Malaysia off to jittery start

11/09/1998

MALAYSIA started their Commonwealth Games hockey campaign with an
impressive 4-0 win over Kenya at the National Hockey Stadium yesterday.
In other matches, Wales downed Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 while South
Africa and New Zealand played to a 3-3 draw. The defeat has put Kenya out
of contention for a semifinal berth. They lost 5-4 to Pakistan.
The winning margin may seem easy for Malaysia. It wasn't the case
because Malaysia were made to fight for the goals.
Kenya, as they showed against Pakistan, were tough opponents. They
displayed the same aggression, speed and fighting spirit yesterday but
Malaysia were not intimidated by the better-built Kenyans.
The Malaysians, however, were better organised and took the game to the
East Africans.
The normally goal-shy R. Shankar, who was switched from centrehalf to
sweeper by coach Paul Lissek, put Malaysia in the lead in the fourth
minute. He scored another in the 57th. Chairil Anwar Azizi, playing in his
first international in more than two months, was on target in the 22nd
while flick specialist S. Kuhan made no mistake from the spot in the 60th
to seal the match.
There were more possesion and control of the game by the Malaysians
yesterday than in the friendly against South Africa three days ago. They
only disapppointment was that they did not score a field goal.
Malaysia were on the offensive from the whistle and their efforts paid
off in the fourth minute when Shankar knocked in a pass from Kuhan of
their second penalty corner.
Malaysia missed a few open chances against the run of play but earned
their third penalty corner. Again from a setpiece, Kuhan this time passed
the ball to the right where Chairil deflected over goalkeeper Jotham Omany
to make it 2-0.
From Malaysia's seventh penalty corner, a Kenyan defender blocked the
goal-bound ball with his body and the umpire pointed to the spot.
Kuhan made it count. Lissek, while happy with the score, was not pleased
with the performance.
Lissek said the players, including the seniors were still nervous.
MALAYSIA: Roslan Jamaluddin, Maninderjit Singh, S. Kuhan, Nor Azlan
Bakar, Chairil Anwar Aziz, R. Shankar, Suhaimi Ibrahim, M. Kaliswaran, K.
Keevan Raj, Mirnawan Nawawi, Calvin Fernandez, Chua Boon Huat, K. Logan
Raj, Lam Mun Fatt, M. Kaliswaran, Nasihin Nubli.
KENYA: Jotham Omany, Joel Senge, Kenneth Kaunda, John Okoth, Nicholas
Ngaira, Donald Odendo, Inderjit Singh, Eric Odingo, Raymond Ochola, Brian
Onyango, Simon Odera, Gurbinder Singh, Charles Wambura, George Osewe,
Moses Aura, Aja Dinesh Kumar.
(END)

UIT blow to Irina

12/09/1998

THE International Shooting Federation (UIT) are taking disciplinary action
against Irina Maharani and this means Malaysia's golden medal hope cannot
take part in the Commonwealth Games in Langkawi.
A Malaysian since three months ago, former Ukrainian Irina is facing
action because she did not get clearance from UIT when she competed in the
World Championships in Barcelona in July.
The National Sports Council (NSC) hired Irina, a 1986 world champion in
the sport pistol, to help prepare the Malaysian shooting squad for the
Commonwealth Games.
She raised Malaysian hopes when she finished ninth in Barcelona, the
best finisher from the Commonwealth countries.
But the necessary paperwork had not been done.
The Malaysian authorities - the National Sports Council (NSC), who
decided to enter her for Barcelona, and the National Shooting Association
of Malaysia (NSAM) - failed to get clearance from UIT.
Irina, who was born in Ukraine, represented the former Soviet Union. She
had also represented the Soviet Republics of Ukraine and Russia.
UIT regulations require that a shooter must be a citizen for three years
before she can represent the country. Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)
regulations require a three-year residential status.
Another way around the UIT regulation was for her former shooting
federation to give her the release to shoot for Malaysia.
But NSC did not think that it was necessary to obtain the release from
Ukraine and Russia - the USSR have since ceased to exist - to shoot in
Barcelona.
Apparently they had not sought the advice of NSAM and neither did NSAM
see it fit to advise NSC accordingly.
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) vice-chairman Datuk Alex Lee said
yesterday that Malaysia have been advised by UIT to keep her out pending
disciplinary action.
"The CGF sought clarification from UIT and they told us both she and the
Malaysian Shooting Federation (NSAM) face possible disciplinary action.
"Both contravened UIT regulations when they failed to get clearance to
field her in the world championships."
The letter from UIT, signed by Fung Lok Nam, their technical delegate,
was sent to CGF legal advisor Sharad Rao.
With Irina ruled out, and Nurul Huda Bahrin still on the mend after
fracturing her right arm in two places, Malaysia's chances of winning a
shooting medal look remote.
Nurul, who fractured her arm in a motorcycle accident last month, was
originally down to shoot in three events - air rifle, sport rifle three
position and sport rifle prone. She is now only entered for the air rifle.
(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.

Defenders hold the key

19/09/1998

GOING by past records, Malaysia have the odds stacked high against themwhen they take on India in the semifinals today. But going by current form and statistics, it projects an even match. Malaysia have an impressive defensive record of having conceded theleast number of goals - four - while India have on the other end scoredthe second highest number of goals - 21 - a record surpassed by SouthAfrica who have 25. South Africa, who were out of the semifinals, scored 12 of the goalsagainst Trinidad and Tobago in the last preliminary match, believing theystill had a chance on goal difference if India drew with New Zealand intheir last match. So it is going to be the test of the best defence versus the bestattack. India's attack is spearheaded by their 30-year-old skipper, DhanarajPillay, who is capped 308 times and is their leading goal scorer with fiveto his credit. Dhanaraj will be aided in attack by another veteran, N. Mukesh Kumar,who has 277 caps. Their speed and skills send shivers down the spines of any defence. Theconsolation for Malaysia, if any, is that their defence is solid with R.Shankar and Maninderjit Singh manning it. One of neatest thing Lissek had done to the team was to move Shankar,whose regular role was centrehalf before his arrival, to defence which wasone of the weakest areas in the team. Maninderjit Singh is a natural and reliable defender as he has proventime and again. But the two players should have better understanding as ontwo occasions, goals were scored due to a misunderstanding between them. Even if they are beaten, there is goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin who hasbeen in sterling form. Roslan, who will be playing only his 10th international match, has shownsuperb match temperament so far. Malaysian forwards will have to be sharper as they do not have manyfield goals to show. Of their nine goals scored, only two were fieldgoals. And they were not short of chances, as in the match against Canada wherethey should have led by a few goals before the controversial winning goalwas scored. Today, they will have a tougher job as the Indians have recalled veterangoalkeeper A.B. Subbaiah who is capped 213 times and improving from matchto match. Going by recent rankings in the World Cup, India finished ninth andMalaysia 11th. The last time the two teams met, India won 5-1 at the Chief Minister'sCup in Chennai in 1996. The last time Malaysia beat India was at the Olympics qualifier inAuckland in 1991. They won 3-2 with the winning goal scored by K. Embarajfrom a penalty corner. The teams have met 22 times in Malaysia and India won 18 times. Of their10 meetings in Kuala Lumpur, India won eight. In those 22 meetings, Malaysia had won only twice, once in KL and theother in Ipoh. In all, they have met a total of 32 times since the introduction ofartificial pitch and Malaysia had won only three times and drawn four. However, like Australian coach Terry Walsh said, statistics remains justthat - statistics. * Malaysian Hockey Federation competition committee chairman ThasleemIbrahim will reward the team RM5,000 for making the semifinals. He said a bigger surprise awaits them if they beat India today