Foul!

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) had yesterday started their investigation into the selection of an ice skater for the KL SEA Games last year. It is understood the Council's disciplinary board met "four witnesses" including those from the Ice Skating Association of Malaysia (ISAM). The board is investigating claims that the skater in question, who was part of  the 3,000m short track speed skating relay team that won gold, was not being selected by the council for the regional Games. The relay team won the gold medal as Malaysia emerged overall champions in the short track speed staking competition with four gold and three bronze medals. "Two former OCM officials, one allegedly linked to the matter, will be called in soon," said a source. Twentytwo13  had on May 22 reported that an ex-OCM official would be investigated. It was then reported that a complaint was lodged and the matter was referred to the disciplinary board but the matter  was p...

As published in The Mole today Subramaniam and Ashvinderjeet sharing a light moment at the Astaka on March 6. - Picture by Haresh Deol By Haresh Deol ASHVINDERJEET SINGH walks at remarkable speeds as his hips dance gracefully to the rhythm of his pace. He goes around the track at the Titiwangsa Lake Gardens’ Astaka almost daily, under the watchful eyes of his coach V. Subramaniam, the 1978 National Sportsman of the Year. Walking, in athletics, is an art. It requires little investment (in equipment) but promises the greatest gift any Malaysian athlete yearns for – an Olympic medal. “Some of my friends say walking is more suited for girls, because of the way the hips move. But I don’t care,” said Ashvinderjeet, who turns 14 on April 24. Ashvinderjeet could turn out to be Kuala Lumpur’s medal prospect in the National Schools Sports Council (MSSM) athletics meet next month. He hopes to make the city team during the selection process scheduled next week. “My personal...

UPDATE 3.47pm: Malaysia Organising Committee (Masoc) issues statement regarding unpaid services at 29th Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. Statement was sent via Rakan-Rakan Media@OCM WhatsApp group by its media executive officer Fahmi Omar. KENYATAAN MASOC Jawatankuasa Pengelola Malaysia (MASOC) Kuala Lumpur 2017 melahirkan rasa dukacita berhubung dakwaan beberapa artis dan pihak tertentu yang masih belum menerima sebarang pembayaran atas khidmat mereka pada temasya Sukan SEA ke-29 dan Sukan Para ASEAN ke-9 baru-baru ini. Untuk makluman, pihak MASOC telahpun melunaskan pembayaran lebih 70% daripada nilai kontrak syarikat yang dilantik menerusi proses tender Kementerian Belia dan Sukan untuk mengendalikan upacara perasmian dan penutupan kedua-dua temasya berkenaan pada 28 Ogos lalu. Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Sekretariat Kuala Lumpur 2017, Dato’ Seri Zolkples Embong berkata, MASOC telah menetapkan sasaran untuk melunaskan semua pembayaran kepada pihak yang telah dilantik bagi menja...

N. Thanabalan turned into a household name following his exploits during the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur last month. And it is of no wonder RHB managed to tackle the national footballer and featured him as a star player in their Deepavali advertisement. It's always nice to see our national athletes given due recognition. Thanabalan is not the only who is enjoying the spotlight as evident in the past. Kudos RHB for having Thanabalan in mind. I hope to see more of our athletes given such an opportunity. Happy Deepavali to Thanabalan and to all of our national heroes.

World Fashion Week Asia 2017 ended over the weekend. And the launch on Friday at Palace of the Golden Horses at Mines Resort City just outside Kuala Lumpur turned out to be a forgettable night. Why? It was poorly organised. Just as many are trying to get over the nightmare witnessed throughout the KL SEA Games , the organiser of World Fashion Week Asia 2017 has made it look like Malaysians seem to have lost it when it comes to hosting major events and hospitality. Here's why. Royal protocol ignored 1. The Sultanah of Terengganu Sultanah Nur Zahirah was invited to grace the event.     a. There was no holding room for the Sultanah and VIPs accompanying her.     b. The Sultanah was invited on stage without anyone accompanying her there (a big NO NO if anyone knows protocol involving royalty).  Sultanah Nur Zahirah at World Fashion Week Asia 2017 gala night on Friday.     c. The event dragged on till 11.30pm, way past the cut off poin...

Dear para athletes, I will never know what life is like in a wheelchair or to grow up in complete darkness. I can pretend to understand but I will never know what it will feel until the day I become special, like you. But what I, and many others, do know is that you have never used your disabilities as an excuse not to perform at the highest level. You have all been inspirational, super heroes in so many ways. You have proven that anything is possible if you put your heart and soul into your sport to achieve your goals. While we are still searching for the elusive Olympic gold medal, your fellow para athletes — Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi, Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli and Abdul Latif Romly — were given  a hero's welcome after bagging three Paralympics gold medals in Brazil last year. Ridzuan after winning his race in Brazil.  Ridzuan won the nation's first Paralympics gold medal since 1972 after winning the men's 100m T36 (cerebral palsy) race, clocking 12.07s ...

National tennis players Theiviya Selvarajoo (left) and Jawairiah Noordin at an event held prior the recently-concluded KL SEA Games. — Bernama "One more example was the “Tiger” jerseys designed for our sports people chosen to represent the country as a visual identity to help build the competitive team spirit. The stripes on the jerseys were intended to inspire young people with the spirit of the tiger, a symbol of power and courage, and grow up wanting to wear the Malaysian colours. Unfortunately, the jerseys were accepted but the spirit behind the stripes was not promoted , and we lost an excellent branding opportunity in sports." Those were the words of the nation's innovation and design guru Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing . Conversations in recent days continue to revolve around the just-concluded 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur and the upcoming Asean Para Games which starts on Sunday. A topic that intrigued me was our national contingent's attir...

Here's me trying to be taller than national high jumper Navraj Singh (left) and national 110m hurdler Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian. This picture was taken on August 27, when the two SEA Games gold medalists were invited as guests of Astro Arena's Analisis Nadi KL2017. Rayzam, 29, is the national record holder (13.67s). He had, at the Kurpfalz Gala competition in Germany in May, erased Nur Herman Majid's 23-year-old record of 13.73s. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak praised Rayzam for breaking the national record. — Twitter @NajibRazak  His victory at KL2017 was meaningful as the last time a Malaysian came out tops in the race was 10 years ago. And he has since expressed his intention to conquer Asia when Indonesia plays host to the Asian Games next year. I had, after the show, asked Rayzam - captain of the national athletics SEA Games squad - if he had a sponsor. The Sabahan replied: "No". "I get a monthly allowance of RM1,500 (from the...

Loh Jack Chang, a decorated wushu exponent and an MBA holder, is unsure what's next for him once he quits sports. “We’re taught we can push through anything, we can make it wherever we want to go, and we’re always told to not ask for help." Those were the words of US Olympian   Allison Schmitt. The Michigan-born swimmer was quoted in the article ' The Dark Side of Going for Gold ' — which discusses how athletes are prone to emotional crashes after the Olympics. As the 29th edition of the SEA Games ended in Kuala Lumpur last week, Malaysian athletes are also emotionally tested. They now ask - what's next? Most of them are enjoying a break, or what is widely known as a cooling off period.  However, many of those who competed in the regional Games said they are unsure what is their next assignment as they await instructions from their respective associations and the National Sports Council. But those who have expressed their intention to retire face a...

Rimau with a mock ticket in this picture taken from jomcuti.com.my "Bro, got free tickets?" I was flooded with that question throughout the just concluded SEA Games - especially for the Malaysia-Thailand men's football final. No, I didn't get any free tickets. But was it right for our ex-internationals to ask for free tickets especially for the opening ceremony? There were those who believe former 'Malaysian Olympians' deserve to witness the historic moment and watch our national athletes in action. Screen shot of a conversation from a WhatsApp group consisting former Olympians. But others insisted these 'elders' should set an example and show their support by paying — arguing the tickets for the opening ceremony were, after all, priced at RM20 each. There were also claims a large number of tickets were given out to certain individuals only. For the record, only the venues of 19 sports, opening and closing ceremonies required fan...

An Australian played an instrumental role in assisting Lee Hup Wei (left) and Navraj Singh Randhwa win the high jump SEA Games silver and gold medals respectively. — Star Online Expect the 'local v foreign  coach' debate to be reignited following the success of our athletics team at the just concluded Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. The athletics squad scored eight gold medals in track and field events. The eight winners (and coaches) are: 1. Hammer thrower Jackie Wong (Gu Yuan - China)  2. Hammer thrower Grace Wong (Gu Yuan - China) 3. High jumper Navraj Singh Randhawa (Alex Stewart - Australia) 4. Sprinter Khairul Hafiz Jantan (Mohd Poad Mohd Kassim - MALAYSIA) 5. Hurdler Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian (Jan Klaus Erasmus May - Germany) 6. Walker Elena Goh (Teoh Boon Lim - MALAYSIA) 7. Discus thrower Irfan Shamsuddin (Fero Petrovic - Slovakia) 8. Triple jumper Mohd Hakimi Ismail (Viktor Sotnikov - Russia)  From the list above, only two of the winning coaches are locals...

A magical sight was seen at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday as KL2017 ended with Malaysia finishing as overall champions. - Bernama 145 gold medals. It's the best Team Malaysia has ever achieved since the inception of the SEAP Games in1959. The 29th edition of the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur ended yesterday. The opening ceremony dazzled those at the stands and viewers at home while the performances during the closing ceremony yesterday jogged plenty of musical memories to many. Our athletes, the real superheroes, brought smiles through their heroic display. They made everyday a happy day. A majestic shot of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin by Ghazali Kori (Harian Metro). Kudos to the officials - from the coaches, the National Sports Institute and National Sports Council - for their hard work in ensuring our athletes perform to their best. But it was not all memorable. From 16 athletes downed with food poisoning to a bus driver being caugh...