Foul!

As published in Mailsport today By Wan Noriza Meor Idris mmsports@mmail.com.my KUALA LUMPUR — Top national artistic gymnast Tracie Ang is out of next year’s SEA Games. The 21-year-old had hip surgery on Oct 21 in a bid to make the Singapore Games from June 5-16, but has been advised by doctors to rest for six months. Tracie will now focus on qualifying for the 2016 Olympics. “My right hip was bothering me for a long time since — since I was a junior actually. I thought it was a weak hip but it turned out to be dysplastic hip (a congenital or developmental deformation or misalignment of the hip joint),” said the two-time World Cup finalist. “My right pelvis is standing almost vertical and I also have a joint capsule tear. “After an in depth discussion with my doctor, I think it is best for me to skip the SEA Games.” Although Tracie is now moving around with a leg stretcher, she watched  the National Artistic Gymnastic Championship yesterday. ...

National cager Jacky Ng made an appointment with a doctor at the National Sports Institute on June 24 - but he never showed up. Such was the revelation made by NSI chief executive officer Dr Ramlan Aziz, as reported in The Malay Mail today. Jacky was substituted and was cheering on the national team from the bench as they played a local club in Jinjiang, China before he collapsed and died on Sunday. He was 25. Meanwhile, sports officials pleaded to religious authorities not to kill sports after Penang Mufti Hassan Ahmad suggested that the participation of female Muslims in swimming and gymnastics be discussed during the National Fatwa Council committee meeting in September - as reported here . Even Youth and Sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin requested all parties to be sensible and logical about this matter. Among female Muslim athletes who have done the nation proud are gymnasts Farah Ann Abdul Hadi ( pic ), her sister synchronised swimmer Katrina Ann, gymnasts Durratun Nasi...

  UPDATE Jan 29, 2pm: Table tennis and hockey have been included in the Myanmar Sea Games. Olympic Council of Malaysia and other Olympic Committees are fighting for the inclusion of badminton. The tweet by Astro Arena's (who is also Sportswriters Association of Malaysia president) Ahmad Khawari Isa says it all. --------------- Malaysia will suffer a big blow as badminton, hockey and gymnastics will not be contested at the year end Myanmar Sea Games. Indonesia Olympic Committee chairwoman Rita Subowo confirmed the sport was not in the list of games for the regional meet. “I just received the list today and badminton is not registered as the SEA Games’ sports ,” she said as quoted by Jakarta Globe . The other sports excluded from the Games are tennis and table tennis. Olympic Committee of Thailand’s Vice-President Charoen Wattanasin was quoted by The Irrawaddy as saying that "Singapore had already sent a letter asking Burma to revert its decision". It rem...

Selangor gymnast Daniel Iskandar Richard who won the men's Artistic gymnastics all-round gold medal quickly paid tribute to his cancer stricken mother who had supported him despite her illness. My mother, despite being diagnosed with breast cancer, has always been a pillar of strength and support for me, he said. Daniel Iskandar who was in superb form in all six routines, beat Mohd Syazwan Sahmi from the host state and Hoe He Ping from Kelantan to clinch the gold with 76.15 points. "This win is the gift of my mother's prayers. She calls me every night and gives me words of encouragement, finds out my progress and condition. She went through an operation last year and recuperating. "She is getting better now and I want to dedicate this win to her," he told reporters at the Pahang Sports Complex (Sukpa) here today . --BERNAMA HD says: It's been awhile since we read such heartwarming stories in the backpages. Way to go Daniel!

Lee Wan Nin ( pic ) is certainly the new angel for the national gymnastics scene. With the likes of unhappy gymnastics, officials who have been around for more than two decades and officials who claim it is "normal in gymnastics to bribe judges", Wan Nin's fairy tale run is a breath of fresh air. There were already big plans for her in 2009 - as seen here . Last year, Wan Nin raised eyebrows as despite handed a wild card to the Youth Olympics, she made it to the final - as published in NST . Yesterday, she finished 30th - the nation's best ever result - at the World Championships in France. The Star wrote about it today . Watch here moves here , here and here . HD says: Way to go Wan Nin. Hopefully the 'politics' and high handed officials will not dampened your spirits.