Foul!

  Agak sedih juga pengakhiran buat sukan terjun ini, di mana kita gagal dan kita perlu mengakui bahawa kita gagal. "Kita perlu mengkaji semula kelemahan kita. Niatnya ada, usaha juga ada walaupun menghadapi banyak kekangan dan masalah." This was published by Stadium Astro yesterday . The quote above was by National Sports Council director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail. So will Ahmad Shapawi now be trolled for using the word "gagal" (failure)? Ahmad Shapawi said it as it is. But this Olympics has seen certain quarters arguing that we should use words like "tidak berjaya" instead of "gagal". Certain media organisations have also come under fire for their "less than supportive" headlines. I feel these media organisations should stand firm by recording facts as it is instead of changing headlines for fear of being trolled.  Here's what legendary athlete Carl Lewis had to say about the US team in the men's relay:   The USA team ...

When Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein was the Youth and Sports Minister from 1999 to 2004, he brought the Asian X-Games to Malaysia. Extreme sports enthusiasts were elated with the initiative. A skate park was even built at Bukit Kiara. But there were those who questioned the need for the ministry to spend "millions" to obtain the hosting rights from 2002 to 2004 . Fast forward to today, skateboarding has been added to the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia. The sport will also be contested at the 2020 Olympics. Last month, the Youth and Sports Ministry announced "skateboarding and climbing were also on the National Sports Council's agenda in expanding the scope of national sports" . The NSC is also tasked to organise a national championship for skateboarding. Some call it a missed opportunity. If officials within the ministry had followed through Hishammuddin's initiative, we could have a larger pool of talents today. We have the likes of Joe...

We have over 300 athletes who have donned the national colours at the Olympics. Sadly, only 22 Olympians turned up for the Malaysia Olympians Association annual general meeting this morning. WHY? And where are the younger athletes? Former cyclist Ng Joo Pong put the absentees to shame. Having to use a walker, Ng drove all the way (alone) from Shah Alam to Wisma OCM for the meeting.  The others who attended the meeting were: Khairuddin Zainal (Hockey - 1972, 1976) Ariffin Ahmat (Athletics - 1968) Karu Selvaratnam (Athletics - 1964) Noraseela Khalid (Athletics - 2012) Khoo Cai Lin (Swimming - 2008, 2012) Fazin Saad (Cycling - 1972) Ong Ewe Hock (Badminton - 1996, 2000) Jeffery Ong (Swimming - 1988, 1992) Dr M. Jegathesan (Athletics - 1960, 1964 & 1968) Tai Beng Hai (Hockey - 1992) Iman Gobinathan (Hockey - 2000) Josephine Mary (Athletics - 1988) R. Yogeswaran (Hockey - 1964, 1968) R. Pathmarajah (Hockey - 1972, 1976) Mir...

Former hockey international Gary Fidelis , who represented Malaysia at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, has been traveling from Seremban to Kuala Lumpur for years to treat his right eye due to blurry vision. Gary, 53, has been short-sighted since young but doctors said his vision has been further impaired due to constant knocks and falls. "I fell and suffered plenty of knocks to my eye during my playing days. I believe that has aggravated the situation, causing my vision to become worse," said Gary, a former St Paul's Institution student. Four years ago, he underwent a surgery to treat a retinal detachment but it has done little to repair his vision. "I was supposed to go for another surgery at Selayang Hospital on Monday (Nov 11) but it didn't happen as my eye was inflamed and doctors were afraid that this may lead to other complications. "My next visit to the hospital is next Tuesday (Nov 21) and I'm required to undergo laser vision corr...

As published in Sunday Mail By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA — Datuk Lee Chong Wei has never attended the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. On Friday, he will not only be in Rio de Janeiro for the curtain-raiser but will lead the national contingent of 32 athletes as the flag bearer.   He is the 15th athlete, starting with weightlifter Tan Kim Bee leading Malaya at the Melbourne Games in 1956, to be bestowed the honour.   The Penangnite, who turns 34 on Oct 21, said: “Being the flag bearer means so much to me. This is my last Olympics and to be given such an honour … it’s something words cannot describe.   “I am very proud that I’ve been named the flag bearer, to lead our contingent of 32 excellent athletes during the opening ceremony. To hold the flag up high in front of a large crowd, it will be a memorable and emotional affair. “This will motivate me and I hope to raise the Jalur Gemilang once again when I win the gold medal.”    ...

Our national contingent Archery Haziq Kamaruddin , Khairul Anuar Mohamad, Mohd Akmal Nor Hasrin Athletics Nauraj Singh , Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli  Badminton Datuk Lee Chong We i, Goh V Shem, Tan Wee Kiong, Chan Peng Soon, Goh Liu Ying, Tee Jing Yi, Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei  Cycling Azizulhasni Awang , Fatehah Mustapa Diving Pandelela Rinong , Ooi Tze Liang, Ahmad Amsyar Azman, Cheong Jun Hoong, Nur Dhabitah Sabri, Wendy Ng Yan Yee Golf Danny Chia, Gavin Kyle Green, Kelly Tan , Michelle Koh  Sailing Khairulnizam Affendy , Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif Shooting Jonathan Wong Swimming Welson Sim , Phee Jing En, Heidi Gan  Weightlifting Mohd Hafifi Mansor

As published in Malay Mail today By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA — The BA of Malaysia (BAM) say it is unwise to place additional pressure on Lee Chong Wei as Malaysians continue to bank on the national shuttler to deliver the nation’s first Olympic gold medal in August.   The national body’s acting president Tan Sri Mohamed Al Amin Abd Majid said fans should keep calm and not brush aside Lee’s opponents at the Rio de Janeiro Games which will feature the best in the world,.     Lee got badminton fans elated after winning the Indonesian Open yesterday. His journey to the final earned him enough points to top the world rankings — a position he once held from 2006 to 2014.   “We are happy he is back at the top spot in the world rankings but let’s not get overly hyped up ... let’s not be caught in this (frenzy),” he said.   Al Amin, who is also the chef de mission for the Games, said it was unfair to say Lee was the only person capable of cl...

As published in Mailsport today By Nicolas Anil nicolas@mmail.com.my BUKIT KIARA - With the country’s main hope of an Olympic gold medal now shrouded in a doping controversy, doubles coach Pang Cheh Chang wants his charges to step-up for the big prize at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016. “I will discuss with the National Sports Council and the National Sports Institute on how to boost their performance further when the Olympic qualification starts in May next year. “Ideally I want both our pairs ranked in the top eight when the qualifying period ends (May 2016) so that we stand a better chance of vying for gold,” he said when met at the national team’s training session at Stadium Juara yesterday. When asked which pair he thinks stands a better chance of gold, Cheh Chang slanted towards the younger duo of Tan Wee Kiong-Goh V Shem ( pic ). “Wee Kiong and V Shem probably have an advantage because of their age. But do not discard Hoon (Thien How) and Tan (Boon H...

It was more than just a run. Participants of the Chardikala Charitable Fun Run braved the heavy rain to get a glimpse of the world’s oldest marathon runner Fauja Singh who flagged off the 5km race at the Astaka Field, Petaling Jaya yesterday evening. The event attracted more than 1,000 participants with several runners from Kenya, Japan, India and Malaysia. Also present was Olympic Council of Malaysia secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi. Fauja, who is 101-years-old, was still in good spirits despite having ran in the Standard Chartered 10km Run in Singapore earlier in the day before visiting PJ. “Running is my medicine so I have to continue running,” said an expressive Fauja. “I am very happy to be here and I wish more people will take up running. Youngsters should be involved in sports as it is healthy and they will avoid taking drugs and committing other vices.” Fauja has taken the athletics scene by storm after his impressive feats since he started running in his l...