More light on Junior World Cup

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation’s (MHF) council meeting in Kuala Lumpur today will hopefully shed light on the 2009 Junior World Cup.
Johor HA will present a status report on the tournament, slated for June 7-21 next year, and put to rest speculation that it is in jeopardy.
The council is also expected to be briefed that the Johor state government has pledged RM1.5 million for the tournament, which will be co-hosted with Singapore.
“We have been asking questions for the past three council meetings but did not receive any answers.
“I hope tomorrow (today), speculation on the stadium and financial situation will be put to rest,” said a council member who declined to be named.
The MHF is in dire financial straits after organising the Champions Trophy last year, and the true picture will emerge today as accounts will be closed to prepare for the year-end elections.
There is also expected to be an indication whether president Tan Sri Admiral (rtd) Anwar Mohd Nor will seek re-election.
Coaching and development chairman C. Paramalingam will also be out to defend his men, especially chief coach Sarjit Singh.
“Sarjit has been on the receiving end after we failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. Many quarters have questioned his coaching methods.
“I want to put an end to it because the records show otherwise. He coached Malaysia to a silver medal in the (2007) Azlan Shah Cup, and a bronze in the (2007) Asia Cup. Before him, we were the punching bags in both the tournaments for decades.
“When he was hired, his goal was not the immediate tournaments but to build this young Malaysian team into a strong side for the 2010 World Cup. Let him get on with the job without distractions is what I will brief the council,” said Paramalingam.
That, however, may not be in Paramalingam’s hands as Anwar, following a meeting with Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Thursday, said MHF was likely to hire a foreign coach.
Former players have also expressed dismay at Malaysia’s waning fortunes, as the Junior World Cup and Under-16 squads have also struggled in recent tournaments.
This led to 102 former internationals submitting a petition and the result is the, as announced by Ismail Sabri on Thursday, the formation of a working committee to oversee Malaysia’s qualification for the 2012 London Olympics.

SIGS are Premier girls

Top Scorer: Nur Amira Abu Samah (Seven goals, SIGS).
CHAMPS: Sultan Ibrahim Girls pose after the final.
Nur Amira Abu Samah with coach Ismail Othman.
SULTAN Ibrahim Girls School, Johor Baru, lifted the National Premier Schools tournament title recently when they beat Convent Bukit Nenas, Kuala Lumpur, 1-0 in Kangar, Perlis.
Eight teams competed in the Premier Schools tournament, and new-comers SIGS were the surprise package.
“It was our debut in the Premier tournament after we became South Zone champions by beating SMK Convent Muar 6-0 and SMK Puteri Negri Sembilan 2-1.
“It was a proud moment for the school, as the girls trained really hard for it,” said SIGS coach Ismail Othman.
The Johor Baru school had one Malaysia Games and four Malaysian Schools Sports Council players.
“We also had a warm-up against visiting South African an Singapore teams, and it helped them to become more confident.”
Group A: SMK Raja Perempuan Perak, SMK St Gorges, Penang, SM Sains Johor, Maktab Sabah.
Group B: SMK Sultan Ibrahim Girls School, SMK Mek Zainab, Kelantan, SMK Agama Selangor, SMK Convent Bukit Nenas, Kuala Lumpur.
Top Scorer: Nur Amira Abu Samah (Seven goals, SIGS).
Best Player: Norafizah Sulaiman (SIGS).

Karamjit gets Fusion to Excel

FROM LEFT -- Jagdev Singh, Karamjit Singh and Fusion Excel chief executive Paul Ting.

By Arnaz M. Khairul
ARMED with a little injection from new sponsors, Karamjit Singh and Jagdev Singh have their eyes set on just securing the Malaysian Rally Championship (MRC) overall title in the next round in Johor on Oct 11-12.
If expectations were for the duo to look at the overall title in the Malaysian Rally 2008 (MR8), which is round five of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), held simultaneously during that round, it is not to be. Karamjit-Jagdev will be present that weekend, but only as competitors in the local round.
"It is not financially viable for us to compete at that level, to fork out the budget and on top of that not get any points for competing there, as the regulations have changed. Even our car will not be on par, as the regulations for APRC have allowed a number of expensive upgrades for Group N-spec cars," said Karamjit.
"So, we will look at just one objective, which is the national championship. I need only two more points to secure my 10th ever national title and that is what we're going to look for."
He was speaking after receiving a RM20,000 cash injection from new sponsors Fusion Excel International, who also provide Quantum Science alternative health products to the team.
Fusion Excel chief executive Paul Ting said the company has been helping the careers of athletes in less popular sports and as such, saw Karamjit as an ideal partner.
"We've supported a number of golfers, some bowlers, even those competing in dragon boat races. We know that unlike football or other glamourous sports, the others have difficulties in raising the funding, so when we found out Karamjit was having the same difficulties, we stepped forward and got the ball rolling," said Ting.
This is the first step towards building a budget sufficient to enable the GSR-Pennzoil Racing duo of Karamjit and Jagdev to compete in a full season of the APRC next year. That would require a budget of at least RM2 million, significantly more than the RM400,000 they need to compete in the MRC this year.

No lipstick and powder in saddle

MATES: Norlaily Buniyamin with her poster boy Jessie James.

FIFTEEN men and a lone lady rider have been short-listed to train for the World Endurance Championships (WEC) in Terengganu on Nov 6-9.
But four riders will be dropped after centralised training, and the gutsy lady, Norlaily Buniyamin, does not want to be in that stable.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin is also among those who have qualified for the WEC. And he has registered Pascha Larzac and Moonlight Pharaoh as his mounts.
“I have a good feeling that I will be able to make the final cut, as my horse has been in terrific form this year,” said Norlaily.
Norlaily is more at home when astride her mount, Jessie James, riding 160 kilometres under torturing conditions. So, when it came to dolling-up for the press conference yes terday, she found out that her saddle did not have lipstick and powder in it.
“I had to rush out and buy lipstick and powder for this function, and my mum gave me an earful!,” said Norlaily.
Which is just as well, because there is no special category in the WEC, and she will be competing against rugged men from all over the world on equally menacing horses, who kick and bite.
“Jessie James is from Australia and has been in Malaysia for the past five years. And we finished second in the Royal Kelantan Endurance (in August).
“I believe the WEC it will be much better for ‘local’ horses, as opposed to riders who have to fly their horses down, and then get them acclimatised for the race,” said Norlaily.
National Sports Institute Director General Datuk Dr Ram lan Aziz said: “In June this year, only five riders had qualified and we were worried on how to get seven more into the WEC. And so, it was a sweet surprise when 11 more qualified via various races, and now we will have to trim the squad instead, to meet the quota allotted.”
TRAINING SQUAD: Datuk Kamaruddin Ghani, Datuk Shuaib Isahak, Datuk Abdullah Taib, Faizal Ismail, Rosdam Noor, Che Ahmad Yusri, Alif Sabidi, Yusran Yusof, Zainuddin Yusof, Rino Rani, Halim Alihan, Bakar Aman, Norlaily Buniyamin, Firdaus Hamid, Azizie Ismail.

2009 Junior World Cup on track

FILE PIC: Anwar with Annabel.

SINGAPORE and Malaysia pledged yesterday that facilities to host the Junior World Cup on June June 7-21 next year will be ready on time.
Singapore Hockey Federation (SHF) president Annabel Dillon and deputy president Kuldip Singh were down for a meeting with members of the Malaysian Hockey Confed eration (MHC) yesterday, and among the matters agreed upon was to register a joint-venture company to run the world cup.
“Initially, there were apprehensions from both sides re garding venues, but the problems have been solved, and we are now working to have the best Junior World Cup ever,” said Annabel.
Singapore will host 10 teams at Sengkang West and the venue should be ready by early next year. The sports centre comes with two swimming pools and water slides, as well as a sports hall and hockey field.
Johor will host the other 10, including the finals.
“Singapore will host the opening ceremony, while Malaysia the closing ceremony,” said MHC president Tan Sri Admiral (rtd) Anwar Mohd Now.
Anwar also said a representative from the the Inter national Hockey Federation (FIH) will inspect both the venues on Oct 8.
“Singapore and Malaysia will make do with temporary stands, and not build mammoth stadiums, because even the FIH feels it is a waste of resources to do so.
“And there will be follow-up meetings soon, and after ironing out some company law and tax issues, a joint venture company will be formed and it will be all-systems go from now,” said Anwar.
A total of 88 matches involving 20 teams will be played in the first co-sanctioned Junior World Cup, and both the hosts have pledged to make it a memorable one.