Yunus admits taking drugs but blames it on MAU deputy president

By Aftar Singh
The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Relay runner Mohd Yunus Lasaleh, who failed a dope test after winning gold at the Indonesia SEA Games, has made a stunning admission: he was on banned drugs which a top Malaysian Athletic Union official told him to take.
Yunus and several coaches and athletes said in a sworn statement that MAU deputy president Datuk Karim Ibrahim had arranged for a Bulgarian doctor to provide him with “pills that could help me win gold at the SEA Games”.
Yunus, together with P. Yuvaraaj, Schwan Ahmad Rosely and S. Kannathasan, did not qualify on merit for the biennial Games but surprised everyone by winning the gold in the men's 4x400m in Palembang.
Yunus, 23, subsequently failed the dope test. He now faces a lengthy ban from the sport and the quartet will have to return their medals.
I fell ill after receiving two injections and could not train for a few days. I told coach Jayabalan about the injections and he was angry with me. - Muhammad Yunus Lasaleh
In the sworn statement, the Sabahan claimed Karim had contacted him while he was training in Miri in September and told him to meet a Bulgarian doctor who could help boost his performance.
“The doctor and coach Vasco, also from Bulgaria, were in Miri. The doctor gave me five or six pills during training. He told me they were vitamins.
“Karim also told me to take the pills, which he said were very expensive. I was also given injections two or three times a week. The doctor informed me that they were B complex shots for recovery after training.
“Karim asked me not to tell anyone, including coach K. Jayabalan, about the pills. However, I fell ill after receiving two injections and could not train for a few days. I told coach Jayabalan about the injections and he was angry with me,” he said.
The team then moved their training base to Brunei.
“There, the doctor continued to give me the pills and injections,” said Yunus.
“This continued until Nov 1 when we were told that we would not be going to the Games,” said Yunus.
However, the relay quartet were later informed that they would be competing in the Games after all. They left for Palembang on Nov 12 and returned as heroes three days later without receiving their gold medals.
Karim, meanwhile, is also alleged to have told six sprinters not to provide the urine samples for doping tests as requested by the National Sports Institute last year May.
They are Norjannah Hafiszah Jamaluddin, Nurul Sarah Abdul Kadir, Siti Fatimah Mohamed, Siti Zubaidah Abadi, Yee Yi Ling and Noor Imran Hadi.
Forty-two national athletes and 16 coaches handed the memorandum to MAU president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim at the National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil yesterday, demanding that Karim be removed as deputy president.
Shahidan said later: “I haven't read it and I can't arbitrarily remove any official. There are rules and procedures to be followed.”
Calls by StarSport to Karim went unanswered.

Flying Sikh gives his 1960 Olympics shoes for charity

Bose was introduced to Milkha by India's 1975 hockey World Cup-winning captain Ajit Pal Singh.

MUMBAI: Indian athletics may not be on the global sporting map just yet, but there are rare moments in the country's track and field history nevertheless that are forever etched in time. None better than Milkha Singh falling painfully short of a medal at the 400m final of the 1960 Rome Olympics by a gut-wrenching fraction of a second.
Milkha or 'Flying Sikh' as he later got christened, is known to have given away all his medals to government museums. However, there's one possession that he never wanted to part with were those Adidas shoes with which he missed the 400m Olympic bronze at Rome, days after setting a 45.8-second world record in the preliminaries of the same event in France.
"I wouldn't part with it even if someone gave me Rs. 10,000 crore," Milkha told Bollywood actor Rahul Bose, who called the legend at his residence in Chandigarh in connection with the second edition of Equation, the actor's sports memorabilia auction to be held on February 11 in Mumbai.
Bose was introduced to Milkha by India's 1975 hockey World Cup-winning captain Ajit Pal Singh. "When I first spoke to Milkha sir over the phone, he said he was a bit unwell, so I let him recover before going across to Chandigarh. Later, when we met, he showed no signs of any illness. He was fine and we chatted enthusiastically. He spoke of how his parents were killed post-partition, leaving him in India to fend for himself.
He told me how he walked a good 20km to and from school each day, bare-footed across scorching earth and having to cross two streams each way. He would cool his feet by rubbing them over the comparatively cooler grass patches. He joined the army and the rest, as they say, is history," Bose told MiD DAY.
As it turned out, the rest of their interaction was historic for Bose too. "I asked Milkha sir if he could give me a picture of him in that Rome race to put up at the auction, but he didn't have one. Then he suddenly got up, walked to his room and returned with a pair of shoes.
I was astonished to learn that it was the very same pair he ran the Rome race with. 'They are priceless to me. I wouldn't part with them even for Rs. 10,000 crore,' he said. And even as I sat there still in awe of those lace-less, old boots in my hand, Milkha sir said, 'tumne mera dil jeet liya hai aaj. Tum yeh jootey le loh (you have won my heart over. Take these shoes)'."

Moved by the effort

Bose believed the ace middle-distance runner was moved by the sheer nature of his charity and the purpose of the auction. "Proceeds from last year's inaugural auction were used to set up operations in Kashmir where we, as the first non-profit organisation, worked towards adopting and creating educational opportunities for 12 children from the land," said Bose, who also has a football autographed by Argentina ace Lionel Messi and an autographed vest from Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel besides other memorabilia in his collection this time round. Milkha's contribution though, is most special!

Fauja Singh, 100, finishes marathon

TORONTO -- A 100-year-old runner became the oldest person to complete a full-distance marathon when he finished the race in Toronto on Sunday.
Fauja Singh earned a spot in the Guiness World Book of Records for his accomplishment.
It took Singh more than eight hours to cross the finish line -- more than six hours after Kenya's Kenneth Mungara won the event for the fourth straight year -- and he was the last competitor to complete the course.
But his time wasn't nearly as remarkable as the accomplishment.
Event workers dismantled the barricades along the finish line and took down sponsor banners even as Singh made his way up the final few hundred yards of the race.
Family, friends and supporters greeted Singh when he finished the race.
"Beating his original prediction, he's overjoyed," his coach and translator Harmander Singh said. "Earlier, just before we came around the (final) corner, he said, 'Achieving this will be like getting married again.'
"He's absolutely overjoyed, he's achieved his lifelong wish."
Sunday's run was Singh's eighth marathon -- he ran his first at age 89 -- and wasn't the first time he set a record.
In the 2003 Toronto event, he set the mark in the 90-plus category, finishing the race in 5 hours, 40 minutes and 1 second.
And on Thursday in Toronto, Singh broke world records for runners older than 100 in eight different distances ranging from 100 meters to 5,000 meters.
The 5-foot-8 Singh said he's hopeful his next project will be participating in the torch relay for the 2012 London Games. He carried the torch during the relay for the 2004 Athens Games.
by The Associated Press

Fauja Singh smashes a century

By: Hemal Ashar Date: 2011-04-01 Place: Mumbai

London-based marathon running wonder becomes 100-years-old today

India's master blaster, Sachin Tendulkar missed out on his hundredth ton in the India vs Pak semi-final on Wednesday, out on 85 after a couple of 'lives'. On another continent, a world famous Sikh marathoner smashed a century of a different kind today.
London-based marathon runner Fauja Singh, who set several records in his 90 years plus age group in the world before he officially 'retired' from marathon running when he was 94, becomes 100-years-old today.

Celebration
Fauja Singh's son, Sukhjinder Singh speaking on the phone from London confirmed, "Yes, my father becomes 100-years old, on Friday, April 1. We are planning a small celebration at home, with family. Nothing very elaborate, just a heartwarming party and my wife is going to bring home the cake today (Thursday) evening." The family lives in the Seven Kings area of Essex (London).

Walks
Sukhjinder, who owns a bathroom and plumbing store adds, "My father has retired from full marathon (42 km) running some time ago. Yet, even at 100, he is in fairly good health and very active. He undertakes walks of two-three miles with kids to encourage a love for nature, sport and healthy habits in youngsters. At 100, I can say, he is still loves being outdoors and is quiet fit."

Felicitation
Fauja has two sons and two daughters. Sukhjinder's brother Harminder Singh, Fauja's son lives in Punjab. One of Fauja's daughters is in Vancouver (Canada). The family expects a special message from the Queen today. The Queen had felicitated the turbaned wonder on December 7, 2005, at a Christmas reception at the Buckingham Palace in London for, "making a significant national contribution to public life." As the family parties today, Fauja will have no problem blowing out 100 candles on that cake. The 42-km runner must have great lungs like all long distance runners do.

Icon
Fauja achieved iconic status in Britain because of his running exploits. He was even contacted by the Stanchart Mumbai marathon committee to participate in the event to be held on January 16, 2005 but he could not for some reason. His former coach and manager, Ilford-based Harmander Singh told authorities that the Sikh who has been running the 42-km (full marathon) and 21 km (half-marathon) distances since a decade, retired from marathon running, when he was 94.

Retired
Harmander had said six years earlier, "As a responsible manager looking after Fauja's health, I have retired Fauja from marathon running as he is now 94. There is nothing to prove, really, as Fauja has already broken the world record for the over-90s in the 42-km distance clocking 5 hours and 40 minutes in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon last year."

Distance
This incredible running machine had not hung up his running shoes even then. After the marathon, Fauja was preparing for 10-km races, aiming to break the over-90 world record in that distance category. Harmander had said about Fauja who has become a figure of pride and inspiration in Britain, "I am now training him for the 10-km distance. The world record for over 90s currently hovers at 68 minutes, we are hoping to break that."

Speed
Even at 94, Fauja was so eager to learn more that he adapted to the new training routine set by his coach Harmander. The coach was putting the 94-year-old through speed work and hill training in his quest for glory at the shorter distance. "The main problem here is that Fauja is starting a little slowly, so I am working on picking up his speed at the start. He takes two miles to warm up but the 10,000m is only six miles so he needs a quick start!" Harmander had laughed.

Spirit
When a 94-year-old man runs marathons, he makes news beyond timings, speed and starts. Fauja, has, most fully embodied the never-say-die spirit, becoming a symbol of grit and determination, with his shadow falling beyond the Ilford track and terrain on which he trains. His coach had said, "Because of the huge publicity that Fauja receives, he is now a recognisable face all over Britain and beyond too. I am training Fauja only, but he is so inspiring that people of all ages run along with him and we have now become an informal running club. This running club includes some Asian elderly women too who have been inspired to start running hearing about Fauja!"

Renown
Fauja earned renown and was invited to several global events but at his age he has had to sift through and be choosy about what to attend though he does not like to turn down requests. After a reception at the Buckingham Palace in 2005, Fauja flew out to Kenya to inspire the finest distance runners in the world.
Some years ago, Fauja was sponsored by Adidas, and became the sports giants poster boy along with football greats like Zinedine Zidane, boxing legend Muhammad Ali and cricket's biggest name, Sachin Tendulkar.

Fire
Fauja, when he was running, raised money and was involved in charity work for BLISS (a charity for premature babies). Adidas provided Fauja with his running kit and also donated to BLISS. Fauja had said to English newspapers about his support to BLISS, "I like the idea about the oldest helping the youngest." Fauja's biggest contribution to humanity has been his spirit, every footfall of the 90-year-old marathoner who is now 100 and "who liked to win" spoke of indefatigable will and kindled fires in people who thought that if Fauja can do it, so could they.

Experience
Fauja has never come down for the Mumbai marathon, but the runner who began his running career at 89 had sent a message for all Mumbai marathoners in 2009. He had said these soul-stirring words at that time, " I would like to wish everyone taking part the best of luck and hope that they all enjoy the experience of joining the small set of individuals, who have reached a level of human achievement that sets them apart from those who just dream. I am happy to see people attempt and participate in a race such as the Mumbai Marathon as it brings all communities together. The camaraderie amongst runners of all abilities is unique and to be treasured. It is a greater achievement to try than to find reasons not to try."

Statement
Fauja was part of the New York marathon run just four weeks after his Toronto effort, a couple of years ago. In New York though, Fauja was part of a group of Sikhs who used the race to make a statement. They ran to prove to people that Sikhism was a different faith from Islam; Sikhs had a different identity from Muslims. (Sikhs had been mistaken for Muslims in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on USA. A Sikh had lost his life after he was shot dead, allegedly mistaken for a Muslim in the 9/11 aftermath). Harmander had said, "We wanted to raise awareness of Sikhs as a different community." It had been reported that when Fauja ran, there were shouts of Bin laden, Bin Laden from the crowd though he refused to comment on this, simply telling a website that he was "not upset" by the shouts.

The Mumbai marathon in progress with runners on the Bandra to Worli Sea Link

Wishes
Today, as Fauja turns 100 he espouses most fully Welsh poet Dylan Thomas's immortal lines he wrote for his dying father:

"Rage, rage against the dying of the light; But do not go gentle into that goodnight."
which means fighting and not giving in to the physical frailties of age. Who better than Fauja, who used to run the 42-km in a timing that would make men half his age blush, to illustrate that?

Fauja fact file

Fauja Singh, born in India is based in Essex, Ilford in England

Fauja Singh was born on April 1, 1911 and was an amateur runner in the Punjab before giving up the sport in 1947 at the age of 36.

When his wife died and Singh moved to London to live with his youngest son and decided to don the trainers and pound the streets again.

He had formerly endorsed the Adidas brand. Fauja's face was one of the visages in the Adidas campaign running overseas, standing next to other immortals like Muhammad Ali and footballer Zinedine Zidane.

Fauja used to be associated with a charity called BLISS, a charity for premature babies He has said to English newspapers about his support to BLISS, "I like the idea about the oldest helping the youngest."

Fauja attributes his success to ginger dal, "curries" he used to call them, sending the English press into paroxysm of delight. His coach Harmander Singh says: "Fauja eats very little and drinks nothing stronger than water." Fauja is reported to have said, "My diet is simple phulka (chappati), dal (lentils), green vegetables, yoghurt and milk. I do not touch parathas, pakoras, rice or any other fried food. I take lots of water and tea with ginger."

He was contacted by the Stanchart Mumbai marathon committee to participate in the event to be held on January 16, 2005 but could not make it.

Fauja was felicitated by the Queen at the Buckingham Palace in London on December 7, 2005, at a Christmas reception for, "making a significant national contribution to public life."

Fauja was invited for the debut Mumbai marathon run in February. The race was too close to the London marathon. At Fauja's age it was not easy to run in two marathons. The travel too, would have taken a toll on him. Fauja was already committed to run the London event beforehand and could not come to Mumbai.

His coach had reiterated that above all, he is a very determined person.

Walk around the clock

05/06/2003

THE Second Malaysia International 24-hour walk, to be held at the Genting
Outdoor Theme Park on Aug 4-5, has attracted the men and women's
champions.
However, the biennial walk will only have two categories this year -
doing away with the Malaysian categories.
"We did away with the Malaysian categories because we want the local
athletes to compete with the world's best. So this year, there will only
be the men's and women's Opens," said organising chairman and president of
the Race Walkers Association of Malaysia Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui.
Chin, who is also Deputy Minister of the Housing and Local Government,
said entries will be limited to 180.
"The venue can only accommodate 180 athletes and if we open the field
further, it will become cramped and athletes will not be be able to cover
good times," said Chin.
The 2001 men's champion Gregor Adam Urbanowski from Poland completed a
distance of 202.78km in the 24-hour walk and will be back to defend his
title.
Women's defending champion Sandra Browm of the United Kingdom (181.5km)
has also confirmed her entry.
"The race starts at noon on Aug 4 and 5, and the winner will be decided
on the distance covered around the 865-per lap circuit. Genting Highlands
was selected as the venue again because of its mild temperature which
averages around 25 degrees Celcius. This will make it very comfortable for
the athletes to cover good distances," said Chin.
The qualifying criteria for the event is very strict and organisers will
only entertain those who competed in the last race, or athletes who
competed in the 2002 Penang 12-hour walk. Those who hold a walks
certificate with a good distance can also submit their entries.
The top 20 athletes will receive prize money, while those who complete
162.5km will be awarded the Centurian Club medal.
"The top prize for the men's and women's categories is RM5,700 while
those who cover more than 50km in the men's event and 35km in the women's
will receive medals," said Chin.
Sponsors for the event are the Ministry of Sports, Kuala Lumpur
Athletics Association, Nestle Products, Genting Highlands and Malaysia
Airlines. The Media support is from Nanyang Siang Pau, Nanban, The New
Straits Times and NTV7.
Entries close on July 7. For more information, call 03-20940504.
(END)

Aidid: Amendments favourable to me

19/05/2002

PENANG AAA president Datuk Mohamed Syed Aidid Syed Murtaza is confident
that states will embrace the Special Management Committee's proposed
amendments for the Malaysian AAU.
Speaking after attending Timesport journalist S. Selvam's wedding with
Jennifer Ann Gomez in Petaling Jaya yesterday, Syed Aidid said: "Penang
AAA will hold a meeting on Monday (tomorrow) and I expect an unanimous
decision on the proposals."
When asked if he has been in contact with the presidents of other AAA's,
Syed Aidid said: "Yes, I have spoken to some states and the response so
far to the amendments has been encouraging. But I am not in the position
to indulge on statistics."
In the Special Management Committee's proposed amendments, the most
significant change was in the electoral process.
The major changes that would happen, if the amendments are accepted by
MAAU affiliates, are to the association's membership, voting rights and
appointment to key positions.
"I have read the proposed amendments and I am happy with them. So I see
no reason why they should not be accepted by the state affiliates," said
Syed Aidid.
Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar, heading the Special Management Committee,
had said that if MAAU and the State AAAs accept the amendments, the Sports
Commissioner will approve the new constitution and MAAU had 21 days to
hold a biennial general meeting (BGM) to elect new office bearers.
"I am confident of a good outcome during the extraordinary general
meeting (EGM) because of the positive feedback that I have received so
far," said Syed Aidid.
The suspension of MAAU, which was invoked on Feb 28, will be lifted
immediately and MAAU can function as normal after the amendments are
accepted.
A major change will be the opening of MAAU's membership to the sports
councils of the Armed Forces, banks, the Government services,
universities, Malaysian Schools (MSSM) and the Police.
Presently, only MSSM is in the MAAU council but it doesn't have voting
rights.
There is also a provision for new affiliates, either private or public,
provided they have a nationwide athletics programme and their affiliation
is endorsed by the MAAU general assembly.
The change to the electoral process will see the possibility of one
affiliate having as many as four votes.
What an affiliate is confirmed of having is two votes but in an effort
to make the State AAA presidents more committed to the sport, a further
one vote will be awarded if they turn up for the elections. The
president's vote is non-transferable.
Affiliates, if they have an active athletics programme, will have an
additional vote. Presently, each State AAA has only one vote.
The executive board, which will be responsible for the management of
MAAU, will comprise the president, deputy president, three vice
presidents, five elected board members and five appointed board members.
The management committee has also proposed that the executive board will
have the power to appoint a paid general manager or general secretary on a
contract basis for either two or three years.
The board will also appoint a honorary treasurer or a salaried
treasurer, also on a contract basis, and a honorary statistician.
The chairpersons of the various committees, who are presently elected,
will also be appointed and they will be members of the executive board.
The various committees must meet a minimum six times annually.
The MAAU council will consist of all members of the executive board, one
representative per-affiliate, the general manager/general secretary, the
honorary treasurer/treasurer, the honorary statistician and an athletes'
representative who will be appointed by the board.
The amendments can only be instituted with a two-thirds majority in the
EGM.
And Syed Aidid, who was an ex-officio member of the Special Management
Committee, believes they will achieve that majority.
(END)

MAAU name 35 in Games lineup

25/05/1998

MALAYSIA Amateur Athletics Union president Datuk Khalid Yunus yesterday
announced a no-surprise list of athletes for the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth
Games, reports Jugjet Singh.
"We will submit a list of 35 athletes for the consideration of the
Olympic Council of Malaysia. Out of the number, 15 have met the qualifying
mark while the rest are borderline cases," said Khalid in Paroi yesterday.
Watson Nyambek, G. Shanti, R. Ganeswaran and A. Munusamy are some of the
familiar faces while the teams for the men's and women's 4x400m relay are
still being studied by the MAAU selection committee.
"We will place the men's and women's 4x400m on the list just to let OCM
know that we will take part in the event, but the runners for the teams
have not been tried yet. We will name the right combinations later," said
Khalid.
The selection criteria for the various events are based on the 1994
Victoria Games' times and distances. Watson's 10.31s at the Pahang Open
and 1996 Malaysia Games beat the 16th fastest qualifier in the '94
semifinals, who clocked 10.49s.
Confirmed athletes - Men - Watson Nyambek (100m), R. Ganeswaran (200m),
Romzi Bakar (400m), R. Nandakumar (800m), A. Munusamy (1,500m), M.
Ramachandran (5,000), Loo Kum Zee (high jump), Zaki Sadri (long jump),
Yadid Imran (javelin), Narinder Singh (20km walks) and 4x400 (Romzi,
others yet to be named).
Women: G. Shanti (100m), Hii Siew Ngiik (100m hurdles), Annastasia Karen
(10km walks), Yuan Yu Fang (10km walks), Cheng Tong Lean (10km walks),
4x400 (M. Manimagalay, K. Soloseeni, S. Rathiamalar, P. Kuganeswari, Carol
Lucia Alfred - combination not confirmed).
(END)

Watson, Shanti scorch the lanes

25/05/1998

WATSON Nyambek and G. Shanti sailed away with the sprints golds at the
56th Negri Sembilan Open at the Paroi Stadium yesterday.
Watson clocked a hand timed 10.3 to crack the meet record while Shanti
also cracked the meet record with 11.5 seconds for the gold. Both had no
close challengers, Shanti won by a clean five yard margin.
"I am happy with the time but I could have done better if I had someone
to chase. Instead all the others were behind so I actually took my time
because there was no pressure," said Watson.
Watson started off the block slowly, and later admitted that he had to
work extra hard in the first 50m but once he got ahead of the rest, he
took it easy.
Results: Men's 100m: 1 Watson Nyambek (Bankputra) 10.3, 2 Hamberi Mahat
(Maybank) 10.4, 2 Tan Kok Lim (SAAS) 10.4; 1,500m: 1 A. Munusamy (Sel)
3:34.48 (meet rec), 2 Charles Suresh (Telekom) 4:05.1, 3 P. Arumugam (Joh)
4:12.1; 400m: Romzi Bakar (Maybank) 47.8, 2 D. Nadarajah (Pg) 48.5, 3 R.
Ramesh (Pcotd) 48.9; 110m Hurdles: 1 Nor Herman Majid (Bankputra) 14.5
(equalled meet rec), 2 Kam Sin Chuan (Joh) 15.1, 3 Kong Chan Kick (Pcsmk,
Jln Ipoh) 15.7; Shot put: 1 Mohamed Nazar (Pk) 15.74m, 2 Eliasin Etin
(Pctoad) 12.47m, 3 Nik Mazaid (SAAS) 12.44; Javelin: 1 Yazid Imran
(Maybank) 68.66m, 2 Hing Mok Lai (Joh) 57.82, 3 Mohamed Salim (Joh) 57.82;
Triple Jump: 1 Zulkefli Amin (Pah) 14.66, 2 Koong Chan Keck (Pcsmk, Jln
Ipoh) 14.2, 3 Poh Chee Sing (SAAS) 14.6; 4x400m: 1 Pctoad 3:23.6 (meet
rec), 2 Malacca 3:379, 3 Bankputra 3:45.0.
Women's 100m: 1 G. Shanti (Maybank) 11.5, 2 Josephen Job (Sab) 12.4, 3
K. Barathy (Pk) 12.5; 400m: 1 N. Manimagalay (Pah) 55.5, 2 K. Soloseni
(Maybank) 56.41, 3 Kuganeswari (Bankputra) 56.9; 1,500m: 1 M. Hemalatha
(Pah) 5;04.8, 2 Norlida Ismail (SAAS) 5:11.5, 3 S. Jeyaanthi (Joh) 5:24.8;
100m Hurdles: 1 Mok Siew Wei (SAAS) 14.2, 2 Hii Siew Nyok (Maybank) 14.4,
3 V. Vaskee (Gel) 15.3; Long Jump: 1 Fong Lew Tze (SAAS) 5.39m, 2 Wan
Noraini (Pah) 5.23m, 3 Masliza Shaari (Maybank) 5.01m; Javelin: 1 Delina
Marcus (Sab) 41.40m, 2 Nurul Fuziah (joh) 36.20m, 3 Siti Mariam (SAAS)
35.04m.
(END)

Sarawanan the favourite

29/05/1998

THE Kuala Lumpur AAA will organise a 50km walk selection for the Kuala
Lumpur Commonwealth Games on Sunday at the Titiwangsa Lake Gardens.
About 20 athletes are expected to take part and G. Sarawanan is the
favourite to win the event. Sarawanan broke the Jakarta Sea Games record
when he clocked 4:14:00.shaved almost 40 seconds with 4:14:00.
The quarter-century-old mark of 4:53:16 was set by Kyaw Myint of Myanmar
in the 1973 Games, then called the Seap Games, in Singapore.
For comparison, Poland's Robert Korzeniowski took the World
Championships gold at Athens last year with a blazing 3:44.46.
"We will be organising the event for the Malaysia AAA to select two
athletes for the '98 Games. Since this is a very serious event and there
are very few athletes in the country who can go the distance. We are
expecting about 20 athletes to take part and only about 10 to finish the
race," said KLAAA secretary S. Vegiyathuman.
The 50km walk is a new Games event and there are no previous qualifying
marks to compare to, but Sarawanan's Jakarta time is good enough a
yardstick for Malaysia.
"His timing is very good, we expect him to win a medal at the Games.
Also, we would like to request the public, if possible, to avoid the roads
near the Titiwangsa Lake Gardens on Sunday morning so that the athletes
will not have to dodge traffic," said Vegiyathuman.
(END)

Thiru steals the thunder

01/06/1998

NATIONAL walker B. Thirukumaran upset record holder G. Sarawanan in the
50km walk at the Titiwangsa Lake Gardens yesterday.
The Commonwealth Games 50km trials, held by the Kuala Lumpur AAA on
behalf of the Malaysia AAU, saw 16 athletes take part but only four lasted
the distance.
"I took part just to keep fit. The idea was to stop on reaching the 20km
mark but I felt good and continued," said Thirukumaran, a 20km specialist.
He went the distance barefooted and clocked 4:21:09 to beat Sarawanan,
who was timed at 4:27:23. The national record of 4:14:00 was clocked by
Sarawanan when he won the 50km gold at last year's Jakarta Sea Games.
K. Pusparajah was third in 4:28:33 but MAAU will only select two for the
Games.
"I hope to take part in the 20km as well as the 50km walk in the
Commonwealth Games," said Thirukumaran, who did not look the least tired
after the gruelling race.
On the other hand, Sarawanan was so exhausted after the finish that he
had to receive medical attention.
"The last time Thirukumaran took part in the 50km was five years ago, so
the win was a pleasant surprise," said his coach Wang Lin.
Wang said both walkers clocked impressive times. "They could have done
better if not for the heat. During the last 10km, around 11:30am, the sun
was scorching hot and this slowed them."
(END)

Vaskee closes in on Zaiton's record

07/06/1998

THE Kuala Lumpur AAA Open at the Merdeka Stadium yesterday was devoid of
any big name as most of the national athletes decided to skip it and
prepare for next week's Perak Open.
The silver lining was V. Vaskee of Great Eastern Life who collected
2,677 heptathlon points from four events. She won gold in the high jump
(1.70m), 100m hurdles (15.37s), 200 (27.45) and silver in the shot put
(7.29m).
"If Vaskee continues her fine performance today in the long jump,
javelin and 800m, she might just crack Zaiton Othman's national record of
5,175 points set in 1981 in Manila," said KLAAA secretary S. Vegiyathuman.
National athletes G. Shanti and Yazid Imran were the clear winners in
the 100m and javelin but Shanti's 12.08 was way off the meet record of
11.6s.
RESULTS: Men's 100m: 1 Tan Kok Lim (SAAS) 10.94, 2 Mohamed Kamarudizaman
(SAAS) 11.16, 3 Arif Junet (Forces) 11.24; 800m: 1 Charles Suresh
(Telekom) 1:56.80, 2 Manimaran (Sel) 2:00.01, 3 Mahendran (Pah) 2:00.04;
400m hurdles: 1 Indra Yaman (Police) 58.50, 2 Nashrat Kamal (Jln Ipoh)
60.62, 3 Geoffrey Moore (Indi) 61.44; 5,000m: 1 M. Arumugam (Maybank)
15:06.74, 2 Ganesan (Pah) 15:15.28, 3 Niranthajodhi (Lac) 15:31.57
10,000 walk: 1 Shahrul Haizy (Telekom) 45:19.10, 2 N. Vinayagam (GEL)
46:26.48, K. Mahadevan (Telekom) 48:40.46; 50km walk: 1 K. Pushparajan
(Pah) 4:28.33; 4x400m: 1 SAAS 42.49, 2 Armed Forces 43.19, 3 Sentosa
47.41; Javelin: 1 Yazid Imran (Maybank) 67.06m; Pole vault: Rastam Nawi
(SAAS) 3.40m; Shot put: 1 Faizol Harun (SAAS) 13.37m, 2 Nik Azaid (SAAS)
13.34m, 3 Abdul Fatah (SAAS) 12.27m.
WOMEN: 100m: 1 G. Shanti (Maybank) 12.08, 2 Fan Sau Fai (Jln Ipoh), 3
Irnie Hazliza (SAAS) 13.30; 800m: 1 Norasheela Khalid (SAAS) 2:21.20, 2 T.
Jayanthi (GEL) 2:26.23, 3 K. Uma (MBA) 2:26.03; 5,000 walk: 1 Teoh Tay Wah
(Telekom);
4x400m: 1 SAAS a 50.54, 2 SAAS b 54.60, 3 Motorola 63.19; Long jump: 1
Fong Len Tze (SAAS) 5.62m, 2 Wan Noraini (SAAS) 5.43, 3 Norhaya Akmal
(SAAS) 5.20m; High jump: 1 Zuraini Hashim (SAAS) 1.59m, 2 Azlina Nasir
(SAAS) 1.56m, 3 Eik Nguk Moi (SAAS) 1.35m.
(END)

Annastasia, Vaskee break meet records

08/06/1998

FIVE meet records were shattered on the second day of the Kuala Lumpur AAA
Open at Merdeka Stadium yesterday.
V. Vaskee of Great Eastern Life smashed the meet record of 4,075 points
when she amassed 4,402 points in the heptathlon while national athletes
Annastasia Karen Raj and Wong Tee Kue had no challengers in the walks and
hammer throw respectively.
Annastasia improved on the meet record with a time of 22:43.8 in the
5,000m while Wong hurled the hammer to a new distance of 55.82m.
The old mark for the walk was 23:00.9s and hammer 51.40m.
The other meet records broken were by Shanmuganathan of Maybank in the
3,000m steeplechasee with 9:05.47 (old, 9:08.09) and Fong Len Tze of
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Secondary, Kajang, (SAAS) with 2.60m in the pole
vault.
RESULTS - Men's 200m: 1 N. Manimagalay (NSC) 24.80, 2 K. Soloseeni
(Maybank) 25.64; 400m: 1 Romzi Bakar (Maybank) 48.16, 2 Yazid Parlan
(Forces) 48.70, 3 D. Nadarajah (Pg) 49.27; 110m hurdles: 1 Nur Herman
Majid (BBMB) 14.45, 2 Kam Sin Chuang (SAAS) 15.07, 3 Zana Azizol (MSSEL)
15.86.
3,000m steeplechase: 1 Shanmuganathan (Maybank) 9:05,47 (meet rec), 2 T.
Arul (SAAS) 9;31.63, 3 V. Vignesparan (GEL) 10:37.01; 5,000m walk:
Annastasia Karen Raj (MBA) 22:43.8 (meet rec), 2 Nancy Lai (HSBC) 26:00.5,
3 Teoh Tay Wah (Telekom) 26:42.3; High jump: 1 Kam Siu Chuang (SAAS)
1.90m, Goh Suan Nyok (SAAS) 1.90m, 2 Yip Meng Chee (SAAS) 1.85m; Long
jump: 1 Zaki Sadri (NSC) 7.36m, 2 Wan Nazri (Maybank) 7.18m, 3 Juraimi
Ismail (Forces) 6.94m.
Hammer throw: 1 Wong Tee Kue (Police) 55.82m (meet rec), 2 Jaswinder
Singh (Police) 38.77m, 3 Faisol Harun (SAAS) 37.23m; Discus: 1 T.
Tharmarajah (PBB) 42.72m, 2 Faisol Harun (SAAS) 35.81m, 3 Zulkifli Ramli
(SAAS) 26.99m.
WOMEN - 400m: 1 K. Soloseeni (Maybank) 57.45, 2 K. Uma (Police) 63.32, 3
S. Vasugi (LAC) 68.54; Javelin: 1 Yap Mui Yee (GEL) 24.19m; Hammer throw:
1 Lue Siau Beng (SAAS) 28.02m, 2 Angela Ling Hung (Police) 26.30m;
Heptathlon: 1 V. Vaskee (GEL) 4,402 pts (meet rec), 2 Siti Mariam Tobias
(SAAS) 3,341 pts, 3 Koh Siew Chin (Jln Ipoh) 2,801.
Shot put: 1 Angela Ling Hung (Police) 10.34m, 2 Lee Wan Yuen (GEL) 9.46,
3 Lue Siau Beng (SAAS) 9.35m; Pole vault: 1 Fong Len Tze (SAAS) 2.60m
(meet rec), 2 Nik Suhaila (SAAS) 2.50m, 3 Bernedete Lawrence (SAAS) 2.40m.
(END)

It's better to start quality control now, says Mazlan

13/06/1998

MALAYSIA AAU (MAAU) president Datuk Khalid Yunus is confident that more
athletes will qualify for the Asian Track and Field (ATF) championships on
July 19-22 in Fukuoka, Japan.
A joint MAAU-National Sports Council (NSC) committee have selected 10
athletes thus far for the championships, based on the fourth placing mark
at the last ATF in Jakarta, but the door is still open for more athletes
to qualify.
"The athletes still have the Perak Open and the Johor Open on July 4-5
to qualify. If they beat the qualifying mark, they will make the trip to
Japan," said Khalid.
MAAU had named 21 athletes for the championships, but NSC director
general Datuk Mazlan Ahmad said only 10 have made the qualifying mark.
"It is not that we don't want to send more for exposure but it is better
to start quality control right now to prepare for the Commonwealth Games."
At the last ATF in 1995, Malaysia won two bronze medals through Loo Kum
Zee (high jump) and Nurherman Majid (110m hurdles).
ATF squad - Men: Watson Nyambek, Hamberi Mahat, R. Ganeswaran, M.
Ramachandran, Loo Kum Zee, Narinder Singh, Teoh Boon Lim; Women: G.
Shanti, Yuan Yufang, Annastasia Karen Raj.
(END)

Diane the English star

30/08/1998

CONTROVERSIAL but capable Diane Modahl will be among the five women
leading England's hopes of repeating their five-gold track and field haul
at the Commonwealth Games next month.
Diane, who had fought for four years to clear her name of a drug charge,
will attempt to repeat her 1990 Games 800m gold-winning performance.
World indoor triple jump record holder Ashia Hansen, two-time world
cross country silver medallist Paula Radcliffe, Victoria Games shot put
gold medallist Judy Oakes and European and Commonwealth Games heptathlon
champion Denise Lewis are also in the impressive entry list.
In 1994, Diane travelled to Victoria to defend her Commonwealth title,
and on the morning of her heat was told she had failed a drugs test at a
meet in Portugal earlier that year.
After she was cleared earlier this year, she took part in the trials for
the Games, where she secured her sixth national title by holding off a
challenge from Tanya Blake to win in 2:02.73.
While her lawyers are still locked in negotiations with the
administrators of the bankrupt British Athletic Federation for nearly STG1
million (RM6.7 million) in compensation following her 1994 ordeal, she has
been keeping fit for a Games gold.
Denise, 25, shot to fame when she won a bronze at the Atlanta Olympics
and has since won the 1997 World Championships gold in Athens, and will be
attempting to defend her Victoria Games gold in KL.
At Victoria she amassed 6,325 points to upset Commonwealth record holder
and favourite Jane Flemming of Australia.
Her current personal best is 6,736 points.
Denise won the heptathlon title at the European Championships in
Budapest last Monday despite the lingering effects of a left ankle injury
which had threatened to end her season prematurely.
Denise took a comfortable lead into the final event of the heptathlon,
the 800m, where her time of 2:20.38 was good enough to give her a total of
6,559 points and victory over Poland's Urszula Wlodarczyk, who tallied
6,460.
She has been training under coach Darrell Bunn in the south of France
but has been unable to do any speed work because of the ankle injury. The
ankle is said to have healed.
Paula is down for the 5,000m and her personal best is 14:45.51 while
Kelly Holmes will attempt to defend her Victoria 1,500m gold.
Judy is listed as having a personal best of 19.36m.
(END)

Ato likes it hot

15/09/1998

ATO BOLDON has hardly been in Kuala Lumpur for 24 hours but he reckonseverything is perfect for him to take a crack at Donovan Bailey's 100mworld record of 9.84s. In fact, this became the 25-year-old Trinidad and Tobago sprinter'starget once he made up his mind to run in the Commonwealth Games,irrespective of the conditions and climate. But what he found out after his first workout at the National Stadium inBukit Jalil, venue of the track and field competition starting onWednesday, was more than perfect. The heat and humidity, wind which can be expected anytime of the day anda fast, newly laid track at the stadium are expected to give Boldon theimpetus to push for the record. "There you go. These are the ideal record-breaking conditions and youhave it all here," said Boldon yesterday. "I like it here. In fact, I had only planned to train for a while but itlasted an hour and a half. It's just like Trinidad and my body comes alivein the heat. "I have always run my best in hot humid conditions. I am ready to takeon Bailey's world record." Boldon ran a cracking 9.86s in Athens in June, the same time as he didin Walnut in the United States in April. That time made him as the fastestman over 100m this year. Only Barbados' Obadele Thompson had come close with his 9.87s run in theWorld Cup in Johannesburg four days ago. However, Boldon has provided little indication that he is ready to runhimself into the record books in Kuala Lumpur. Three poor races prior to KL, the last of which was 9.99s in Berlin 10days ago where he came in third behind Americans Maurice Green and JonDrummond, were of little comfort. "I hope Frankie (Fredericks) will show up. Likewise, I would have hopedfor Bailey's presence here as victory would be sweeter. But he is injuredand I wish him a speedy recovery," said Boldon. Fredericks, who had pulled out earlier, has had a change of mind andwill be in KL today. So too is England's Dwain Chambers, bronze medallist in the World Cupand the European champion. However, Boldon will start as favourite. If he doesn't win, he saidObadele will.

Look who's here

16/09/1998

NAMIBIA'S Frankie Federicks is finally in Kuala Lumpur and his presencewill give the Commonwealth Games century sprint a genuine competitivelook. Fredericks, who arrived at dawn from Johannesburg yesterday, immediatelytook up the gauntlet for a 100m duel that could crown the fastest man ofall time. The long-time 30-year-old African champion decided to skip his favourite200m to start in the 100 against the two men with the fastest times thisyear. "I'm confident of winning the race, especially with Donovan Baileymissing from this year's Games," Fredericks said after a workout at theNational Stadium. "But there's someone to push me, so it's nothing to worry about." That someone Fredericks referred to could be Barbadian rival ObadeleThompson or Trinidad's Ato Boldon. Until Fredericks' 11th hour decision to fly to KL, the blue riband 100mhad been threatened by the absence of a star-studded field. But the field still lacked a genuine contender, someone like the injuredBailey, now is the fastest man alive with the world record of 9.84s. Fredericks pulled out of the Games last week because Namibian PrimeMinister Hage Geingob suggested a Namibian boxer with a minor world titlewas the nation's best sportsman since Fredericks had never won a goldmedal. Delicate negotiations with team officials saved the situation and sawFredericks back in the green, blue, white and red of the southern Africannation. "I am here to try and win a gold for Namibia. I owe it to the people.Not so much for myself," said Fredericks, the reigning Commonwealth Games200m champion. The decisions of both Fredericks and Thompson to run delighted Boldon.He agreed the stiff competition - Thompson has the year's second fastest100 run (9.87s) after Boldon (9.86s) - made for a better race. What a mouth-watering prospect when they line up in their respectiveheats today. More so for Malaysia's Watson Nyambek, who will have Fredericks,Australia's Matthew Shirvington and Fiji's Jone Delai for company in Heat5. Watson, who won a silver at the Asian Track and Field championships inFukuoka, Japan in July, has 10.30s to his credit and will no doubt beeyeing a place in the next round. The Malaysians are not expected to mount the podium, except perhaps forYuan Yufang in the women's 10km walk scheduled on Saturday. But their participation will give them the opportunity, which otherwisewill be hard to come by, to take a giant step forward in their athleticscareer.

Watson looking good for Asiad

31/10/1998

NATIONAL sprinter Watson Nyambek looked comfortable clocking 10.34 for the
inter-bank championship century sprint gold at Merdeka Stadium yesterday.
He just missed his National record by a mere 0.04 seconds and it was not
a bad effort considering he did not train for three weeks after the Kuala
Lumpur Commonwealth Games.
"I took it easy because I did not want to peak too early for the Asian
Games," said Watson, who represented Bank Bumiputra.
"In fact, I slowed down a little when the rest of the field was left
behind after 60 metres."
Watson, who won the silver at the Fukuoka Asian Track and Field, feels
that he is good for a medal at the Asian Games based on his national
record and his current good form.
"At Fukuoka I clocked a poor 10.42 but still won the silver as the best
in Asia did not take part," said Watson.
"But they will surely be there for the coveted Asian Games gold.
"The Chinese and Japanese runners will be hard to beat but my aim is to
better my national record and if I win any medal, it would be a bonus."
Watson, who was recently awarded an International Olympic Committee
scholarship, still habours hope of training under former world champion
Linford Christie.
"I would prefer to train in Malaysia following his training programme
and only head for Britain a few weeks before major championships for
direct coaching.
"I feel better training at home because we have excellent training
facilities.
"The team doctor and my physiotherapist will be on hand to help me as
well."
G. Shanti of Maybank had no challengers in the women's 100m, and sailed
home in 11.70.
Josephine Job, also of Maybank, won the silver in a time of 11.80.
Yazid Parlan of Maybank, who holds the javelin national record of
73.74m, could only manage 54.78m for the silver medal.
The gold was won by Mohamed Salim, also of Maybank, with a throw of
57.50m which was far from the championship record of 67.10m.
M. Ramachandran of Maybank won the 10,000m in a time of 30:45.21 while
K. Baskaran of BBMB took the silver in 32:32.19.
Results - MEN Div 1 100m: 1 Watson Nyambek (BBMB) 10.34, 2 Hamberi Mahat
(Maybank) 10.42, 3 Sport Suprano (Maybank) 11.13; 10,000m: 1 M.
Ramachandran (Maybank) 30:45.21, 2 K. Baskaran (BBMB) 32:32.19, 3 M.
Arumugam (Maybank) 33:11.85; Javelin: Mohamed Salim (Maybank) 57.50, 2
Yazid Imran (Maybank) 54.78, 3 Gan Chee Keong (Public) 43.50.
Div 2 10,000: 1 M. Rajendran (Arab Malaysian) 38:46.83, 2 M.
Krishnamoorthy (EON) 43:19.13, 3 Yazid Isa (Arab Malaysian) 43:23.97; 400m
hurdles: 1 Le Ban Tat (BOC) 60.32, 2 Maizuri Mahayuddin (Perwira) 61.24, 3
Geoffrey Edward (EON) 63.39.
WOMEN Div 1 100m: 1 G. Shanti (Maybank) 11.70, 2 Josephine Job (Maybank)
11.80, 3 Yew Chai Ping (Ban Hin Lee) 11.90; 400m hurdles: 1 S. Rathimalar
(Maybank) 68.61, 2 Hii Siew Ngiik (Maybank) 71.33, 3 Almawati Kassim
(Public) 72.66; Long Jump: 1 Yip Ching Wan (Ban Hin Lee) 5.00, 2 Josephine
Job (Maybank) 4.98, 3 Fong Sin Lay (BBMB) 4.93; Shot put: 1
Khazarulishikin Mohamed (Maybank) 10.83, 2 Angela Ling Huang (Hock Hua)
10.52, 3 Lee Yen Ling (Maybank) 10.13.
Div 2 100m: 1 Joey Lai Oi Ming (Std Chartered), 2 Irene Ong (Citibank)
14.4, 3 Phuan May Wah (OCBC) 15.0; Shot put: 1 Mashiela Salim (Perwira)
8.27, 2 Mazura Othman (BSN) 7.19, 3 Noreedah Mohamed (BOC) 6.85.
(END)

Vasu books his Asean Games ticket

01/11/1998

S. VASU finished second behind Romzi Bakar in the 400m of the inter-bank
athletics championship yesterday but it was good enough to book a ticket
for the Asian Games in Bangkok.
Vasu clocked 50.24 for the fifth slot in the 4x400m squad.
The rest of the team are Romzi Bakar, D. Nadarajan, Saiful Zainal and
Yazid Parlan.
Romzi, of Maybank, took the 400m gold in 48.27, much slower than the
national record of 46.56. The meet record is 47.1.
Vasu was the only good news in the meet that is supposed to be the last
avenue to qualify for the Games.
N. Manimagalay, who was supposed to run in the 400m turned up an hour
late.
"This is definitely the last trial for the athletes to make the Asian
Games squad," said national chief coach J.V. Jayan.
Manimagalay, who clocked 54.56 for the Jakarta Sea Games gold and holds
a personal best of 53.71, said: "Why should I run when I know that I equal
the third placing mark of 52.35 to make the Asian Games?"
Meanwhile, Watson Nyambek will head for Auckland to run in the New
Zealand Open on Nov 21.
Watson missed his national mark of 10.30 by 0.04 seconds on Friday.
His coach, Mumtaz Jaafar, feels he needs the exposure.
"Watson has tremendous potential but he is easily awed by the presence
of big names at the starting block," said Mumtaz.
"If and when he overcomes this fear, there is no stopping him from
winning medals for the country."
"It is not that he does not have potential. It is just that he is still
a boy at heart and this might be a problem at the Asian Games when he
lines up with the Japanese and the Koreans. RESULTS
Div 1 - Men's 400m: 1 Romzi Bakar (Maybank) 48.27, 2 Amir Adam (Maybank)
51.05, 3 A. Nandakumar (BBMB) 52.68; 1,500m: 1 M. Ramachandran (Maybank)
4:01.27, 2 M. Shanmuganathan (Maybank) 4:06.11, 3 B. Balakavalan (Ban Hin
Lee) 4:20.79; 5,000m: 1 M. Ramachandran (Maybank) 15:19.00, 2 M. Arumugan
(Maybank) 15:23.55, 3 K. Baskaran (BBMB) 16:21.00; 10km walk: 1 B.
Thrukumaran (Maybank) 48:06.98, 2 Narinder Singh (BBMB) 48:07.18, 3 G.
Saravanan (BBMB) 49:19.08; 4x100m: 1 Maybank 42.79, 2 BBMB 44.95, 3 Public
49.79; Pole vault: 1 Lee Chin Hien (Maybank) 3.50m, 2 Gan Chee Keong
(Public) 3.30m, 3 Mohamed Rafee (Public) 2.8m; Shot put: 1 Petri Ghani
(Maybank) 14.24m, 2 T. Tharmarajah (Public Bank) 11.83m, 3 Mohamed Rodzi
(Maybank) 11.11m; Long jump: 1 Ahmed Hudaib (Oman) 7.28m, 2 Rommy Rijun
(BBMB) 7.20m, 3 Zulkeply Ami (Public) 6.99m.
DIV 2 - 400m: 1 Maizuri Mahayuddin (Perwira) 52.86, 2 V. Ramesh (EON)
54.21, 3 Moses Ganesan (Arab Malaysian) 54.60; 1,500m: 1 S. Baskaran
(Southern) 4:50.89, 2 Jonason Lorsamy (EON) 4:56.20, 3 Mohamed Nazri (BOC)
5:01.10; 5,000m: M. Rajendran (Arab Malaysian) 18:58.25, 2 S. baskaran
(Southern Bank) 19:17.27, 3 Ratan Singh (BOC) 20:16.63; 10km walk: 1
Mohamed Fardil (BSN Commercial) 1hr 03:39.82, 2 V. Neduchevan (Standard
Chartered) 1hr 03:39.82, 3 U. Bagwandi (BOC) 1hr 05:19.71; Long jump: 1
Yusree Sijam (Perwira Affin) 6.34m, 2 Yii Ching Ming (Standard Chartered)
6.15m, 3 Mohamed Dahari (Arab Malaysian) 6.13m; Shot put: 1 Norazaha Ahmad
(Perwira Affin) 12.02m, 2 Chakran Ah Nong (Pacific) 11.57m, 3 Zakaria
Zainal (BOC) 9.73m.
WOMEN'S DIV 1 - K. Soloseeni (Maybank) 56.00, 2 P. Kuganeswari (BBMB)
57.00, 3 Almawati Kasim (Public) 65.40; 1,500m: K. Latha (Maybank)
5:27.72, 2 Nancy Lai (Hongkong Bank) 5:40.73, 3 Lim Lay Sin (Ban Hin Lee)
6:02.56; 5,000m walk: 1 Nancy Lai (Hongkong Bank) 27:22.05, 2 Sadra Jacob
(Public) 32:30.41, 3 Tan Gaik Teng (Ban Hin Lee) 34:05.64; Discus: 1
Angelina Ling (Hock Hua) 31.40m, 2 Lee Yen Ling (Maybank) 30.30m, 3 Ang
Sau Ping (Ban Hin Lee) 29.78m.
DIV 2 - 400m: 1 Michelle Lau (Citibank) 76.00, 2 Kakyati Hashim (Arab
Malaysian) 77.00, Sue Fang Kiew (Standard Chartered) 78.00; 1,500m: Carol
Ng (Standard Chartered) 6:10.59, 2 Lucy Lim (OCBC) 6:33.68, 3 Nor Aishikin
(Citibank) 6:57.54; 5,000m walk: 1 Adeline Stanley (Arab Malaysian)
36:51.43, 2 Vera Yap (Standard Chartered) 38:04.00, 3 Maureen Berokon
(Standard Chartered) 41:03.23; 4x100m: 1 Standard Chartered 58:24.4, 2
Arab Malaysian 59:19.0, 3 Citibank 62:51.0; High jump: 1 Jennifer Chan
(Southern Bank) 1.20m, 2 Lilian Lo Fui Ping (Standard Chartered) 1.15m, 3
Rafidah Asir (Citibank) 1.15m; Discus: 1 Nurshuila Zalina (Arab Malaysian)
25.28m, 2 Noreedah Mohamed (BOC) 19.46m, 3 Mahiela Salim (Perwira) 19.04m.
(END)

Inter-bank loses its glitter

02/11/1998

THE inter-bank athletics championships ended at Merdeka Stadium yesterday
on a pathetic note. Not a single championship record was re-written and,
worse still, the event seems to have lost its glitter and meaning.
The national athletes who competed, won hands down, no qualms there, but
the manner in which they treated the championships, once on par with the
MAAU Open, confirms the meet's impending demise.
So much so, it did not come as a surprise when the president of the
Banks Sports Council, Dom Amy Hussain, announced they were looking at a
merger with the commercial, finance and insurance sector.
"We need to have a bigger pool of athletes and the only way to achieve
it is to have a joint championship with the finance, commercial and
insurance sector. If we continue as a closed championship, it will soon
serve no purpose," said Dom.
High jumper Loo Kum Zee, who set a national record of 2.24m on his way
to the 1995 Sea Games gold medal in Chiangmai, won the gold yesterday with
a jump of 2.00m. He was way off his Chiangmai record and never looked like
bettering his mark in the meet.
Although Loo retained the Sea Games gold in Jakarta last year, he has
failed to clear 2.10m in the last two years. This year, his best effort
was 2.15m at the MAAU Open.
At the 1994 Hiroshima Games, four athletes - hurdler Nur Herman Majid,
long distance specialist M. Ramachandran, Loo and P. Jayanthi - made the
list and only Nur Herman returned with a medal with a blistering 13.73s
run in the 110m hurdles.
Watson Nyambek, however, is looking good for a medal in Bangkok next
month.
Yesterday, the Sarawakian ran the 200m `just for conditioning' and
surprised all with a blistering 21.65s.
The national record is 20.92s clocked by Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan in 1968.
Watson, according to coach Mumtaz Jafar, has yet to reach his peak but
going by his 10.34s in the 100m on Friday, he is definitely a medal
prospect at the Asian Games. RESULTS
RESULTS - MEN Div 1: 200m: Watson Nyambek (BBMB) 21.65, 2 Hamberi Mahat
(Maybank) 22.17, 3 Sport Sunarno (Maybank) 22.55; 800m: 1 A. Nandakumar
1:59.07, 2 Mathews David (Maybank) 2:00.14, 3 R. Ragurama (Hongkong Bank)
2:07.13; 1,500m (veteran): 1 S. Sukumaran (Public Bank) 5:08.32, 2
Zolkeple Ismail (RHB) 5:23.36, 3 Abdul Hamid (Hongkong Bank) 5:31.27; 110m
hurdles: 1 Nur Herman Majid (BBMB) 15.68, 2 Shamry Ali (Maybank) 15.74, 2
Azman Khairuddin (Hongkong Bank) 18.35; 4x400m: 1 Maybank 4:10.44, 2
Public Bank 4:45.84, 3 Ban Hin Lee 4:52.64; 20,000m walk: 1 Narinder Singh
(BBMB) 1hr 37:02.78, 2 R. Muniandy (Hongkong Bank) 2hr 18:59.97; Discus: 1
T. Tharmarajah (Public Bank) 43.30m, 2 Mohamed Rodzi (Maybank) 39.52m, 3
Petira Ghani (Maybank) 37.74m; High Jump: 1 Loo Kum Zee (Maybank) 2.00m, 2
Zulkifli Amin (Public Bank) 1.83m, 3 Azman Khairuddin (Hongkong Bank)
1.75m.
DIV 2 - 200m: 1 Mohamed Surani (Perwira Affin) 23.42, 2 Suhaimi Sidek
(Arab Malaysian) 23.82, 3 Mahathir Ali (OCBC) 24.23; 800m: 1 Mohamed
Jamiron (Southern) 2:41.25, 2 Ng Pak Choon (Citibank) 2:38.92, 3 V. Rakesh
(EON Bank) 2:24.91; 1,500m (veteran) Elyas Mohamed (Perwira Affin)
4:56.43, 2 M. Kanesan (Bank of Commerce) 5:20.02, 3 Goh Sin Nyah (Bank of
Commerce) 5:28.60; 110m hurdles: 1 Geoffrey Edward (EON Bank) 16.53, 2
Abdullah Fauzi (Citibank) 16.85, 3 Omran Omar (Southern Bank) 19.21;
4x400m: 1 Perwira Affin Bank 3:39.39, 2 EON Bank 3:41.46, 3 Pacific Bank
3:49.51; 20,000m walks: 1 U. Bagwandi (Bank of Commerce) 2hr 2:34.93;
Discus: 1 Wong Chee Ching (OCBC) 29.53m, 2 Norazaha Ahmad (Perwira Affin)
29.36m, 3 Syed Faizal (Pacific Bank) 28.83m; Triple Jump: 1 Abdullah Fauzi
(Citibank) 13.31m, 2 Aham Nazri (Bank of Commerce) 11.68m, 3 Elyas Mohamed
(Perwira Affin Bank) 11.47m.
WOMEN Div 1 - 200m: 1 G. Shanti 24.96 (Maybank), 2 P. Kuganeswari (BBMB)
25.71, 3 Carol Lucia Alfred (Maybank) 25.79; 800m: 1 K. Soloseeni
(Maybank) 2:10.94, 2 K. Latha (Maybank) 2:33.47, 3 Nancy Lai (Hongkong
Bank) 2:40.01; 100m hurdles: 1 Hii Siew Ngiik (Maybank) 15.08, 2 Almawati
Kassim (Public Bank) 17.18, 3 Kok Kah Wei (Public Bank) 20.50; 4x400m: 1
Maybank 3:23.17, 2 Ban Hin Lee 3:39.58, 3 Public Bank 3:46.07; 3,000m
Steeplechase: 1 K. Latha (Maybank) 12:33.07, 2 Sandra Jacob (Public Bank)
15:24.50, 3 Malinda Nataniel (Public Bank) 16:03.73; Javelin: 1 Masliza
Shaari (Maybank) 39.90m, 2 Ang Sau Ping (Ban Hin Lee) 27.00m, 3 Joyce Ong
(Public Bank) 25.88m.
DIV 2 - 200m: 1 Cecilia Ng (Perwira Affin Bank) 33.56, 2 Phuah May Wah
(OCBC) 33.51, 3 Joey Lai Oi Ming; 800m: 1 Lucy Lim (OCBC) 3:06.76, 2
Michelle Lau (Citibank) 3:07.87, 3 Nor Aishikin (Bank of Commerce)
3:13.24; 4x400m: 1 Arab Malaysian 5:06.39, 2 Standard Chartered 5:12.04, 3
Citibank 6:26.77; 3,000m Steeplechase: 1 Lucy Lim (OCBC) 14:15.63;
Javelin: 1 Nursuhaila Azlina (Arab Malaysian) 28.08m, 2 Mohamed Norazmati
(Pacific Bank) 22.05m, 3 Mashiela Salim (Perwira Affin Bank) 20.84m.
(END)

Sara aims to do better

13/11/1998

COMMONWEALTH Games gold medallist G. Saravanan has set a realistic target
of bettering his national record at the Asian Games in Bangkok.
His mark of 14:10.05 was good enough for a Commonwealth Games medal but
he will have to dig deeper into his reserves if he wants to return with a
50km walks medal from Bangkok.
"I know it would be tough competing against the best in Asia because my
time is not good compared to the rest of Asia, that is why I have set a
target of lowering my national record," said Saravanan after receiving an
incentive from the National Association of Malaysian Athletes (NAMA).
NAMA president S. Muthiah said the association are proud of Saravanan's
achievement at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games and hope the incentive
will spur him to do better at the Asian Games.
Saravanan is confident the Malaysian AAU and the Olympic Council
Malaysia will work out an amicable solution to the controversy surrounding
a Proton Perdana.
(END)