Timesport's 2002 wish list

01/01/2002

JUGJET SINGH
Hockey: I HOPE the Malaysian team will win gold, but the reality is thatthe best they can finish in the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup is fourth asthe odds are stacked as high as Mount Everest.

TONY FRANCIS (Assistant Editor)
TO be able to name the starting 11 of the national soccer team.

VIJESH RAI
Olympic Council of Malaysia: THE Olympic Council of Malaysia strictly
enforces the "on merit" selection policy for the Asian Games and
Commonwealth Games.
National Sports Council: THE National Sports Council steers clear of
controversies and its officers concentrate on helping develop sports
rather than getting involved in disputes with associations.
Soccer: SOCCER convinces the Olympic Council of Malaysia to give it a
ticket and it goes on to win Asian Games gold in Pusan, South Korea.
Taekwondo: WINS at least one Asian Games gold medal to redeem for the
below average performance in the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games.
Overall: MALAYSIA wins double figure gold medals in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

ZAKRI BAHARUDIN
Cycling: WHILE Josiah Ng develops into a world class rider, it is time
for MNCF to establish an effective system which can produce a wider base
of riders so that many more talented cyclists like him can be unearthed in
the country.
Formula One: IT will unfair to wish for a world title but it's sensible
to hope that Alex Yoong won't crash his Minardi in his maiden season. And
though it may be too much to ask, it'll be a huge morale booster should
Yoong avoid being lapped by the much faster Ferraris, McLarens or
Williams.
Bowling: AS bowling seldom lets Malaysia down, the sport should better
its two-gold haul from the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games in Pusan. They
definitely have to bring more than the one bronze they managed in Bangkok
four years ago.

K.M BOOPATHY
Badminton: MALAYSIA wins the Thomas Cup and a gold medal in the Asian Games.
Squash: ONG Beng Hee breaks into the world's top three and wins Super
Series tournaments while Nicol David breaks into the
top five as she has the ability to become one. Also, SRAM should
concentrate on development rather than depending too much on Ong and
Nicol.
Tennis: LTA of Malaysia (LTAM), players and officials should stop
bickering and make a genuine attempt to bridge the gap with their
Southeast Asian rivals Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines.
GLEN PETERS
Golf: FOR the Malaysian Professional Golf Association (MPGA) to stay
true to its word by helping local pros to play in overseas circuits and
tournaments.
Karate: THE Malaysian Karate-do Federation (Makaf) includes more juniors
for full-time centralised training at the National Sports Institute (NSI).
Aquatics: THE Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) desperately
needs to work closer with its State affiliates to blood more swimmers for
the national team.
Gymnastics: FOR the Malaysian Gymnastics Federation (MGF) and the
National Sports Council (NSC) to make gymnastics for all, promoting new
disciplines such as sports aerobics and trampoline.
Basketball: THE Malaysian Basketball Association (Maba) resumes the
Malaysian Basketball League (MBL) which was not held last year.

S. SELVAM
Athletics: THE Malaysian AAU stops blaming other parties for its
failures and takes charge of athletics in the country. It is also time for
MAAU to be financially independent and stop depending on the National
Sports Council for financial aid.
(END)