Foul!

Haresh Says, as published in Mailsport today. HE  spoke about security in the region and strengthening bilateral ties between both nations. Barack Obama was even asked about the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, insisting US was not bullying Malaysia. And during the press conference at Seri Perdana in Putrajaya on Sunday, Obama joined a string of politicians and athletes as he condemned the racist remarks which were apparently uttered by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling. Obama called the remarks “incredibly offensive”. “When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don’t really have to do anything, you just let them talk. That’s what happened here,” he said. The basketball tycoon hogged the limelight for the wrong reason over the weekend after news website TMZ posted a 10-minute recording of what is claimed to be a conversation between Sterling and his girlfriend Vanessa Stiviano, 38. Sterling had apparently said: “It both...

I received a tip-off recently regarding the poor conditions at the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School in Bandar Penawar, Johor. I felt it was only right to visit the school which was formerly known as the Bandar Penawar Sports School. Accompanying me was Astro Awani's sports editor Fadzrie Hazis. The tip-off turned out to be true. This was my observation; 1. Hockey turf ( pic 1) - There is only hockey turf in the school which is shared by both the boys and girls teams. The turf is in bad shape as evident in the picture and the condition started becoming worse since last year. Despite such shortcomings, the lads won the Malaysian Junior Hockey League this year. 2. Pole vault ( pic 2 ) - it is damaged and judging by the looks of it, it has been left to rot for sometime. When asked, a worker said it has been not used for "almost four years". 3. Lawn bowls pitch ( pic 3 ) -  They have lawn bowlers but no coach and no proper pitch as the one at the school is in...

Schools sports have always been close to my heart. I started my career in journalism by covering school-level tournaments before graduating to the senior level - a luxury not many journalists have today as most seem to immediately cover the major stuff. I remember writing about Kevinder Singh during his days with Royal Military College. Some made it beyond the schools level. Most simply disappeared from the scene. I also remember doing my Basic Sports Administration Course under the International Olympic Council together with Education Ministry sports unit head Ee Hong. She was just placed into the hot seat then and wanted to educate herself further in sports. Such an attitude ought to be applauded. Then we have Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin trying to leave a legacy by introducing the 1Student 1Sport programme. Noble as it may sound, the reality is that students in the 80s and 90s grew up with the requirement of having to take up at least 1 sport, 1 uniformed body and 1 club / so...