events there.

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Motorcycle Drag Race today till Sunday at Old Sibu Airport site

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 09:37 AM PDT

SIBU: A 3-day Motorcycle Drag Race (Sprint Test) begins today at the Old Sibu Airport site, with Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Abdullah Saidol expected to declare it open at 9.30am.

The race has the participation of 50 riders some of whomhave come as far as Brunei and Sabah.

Other participants include those from Kuching, Miri, Bintulu, Sarikei and Sibu.

The race is organised by the Angkatan Warisan Anak Sarawak (AWAS) whose secretary-general Mohd Junaidi Sambang said PBB Youth Wing Central Zone (Gelombang Biru) and Dainese Racing (Intan Enterprise) were coordinating in rolling out the event.

Prize-giving is scheduled for April 20 at 3.30pm.

"The 'Sprint Test' for categories A, B, C, D and E are on April 18, 19 and 20 while category F (Auto Show) is at 3pm on April 20 at Taman Selera Harmoni.

"Prizes in cash and trophy await the top three winners of each category while the fourth place winners will each get a hamper," Junaidi said.

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SDRU hopes to win President’s Cup for the 17th time

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 09:36 AM PDT

by Philip Wong, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on April 18, 2014, Friday

SIBU: Defending champion Sibu Division Rugby Union (SDRU) is gunning for a record 17th Sarawak Rugby Union (SRU) President Cup triumph on June 14 and 15, at the SMK Sacred Heart field here.

SDRU chief coach Michael Ting said his players had been pumping iron in their training for the past few days in preparation for the tournament.

"We are not taking any chances and we want to win and cement our reputation as the powerbase for rugby," he said when contacted.

As usual, four teams from the state are expected to take part in the championship – two from southern zone, one from northern zone and Sibu Swans from central zone.

From the southern zone, Ting said four teams would be vying for honors to earn the qualifying ticket for the final in Sibu.

They are Kuching Division Rugby Union, SHAOW Old Boys, ATM 10th Ranger and a combined University Rugby Club.

The four teams would be involved in a league match and the top two winners will represent the southern zone for the final in Sibu.

Miri Division Rugby Union (MRDU) and Bintulu Division Rugby Union (BDRU) will vie for a berth in the final in Sibu.

Ting admitted that it would be a huge task for his boys to defend the title, saying "Again, we will have to rely on the service on our only Fijian, Iowane Sovatabua Taukeisalili."

Ting said Iowane, 26, had been instrumental to SDRU's success though he acknowledged the contribution of several back-up players to ensure that SDRU won back-to-back titles in the past year. Ting also mentioned that other teams would not be coming to make up the numbers.

"They are also eyeing for the title."

Citing MDRU, he said they had also engaged the service of a Fijian to boost their chance of winning.

Nevertheless, with a potent blend of youth and experience making up its illustrious team, Ting expected his boys to flex their muscles and rose on the occasion when it matter most.

Ting said SDRU would not be complacent, saying they will continue to put in efforts to ensure that SRU's President Cup remains with SDRU.

"We have been champions for 16 times and we do not see any reason why we should not retain the title yet again this year."

The SRU President Cup had been organized for the past 19 years. SDRU was champions for 16 times, with KDRU taking the titles on two occasions.

Outstanding players will be shortlisted for the annual Agong's Cup, slated to be held in Kuala Lumpur in late September.

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City title hopes in tatters

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 09:35 AM PDT

Pellegrini's side held by bottom side Sunderland at home

LONDON: Liverpool's position atop the Premier League table was strengthened on Wednesday when title rivals Manchester City were held to a 2-2 draw at home to bottom club Sunderland.

Beaten 3-2 at Liverpool on Sunday, City were bidding to close to within four points of Brendan Rodgers' side in the first of their two games in hand.

Fernandinho's 2nd-minute goal at the Etihad Stadium put City on track.

But after Connor Wickham scored twice in the last 17 minutes, the hosts needed a fortuitous 88th-minute equaliser from Samir Nasri just to rescue a point.

The result left City six points below Liverpool in third place and although Manuel Pellegrini's
side still have a game in hand, the title is inching ever closer to Anfield.

"It is not enough, because we have Liverpool and Chelsea on top of the table and we needed to add three points," said City coach Pellegrini.

"We will see in the future what will happen, but our chances are less.

"When it no longer depends on what you can do it is very frustrating, but we must finish the season the way we have done practically the whole season."

City were without injured midfielders Yaya Toure and David Silva, but top scorer Sergio Aguero returned to their starting line-up alongside Alvaro Negredo as Pellegrini made five changes to the team that lost at Liverpool.

The hosts made an ideal start, with Negredo winning the ball back and finding Aguero, whose pass enabled Fernandinho to open the scoring from eight yards.

Fernandinho should have made it 2-0 when he blazed over from a Pablo Zabaleta knock-down after Vito Mannone had saved from Aguero, but Sunderland then created several chances to equalise.

John O'Shea twice headed off-target from set-pieces, while Fabio Borini and Adam Johnson each fired efforts narrowly wide before half-time.

A deflected Aguero effort that Mannone saved comfortably was the best that City could muster in the early stages of the second period and in the 73rd minute they were punished.

Emanuele Giaccherini sent a cross into the City box from the left and Wickham steered a volley past Joe Hart to register his first league goal since 2011.

Ten minutes later Wickham struck again, beating Hart at his near post after a Sunderland counter-attack and leaving Gus Poyet's men on the verge of avenging their loss to City in the League Cup final.

It was not to be, as Nasri's long-ranger somehow squirmed past Mannone and over the line, but the Frenchman's failure to convert a gilt-edged opportunity moments later meant that it was still a costly night for City.

"We conceded a goal after two minutes at Manchester City and every single person in the world expected us to lose from there," said Sunderland manager Poyet.

"But we passed the ball and created chances. We kept believing." — AFP

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