NATIONAL SPORTS COUNCIL / YEAR IN REVIEW: Tight But Projects To Move On

Plans laid for 2013 and 2014

The men’s recurve team (from left) Khairul Anuar Mohamad, Cheng Chu Sian and Haziq Kamaruddin.

Chai Fong Ying won the world title in wushu.

DESPITE being a tight financial squeeze, the National Sports Council still managed to doll out enough cash to keep its programmes humming along ahead of the 2012 London Olympics.

Its reward was a better than expected showing at the Indonesia Sea Games besides improvement shown by athletes in archery, bowling cycling, diving, football and squash.

Badminton, though, had little to show apart from the conquests of Lee Chong Wei and with NSC having a direct interest in the sport, the lack of talent coming through must be a major concern.

For badminton, or rather Chong Wei, is Malaysia's best hope of ending the Olympic gold medal drought in London.

The Sea Games was the highlight for NSC, although it did come in for criticism after initially laying on an all-too-modest target of 40-45 gold medals.

The national contingent came through in style to deliver 59 gold medals, falling just one short of the more realistic 60 gold-target envisioned by the national sport associations.

With backing from NSC, Chong Wei dominated the Super Series circuit, winning the All-England in the process, while also providing support for Nicol David's march to a record sixth world title.

Track cycling continued to prosper through NSC's Road to London programme with Azizul Hasni Awang the chief beneficiary while archery prospered through the promotion of back-up archers to the elite squad as Khairul Anuar Mohamad and Haziq Kamaruddin took the world by storm.

Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore and Chai Fong Ying won world titles in bowling and wushu respectively while the Under-23 football team's Sea Games success was in no small part due to NSC's partnership with the FA of Malaysia.

NSC was also embroiled in a perennial feud with the Malaysian Athletic Union and took steps to patch up a frayed relationship with the Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia, though the benefits were not apparent.

NSC director-general Datuk Zolkeples Embong described 2011 as a success with several Pelapis (back-up) athletes -- notably in wushu and karate -- showing their potential at the Sea Games.

"In general, 2011 is a successful year for us. Besides doing well at the Sea Games, our athletes performed well at other international competitions," said Zolkeples.

"Chong Wei and Nicol won so many tournaments and still maintained their ranking as No 1 (in the world). Despite having a small population, we also produced world champions in Jacqueline, Fong Ying and (bodybuilder) Sazali (Samad).

"Of course, (Sea Games) is not our priority as we have done better than Indonesia and Vietnam (who finished ahead of Malaysia) at the (2010) Asian Games. But the Sea Games has proven we are not short of potential as 52 Pelapis athletes took part and 40 went on merit under Category A, contributing four gold, four silver and 13 bronze medals."

The Olympics will be the biggest event of 2012 and NSC will no doubt be under pressure to justify the expense of the Road to London programme to produce an Olympic gold medalist.

Though Chong Wei remains Malaysia's best bet of winning gold, athletes from cycling, diving and archery are also capable of bringing home medals.

"As 2012 is an Olympic year, we will work harder to fulfil our dream of winning our first gold ever. Many sports have improved. Before, we relied only on badminton for medals but now archery, cycling and diving also have a chance," said Zolkples.

NSC's work though does not cease with the Olympics as it is also looking ahead to 2014 with new programmes in the pipeline.

"We will immediately start preparing programmes for the 2013 Myanmar Sea Games and for Incheon (Asian Games) and Glasgow (Commonwealth Games) in 2014."

ON TARGET
40 of 52 Pelapis athletes competed in Sea Games on merit, contributing four gold, four silver and 13 bronze medals

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Kathirvale Among Eight Inducted Into OCM Hall Of Fame

By Y.P. SIVAM
metrospt@thestar.com.my
Photos by AZHAR MAHFOF

EIGHTY-TWO-year-old S. Kathirvale had reasons to be elated when he was inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) - Hall of Fame at the Coca-Cola Olympian of the Year ceremony in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Kathirvale, a former FIFA referee and FIH umpire, said he was pleased to be on stage with some of the top officials and athletes in Malaysia.

“I started being involved as a match official, in both hockey and football, when I was 28. It was very challenging then and there were days when abuses were hurled at me. But today, the OCM had made me proud with this honour,’’ said Kathirvale.

Besides Kathirvale, the OCM also honoured Datuk Khalid Yunus, Datuk W.Y. Chin, Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee, S. Jahendran, Datuk Thomas Lee, Marina Chin and Karu Selvaratnam.

Former greats: Kathirvale (fourth from left) with the others inducted into the OCM- Hall of Fame and OCM president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar (left) and Danyal.

Khalid, Chin, Yong Wee and Jahendran had served in the OCM. Khalid and Chin were vice- presidents while Yong Wee and Jahendran were treasurer and assistant treasurer respectively. Former athletes — Marina Chin and Karu Selvaratnam — also made it to the Hall of Fame.

Marina, now the principal of the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), won three gold medals in the 1977 and 1979 SEAP Games. She was also named as the Sportswoman of the Year in 1976 and 1977. Karu has the honour of having represented Malaysia in athletics and cricket.

Organising chairman Datuk Danyal Balagopal said the awards were a recognition for the recipients’ contribution to sports.

“All the winners have an impressive track record as administrators and athletes. They deserve to be given the honour to be inducted into the OCM Hall of Fame,’’ said Danyal, who is also the OCM vice-president.

BJSS netball coach Choo Kon Lee was presented with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Women and Sports Diploma.

The Olympian of the Year awards went to shooter Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi and archer Cheng Chu Sian. Both were impressive in the recent SEA Games in Indonesia. Nur Suryani won the 10m air rifle and 50m three position gold medals while Chu Sian won the individual and team events.

Both Nur Suryani and Chu Sian were rewarded with RM10,000 and a medallion each.

Roll of Honour

Olympian of the Year (women): Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi (shooting).

Olympian of the Year (men): Cheng Chu Sian (archery)

IOC Women and Sport Diploma: Choo Kon Lee (netball)

IOC Trophy (Sport and Social Responsibility); Saujana Golf and Country Club

Hall of Fame: Datuk Khalid Yunus, Datuk W.Y. Chin, Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee. S. Jahendran, Datuk Thomas Lee, S. Kathirvale, Marina Chin, Karu Selvaratnam.

19th OCM Annual Dinner and Awards Night 2011

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The 19th Olympic Council of Malaysia Annual Dinner and Awards Night 2011 was successfully organised on December 16 at the OCM Indoor Sports Arena, Wisma, Phase II, Kuala Lumpur. The Guest of Honour was Y.B. Dato’ Sri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia.

In his welcome address, HRH Prince Tunku Imran, OCM President, congratulated the Malaysian contingent of the 26th SEA Games for their outstanding achievements in Jakarta and Palembang, winning 59 gold medals, 51 silver and 82 bronze.

He added that the success of OCM was due to hard work, thriftiness and dedication and the support of all the partners of OCM, from its members, volunteers, the government, sponsors and, of course, the International Olympic Committee, Olympic Council of Asia, Commonwealth Games Federation, SEA Games Federation, the Association of National Olympic Committees and all those who have assisted OCM over the years.

The highlight of the 19th OCM Annual Dinner was the presentation of the following Awards: 2011 IOC Trophy - Sport and Social Responsibility, Saujana Golf & Country Club; IOC Women and Sport Diploma 2011, Ms. Choo Kong Lee (netball coach).

OCM Hall of Fame - Former National Athletes, Lt. Cdm. Karu Selcaratnam (rtd), national track athlete and national cricketer; Madam Marina Chin Leng Sim, national track athlete. Officials, Y. Bhg. Dato’ Khalid Yunus, Vice President of OCM from 1992 to 2005; Y.Bhg. Prof. Dato’Ar. W. Y. Chin, Vice President of OCM from 2000 to 2011; Y.Bhg. Dato’ Seri Kee Yong Wee, Honorary Treasurer of OCM from 1996 to 2011; Mr. S. Jahendran, Honorary Assistant Treasurer of OCM from 1996 to 2007; Y.Bhg. Dato’ Thomas Lee Mun Lung, Chairman of OCM Tan Sri Alex Lee Athletes’ Education Fund from 1999 to present. Technical Official, Mr. S. Kathiravele, retired FIFA International Referee from 1971 to 1980 and FIH International Umpire from 1968 to 1979.

OCM-Coca-Cola Olympian of the Year, Cheng Chu Sian (archery), male category – won gold medals in the Recurve Individual and Recurve Team events at the 26th SEA Games 2011; Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi (shooting), Female Category – won 2 gold medals in the 10m Air Rifle Individual and 50m S.B. Rifle Prone – 3 positions events at the 26th SEA Games 2011.

AWARDS: Chu Sian, Suryani Simply The Best

SUCH is his humility that Cheng Chu Sian was surprised when he became the first archer to collect the men's 2011 Olympian of the Year award at the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) Arena in Kuala Lumpur last night.

  Nur Suryani Taibi became only the second shooter in history, after Nurul Huda Baharin in 1998, to take the women's award, courtesy of her double gold medal feat in the Sea Games.

The 25-year-old Chu Sian, from Kuala Lumpur, was a surprise winner, voted by the panel ahead of diver Bryan Nickson Lomas and quadruple Sea Games gold medal-winning bowler Adrian Ang.

Chu Sian, who won the individual and team recurve gold medals at the Sea Games, said he was surprised by the panel's decision.

"I can't believe I won and this has taken me by surprise. I can't say much except that we started the year strongly and finished well too," said Chu Sian.

"Next year is a big year for us with the Olympics. I can only hope to do my best and I'm not expecting anything."

Nur Suryani was also a surprise winner.

She beat the likes of cyclist Fatehah Mustapa, who won gold medals in the women's 200m sprint, 500m time trial and team sprint at the Sea Games, and the synchronised swimming duo of Shareen Png and Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi who swept all five gold medals on offer in their events at the Sea Games.

Nur Suryani won two individual gold medals at the Sea Games -- in the 10m air rifle and 50m rifle three positions. By Arnaz M. Khairul and Devinder Singh

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3 Sunway Athletes Awarded Scholarships

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah (centre) flanked by Katrina (right) and Li Jane (left)

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah (centre) flanked by Katrina (right) and Li Jane (left)
Three Sunway athletes had done their country proud, when they returned from the 26th SEA Games in Palembang, Indonesia with medals. Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi won five gold medals all in the Synchronised Swimming events, Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore bagged gold in the women’s doubles Bowling event and bronze in the women’s team bowling event and Sin Li Jane won silver in the women’s individual Bowling event and a bronze in the women’s team event.

In recognition of their achievements, the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation has awarded full Sunway Talent Scholarships in the area of Sport to all three athletes. For Jacqueline and Katrina, this means an upgrade to their existing Sunway Talent Scholarship – Sports, from 50% to a full scholarship. Should Katrina (currently studying at Sunway College) decide to continue her studies at Sunway University, she will be offered a continuation of her scholarship into her university studies.

Sin Li Jane & Katrina

Katrina is 19 years old and is a Canadian International Matriculation (CIMP) student at Sunway College. Jacqueline also 19 years, is currently studying in the American Degree Transfer Program (ADTP) at Sunway University. Jacqueline’s gold medal with partner Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi has added to her successful year - in September she was crowned World Champion at the Women’s World Bowling Championships 2011 in Hong Kong.

Sin Li Jane, 19, is a fellow classmate of Jacqueline in the ADTP at Sunway University. On her SEA Games debut she narrowly missed the Gold medal by just two pins. However, gaining the Silver Medal in the women's individual event was satisfying after she clawed back to an 83 point gap during the competition. She and Jacqueline also combined to win a bronze in the women’s team event.

Jacqueline was unable to receive the scholarship certificate personally as she was away in South Africa competing for Malaysia in the World Cup Bowling Championships. Nevertheless, she is excited about the scholarship awarded and expresses her thanks to JCF.

The scholarships were provided by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation which owns and governs Sunway Education Group institutions.

Jacqueline

PM Proposes Doubling Cash Incentive For Future SEA Games Gold Medallists

KUALA LUMPUR: Athletes now have 10,000 more reasons to settle for nothing but the gold medal in future SEA Games.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in addressing the country’s top athletes at a function at Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara yesterday to fete their success at the Indonesia SEA Games, drew the loudest cheers when he proposed doubling the cash incentive for winning the gold medal.

Najib proposed that RM20,000 be given to athletes for their first gold medal in future SEA Games. It is a 100 per cent increase from the current RM10,000 for gold medal performances in the just concluded Games.

Subsequent gold medals won by the athlete will be worth RM10,000 each. Those who win a gold medal in a team event made up of at least five members, will get RM10,000 each – four times the current amount.

There is no reward for silver or bronze medal performances at the SEA Games, unlike for the Common-wealth Games and Asian Games.

For bowler Adrian Ang, who turned out to be the biggest winner yesterday with RM20,333, it was all good news to him.

“I would be getting more if the proposal was for this SEA Games but that’s not the reason why I am in the sport,” he said.

“I want to achieve the best results and winning the gold gives me the greatest satisfaction. Monetary rewards come later and we, as athletes, should be grateful that the government appreciates us, especially with a better carrot for the future,” said Adrian, who was the best performer in the national bowling team’s campaign in Jakarta.

The 23-year-old shone with four gold medals in the men’s doubles, trios, team and Masters, and a bronze in the singles.

A total of RM629,996 was handed out to the 91 winners yesterday in recognition of their golden efforts at the SEA Games in Jakarta and Palembang last month.

After Adrian, track cyclist Fatehah Mustapa received the second highest amount of RM17,000 for her gold medals in the sprint, 500m time trial and team sprint.

Synchronised swimmer Katrina Ann Hadi picked up a cheque for RM12,666 despite winning five gold medals.

This was because Katrina won only one individual gold, the other four coming from the duet and team disciplines.

Other big winners were double gold medallists divers Bryan Nickson Lomas and Yeoh Ken Nee, and swimmers Siow Yi Ting and Heidi Gan.

Quartet Finally Get Recognition Denied Them In Indonesia

KUALA LUMPUR: The 4x400m quartet will remember December 9 for the rest of their lives. That’s the day they finally got the recognition and glory denied them at the Indonesia SEA Games.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak presented the relay runners Mohd Yunus Lasaleh, S. Kannathasan, P. Yuvaraaj and Schzuan Ahmad Rosley with the gold medals they won at the SEA Games at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara yesterday.

The quartet went to the SEA Games under Category B on Nov 13, the eve of their event, but they surprised everyone when they stunned favourites Thailand to win the gold medal with a time of 3:10.49.

However, they were heartbroken as they had to return from Palembang a day before the medal presentation.

A day to remember: The men’s 4x400m quartet of (from left) Mohd Yunus Lasaleh, S.Kannathasan, Schzuan Ahmad Rosely and P.Yuvaraaj showing the gold medals presented to them by the Prime Minister yesterday. – GLENN GUAN/The Star

 It was the first time that athletes had been deprived of their moment of glory, forced to leave without collecting their medals.

Najib praised the quartet for winning the unexpected gold medal and presented them with cash incentives of RM2,500 each for their effort.

Under Category B, the sports association bears the cost of sending the athletes to the Games. The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) reimburses them if the athletes return with at least a silver medal.

Mohd Yunus, who made his debut in the Games, said that it had been a bittersweet experience.

“We went to Palembang at the last minute not as medal contenders but we surprised everyone by winning the relay. However, we were disappointed when we had to return home without our medals.

“We are really honoured to receive the gold medals from the Prime Minister today. It more than makes up for the hurt we suffered in Palembang.

“I will remember Dec 9 for the rest of my life,” said the 23-year-old Mohd Yunus, who is from Sabah.

P. Yuvaraaj said it was a privilege to have the Prime Minister himself present the medal they so cherished.

“It will definitely motivate us to train harder to prove that our win in Palembang was no fluke,” he said.

“We hope that in winning the gold we will be taken seriously and be able to compete in more events next year.

“I will also try to break the 400m national record of 46.41,” said Yuvaraaj, who has a personal best 47.31.

SPORTCHECK: Improved Incentive

NOTE OF CAUTION: Strive for success on the international stage and just not be satisfied with regional success


AS the country's 4x400m men's quartet received their long-awaited Sea Games gold medals, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the doubling of incentives for gold medal winners at the next edition in 2013.

Najib, however, urged national athletes not to be satisfied at merely becoming regional champions after returning home with 59 gold medals from Jakarta and Palembang last month and aim for success at continental and world levels.

With that came a note of caution as the prime minister warned under-performing sport officials not to hinder the progress of sports and to step down if they are no longer able to contribute.

"Sport has the ability to lift the spirits of an entire nation and that is why the government has been fully supportive of efforts to achieve success in sport. While we are very proud of the achievements of our athletes at the Sea Games, they must use this success as building blocks or a launching pad to even bigger success.

"We must look at how we can work hard and more effectively to develop our back-up athletes through systematic training programmes. There must be an entire ecosystem to support the development of sport.

"The progress of an athlete is a long journey that entails great sacrifices and hours of training. We must provide the best ecosystem to allow these athletes to achieve bigger success and to make Malaysia a world powerhouse in sport," said Najib in his address to the 91 athletes who helped Malaysia win 59 gold medals to finish fourth in the medal tally at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara yesterday.

A total of RM630,000 was given out to the gold medal winners under the Sport Incentive Scheme but the figure does not include the additional RM3,000 to each athlete in team sports which Najib announced yesterday along with the increase of the first gold medal incentive from RM10,000 to RM20,000 for the 2013 Myanmar Sea Games.

"In addition to the RM30 million which the government has allocated for sports recently, we have decided to revise the incentives for the Sea Games gold medal winners.

All athletes in team sports who have received RM2,000 will now get RM5,000, including those who won at the recent Sea Games. For the next Sea Games, the first gold medal for each individual athlete is worth RM20,000 and RM10,000 for each subsequent gold medal.

"This has been done to provide a boost to athletes to ensure future success," added Najib, who later presented the gold medals to 4x400m athletes Yunus Lasalleh, S. Kannathasan, P. Yuvaraaj and Schzuan Ahmad Rosely.

The quarter, who travelled to the Sea Games under Category B where they were privately funded, did not receive their medals in Palembang after being put on a flight home the next day just hours before the medal ceremony.

The poor treatment of the four athletes by the Malaysian Athletic Union drew a rebuke from Najib, who warned sport officials to shape up or ship out.
"The government has provided massive funding for sport but poor and careless leadership in sport associations threatens our hope for success in sport. To these officials, I say tepuk dada, tanya selera because the hope of the rakyat is on your shoulders," Najib warned.

Najib also praised the football team for defending the gold medal under intense pressure and conditions in Jakarta and said their success brought unbridled happiness to the nation.

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BJSS Newcomer Shines At Combined Events Meet

By Y.P.SIVAM
metrospt@thestar.com.my Photos by FAIHAN GHANI

ROOKIE R. Kirthana showed that she had made tremendous progress when she dominated the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) International Combined Events (ICE) championships at the National Sports Council (NSC) training centre in Bukit Jalil recently.

Kirthana, who joined the BJSS in July, was the overall winner in the girls’ Under-14 age group.

The lanky Perak-born lass, a Form Two student, was the winner in long jump, high jump and 100m, second in the 100m hurdles and shot put and ninth in the 800m.

A natural: Kirthana (centre) leading the pack in the Under-14 medley relay.

She accumulated 4,460 points to finish ahead of 27 other participants. In second place was Kirthana’s teammate Ling Wen Yi on 4,130 points.

Both Kirthana and Wen Yi contributed to BJSS emerging as the overall champions with 16,080 points in the team event.

The other members of the team were Munirah Ha’ali and Intan Safinas Samad.

Besides the girls’ Under-14 overall title, BJSS were champions in the girls’ Under-13 and boys’ Under-13 categories.

They were second to SMK Tun Hussein Onn in the boys’ Under-14 age group.

The two-day competition, an intiative by BJSS with support by Milo and Mizuno, was to provide a platform for Form One and Form Two students from BJSS to take part against their counterparts from other sports schools in Malaysia and invited teams.

BJSS principal Marina Chin said they had invited teams from Australia and Singapore.

“We are pleased with our students’ progress. Our coaches will get the chance to evaluate each student’s progress,’’ said Marina.

Participants in the Under-13 groups had to take part in five events — 80m hurdles, high jump, shot putt, long jump and 800m while those in the Under-14 age group in six events —100m hurdles, high jump, shot putt, 100m, long jump and 800m.

The final event in the two-day championships was the medley relay. BJSS were champions in both the Under-13 and Under-14 age groups.

BJSS coach K. Shankaralingam certainly had reasons to be pleased with their students’ results.

“We had set personal best as targets for them. They clocked impressive times and displayed excellent commitment. We are happy with the athletes’ overall progress,’’ said Shankaralingam.

He was particularly impressed with Kirthana’s progress.

“We had spotted her when she was a student at the SMK Gunung Rapat in Ipoh. That was in July. Within a short period, Kirthana has shown a lot of improvement,’’ said Shankaralingam.

Nestle Products sports marketing manager Ng Ping Loong said the championships was well organised and created opportunities for juniors to gauge their progress.

“The Form One and Form Two students do not get a chance to take part in other age group competitions. The BJSS’ efforts should be lauded and encouraged,’’ added Ping Loong.

SPORTCHECK: Delivering Results

By DEVINDER SINGH
devinder@nst.com.my
SPORTS schools are playing an increasingly important role in the success of national athletes as evidenced at the recent Indonesia Sea Games.

K. Teagarajan (right) won gold at the recent Sea Games in Indonesia.

Be they national or state level, the effort led by Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) and the Tengku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (TMISS) in Bandar Penawar, Johor is producing tangible results.

While talent is still being developed outside the government funded system, the steady stream of sport graduates from BJSS and TMISS has become the lifeblood of Malaysian hopes for excellence on the sporting stage.

The two national sports schools are tasked with developing 20 sports and the schools came through in Indonesia where "Pelapis" athletes -- part of the development programme under the auspices of the National Sports Council (NSC) which draws most of its athletes from sports schools -- won four gold, four silver and 13 bronze medals.

The tally does not include the football gold medal which includes several players from the Young Tigers who graduated from BJSS with one -- Nazmi Faiz Mansor -- still a student at the school having deferred his SPM examinations this year to play in the Sea Games.

A total of 51 athletes from the Pelapis programme competed in Indonesia and while most are former BJSS students, nine are still students at the schools and seven are from regional centres in Penang and Langkawi.

NSC Pelapis division director Jefri Ngadirin said given the focus of the sports schools in developing talent for the various sports, it is inevitable that the large majority of back-up athletes will come from these schools.

"There were 51 athletes, second-liners, who went to the Sea Games and out of these 40 qualified under Category A, which means they got in on merit. Aside from these 52, we had another 60 athletes who were just recently in March promoted from the Pelapis category to elite squads.

"That Pelapis athletes won four gold medals is testament to the good work being done by coaches at the various youth levels. The gold medals were not expected as most were competing at the Games for the first time and were there for exposure," said Jefry.

Jefri said he expects to see more athletes move up to elite status next year and the process of replenishing the ranks at Pelapis level starts once again.

"Those athletes who excel will move up to the elite level and we will replace them by taking in athletes emerging from the sports schools, regional and state centres," he added, citing the case of archer Nurul Syafiqah Hashim.

Syafiqah, 17, who is undertaking pre-university studies at BJSS, recently qualified for the 2012 London Olympics and has been fast-tracked into the archery elite squad.

The Kuala Lumpur archer won a silver medal at the Sea Games in the mixed recurve event and with enough exposure, could go on to better things in the sport.

Her's is not the only example as the sports schools have produced champions in track cycling, diving, squash and badminton in recent times.

The success of badminton players, especially, have caught the eye when Nelson Heg Wei Keat and Teo Ee Yi became the third successive doubles pair from BJSS to emerge world junior champions.

They followed in the path of Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming (2009) and Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng (2010) and much of the success of the doubles pairs are down to BJSS doubles chief coach Yap Kim Hock, an Olympic silver medalist in 1996 at Atlanta with Cheah Soon Kit.

Kim Hock said the process of developing talent at junior level is long and tedious but a challenge he welcomed gladly.

"From my many years of experience playing and coaching, I have been able to develop programmes to ensure our players are put on the road of success. There is no one golden pill in developing champions, a lot of hard work and dedication is needed on the part of players and coaches.

"I've learned from some of the best coaches and I'm just putting into practice the best parts of all the various programmes. Year by year, we make improvements to the programmes to ensure our players stay a step ahead of the competition," said Kim Hock.

Taking in the best coaches is a successful formula, at least for BJSS, with various achievements at national junior level.

Under the guidance of former international Ismail Ibrahim, BJSS shocked the competition to win the football Under-20 President's Cup in 2010 with a squad made up largely of Form Five players.

In hockey, BJSS won the National Junior Hockey League league and cup double six times while TMISS-Thunderbolt were league victors in 2010 and overall champions this year. Both teams also play in the senior Malaysia Hockey League Division One with limited success.

Another BJSS athlete, Ng Eain Yow, won the prestigious British Junior Open squash Under-13 boys' title early this year.

But if there is one drawback to the national sports school system, it is the limited number of places available.

BJSS and TMISS combined can cater to about 1,000 students and quite often, players are drafted into the school at a late stage of development.

Despite his success in developing world junior champions, Kim Hock feels he needs more time to develop true world beaters in the mould of Lee Chong Wei.

"At present, I get the players when they are in Form Four after selecting them from the inter-state junior tournaments. Ideally, I need three to five years to really develop players into becoming world class.

"I know three pairs have gone on to become world junior champions, but if I had more time with them from when they were younger, they would be even better players than they are now," said Kim Hock.

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