Foul!

As published in Malay Mail today. By G. Prakash prakash@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA — The shooting incident involving former national hurdler Datuk Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majid could be linked to his recent appointment as Malaysia Athletics Federation (MAF) vice-president. Insiders claim Noorul has been at odds with several officials since 2012 after he secured a position in the Johor Amateur Athletics Association, which eventually gave him a ticket to contest in the MAF elections last month. Noorul survived a drive-by shooting in front of his house in Bandar Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh, on Wednesday after two men on a red motorcycle fired several shots at him. He was shot twice in his right leg during the 10pm incident. Sungai Buloh police chief Supt Junaidi Bujang confirmed the incident, adding police found four 9mm bullet shells across the road in front of the victim’s house. He said police are investigating all angles to trace the assailants. A source revealed MAF pre...

As published in Malay Mail today. Aiming for goal, Putrajaya hits crossbar Comment by Frankie D’Cruz frankie@mmail.com.my THERE was one moment this week when cumbersome rules upset our lives. It was a case of how everything that could go wrong was going wrong. On Monday, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah disclosed the government was still studying a fuel subsidy mechanism after saying it would be rooted on the income of vehicle owners who would be split into three levels. That meant the new system had yet to be finalised. The result of announcing just one aspect: a storm of criticism in the next day’s papers, and the next and the next. Welcome to the (almost) weekly edition of “Public Information: How to create noisy debate”. It has been a full five days since we learned that those earning more than RM10,000 a month would not enjoy fuel subsidy; those with income between RM5,001 and RM10,000 would be given partial subsidy; and those earning below RM5,00...

As published in Malay Mail today. The back page on Sept 24, 2014 celebrating Nicol's success PETALING JAYA — Another day went by at the Asian Games in Incheon with the girls saving Malaysia the blushes. National shooter Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi celebrated her 32nd birthday yesterday by winning a silver medal in the individual 50m rifle prone after equaling her personal best of 620.6 points. She finished behind Mongolia’s Narantuya Chuluunbadrakh, who gunned down 624.1 points. She also helped Malaysia secure the team bronze medal. Nur Suryani, together with Nur Ayuni Farhana Abdul Halim and Muslifah Zulkifli, scored a total of 1,853.6 points — behind South Korea (1,855.5 points) and China (1,854.1). “I was disappointed in failing to reach the final in the 10m air event on Monday. But I put my emotions aside to concentrate on the remaining events,” the Royal Malaysian Navy officer told reporters. This is the first time a Malaysian had won a silver medal in shootin...

By Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY LONDON – To the beat of two hearts, a Malaysian woman eight months pregnant competed in Olympic air rifle shooting Saturday morning. Though 29-year-old Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi ( pic ) did not make the final, she treasured the moment. "A pregnant woman can do whatever they think they can do. The most important thing is how they think," Taibi said. Taibi, who said her daughter is due to be born in 3-4 weeks, came here prepared to compete while aware the birth could come at any time. "I just prayed to God that if anything happened during my competition, I want to go the labor room. … I just accept it with an open heart," she said. She didn't see herself as limited. "I don't feel like there's a challenge during pregnancy. I just feel like ordinary, normal people, as if I am not pregnant. I still can do whatever a normal person can do," she said. Over a span of 75 minutes in the quali...

In 2007 national shooter Bibiana Ng ( pic ) - together with Joseline Cheah and Siti Nur Masitah Mohd Badrin - were slapped with a two-year ban by the International Sport Shooting Federation after testing positive for the banned drug Propranolol in March . Three years later, Bibiana returned to the scene with a bang after shooting down the gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. And yesterday, the lass rewrote her own national record after scoring 538 points in the 25m pistol women's individual event at the 36th SEASA championship in Subang. Read more here . She had set the national record of 537 points four years ago. It is indeed amazing to see how athletes bounce back from an ugly episode to silence their critics and win accolades. Bibiana has done it, yet again, and she is indeed an inspiring story to not only shooters but athletes alike. Here's hoping to see Bibiana hog the limelight in the near future. With such grit and determination, she deserves it. HD...

She has yet to step into London but the English Press are already writing about her as seen in The Daily Mail . National shooter Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi was also featured on Reuters and Yahoo Sports . Nur Suryani, who I last met during the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia awards ceremony in Feb, is expecting her first born early September. This would mean she will be almost eight months into her pregnancy while competing in the Olympics. And her chances of winning the gold medal? "Oh, I don't think about that yet,' she added modestly. 'Anyhow, maybe they will say this is unfair because two persons shoot for one gold," she l aughed, pointing to her bulge. All the best Nur Suryani! HD says: A podium finish will already be a fantastic achievement for Nur Surayni.

Let's study the two situations below. Situation A Got this comment for my earlier posting The Games Begin about our shooters in Indonesia without their ammunition . It read; man, am surprised no journalist wrote about the aminution fiasco other then just report as a news item. ocm has been sending teams for umpteen years and by now should know the requirements to bring live aminution. who did not do his job? will msn pay again? what nonsence. 1. Should the National Sports Council be held responsible as they seem to be in control over everything when it comes to the local sporting scene? Is it fair for the Council to foot the bill? 2. Should the Olympic Council of Malaysia be solely blamed as the Sea Games is a multi-sports event which comes under its ambit? Shouldn't they have sorted all this out? OR 3. Should the national association take the rap for failing to get such matters finalised before flying off to Indonesia? Haven't we competed abroad, Indonesia included, be...