Malaysia Bags 29 Golds At Meet, Half From Athletics

By Y.P. SIVAM
metrospt@thestar.com.my Photos by SAM THAM

IT WAS an impressive outing for Malaysia at the Asean Schools Games (ASG) in Surabaya, Indonesia.

In the games involving 11 sports — athletics, golf, basketball, badminton, tennis, volleyball, sepak takraw, table tennis, pencak silat, gymnastics and swimming — Malaysia finished third with 29 gold, 36 silver 35 bronze medals. Thailand emerged as the overall champions with (38-28-47) followed by Indonesia (33-33-27) .

Education Ministry sports division director Ee Hong said they had reasons to be pleased with the Malaysian contingent’s results in the ASG.

In form: Alif Ashraf Mohamad won the gold medal in the boys 110m hurdles. 

“We were champions in athletics. The athletes contributed 14 gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze medals. We also won the gold medal in tennis and sepak takraw for the first time,’’ said Ee Hong.

In athletics, S. Saranraj, a student from Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), won three gold medalsin the 1,500m 5,000m and 2,000m steeplechase. Noor Shahidatun Nadia Mohd Zuki, also from the BJSS, was also in good form and won golds in the long and triple jump events.

The Malaysian tennis team created an upset when they wrested the team gold from favourites Indonesia while the sepak takraw team, comprising Ahmad Izat Mohd Nor, Shoibul Fadzilah Abdul Samad and Mohd Kamal Zaman Akhbar, won the inter-regu after victory over Thailand in the final.

Ee Hong said the Malaysians’ victory in tennis and sepak takraw was due the players’ gutsy display.

Job well done: Ee Hong (centre) looking at the medals won by the Malaysians. 

“Indonesia had dominated the tennis event while Thailand were winners in sepak takraw for the past three ASGs. In table tennis, our boys defeated Singapore in the semi-finals but lost to Thailand in the final. Singapore were considered the favourites and had several world ranked juniors,’’ said Ee Hong.

International Amy Kwan won four gold medals in rhythmic gymnastics. She won golds in the hoop, ball, ribbon and overall individual events She was also a member of the gold medal winning team.

Ee Hong was full of praise for Amy, who was nursing an injury during the championships.

“She had to seek treatment but delivered the golds for Malaysia. We are certainly impressed with her commitment. We won all five gold medals offered in rhythmic gymnastics,’’ she added.

Malaysia won five golds in swimming with Ian James Barr and Vernon Lee Jeau Zhi winning two each. The fifth gold came from Christine Loh.

Striking a pose: Amy Kwan won five gold medals in the ASG. 

However, Malaysia will have to review their training programme for pencak silat which made its debut in Surabaya. Malaysia only won one gold medal from the 21 at stake. Vietnam were the surprise overall champions in pencak silat with 12 gold medals while Indonesia were second with eight.

Ee Hong said Vietnam would be hosting the ASG in Hanoi next year,

“Based on their success in pencak silat, there is a strong possibility of the sport being included in the ASG. We have to start preparations to do well in pencak silat,’’ said Ee Hong.

The Education Ministry’s sports division will be meeting soon to evaluate their results in the ASG.

BJSS Rewards Five Top Students

NATIONAL junior cricket player Derek Michael Doraisingam and footballer Mohammad Faris Mohamad Yusof were among five recipients of the Principal Award at the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Pre-University certificate presentation ceremony in Kuala Lumpur recently.

The other three were volleyball players Ho Xiao Hui, Yew Sook Ting and Tan Qi Xiang.

The five were among the top students of the Pre-U programme.

BJSS principal Datuk Marina Chin said they were extremely proud of the 29 students.

Worth the hard work: Derek Michael (left) and Mohammad Faris with their awards. 

“They have shown their commitment to sports as well as studies. Some of them had to make sacrifices to achieve excellence in sports and studies. Despite taking part in competitions, they have proven that they were capable to doing well in studies.

“Now we would like to wish them all the best in whatever fields they pursue in higher learning institutions. We hope to see them give their best in their respective sports also,’’ said Marina.

Universiti Putra Malaysia deputy vice-chancellor Datin Paduka Dr Aini Ideris, who presented the certificates, said she was impressed with the high achievers’ results

“First I would like to congratulate Datuk Marina and her team for playing an active role in the students’ career. Being a former athlete, Datuk Marina is a fine example to the students. In fact, I am indeed impressed with the GPT achieved by the students,’’ added Aini.

The full list of recipients: Raja Norsharina Raja Shabuddin, Fazli Hisham Fauzi, Nor Hidayah Ahmad Bokhari, Nur Saiyidah Ramli, Nurul Faizahj Azma Mazlan, Tai Cheau Xuen, Derek Michael Doraisingam, Ho Xiao Hui, A. Kaveealagan, Sim Ming Luong, Yew Sook Ting, Arif Farhaan Ibrahim Putra, Liew Tack Fai, Low Wan Jin, Mohamad Faris Mohamad Yusof, Muhamad Fareez Rosli, Noor Hasleen Fatihin Hasnan, Noor Izzati Jasni, Song Gie Chee, Tan Qi Xiang, Azman Syazwan Abdullah, Mohd Arip Amiruddin, Mohd Zul Fadzli Alias, Norfazlinda Shafiei, Norashikin Halim, Nurshamilia Md Samsudin, Nurul Husna Akbal Amad, Shahira Abdul Halim, Siti Nurhayati Zulkifli.

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Fitness Test 2/2012

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Tine : 7.30am ~ 1pm

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OLYMPICS / AQUATICS: Medal On Pandelela's Mind

FOCUSED: Flagbearer wants to cap London outing with podium finish

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak hands the Jalur Gemilang to chef-de-mission Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid in a ceremony in Putrajaya yesterday. With them are Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Ministers.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, with officials and athletes bound for the London Olympics and Paralympics in Putrajaya yesterday. Pic by Owee Ah Chun

PANDELELA Rinong regards winning a medal in the Olympics as more important than being Malaysia's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.

The 19-year-old diver, who returned home from a training stint in Guangzhou to attend the Olympics flag-handing ceremony yesterday, will be competing in the women's 10-metre platform, 10m synchronised platform with Leong Mun Yee and 3-metre springboard with Cheong Jun Hoong.

Diver Pandelela Takes Flag Handing Ceremony Seriously

PUTRAJAYA: As far as diver Pandelela Rinong is concerned, the flag handing over ceremony by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is more than just for show.

In fact, the 19-year-old Sarawakian said she took a few days off from her two-month high altitude training stint in Dali, China, just to be with the contingent for this symbolic event.

She said it was also to show her appreciation and gratitude for being given the role as Malaysia’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics on July 27.

Our Athletes Finish Third Overall In Indonesia

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia finished third in the overall medal tally in the recently-concluded Asean Schools Games in Surabaya, Indonesia, with a total haul of 29 golds, 36 silvers and 35 bronzes.

Thailand finished top with a haul of 38-28-47 while hosts Indonesia were second with 33 golds.

Athletics, despite all the doping problems faced by the Malaysian Athletic Union (MAU), delivered the bulk of the medals – 14 golds, 11 silvers and 10 bronzes.

M. Saranraj Siva was the stand-out performer among the boys with three golds – in the 1,500m, 5,000m and 2,000m steeplechase – while Noor Shahidatun Nadia won two golds in the girls’ long jump and triple jump.

Play More Learn More bermula

SEBAHAGIAN kanak-kanak bergambar kenangan dengan Marina Chin (tengah) pada majlis pelancaran kem Play More Learn More di Petaling Jaya, Selangor baru-baru ini.

MILO yang sinonim dengan program pembangunan sukan di peringkat akar umbi di negara ini terus komited dalam usaha untuk mempromosikan budaya sukan dalam kalangan dengan penganjuran edisi ketiga kem Play More Learn More.

Selepas sambutan yang amat menggalakkan terhadap 12 kem sukan menerusi program ini tahun lalu, Milo memulakan tahun 2012 dengan menganjurkan 12 lagi kem sukan dengan memilih Rukun Tetangga (RT) dan Persatuan Penduduk tertentu di seluruh negara sebagai tempat untuk menjayakannya.

Kem pertama tahun ini juga menjadi medan untuk majlis pelancaran kem Play More Learn More yang berlangsung di Taman Mayang Jaya, Jalan SS26/9 Petaling Jaya minggu lalu.

Siri pertama itu disertai 350 kanak-kanak sekolah rendah terdiri daripada pelbagai kaum.

Perasmiannya dilakukan bekas ratu trek negara pada era 80-an yang juga ikon sukan Malaysia dan kini pengetua Sekolah Sukan Bukit Jalil (SSBJ), Datuk Marina Chin yang kemudiannya berinteraksi dengan ibu bapa dan kanak-kanak yang terlibat.

Pada kem ini, kanak-kanak diajar tentang kemahiran asas acara sukan seperti futsal, bola keranjang dan ping pong yang dikendalikan oleh jurulatih berkelayakan diikuti dengan karnival pertandingan mini.

Uniknya, kem sukan ini diterajui oleh Milo dan tanggungjawab penganjuran diserahkan kepada Persatuan Penduduk Taman Mayang Jaya di bawah pimpinan pengerusinya, Chan Yee Onn.

Ahli jawatankuasa yang komited telah melakukan tugas yang amat baik dengan sokongan padu Milo.

Di samping itu, ibu bapa juga memainkan peranan mereka sebagai petugas sukarela.

Menurut Pengurus Pemasaran Sukan Nestle Milo, Ng Ping Loong, semua ahli jawatankuasa yang diberi tanggungjawab menganjurkannya telah menunjukkan komitmen yang tinggi bagi memastikan kem ini dijalankan dengan licin.

Menurutnya, kem sukan Play More Learn More ini merupakan satu lagi inisiatif korporat Milo dalam membudayakan nilai-nilai positif sukan dalam kalangan kanak-kanak agar mereka membesar dengan penuh keyakinan menghadapi cabaran hidup.

"Kanak-kanak yang bersukan akan mempelajari pelbagai nilai murni dalam kehidupan mereka. Mereka dapat membina sikap yang positif berdepan masa depan dengan penuh yakin. Mereka juga akan menghargai semangat kesukanan, ketabahan, dedikasi, perpaduan, disiplin dan banyak lagi nilai positif yang akan menjadikan mereka lebih berpersonaliti dan mempunyai karakter yang kuat.

"Sukan adalah satu cara yang efektif untuk mempromosikan semangat patriotik, integrasi dan perpaduan terhadap kanak-kanak ini," katanya.

Semangat gotong-royong yang dipamerkan oleh semua yang terlibat membawa petanda positif dalam membangunkan budaya sukan di peringkat akar umbi.

Sementara itu, Marina Chin dalam ucapannya berkata, Milo sentiasa dekat di hatinya.

"Seluruh hidup saya dicurahkan kepada sukan bermula daripada seorang atlet hinggalah diberi tanggungjawab sebagai pengetua sekolah sukan.

"Saya telah melihat pelbagai kenangan manis di dalam sukan dan saya amat bangga dengan pencapaian saya," katanya.

Artikel Penuh: http://kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2012&dt=0703&pub=Kosmo&sec=Sukan&pg=su_10.htm#ixzz2xzBJ2wbW 
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