Bukan Satu Beban

DANIEL (tengah) diapit penerima anugerah Putera dan Puteri Sukan, Ahmad Amsyar Azman serta Chan Sau Wah pada Anugerah Sukan Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia-MSSM-Milo di Putrajaya semalam.

---

TIGA acara yang akan disertainya pada Sukan Olimpik XXIX di Beijing tidak dianggap satu beban besar buat perenang sensasi negara, Daniel Bego.

Sebaliknya, perenang kelahiran Sarawak berusia 19 tahun itu percaya dengan kemampuan yang ada pada dirinya untuk bersaing dalam acara 200 meter gaya bebas, 100 dan 200m kuak kupu-kupu pada temasya Olimpik yang akan membuka tirainya 8 Ogos ini.

Jelas Daniel, dia masih yakin mampu mara ke separuh akhir walaupun terpaksa mengerah keringat beraksi dalam tiga acara.

"Saya tidak pernah berganjak dengan keputusan ini meskipun ada yang memberi pandangan supaya memberi tumpuan dalam satu acara.

"Apa yang penting saya mahu bekerja keras," kata Daniel selepas majlis penyampaian Anugerah Sukan Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia-MSSM-Milo di Putrajaya semalam.

Daniel yang juga bekas pelajar Sekolah Sukan Bukit Jalil (SSBJ) berkata, dia yakin dengan keputusan untuk menyertai tiga acara tersebut kerana telah berusaha keras untuk melayakkan diri secara merit ke Beijing.

Menurutnya, alasan penat tidak menjadi persoalan kerana acara yang akan disertainya itu tidak dijalankan secara serentak dalam tempoh sehari tetapi dalam tempoh lapan hari.

"Tempoh saringan yang dijalankan selang sehari dan ini akan membantu saya," tambah Daniel.

Daniel turut berjanji akan memberi fokus dalam setiap acara yang disertainya dalam usaha untuk meraih pingat buat kontinjen negara pada temasya kali ini.

Terdahulu, Daniel menerima Anugerah Emas berdasarkan pencapaian cemerlangnya sepanjang tahun lepas termasuk memenangi dua pingat emas, satu perak dan dua gangsa pada Sukan SEA XXIV.

Sementara itu, Pengarah Bahagian Sekolah Harian, Kementerian Pelajaran, Zulkifli Mohd. Wazir berkata, pihaknya sedia menimbangkan insentif kepada pelajar yang berjaya meraih pingat di Beijing.

Katanya, antara insentif itu ialah pemberian hadiah wang tunai, biasiswa dan peluang melanjutkan pelajaran ke peringkat lebih tinggi.

Lima pelajar di bawah Majlis Sukan Sekolah Sekolah Malaysia (MSSM) yang akan ke Beijing ialah Bryan Nickson Lomas, Elizabeth Jimie, Pandelela Rinong (semua acara terjun), Khoo Cai Lin (renang) dan Azizulhasni Awang Muda (lumba basikal).

Ahmad Amsyar, Sau Wah Julang SSBJ

PUTRAJAYA – Dua pelajar Sekolah Sukan Bukit Jalil (SSBJ), Ahmad Amsyar Azman dan Chan Sau Wah diumumkan Putera dan Puteri Sukan pada Anugerah Sukan Kementerian Pelajaran MSSM-Milo 2007 sekali gus meneruskan penguasaan atlet dari sekolah berkenaan sejak beberapa tahun lalu.

Ahmad Amsyar memenanginya atas pencapaian satu emas dan satu perak akuatik terjun papan anjal Kejohanan Peringkat Umur Asia di Jakarta, tiga gangsa Festival Olimpik Belia Australia di Sydney dan dua perak Kejohanan MSSM selain pernah bergelar Olahragawan Harapan SSBJ.

Sau Wah pula diiktiraf atas pencapaiannya ah memungut sebutir emas, sebutir perak dan sebutir gangsa gimnastik artistik Sukan SEA Korat; dua perak, dua gangsa Terbuka Vietnam; tempat kesembilan dan ke-10 Piala Dunia di Shanghai dan dua emas, satu gangsa Kejohanan Kebangsaan.

Kejayaan Ahmad Amsyar bergelar Putera Sukan turut mengulangi pencapaian penerjun negara yang berpengalaman dua Sukan Olimpik 2004 dan 2008, Bryan Nickson Lomas yang melakukannya pada 2004 selain Farah Begum Abdullah sebagai Puteri Sukan 1999.

‘‘Saya tujukan kejayaan ini dan berterima kasih khususnya kepada bapa dan ibu, Azman Hassan dan Rozita Ibrahim selain jurulatih dari China, Can Wein. Inilah yang terbesar dan amat membanggakan saya sejak menceburi sukan terjun ketika tahun enam.

“Anak jati Kangar, Perlis yang lebih menggemari acara 1m papan anjal dan meminati penerjun China, He Chong ini menambah, anugerah itu memberikan perangsang yang lebih kuat dalam mencapai cita-citanya, menyertai Sukan Olimpik 2012 seperti yang dilakukan oleh Bryan,’’ kata Ahmad Amsyar.

Sementara itu, Pengarah Bahagian Pengurusan Sekolah Harian Kementerian Pelajaran, Zulkifli Mohd. Wazir berkata, kementerian bersedia memberikan ganjaran lain kepada atlet pelajar sekolah yang berjaya membawa pulang sebarang pingat Sukan Olimpik Beijing sebagaimana yang dilakukan bagi Sukan SEA Korat tahun lalu.

“Ia bagaimanapun bergantung kepada kelulusan permohonan kami kepada Perbendaharaan tetapi bagi Sukan SEA lalu, kami berikan RM1,000 kepada pemenang emas, RM700 perak dan RM500 gangsa malah kami mempunyai skim biasiswa MSSM tertentu untuk atlet pelajar yang cemerlang melanjutkan pelajaran,” ujarnya.

Lima atlet pelajar sekolah yang bertanding di Beijing ialah Bryan Nickson Lomas, Elizabeth Jimie, Pandelela Rinong ( terjun), Khoo Cai Lin (renang) dan Azizulhasni Awang (berbasikal).

A Relay To Savour

KUALA LUMPUR: The past greats and current top Malaysian athletes all shared in the joy of being part of the Malaysian leg of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay here yesterday.

Flame on in Malaysia: Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tuanku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Jaafar, the first torchbearer in the Malaysian leg of the Olympic torch relay, running with the torch surrounded by security personnel at Dataran Merdeka Monday. There were few incidents in the relay that ended at KLCC.

For some of the Beijing-bound athletes who took part as torchbearers, it was the perfect tonic before they compete in the biggest sporting event on earth in August.

Shuttler Lee Chong Wei, who carried the torch for the section near Istana Hotel, said: “I’m now motivated to train harder and prepare for a good outing in Beijing.”

Chong Wei is Malaysia’s best bet for a medal in the men’s singles.

“It reminds me of my goal in the Olympics. There is only slightly more than three months remaining before the Olympics and that was what flashed through my mind while I was holding the torch. I am inspired to train harder after this,” said Chong Wei.

And 18-year-old diver Bryan Nickson Lomas, who was the youngest of the Malaysian torchbearers, said he felt honoured to be taking part in an Olympic Torch Relay.

“Hopefully, it will boost me to put up a good performance for the country in the Olympics,” said Bryan, who became the first Malaysian athlete to qualify for the Olympics after reaching the men’s 10m platform final in the World Championships in Melbourne last year.

The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah lighting up cauldron at the KLCC to mark the end of the Olympic torch relay Monday. Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar started off the torch relay at the Dataran Merdeka. The flame from the cauldron is transferred to a canister and taken to Jakarta for the next leg.

World number one woman squash player Nicol David, who also carried the torch along the section near Jalan Sultan Ismail, said it was as close as one could get to the Olympic Games.

“It’s really a good feeling to be an Olympic torchbearer, especially when I don’t get the chance to compete in the Olympics. I will not miss it for the world. I really hope squash will get into the Olympics one day,” said Nicol, who flew back from her training base in Amsterdam just for the occasion.

Like Nicol, top woman bowler Shalin Zulkifli was also excited to be among the 80 torchbearers.

“It is another way to be involved in the Olympics. Bowling is not in the Olympics and this is as close as I can get to feel what it’s like to be involved,” said Shalin.

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar was the first person to carry the torch in the relay which kicked off at Dataran Merdeka at 2pm.

It ended with Sultan Azlan Shah, the Sultan of Perak, as the final torchbearer and he lighted up the cauldron at the Esplanade area in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC).

Proud moment: Datuk Soh Chin Aun, the former national footballer, carrying the Olympic torch at the Merdeka Stadium Monday.

Malaysia last hosted a leg of the Olympic Torch Relay when Japan became the first Asian country to host the biggest sporting event in the world in 1964.

All five Malaysian Olympic medal winners – shuttlers Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock and the Sidek brothers – Razif, Jalani and Rashid – also took part in the relay.

Soon Kit-Kim Hock claimed the men’s doubles silver in the Atlanta Games in 1996. Razif-Jalani bagged a bronze when badminton made its debut in Barcelona in 1992 while Rashid was the singles bronze medallist in 1996.

OCM deputy president Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan hailed the event as a big success for Malaysia.

“Considering all the apprehensions following protests in most of the previous cities where the torch visited, I am glad to say that we managed to pull it off without any hitches. There were no major incidents. It’s just a pity that the rain fell in the later stages and drenched everyone. Otherwise it would have been a perfect show.”

The list of torchbearers

1. Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Jaafar, 2. Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah, 3. Mohd Kadri Mohamed Taib, 4. Wang Ji, 5. Datuk Tony Fernandes, 6. Datuk Abdul Hakim Borhan, 7. Datuk Mohd Yasin Salleh, 8. Karu Selvaratnam, 9. Datuk Ramlan Aziz, 10. Shaharuddin Jaafar, 11. Teng Mui Ngee, 12. Lim Keng Liat, 13. Soon Lay In, 14. Shi Fangfan, 15. Cheah Soon Kit, 16. Yuan Yufang, 17. Christopher Charles Moses, 18. Rashid Sidek, 19. Ng Ping Loong, 20. Abdul Ghafar Mahmud, 21. Datuk Zolkples Embong, 22. Francis Toh, 23. Shalin Zulkifli, 24. Datuk Dr Jemilah Mahmood, 25. Liew Kian Meng, 26. Bryan Nickson Lomas, 27. Yap Kim Hock, 28. Datuk Ho Koh Chye, 29. Datuk Soh Chin Aun, 30. Wilfred Vias, 31. Mohd Raduan Emeari, 32. Neo Chwee Yeen, 33. Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji, 34. Datuk Punch Gunalan, 35. Razif Sidek, 36. Muhd Salam Sidik, 37. Fu Chee Cheng, 38. Jalani Sidek, 39. Lim Yee Chung, 40. Seow Swee Pin, 41. Mohan Gurusamy, 42. Faridah Abdul Rahman, 43. Johnson Tan Soo Lim, 44. Ang Shiao Chin, 45. Nik Lazaridis, 46. Datuk Paduka Marina Mahathir, 47. Ras Adiba Radzi, 48. Min Yong Ho, 49. Nicol David, 50. Suh Dug Kun, 51. Datin Paduka Sharifah Mazlina, 52. Lee Chong Wei, 53. Fu Choong Sin, 54. Teh Muhd Amir, 55. Tan Sri Azman Hashim, 56. Balakrishnan Vishalache, 57. Jamali Johari, 58. Tan Ming Sen, 59. Thomas Kok, 60. Khairussaleh Ramli, 61. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukhor, 62. Datuk Kamal Harun, 63. Datuk James Selvaraj, 64. Gerry Jaya Simhan, 65. Maya Heng, 66. Rohana Rozhan, 67. Teo Hong Beng, 68. Datuk Dr Hashim Abdul Wahab, 69. Dr Reza Azmi, 70. Khadijah Abdul Rahman, 71. Aznir Malek, 72. Karam Singh Walia, 73. Datuk Dr Mikaail Kavanah, 74. Marina Chin, 75. Nurul Huda Abdullah, 76. Datuk Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, 77. Tan Sri Musa Hassan, 78. Hashim Wahir, 79. Cheng Yonghua. 80. Sultan Azlan Shah (Sultan of Perak).

Marina Comes Full Circle

KUALA LUMPUR: Her first day as principal of the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) completed a circle of sorts for former national sprinter Marina Chin.

Familiarising herself: Chin taking a closer look at student activities in a classroom on her first day as principal of the Bukit Jalil Sports School in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

“I was quite excited when I was appointed (BJSS principal) as I was the desk officer in charge of developing and planning the sports school concept in the Education Ministry.

“I remember travelling all over the country with the ministry architects to look at residential schools in order to plan this school,” she reminisced yesterday.

Now, more than 20 years later, Chin has the opportunity to help shape and direct BJSS' course as the country’s premier sports school.

Used to starting work at 7.30am, the former principal of SMK Sultan Abdul Samad, Petaling Jaya, arrived at BJSS bright and early, even before reporting to the Federal Territory Education Department.

Chin was given a tour of the school and later attended her first assembly.

“It’s not altogether new for me as I’ve never been completely away from sports because of my involvement with the sports programme with the National Sports Council and Education Ministry,” she said.

Chin's first speech to her students was short and sweet – she reminded them that their studies and character were as important as sports training.

Chin, who is the first female principal of BJSS, took over from Saidin Osman, who has been transferred to SMK Datuk Abdul Rahman Talib in Lumut.

Marina Chin's First Day At Work

Rayzam, Nabihah terbaik MSSM

KUALA LUMPUR – Atlet olahraga Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian dan gimnas Nabihah Ali masing-masing dipilih sebagai Putera dan Puteri Sukan Majlis Sukan Sekolahsekolah Malaysia (MSSM)-Milo 2006 di sini, semalam.

Rayzam Shah dipilih atas kejayaannya memenangi pingat emas dan perak olahraga Sukan Sekolah-Sekolah ASEAN di Chiangmai, Thailand dan emas Kejohanan Olahraga MSSM manakala Nabihah memenangi enam emas di Kejohanan Gimnastik Artistik MSSM 2006.

Muhammad Rafiq Ismail daripada acara tenpin boling dan pemain skuasy, Yong Sue Ann memenangi Anugerah Tunas Harapan manakala Anugerah Khas diraih Mohd. Azizulhasni Awang daripada sukan lumba basikal dan Chai Fong Wei, yang mewakili wusyu.

Menang
Anugerah Pendidikan Khas pula dimenangi oleh Md. Parhan Dahlan dan Siti Noor Iasah Mohamad Ariffin, hasil kejayaan memenangi emas di Kejohanan Olahraga Pendidikan Khas Peringkat Kebangsaan 2006.
Anugerah Guru Berjasa pula menjadi milik Low Siak San dari Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) St. Paul, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan dan Foo Wai Choodari dari Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tengku Bariah, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu.


Pemenang membawa pulang trofi, pingat dan sijil yang disampaikan oleh Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Noh Omar pada majlis penyampaian anugerah di sini, semalam.

Rayzam, Nabihah Terima Anugerah MSSM-Milo 2007

KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Julai (Bernama) -- Atlet lompat pagar negara Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian dan gimnas artistik Nabihah Ali dimahkotakan sebagai Putera Sukan dan Puteri Sukan MSSM-Milo 2006.

Rayzam, layak ke pusingan separuh akhir Kejohanan Remaja Dunia IAAF di Beijing, China, tahun lepas dan memenangi pingat perak pada Kejohanan Atletik Remaja Asia di Macau tahun lepas.

Nabihah merupakan pemenang enam pingat emas di Kejohanan Gimnastik Artistik Majlis Sukan Sekolah Malaysia (MSSM) dan memenangi tiga pingat perak pada Kejohanan Gimnastik Sekolah Asia di Manila, Filipina tahun lepas.

Bagaimanapun kedua-dua mereka tidak hadir pada majlis penyampaian anugerah yang disampaikan oleh Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Noh Omar di sini hari ini.

Rayzam sedang menyertai Kejohanan Trek dan Balapan Asia di Amman, Jordan sementara Nabihah sedang menjalani latihan di China.

"Saya berharap pemenang pelbagai anugerah hari ini akan terus cemerlang dalam lapangan yang mereka ceburi. Kita tidak mahu melihat mereka hilang selepas setahun dua mencapai tahap membanggakan dalam pertandingan," kata Noh.

Pemenang kategori Anugerah Khas Putera dan Puteri Sukan, Anugerah Pendidikan Khas Putera dan Puteri, Anugerah Tunas Harapan Putera dan Puteri serta Anugerah Guru Paling Berjasa Lelaki dan Wanita turut menerima anugerah masing-masing.

Noh berkata bagi melahirkan lebih banyak atlet berbakat, Kementerian Pelajaran akan membina tiga lagi sekolah sukan di Pahang, Sabah dan Perlis daripada dua yang ada sekarang iaitu di Bukit Jalil di sini dan Bandar Penawar di Johor.

Senarai Penerima Anugerah:

Anugerah Putera Sukan: Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian (atletik)

Anugerah Puteri Sukan: Nabihah Ali (gimnas artistik)

Anugerah Khas Putera Sukan: Mohd Azizulhasni Awang (basikal)

Anugerah Khas Puteri Sukan: Chai Fong Wei (wushu)

Anugerah Pendidikan Khas Putera: Md Parhan Dahlan (atletik, Fespic)

Anugerah Pendidikan Khas Puteri: Siti Noor Iasah Mohamad Ariffin (atletik, Fespic)

Anugerah Tunas Harapan Putera: Muhammad Rafiq Ismail (boling)

Anugerah Tunas Harapan Puteri: Yong Sue Ann (skuasy)

Anugerah Guru Berjasa Lelaki: Low Siak San (akuatik)

Anugerah Guru Berjasa Wanita: Foo Wai Choo (sofbol)

Marina Chin To Head Bukit Jalil Sports School

KUALA LUMPUR: Former national sprinting star Marina Chin will take over as principal of the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) from Aug 1.

Education Minster Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein announced her appointment Friday when he launched the Schools High Performance Sports Programme at BJSS here.

Marina, who won accolades in athletics in the late 1970s, is the first former national athlete to head the school since its formation in 1996.

Hishammuddin said he hoped that with Marina’s appointment, BJSS would achieve greater success.

Marina said her first task would be to study the programmes in place at BJSS before embarking on any new course.

Marina was Sportswoman of the Year in 1976 and 1977. She was recently principal of SMK Sultan Abdul Samad in Petaling Jaya, a post she held for four months before this latest appointment.

Malaysia’s Two Sports Schools Urged To Get Global Recognition

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s two Sports Schools - in Bukit Jalil and Bandar Penawar - have been urged to improve on their achievements and gain worldwide recognition as a model for academic and sporting excellence.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said that the ultimate aim for the Malaysia Sports Schools is to be a leader in the development of sports in the country and ensure that potential champions are groomed with proper guidance from the grassroot levels.

Raring To Go

Among the top schools in the country, there is a buzz of excitement. They are now competing to be one of the 300 “cluster schools” which will give them some autonomy in running their schools and developing areas of specialisations.

More Facilities
Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) may be ahead of most schools in sporting equipment and facilities, but being selected as a cluster school will enhance the school's sports achievements, shares a teacher there.

“We already have many benefits as a sports school but once we become a cluster school, we will get better infrastructure and trainers,” he says.

BJSS caters to athletes from 28 sports and can take up to 600 students.

Plans for a sports school in Perlis is currently underway and is expected to be ready some time in 2008.

It would be the fourth sports school in the country after Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur, Bandar Penawar in Johor and another one in Pahang.

In addition, there are schools designated as part-time sports schools orSekolah Sukan Sambilan, which specialise in specific sports. Selected students can transfer to these schools, which include SM Anderson, Ipoh, for hockey and SM Victoria, Kuala Lumpur, for rugby.

Daniel And Zyanne The Favourites

DANIEL William Bego, Bryan Nickson Lomas and Suhan Kumar are the leading candidates to win the Bukit Jalil Sport School (BJSS) Sportsboy award tonight.

Swimmer Daniel, however, looks to have an edge after his two gold and one silver medal effort in last year's Manila Sea Games, followed by a magnificent performance in the World Youth Championships in Brazil last August where he clinched two silver medals.

At the Asean schools meet, the Sarawak swimmer won five gold medals and two silver as well.

Daniel is down to compete in the butterfly races over 50m, 100m and 200m and the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle events in the Asian Games on Dec 1-15.

Diver Bryan Lomas, on his part, won one gold medal in the Manila Games and one silver in the Commonwealth Games.

At the World Junior Championships in Kuala Lumpur in August, Bryan took bronze in the 10m platform.

National cricketer Suhan Kumar Alagaratnam is the other contender for the award which is celebrating its 10th anniversary today.

Suhan represented Malaysia in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) championship with the senior team. He was the best player in the ACC tournament and also at the Carl Schubert Trophy held in Singapore this year.

The other contenders include squash player Mohd Nafizwan Adnan and shuttler Mohammad Arif Latif.

In the Sportsgirl category Zyanne Lee Huey is the leading candidate for her three gold medals in synchronised swimming (solo) in last year's Malaysian Open.

National gymnast Durratun Nashihin Rosli, who won one gold and two bronze medals in the Manila Sea Games, however, could pip Zyanne to the title.

The other nominees in the category are diver Leong Mun Yee, bowler Wan Nur Atiqqa , swimmer Chai Sook Fun and national pole vaulter Noor Akmar Fatah.