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Mior seals four-shot win at Kinara BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Mior seals four-shot win at Kinara

Posted: 06 Jun 2014 10:33 AM PDT

KUCHING: Mior Asyraf Haziq shot an even-par 71 to win the sixth leg of the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Satellite Tour at Kinrara Golf Club on Thursday.

The champion, who came into the third and final round with a one-stroke cushion at the top, secured the victory by four shots after finishing on four-over 217.

That effort in an event that is used as part of the PGM's Road to Olympics 2016 saw Fadzlan Faruk shoot a final day 73 for second place on 221, while Ariff Sarji had a 76 that left him in third place on 223.

Iqbal Yusoff carded the best round of the last day, a one-under 70, which left him in a tie for fourth spot with Kalana Ibrahim (78) and amateur player, Christopher Maria Soosa (75) on 13-over 226. Asri Muhammad Din, another of the amateur players in the field, shot a 76 for a 227 total in seventh place.

Aaron Cheong (amateur) fired a last round 73 for eighth place on 229, with Danial Mukti (77) ninth on 230. Amateurs Lim Chan Yew (81) and Mohd Zaid Ibrahim (80) were joint 10th on 235.

Happy after his win that was set up by a consistent performance on a Kinrara course that played tough in all three rounds, Mior said: "It was not easy but I am pleased to have won here. Hopefully I can build on this and make the
second half of the season a good one."

The next event on the PGM Tour is the PGM Vascory Templer Park Championship at Templer Park Country Club from June 11-14.

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Historic win for SM Sains Kuching

Posted: 06 Jun 2014 10:32 AM PDT

KUCHING: SM Sains Kuching (SainsKu) created history when their girls team were crowned the national champions of the 41st Fully Residential Boarding Schools Basketball Championship at SM Sains Sultan Mahmud in Kuala Terengganu from May 22-27.

They beat SM Sains Pasir Puteh, Kelantan 47-40 in the final.

Despite trailing their opponents several times in the match, SainsKu showed great resolve and fighting spirit to reduce the points gap and eventually overtook SM Sains Sultan Mahmud to win by seven points in the final three minutes.

In commenting on the team's achievement, SM Sains Kuching senior assistant (co-curriculum) Adzuddin Mantrang, who is also the team contingent leader, praised the girls for their never-say-die attitude, commitment and strong fighting spirit.

"They played with full determination and discipline and after so many years of trying, they have managed to win the championship finishing as runners-up last year," he said.

Ten teams including Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Kedah, Perak and Sarawak, who are champions and runners-up of Northern, Eastern, Central and Western Zones competitions, took part in the championship.

In the national championship, SainsKu beat SM Sains Faris Petra of Kelantan 31-16, SBPI Selandar of Melaka 47-30, Sekolah Seri Puteri of Kuala Lumpur 47-40 and SM Sains Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang 31-16 in the group matches.

They defeated SM Agama Persekutuan Labu, Negeri Sembilan 47-25 in the semi-finals to set up the final clash with SM Sains Sultan Mahmud.

"We succeeded in achieving our target of becoming champions to commemorate with our school's 20th anniversary this year.

"What made the victory more sweet is that our player Jila Antonia won the best player award," said Adzuddin who added that the title was indeed a fitting farewell gift to Philip Ho Soon Huang who will be retiring this year.

Adzuddin said Ho was one of the teachers who had contributed a lot to the school in its sports including the development of basketball.

"We would like to thank all parties who have contributed to our success. They include our school principal Salbiah Seman, school management, teachers, support staff, students, former students and the Parent Teacher Association.

Thanks also goes to the two coaches Claudine Kok Hui Yiin and Michael Chan who have spent so much of their time, energy and money to ensure this success."

Adzuddin said for the first time in 1976, the Toh Puan Datin Hajah Siti Zainab trophy made its way across the South China Sea to the shores of the Borneo Island.

Before this, the boys team from SM Sains Kuching also won the Tun Dato' (Dr) Haji Hamdan Sheikh Tahir trophy for two consecutive years in 2009 and 2010.

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England head to Brazil relying on youngsters and luck

Posted: 06 Jun 2014 10:31 AM PDT

LONDON: One of the most telling moments of England's World Cup build-up came off the pitch, away from the players, crowds and live TV cameras on the night of a laboured 1-0 win over Denmark at Wembley in March.

Denmark coach Morten Olsen, completing his post-match news conference turned back to the mass of reporters as he left the auditorium and shouted: "Good luck in the World Cup – you need it!"

As well as producing howls of spontaneous laughter, it crystallised in nine words what most people think about England's return to the land of their greatest soccer humiliation – it is doomed to failure.

Even the chairman of the Football Association Greg Dyke does not appear to think much of their chances.

At the draw for the finals in December, when England were grouped with four-time champions Italy, twice winners Uruguay and stubborn Central American middleweights Costa Rica, Dyke was caught on camera grimacing and making a throat-slitting gesture.

He later back-tracked, brushing it off as a joke, but there are, nonetheless, real fears about 1966 world champions England failing to make it out of the group stage, which has only happened twice before, in 1950 and 1958.

For once the hyperbole that normally surrounds England's chances ahead of major tournaments has been muted and it would surprise few if they left before the knockout stages start on June 28.

Manager Roy Hodgson, 66, has been careful to avoid talking up England's prospects too much. It is not that he has been getting his excuses in early – he has just been wary about raising unrealistic hopes. — Reuters

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State taking stock of Sukma performance

Posted: 05 Jun 2014 11:57 AM PDT

by Ting Tieng Hee, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on June 6, 2014, Friday

KANGAR: Sarawak will be setting up a special committee to look into the performance of the teams taking part in Sukma XVII.

The committee to be headed by Sarawak Sports Corporation chief executive officer Dr Ong Kong Swee will comprise a team of experts who will analyse why some sports are doing well and while the others are under performing.

It will also assess the current training programme of all the sports involved in Sukma.

"The 22 teams in this Sukma will be divided into three categories, the performing sports, the under-performing sports and the non-performing sports," said Assistant Sports Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin in a press conference here late Tuesday evening.

According to Lee, those performing sports were swimming which won nine gold medals, wushu (five golds), tennis (four golds), tenpin bowling (six golds), petanque (three golds), archery (three golds) and diving that sprung a surprise to win two golds. Under-performing sports included silat, boxing, athletics, taekwondo and weightlifting while the non-performing sports (with zero gold) were football, men's and women's hockey, badminton, canoeing, sepak takraw, golf, cycling and karate-do.

"We got to look at the performing sports, why they did well and how they can do better, at the under-performing sports why did they fail to perform to expectations, and at the non-performing sports for why they failed to perform," said Lee, also the Sarawak chef de mission for Sukma XVII.

He said the state athletes had shown good potential to become champions in Sukma 2016 in Sarawak.

"Some of the very young athletes won medals in Kangar and in two years' time, I believe they can even do better," said Lee.

In the 17th edition of Sukma, Lee said Sarawak had achieved its target of finishing among the top three teams.

Sarawak finished third with 48 gold, 32 silver and 35 bronze medals behind new champions Kuala Lumpur who captured 55 gold, 38 silver and 49 bronze medals and Terengganu who won 51 gold, 55 silver and 31 bronze medals.

"Unfortunately, we did not meet our 55-gold target. However, we have improved our performance by finishing third when compared to fourth placing in Pahang (2012) and sixth placing in Melaka (2010)," said Lee.

The Assistant Minister of Communications noted that the performance of other states have also improved and that the medals were well spread out among the competing contingents.

"Kuala Lumpur won because they swept all the nine golds in rhythmic gymnastic and bagged 10 golds in swimming, five golds in taekwondo and four in athletics," he said.

As for Terengganu, their strength still lies in canoeing where they won 14 golds, and they also eight golds in archery, six each in athletics and cycling and four golds in optimist sailing.

Minus the canoeing golds that Terengganu won and the rhythmic gymnastics golds that Kuala Lumpur won, Lee said Sarawak could have been the champions.

"The gold medals difference among the top three teams is not big and even Perlis have improved greatly with 10 gold medals when compared to only two in Pahang," he pointed out.

He said Sarawak needs to continue with talent identification, develop the potential talents and groom them into high calibre athletes. "We will also bring in foreign professional coaches and upgrade local coaches as well as upgrade our technical officials and sports equipment."

On the state's preparations for hosting Sukma XIX in 2016, Lee said he has requested the National Sports Council director Datuk Seri Zolkoples Embong to come down to Sarawak early to look at the venues and facilities.

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PM outlines four reasons for holding Sukma

Posted: 05 Jun 2014 10:37 AM PDT

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak said the government has four main objectives in holding the Malaysia Games (Sukma).

He said the first objective was to highlight new talents as secondliners in carrying Malaysia's challenge at the international meets, and if there were no secondiners, the quality of sports would deteriorate.

"In the Thomas Cup recently, Malaysia almost won but lost and have to wait four more years after waiting since 1992.

"If there were credible secondliners like Datuk Lee Chong Wei, we would surely have won," said the Prime Minister in his speech at the closing of the 17th Sukma at Stadium Tuanku Syed Putra on Wednesday.

He said Sukma was an example how all types of sports must be developed so that the quality of national sports would improve besides nurturing, building the physical, mental and emotional resilience so that the athletes would be more successful at the international level.

The second reason was to give development opportunities for sports facilities and infrastructure required for success in these fields, said Najib.

"Who could imagine that Perlis would have a stadium, swimming pool and badminton hall. This is due to Perlis hosting (the Sukma) and assistance from the federal government in providing these facilities.

"I hope Perlis will look after these facilities in the best manner," he said.

The Prime Minister said the third objective was to inculcate a healthy lifestyle because according to the criteria, the obesity rate in Malaysia was the highest in Southeast Asia.

He said Malaysia should not be in this category but because of less activity in sports and recreation, many Malaysians had become obese.

"We want to emphasise that the people can keep a healthy body to raise productivity and subsequently reduce expenses on health and thus enjoy a more meaningful and quality life," he added.

Najib said the fourth reason why the Sukma was organised was because sports could also be used as a tool to strengthen unity and national integration.

The Prime Minister, who himself is an ardent sports fan, congratulated Perlis for a job well done and for winning 12 gold medals, the highest by the state in the history of its participation in the Sukma.

"When we decide the host for the 17th Sukma, there were some who were skeptical about Perlis' organising capabilities but when the Sukma ended today, it was evident that Perlis had successfully hosted the event.

"I wish to congratulate Perlis for carrying out its responsibilities as the host with enthusiasm because it is the biggest sporting event hosted by the state," said Najib.

Earlier, Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man in his speech also thanked the organising committee for creating their own history by hosting the biggest sporting event in the history of the state, successfully.

"I wish to thank the Prime Minister for giving Perlis the opportunity and believing in our ability to host the game with the full support and assistance of the Youth and Sports Ministry plus the people of Perlis.

"God willing, the Perlis contingent will continue to display the momentum and commitment shown in the 17th Sukma, throughout its participation in the Sukma and hopefully finish among the top five teams one day," said Azlan.

Also present during the closing ceremony were Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim. — Bernama

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Sarawak weightlifter Jelinie crowned Sukma XVII sportswoman

Posted: 05 Jun 2014 10:36 AM PDT

National discus thrower Muhammad Irfan Shamsuddin from Negeri Sembilan and Sarawak weightlifter Jenilie Empera were crowned Sportsman and Sportswoman of the 17th Perlis Sukma during a glittering closing ceremony on Wednesday.

Both winners received a trophy each from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who officially closed the Sukma at the Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium, here after 11 days of competition.

Muhammad Irfan, 19, smashed his own National discus record of 53.16m that was set during the Myanmar SEA Games last year with a new distance of 54.26m while Empera swept both the Snatch and Clean & Jerk gold medals in the Above 75kg category, en route to setting two new Sukma records.

Federal Territories (FT) accumulated 55 gold medals to emerge as the overall champion in the 17th Perlis Sukma, beating defending champion Terengganu who managed 51 gold medals.

Meanwhile, fireworks lighted up the sky in Perlis when the 17th Sukma came to a close in glittering fashion while Perlis Menteri Besar Azlan Man later handed over the Sukma flag to National Sports Council director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong.

About 20,000 athletes, fans and supporters thronged the stadium to watch the closing ceremony. — Bernama

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