NSC confident of best ever medal haul in 2010 Asian, Commonwealth Games

NATIONAL Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Zolkples Embong believes Malaysia will surpass its all-time Asian and Commonwealth Games gold medal records in next year's editions. Zolkples said Malaysian athletes have improved and should be able to produce a strong showing in both Games next year.

Malaysia's best showing in the Commonwealth Games was achieved in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur edition, when the national contingent won 10 gold, 14 silver and 12 bronze medals.

In the Asian Games, Malaysia's best ever haul of eight gold, 17 silver and 17 bronze medals was achieved in the 2006 Doha Games.

"Our athletes have been making waves in several sports and some are also World No 1s. I am confident we will surpass our all-time Commonwealth and Asian Games records next year," said Zokples in his presentation entitled 'High Performance Sports' at the National Sports Convention in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Zolkples said sports which produced unexpected gold medals in the Sea Games will be brought into the NSC's elite programme.

"We are looking to include boxing. I believe Malaysian boxers have a chance in the Asian and Commonwealth Games."

He said NSC's back-up programmes has also brought dividends in identifying new talent.

"A total of 40 back-up athletes qualified on merit for the recent Sea Games and they contributed one gold, five silver and seven bronze medals. It shows that the programme is working well."

Meanwhile, the Higher Education Ministry has brushed off the idea of setting-up a sports university.

Ahmad Naim Ismail, the ministry's deputy chief secretary (Sports Division), in his presentation on 'Sports in Universities', said existing universities were offering sports related degrees, Masters and PhD programmes.

"The concerned universities are also taking the initiative to improve their sports science programmes. We don't need a sports university for now," said Ahmad Naim.

He said 20 per cent of the country's national athletes were currently pursuing courses in public universities.

The Higher Learning Ministry has also identified eight universities which will conduct sports excellence programmes, starting next year.

"Each university will be entrusted with one sport," he said.

The selected universities are Universiti Malaya (netball), Universiti Putra Malaysia (rugby), Universiti Teknologi Mara (football), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (cricket), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (sailing), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (taekwondo), Universiti Utara Malaysia (golf) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (swimming). NST

'Masih awal lihat program berada pada landasan tepat'

SUKAN Komanwel dan Asia pada hujung tahun depan, bakal memberi gambaran sama ada program Road To London untuk Sukan Olimpik 2012 berada pada landasan tepat.

Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, berkata buat masa ini terlalu awal untuk menyatakan sama ada program untuk mengejar pingat emas di Sukan Olimpik 2012 berada atas landasan atau menyimpang, di sebalik pencapaian kontinjen negara di Sukan Sea, Laos, yang berakhir 18 Disember lalu.

"Tahun depan atlit akan berdepan beberapa temasya besar dan penting seperti kejohanan badminton Piala Thomas dan kemudian Sukan Asia dan Komanwel," kata Shabery, pada sidang akhbar selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Penyelarasan Program Pembangunan Belia dan Sukan di Seri Kembangan, semalam.

"Sejauh mana prestasi atlit kita di temasya utama itu akan memberi petunjuk kepada program Road To London, sama ada ia masih lagi atas landasan ataupun sebaliknya."

Pada mesyuarat itu, perwakilan dimaklumkan mengenai pelaksanaan serta perkembangan program Road To London serta jumlah peruntukan yang sudah digunakan sehingga kini.

Program itu yang membabitkan empat sukan iaitu akuatik (terjun), badminton, memanah dan lumba basikal - adalah usaha kementerian dan Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) untuk melahirkan pemenang pingat emas pertama Sukan Olimpik.

"MSN sedang memantau prestasi atlit yang tersenarai dalam program itu," kata Shabery. "Bagi atlit yang di luar program, mereka masih berpeluang untuk diserapkan seandainya mempamerkan peningkatan cemerlang dalam prestasi masing-masing."BHARIAN

Ministry Wants More Success Stories Next Year

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- After a successful outing in the recently-concluded SEA Games in Laos, the Youth and Sports Ministry now expects more from the national athletes next year.

Deputy minister Datuk Wee Jeck Seng said Malaysian's success in Laos had given a new perspective to the quality of the national athletes, especially the national Under-23 football squad who ended the country's 20-year gold drought when they edged Vietnam 1-0 in the football final.

"We should repeat this feeling of satisfaction and the joy next year even though the challenges are bigger and tougher," he said at the closing of National Sports Convention 2009 at the Putra World Trade Centre here today.

He said more success stories could be created by the national team next year as several international sport meets had been lined up, including the Commonwealth Games in India, Asian Games (China), Thomas and Uber Cup (Malaysia), Youth Olympic Games (Singapore) and Malaysia Games (Sukma).

"I believe the convention had been able to provide much help for our planning to face the challenges ahead," he said.

Wee said he also believed that the four working papers presented at the convention, including one by sport industry expert from Britain Simon Amor, had given the participants a glimpse of the challenges that awaited them at the Olympic Games 2012 and how the British prepared themselves to defend 19 gold medals which they bagged at the Beijing Olympic 2008.

"Apart from that, we have also learnt a lot from China's success in the Beijing Olympics with 51 gold, besides the fact that as of August 2009, their athletes had won 2,310 competitions in the Olympic Games and other world-class sport meets.

"In fact, their athletes had created 1,195 world records so far in line with the republic's national approach to focus on the development of elite sports," he said.

Meanwhile, National Sports Council director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong said the council believed that sports development should not be based on one or two models alone.

"What needs to be emulated is the spirit, the attitude and the determination shown by the athlete, besides their expertise in certain sports like diving and weight-lifting," he said.

When asked about the outcome of the convention, Zolkples said he was satisfied as many actions had been taken pertaining to the 100 resolutions reached at last year's convention.

"Nevertheless, there are other aspects that need to be enhanced to excel at the international level.

"I hope the six committees which have been entrusted with the responsibility to implement the resolutions will meet and discuss ways to make it happen," he said.

A total of 200 sport personalities and individuals participated in the two-day convention.

-- BERNAMA

MSN tumpu atlit Cabaran 2010

Oleh Syed Riduan Ahmad
smriduan@bharian.com.my

Kumpulan terima bantuan penuh untuk latihan: Zolkples

MAJLIS Sukan Negara (MSN) akan memberi tumpuan khusus kepada atlit melalui Program Cabaran 2010, bukan lagi kepada jenis sukan.

Ini bererti segala bantuan kewangan dan latihan akan disalurkan untuk penyediaan atlit yang dikenalpasti bagi Sukan Komanwel dan Asia tahun depan, sekali gus memaksa persatuan sukan kebangsaan melahirkan lebih banyak atlit dan bukannya bergantung kepada satu atau dua sahaja bagi menuntut peruntukan daripada MSN.

Ketua Pengarahnya, Datuk Zolkples Embong berkata, selama ini MSN hanya memberi bantuan kewangan dan kemudahan kepada persatuan sukan kebangsaan untuk menjalankan program dan membangunkan atlit-atlit mereka.

"Jika diikutkan persatuan, mereka akan meletakkan sasaran 70 hingga 80 emas bagi mendapatkan dana," kata Zolkples selepas majlis penutup Konvensyen Sukan Kebangsaan 2009 di PWTC semalam.

"Kini, kita akan ambil pendekatan baru dan menumpukan perhatian kepada atlit. Selepas ini, kami akan mula memilih atlit-atlit berpotensi termasuk pemenang-pemenang emas di Sukan Sea Laos untuk dimasukkan dalam Program Cabaran 2010.

"Kumpulan ini akan diberi bantuan penuh oleh MSN daripada segi program latihan dan kewangan," katanya.

Pada masa sama, Zolkples turut berpuas hati dengan pencapaian keseluruhan atlit-atlit pelapis di Vientiane baru-baru ini yang dilihat dapat meneruskan kesinambungan pemburuan emas di peringkat antarabangsa.

"Mereka mempunyai potensi untuk menyerlah dalam masa dua tahun akan datang. Tapi, kita tidak boleh cepat berpuas hati dengan pencapaian ini.

"MSN akan meneruskan usaha meningkatkan mutu sukan negara dengan memanggil lebih ramai pakar-pakar dari luar negara untuk berkongsi pengalaman mereka.

Sementara itu, Zolkples menyatakan kebimbangannya terhadap acara sukan subjektif seperti taekwondo, silat dan wushu yang tidak membabitkan pertempuran.

"Mungkin kita tidak meletakkan sasaran tinggi untuk sukan seni sebegini tetapi lebih menumpukan kepada sukan tempur," katanya.

NSC confident of best ever medal haul in 2010 Asian, Commonwealth Games

NATIONAL Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Zolkples Embong believes Malaysia will surpass its all-time Asian and Commonwealth Games gold medal records in next year's editions.

Zolkples said Malaysian athletes have improved and should be able to produce a strong showing in both Games next year.

Malaysia's best showing in the Commonwealth Games was achieved in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur edition, when the national contingent won 10 gold, 14 silver and 12 bronze medals.

In the Asian Games, Malaysia's best ever haul of eight gold, 17 silver and 17 bronze medals was achieved in the 2006 Doha Games.

"Our athletes have been making waves in several sports and some are also World No 1s. I am confident we will surpass our all-time Commonwealth and Asian Games records next year," said Zokples in his presentation entitled 'High Performance Sports' at the National Sports Convention in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Zolkples said sports which produced unexpected gold medals in the Sea Games will be brought into the NSC's elite programme.

"We are looking to include boxing. I believe Malaysian boxers have a chance in the Asian and Commonwealth Games."

He said NSC's back-up programmes has also brought dividends in identifying new talent.

"A total of 40 back-up athletes qualified on merit for the recent Sea Games and they contributed one gold, five silver and seven bronze medals. It shows that the programme is working well."

Meanwhile, the Higher Education Ministry has brushed off the idea of setting-up a sports university.

Ahmad Naim Ismail, the ministry's deputy chief secretary (Sports Division), in his presentation on 'Sports in Universities', said existing universities were offering sports related degrees, Masters and PhD programmes.

"The concerned universities are also taking the initiative to improve their sports science programmes. We don't need a sports university for now," said Ahmad Naim.

He said 20 per cent of the country's national athletes were currently pursuing courses in public universities.

The Higher Learning Ministry has also identified eight universities which will conduct sports excellence programmes, starting next year.

"Each university will be entrusted with one sport," he said.

The selected universities are Universiti Malaya (netball), Universiti Putra Malaysia (rugby), Universiti Teknologi Mara (football), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (cricket), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (sailing), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (taekwondo), Universiti Utara Malaysia (golf) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (swimming). NST

'Atasi pungutan emas 1998, 2006'

AHMAD Shabery (tiga dari kiri) pada majlis perasmian Konvensyen Sukan Kebangsaan 2009 di PWTC, semalam.

MSN rancang strategi untuk gegar Sukan Komanwel, Asia 2010

GHAIRAH kejayaan 'cukup makan' di Sukan Sea jelas masih belum reda. Kini, Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) mensasarkan pencapaian terbaik di Sukan Komanwel dan Sukan Asia tahun depan.

Malah, Ketua Pengarah MSN, Datuk Zolkples Embong sudah melaungkan betapa kedua-dua temasya yang bakal berlangsung selang sebulan akan menjadi pentas mengatasi pencapaian 10 emas di Sukan Komanwel 1998 dan lapan emas di Sukan Asia, Doha.

Bagi memenuhi impian besar itu, MSN menyenaraikan 535 atlit dari 26 jenis sukan untuk menyertai Program Cabaran 2010 sebagai persediaan menyahut cabaran kedua-dua temasya berkenaan yang turut dijadikan batu loncatan ke Sukan Olimpik London 2012.

"Sasaran utama kita ialah Olimpik 2012 di mana 19 atlit berpotensi mendapatkan pingat sudah dikenal pasti.

"Jadi menerusi Program Cabaran 2010, Sukan Asia dan Komanwel akan menjadi medan terbaik buat atlit-atlit memperbaiki pencapaian mereka," katanya ketika membentangkan kertas kerja Sukan Prestasi Tinggi di Konvensyen Sukan Kebangsaan 2009 di Dewan Tun Hussein Onn, Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC), semalam.

Dalam konvensyen tahun lalu, empat jenis sukan dipilih untuk program Road to London 2012 meliputi badminton, memanah, berbasikal dan akuatik (terjun) dan bagi Sukan Olimpik 2016 pula, tambahan empat acara sukan dimasukkan - menembak, hoki lelaki, pelayaran dan angkat berat.

Acara-acara berkenaan akan diberi keutamaan selain 26 acara yang tersenarai dalam Program Cabaran 2010. Namun, sukan-sukan lain masih menerima dana sehingga menunjukkan prestasi baik di peringkat antarabangsa.

Pada masa sama, Zolkples berkata, MSN turut memberi keutamaan kepada Sukan Paralimpik dalam program Road To London 2012 di mana lima acara sukan dikenal pasti membabitkan 57 atlit dari acara renang, olahraga, powerlifting, memanah dan pelayaran.

Sementara itu, Zolkples turut mendedahkan mengenai persetujuan mewujudkan kursus Pengurus Perkembangan Prestasi bagi setiap jenis sukan yang berfungsi memantau program kejurulatihan sukan di bawah bidang masing-masing.

"Untuk tujuan itu, kerjasama dengan Kanada bagi menggunakan modul kejurulatihan mereka sudah dipersetujui dan bagi fasa pertama, kursus yang memakan masa setahun akan diadakan," katanya. BH

Catch-22 situation confronts Daniel

HAVING just finished with Malaysia's best ever record by a male swimmer in the Sea Games, Daniel Bego will be taking a well-deserved break before making a decision whether to focus on studies or the double target of next year's Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

The 20-year-old Sarawakian is bent on completing his A-levels next year which would take up the bulk of his time until around August, which will leave him with just two months to prepare for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi on Oct 3-14. The Asian Games in Guangzhou, China will come just a month later on Nov 12-27.

"I'm giving both of them (studies and sport) equal priority for now. I will have a look at how my chances are of really making an impact in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. If I feel I really do, then I can just switch to focusing more on my swimming," said Daniel in Vientiane yesterday.

"But I'll decide when the time comes. I can't say yet what it's going to be. Right now, I'm just thinking about having a break."

Daniel completed the 25th Sea Games with five gold and one bronze medals. He swam the 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle and 100m butterfly in Sea Games and national record times. He also won the gold in the 200m butterfly, while his bronze medal came in the 4x200m freestyle. He is likely to be crowned the male Athlete of the Games.

That result, said Daniel, is still not something he is satisfied with, naming 1998 Asian Games gold medallist Lim Keng Liat as still the greatest ever swimmer in the country, despite his own Malaysian record of five gold medals in the Sea Games.

"What he achieved in swimming is still something way ahead. I still regard Keng Liat as the greatest ever swimmer in our country. He brought us to another level. I'm still not there yet," said Daniel.

He was one of the fortunate ones to have landed the controversial "Jaked" body suit which neutralised the potential threats from Singaporean and Thai swimmers, who all wore similar costumes. But Daniel looks forward to the ban on the hi-tech suits effective Jan 1.

"I'm really looking forward to this being about swimming and not about suits again. It will be a challenge to see whether we can break the records we set with the suits when we swim without them. If I can break all those records I set with the suits, it would be great," he said.

Successful Games common goal: COCOM chief

The CGF’s Co-ordination Commission (COCOM) began its three-day meeting to review the preparations of the Commonwealth Games on Monday by assuring the organisers of its full support for the 2010 event.

During the opening session of the sixth meeting of COCOM, chairman Austin Sealy of Barbados said all parties involved were working to make the Games a success. “We are all working towards the same goal — that of producing a successful Games next year,” Sealy said.

The meeting comes two months after Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell slammed the Organising Committee for the slow pace of work. However, CGF CEO Mike Hooper told The Indian Express on Thursday that significant changes had taken place in the work preparations since October.

OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi also said the eight-member COCOM would find considerable progress in all areas since it last visited the Capital in May. “This meeting is a good opportunity to introspect and review what needs to be done to achieve set milestones and timelines,” Kalmadi said.

“We have total clarity in management structure, with each functional area having separate heads,” he said, adding that the workforce had increased from 228 in May to 680 as on date. “About 200 others have been selected to join in next month. We will go up to 1600,” he added.

Kalmadi also mentioned that the revenue from TV rights and sponsorship deals had already exceeded expectations. “Against projected revenues of $30 million, we have already secured deals worth $42 million,” he said. “Major sponsorship deals had been signed and many more offers are under finalisation in the areas of banking, logistics, food and beverage, technology, transport and overlays provider etc.”

Sports secretary Sindhurshree Khullar sought COCOM’s advice in the Games preparations. “A lot of time has been spent in explaining things instead of getting on with the task of ensuring that the Games are conducted well. The level of monitoring the progress of the Games has gone up. Your advice will help us get on with it,” she said.

The meetings will be held through Wednesday evening after which COCOM would present its report to CGF president Fennell, who is expected to arrive in the city on Wednesday.

Apart from Sealy, COCOM also comprises Bruce Robertson (Canada), Sharad Rao (Kenya), Lisa Hindson (Australia), Perry Crosswhite (Australia), Chris Jenkins (Wales), Gideon Sam (South Africa) and Mike Hooper (CEO CGF).

Janji gegar Sukan Komanwel

Zaira Zakaria

SASARAN awal hanya pingat gangsa, namun pungutan dua perak dan tiga gangsa sebaik berakhir acara angkat berat kelmarin, nyata menggembirakan kem negara yang berdepan laluan sukar menentang jaguh-jaguh dunia.

Begitupun semangat dan kesungguhan atlit lelaki dan wanita negara seharusnya menjadi dorongan bagi mencari kilauan pingat lebih baik selepas ini.

Dengan Sukan Komanwel dianggap temasya lebih mudah buat skuad negara mencari kilauan emas, pendedahan di Sukan Sea Laos boleh dianggap berbaloi.

"Jika hendak katakan kita berpuas hati tidak juga tetapi kita berjaya memberikan yang terbaik dan melepasi sasaran dengan dua perak dan tiga gangsa," kata pengurus pasukan negara, Syed Fairus Syed Ali.

"Di Korat dulu kita hanya dapat satu gangsa dan saya bangga dengan pencapaian skuad kali ini dengan setiap atlit mempamer semangat dan kesungguhan terbaik."

Bagi skuad wanita yang mencipta sejarah memenangi pingat pertama buat negara menerusi gangsa Zaira Zakaria sebelum diperbaiki Raihan Yusof dengan pungutan perak, Syed Fairus menjelaskan ia petanda baik buat atlit wanita negara.

"Dulu acara wanita memang kurang mendapat perhatian, boleh dikatakan mereka tiada harapan, tetapi kini kita sudah boleh membentuk skuad terbaik dengan barisan pelapis juga sudah semakin meningkat," katanya.BHARIAN

MHF still searching for foreign coach

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) is still keen to hire a foreign coach but has yet to receive a reply from Dutchman Roelant Oltmans.

The MHF held its management committee meeting in Penang on Sunday, in conjunction with the USM Penang-International Sixes and Sevens, but could not reach a concrete decision.

"We only had a brief discussion because National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Zolkeples Embong could not make it for the meeting.

"The MHF is still keen to hire a foreign coach but until we do so, Tai Beng Hai remains as the interim coach," said MHF secretary Hashim Yusoff.

Hashim said the MHF has short-listed three coaches, and the coaching committee has been told to submit its recommendations.

"I know that it has been a year that Beng Hai has been an interim coach, but I believe we should be able to get a reply from the coaches that we have contacted by the end of this year."

Oltmans has a contract with clubside Larens until 2012, and the MHF will have to pay a lot to secure his release, and then pay him and his assistant at least E16,000 (RM80,000) per month.

With Malaysia involved in the Asian Champions Trophy, the Azlan Shah Cup, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games next year, the MHF is keen to get a foreign coach fast.

Tan Sri Halil Abdul Mutalib, to take over the CDM job.

By RAJES PAUL

KUALA LUMPUR: Diver Yeoh Ken Nee will be the flag bearer of the Malaysian contingent for the 25th SEA Games in Laos.

The 26-year-old Ken Nee was chosen in favour of shooter Hasli Izwan Amir Hassan and he will lead the contingent into the stadium for the opening ceremony on Dec 9.

Ken Nee has been winning honours for Malaysia in the last three Games. In the absence of Rossharisham Roslan for this edition in Vientiane, he will partner Bryan Nickson Lomas in the men’s 3m springboard synchronised event.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, said that Ken Nee was selected for his vast experience as a national athlete.

“It was between Hasli and Ken Nee. Hasli has also been representing the country in the SEA Games and he has also won honours for the country on all occasions,” he said.

“We chose Ken Nee because his event starts later the next day. Hasli has an early start in the rapid fire pistol event and we did not want him to be too tired after the opening ceremony and affect his chances of winning a medal.

“If Hasli is still around on the final day of the Games, we will pick him to lead the contingent for the closing ceremony (on Dec 18).”

The flag-handing ceremony to the Malaysian contingent will take place tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Kok Chi also said that the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president, Datuk Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, had withdrawn as the chef-de-mission of the contingent for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi next year due to health reasons.

And the OCM have named the president of the Malaysian Archery Association, Tan Sri Halil Abdul Mutalib, to take over the job.