Golden Bling For Ching

Lim Ching Hwang’s gold medal win is a first for Malaysia in swimming at the Asian Youth Games.

LIM CHING HWANG has established himself as a top junior freestyle swimmer in the continent after winning the boys’ 200m event in style at the 2nd Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, this evening.

To make the victory sweeter, it was Malaysia’s first ever gold medal from swimming at the Games.

The 17-year-old clocked a time of 1:50.81s – a little short of his personal best of 1:50.42s - to take the gold ahead of Quah Zheng Wen of Singapore (1:52.19s) and Thailand’s Kittiya Tanakrit (1:52.94s).

Ching Hwang has obviously treated the AYG very seriously having declared the Games as a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ before it started.

He never looked like losing from the moment he dived into the pool, immediately surging to the front leaving his rivals behind in the four-lap race.

“I was feeling very down after failing to impress at the recent World Championships,” he said.

“So I was determined to go under 1:50 here in Nanjing and see where it took me, my thought was a medal regardless of the colour.

“But it turned out to be a gold medal! I really couldn’t be happier. Now I’ll aim to make it double by capturing also the 100m freestyle on Thursday.”

The Singapore-based athlete then returned to pool and led the 4X100m freestyle relay quartet comprising also Alwyn Tan, Welson Sim and Wong Fu Kang to a bronze medal finish.

They posted 3:29.81s to finish behind South Korea (3:28.66s) and Singapore (3:29.63s).

Our swimmers were involved in other two finals today where Fu Kang narrowly missed out on third place in the boys 50m breaststroke while Phee Jing En finished sixth in the girls’ 50m breaststroke after clocking 33.49s.

Fu Kang reached the finishing line in 29.78s behind South Korea’s Kim Jaeyoun (28.97s), Cai Bing-Rong of China (29.24s) and Chao Man Hou of Hong Kong (29.52s).

For feedback, please email editor@sports247.my

Vanessa Creates AYG History With Gold Medal Win

By TAN MING WAI

Vanessa Raj beat Pansy Chan Pui Hei to become the nation’s first ever gold medal winner in squash at the Asian Youth Games.

MALAYSIA won its first ever squash gold medal at the Asian Youth Games (AYG) when G. Vanessa Raj beat Pansy Chan Pui Hei in the girl’s final in Nanjing this evening.

Vanessa was forced to fight hard for the gold and needed 52 minutes to tame her opponent from Hong Kong 11-3, 6-11, 11-7,11-9.

But we were prevented from achieving double glory as Mohd Syafiq Kamal lost in the men’s title battle to Kush Kumar of India.

Syafiq failed to avenge defeat for teammate, Ng Eain Yow who was beaten by the same rival in the semis yesterday.

He went down fighting 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 7-11 in almost an hour battle to settle for silver.

As a losing semifinalist, Eain Yow was awarded a bronze.

The competition for team events will resume tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Malaysia also won another bronze from athletics when Muhammad Afiq Ahmad Alham finished third in the boy’s pole vault.

As of 9pm today, Malaysia are in fourth place in the medal standings with a gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

Another silver was contributed by Loh Zhiayi in diving, which ended yesterday.

For feedback, please email editor@sports247.my

- See more at: http://www.sports247.my/2013/08/vanessa-creates-ayg-history-with-gold-medal-win/#sthash.BgAKCJGq.dpuf

Pessimism Costs Zhiayi A Medal

By TAN MING WAI

Loh Zhiayi

LOH ZHIAYI did not expect to add on to her medal tally at the 2nd Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, China as she finished fourth in the girls 3m springboard final this afternoon.

The 16-year-old, who clinched silver in the platform discipline yesterday, did not think herself worthy of a medal in the event that she hardly practises in.

However, Zhiayi will surely be disappointed with the way the competition ended, considering she did actually have a chance of stepping onto the podium.

In fact she even started off brilliantly and was placed second after her first dive. Although she dropped to third place by the time round two ended, she was still looking comfortable for a bronze medal finish.

Then disaster struck in her third attempt as a bad entry left her with dismal scores.

With Chinese pair Shen Yi and Wang Weijie already cruising ahead for a 1-2 finish, Zhiayi’s third spot was under threat with nearest rival Kim Su Ji of South Korea, just 1.2 points behind.

Zhiayi bounced back with better execution in the fourth and final dive, but she could do nothing to stop Su Ji – who also dived superbly and had the advantage of higher degree of difficulty (DD) routine – from surpassing her and taking over the bronze medal spot.

Zhiayi amassed a total of 434.80, settling in fourth behind Shen Yi (465.75), Weijie (448.20) and Su Ji (441.00).

“It was quite frustrating as one dive ruined it all. I could have won one more medal … wasted again (referring to missing on gold medal yesterday),” said Zhiayi.

“The opponents I faced today, they are all good springboard divers.

“That is why I didn’t think I had a chance. I think I did the best I could, with the exception of my third dive in the final.

“It’s all over now; at least I’m bringing home a silver after all. It’s time to look forward to next competition.”

Meanwhile, in the boys platform final held hours later, Muhd Nazreen Abdullah could only finish fifth after chalking up 442.70 points.

Diving powerhouse China dominated the top two standings, with Yue Qi (539.75) and Zeng Jiajie (517.30) winning the gold and silver respectively.

Bronze went to North Korea’s Ri Hyonju (477.70).

For feedback, please email editor@sports247.my

- See more at: http://www.sports247.my/2013/08/pessimism-costs-zhiayi-a-medal/#sthash.Ybz2lSLl.dpuf

Zhiayi Settles For Silver

By TAN MING WAI

Loh Zhiayi receiving her runners-up medal.

LOH ZHIAYI did a Pandelela by committing a blunder in her final attempt to only settle for silver medal in the girls platform at 2nd Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, China this evening.

It is the first medal for the Malaysian contingent on the opening day of the Games.

The 16-year-old lass could have won a historic gold medal if she did not lose balance when attempting an armstand routine in her fourth and final dive.

She retook the dive and was slapped with point deductions, earning a lowly 43.20 points. She could have earned at least 10 extra points, if not for that mistake.

As the final total scores appeared, Zhiayi, who accumulated 411.90 points, found herself 9.10 behind surprise winner Song Namhyang of North Korea (421.00).

Zheng Qi (404.85) of China, who was the favourite in the event, finished third.

“It was really a huge miss, I almost got it (a gold medal)!”sighed Zhiayi. I suffered a similar fate as Lela (in the World Championships), losing balance and needed to retake the dive and that cost me a lot of points. So near yet so far…just because of one mistake in last dive, I have to be contented with second place.

“Nevertheless, I have achieved my target of winning a medal at AYG, I have no complaints.”

Zhiayi will be competing in 3m springboard tomorrow, but she is not expected to be challenging for a podium finish.

“I hardly practiced on springboard, as my pet event is platform. Furthermore, my DD (degree of difficulty) is low compared to others,” added Zhiayi.

“So I’m not expecting myself to win anything, but I’ll still try my very best and we will see.”

In the boys 3m springboard, Muhd. Danial Sabri (487.15) finished a creditable fourth behind Chinese duo Huang Bowen (571.50) and Zheng Ziqun (568.10) and Zeng Tian Yi (500.30) of Hong Kong.

The competition will end tomorrow with another two events taking place – girls 3m springboard and boys platform.

For feedback, please contact editor@sports247.my

- See more at: http://www.sports247.my/2013/08/zhiayi-settles-for-silver/#sthash.grnE2xx3.dpuf

Marina: We Have The Students’ Interest At Heart

FLASHBACK: Marina Chin, the queen of the track, is now principal of Bukit Jalil Sports School.

FLASHBACK: Marina Chin, the queen of the track, is now principal of Bukit Jalil Sports School.

I refer to your article ‘BJSS a stumbling block to Malaysian Sports’.

Thank you for the interest in Bukit Jalil Sports School. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify and inform the public about our purpose and functions.

Bukit Jalil Sports School started operations in 1996 to ensure athletes preparing for the 1998 Commonwealth Games and all other athletes of the future, were not deprived of their right to a quality education. The purpose off all Sports Schools in Malaysia is to promote sports while providing access to education.

Bukit Jalil Sports School has always done it’s best to deliver a quality education to all it’s students no matter where they are through modules, online teaching and learning, sending teachers to the various training centres and so on (Example: Sean Gan Gianelli has been in Italy for a year). This has enabled many rising stars like Emmanuelle Mah, Pandelela Rinong, Elaine Koon, Ivan Yuen, Bunyamin Umar and so many others to excel in their chosen sports as well as academically to ensure a secure future.

Rarely does SSBJ make a decision to stop athletes from competitions or overseas training. This is usually a last resort to help the students pass the all important SPM

Examination. Decisions are always made in the best interest of the child.

With regards to Ahmad Syihan, Arif Fadzilah and Mohd. Raphi Mariappen – the decision was made to request that they be left out of the training stint based on the following reasons.

1. They had been playing in the President’s Cup tournament until last month. Playing two games a week (home and away) has made them miss a lot of classes . They are quite far behind in their preparation for the SPM Examination.

2. They have also not completed all of the required course work for the SPM examination

3. The schedule given to the school states that training in Europe will be from 14 July to 31 August, the AFF Under 19 Championship in Surabaya from 9 to 22 September and the AFC Under 19 Championship in Zheijang, China from 8 to 12 October 2013.

This leaves them approximately three weeks before they face what could be the most important Exam in their life, the SPM. If selected, they will be playing in those two tournaments. The school is just trying it’s best to ensure that we produce confident, thinking sportsmen and that these young people have the necessary skills and qualifications for life after sports.

Datuk Marina Chin
Principal,
Bukit Jalil Sports School

BJSS A Stumbling Block To Malaysian Sports

Ahmad Syihan Hazmi

BUKIT JALIL SPORTS SCHOOL (BJSS) are back to their selfish ways.

The latest victims are the National U18 side after the school refused to release three players – goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed and defenders Mohd Raphi Azizan Mariappen and Mohd Arif Fadzilah Abu Bakar – for their training stint in Europe from July 16-Aug 18.

The Harimau Muda C boys’ European stint will see them play friendly matches in preparation for the AFC U19 qualifiers scheduled from Sept 9-22 and the AFF U19 Championship from Oct 8-12.

“We are leaving on Tuesday and all arrangements were made very much earlier but BJSS told us on Thursday that the trio wouldn’t be released as they have skipped school for too long,” said head coach Aminuddin Hussin.

“We are heading to the crucial part of our training for the two big competitions this year and we will be without three key players which is a big blow to our plans.”

The European stint will see Aminuddin’s boys play eight friendly matches in Slovakia before going to Hungary, where they are set to play three-four matches in addition to an age-group tournament (Minta Cup).

Amin has already thought of an alternative plan for the trio as he wants to keep training nevertheless.

“I will have to come up with a plan B for the trip and we will arrange for someone to train the three boys when the team is in Europe,” he added.

The decision by BJSS is not the first of its kind.

Last year, two promising shuttlers Soong Joo Vern and Darren Isaac Deva Dass quit the school after it insisted that the duo play in the ASEAN schools meet instead of representing Malaysia at the Asian Junior Championships in South Korea.

The school also barred Ho Yen Mei from competing in the Asian meet for similar reasons but she opted to abide by BJSS’ decision.

BJSS Is The Place To Be For Budding Athletes

BEING at the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) has helped many young budding athletes and for Saarvin Chinathamby, the school is truly a blessing for him and his fellow athletes.

Saarvin whose events are the 800m and 1,500m says that whilst in high school, students who were active in sports were left to fend for themselves where academics were concerned.

“It was difficult if we were left behind in our studies, but here at BJSS, we have a different schedule, even teachers have a different approach when it comes to teaching, so it really helps us to cope and excel”

This sentiment is shared with his fellow athletes 19-year-old Tan Wei Heng and 18-year-old Jeeventhiran Victor. To them, entering BJSS has done wonders for their athletic performance as well.

Wei Heng clocked his personal best for his 800m event at 1:53.91sec within three years of training with the school.

The three of them are currently being coached by A.Trapedi and Coach S. Entheran who they say is very supportive where their performance and education are concerned.

“They try to help us, especially where education is concerned. They help us look into different university programmes, and what they have to offer,” Saarvin said.

As for now, Saarvin who has just finished his pre-university course at BJSS is looking to do accountancy at the Universiti Putra Malaysia, while Wei Heng is interested in education.

- See more at: http://www.sports247.my/2013/05/bjss-is-the-place-to-be-for-budding-athletes/#sthash.L4KNEu0L.dpuf