Navraj Records Personal Best To Qualify For SEA Games

KUALA LUMPUR: High jumper Navraj Singh of Johor was concerned about his mother’s conditions, who had an appendix surgery last week.

But that did not stop him from registering a personal best of 2.16m in the first Malaysian Grand Prix at the National Sports Council (NSC) Training Track in Bukit Jalil yesterday to qualify for the Myanmar SEA Games in December. The qualifying mark is 2.12m.

The 21-year-old Navraj is the second high jumper to qualify for the Games. S. Navinraj, also from Johor, cleared 2.15m in the Asean University Games in Laos last December.

After clearing 2.16m in his first meet of the year, Navraj made an attempt to clear 2.18m but failed on all three occasions.

Lee Hup Wei, a three-time SEA Games gold medallist and, could only manage 2.08 to tie with Selangor’s Mohd Azli Ghazali. Former Asian champion Hup Wei was awarded the silver on countback.

Naturally, Navraj, whose previous best was 2.13m, dedicated his achievement to his mother (Manjit Kaur), who is his No. 1 fan.

“I was targeting 2.15m but I did better than that. I’m delighted with my efforts,” said Navraj, who will complete his pre-university studies at the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) next week.

“I am excited as I will be making my debut in the SEA Games. My ambition is to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro,” added Navraj, who plans to be a lawyer.

There was also joy for two teenagers – Mohd Ammar Zakuan and Fathin Faqihah Mohd Yusuf – after qualifying for the Under-17 World Youth Championships (WYC) in Ukraine from July 5-10. Ammar clocked 55.01 to finish fifth in the men’s 400m hurdles but the time was good enough to beat the WYC qualifying mark of 55.80.

As for Fathin of Sabah, she clocked a personal best of 56.89 to win the women’s 400m. The qualifying mark is 57.60. Fathin, a Form Five student of SMK Tawau, said she never expected to improve her personal best by almost one second.

“I will train harder to further improve my time,” said Fathin, whose previous best was 57.64.

SPORTCHECK: Another High For Diver

NATIONAL SPORTS AWARDS: Pandelela is Sportswoman of the Year

NO surprises, no close fights for the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards this time.

Lee Chong Wei and Pandelela Rinong, as expected, were announced as the 2012 winners at the National Sports Awards in Subang Jaya last night following their feats in last year's London Olympics.

Chong Wei's illustrious career, highlighted by his silver medal in the men's singles in London, saw him crowned as Sportsman of the Year for the fourth time, the first three honours coming in 2005, 2008 and last year.

But unlike his much publicised no show for last year's ceremony (due to sickness) where he was to receive the award from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, this time Chong Wei was present.

It was a great day for badminton as Chong Wei's coach, Rashid Sidek, was also named as the Coach of the Year.

Diver Pandelela, 20, marked yet another piece of history. Having emerged as the first ever Malaysian woman Olympic medallist when she took the 10m platform bronze in London, Pandelela became the first diver to be crowned Sportswoman of the Year when she won the award for 2011.

It wasn't just the Olympic medal that saw the judges give their votes to Pandelela who is from Sarawak.

It was undoubtedly a year in which she was the shining star of Malaysian sports, having begun with an historic World Championships bronze medal, partnering Leong Mun Yee in the 10m platform synchronised.

Chong Wei and Pandelela took home a cash award of RM20,000 each last night.

Having emerged as Asian junior champions in the meet held in Malacca last May, the National Junior hockey team fittingly won the men's Team of the Year award.

The women's squash quartet of Nicol David, Low Wee Wern, Delia Arnold and Siti Munirah Jusoh, with their bronze medal effort in the World Team Championships, took to the stage for the women's Team of the Year award.

Paralympic archer Hasihin Sanawi's historic individual recurve silver medal in London earned him the men's Paralympian of the Year award.

Special awards were also handed to 78-year-old weightlifter Ng Chow Seng and motorcycle racer Mohd Zulfahmi Khairuddin.

Chow Seng's honour was in recognition of his consecutive world titles (75-80kg) in the World Masters Weightlifting Championships. Zulfahmi was recognised for his two podium finishes and seventh place overall in the Moto3 World Championship.

Former FA of Malaysia and current Fifa development officer, Datuk Paul Mony Samuel, and Malaysian National Cycling Federation president Datuk Abu Samah Wahab, who is also Asean Cycling Association president and Asian Cycling Confederation vice president, received the Sports Leadership Awards.

Tan Sri Elyas Omar, who is one of the country's most colourful and charismatic sports administrators, was honoured with the Lifetime Award for his commitment and leadership in various capacities in badminton, football, cycling and as Sports Commissioner.

PANDELELA RINONG

Elyas Omar was honoured with the Lifetime Award.

Read more: SPORTCHECK: Another high for diver - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/sportcheck-another-high-for-diver-1.257299?cache=03D163D03edding-pred-1.1176%2F%3FpFpentwage63Dp%3A%2Fhe3D03Dn63Frea-rti3D19.3D163D03edding-pred-1.1176%2F%3FpFpentwage63Dp%3A%2Fhe3D03Dn63Frea-rti3D19.111w5ii%2Fed-1.117%2F7.185006%2F7.185110%3Fkey%3DMala%2F7.188530%2F7.320411%2F7.320411%2F7.320411#ixzz2QgWYVffu