The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Seven-year wait ends, Katrina finally wins her gold medal
- Vivian-Khe Wei overpower Indonesian pair to reach semi-finals
- Audi defending Le Mans title with faster car
| Seven-year wait ends, Katrina finally wins her gold medal Posted: 10 Jun 2011 05:53 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: Her younger sister Farah Ann Hadi won the Sukma (Malaysia Games) individual all-around title in gymnastics in Malacca last year but Katrina Ann Hadi had to wait for seven years to earn hers in synchronised swimming. The Selangor swimmer ended her long wait for an individual Sukma gold medal in the sport by garnering the highest points of 76.500 in the solo technical display yesterday morning. Jillian Ng, the daughter of former Asian Games gold medallist cyclist Ng Joo Ngan, notched 72.100 points for the silver medal while the bronze went to Gan Zhen Yu of Negri Sembilan, who managed 65.400 points. Katrina was only 12 when she won a gold in the team discipline when the sport was last competed at Sukma level in Negri Sembilan in 2004. Synchronised swimming only made its way back into Sukma once the National Sports Council decided to turn into an annual affair at Malacca last year. And the 19-year-old has since emerged as the top synchronised swimmer in the country with her representing the country at the Commonwealth and Asian Games last year. "My sister won the individual gold and it's my turn to get one today. "I hope to get another gold medal tomorrow to achieve my target in Sukma (when she combines with Lee Yhing Huey (for the duet technical routine). "It should not be a problem but we respect our rivals and will not underestimate them," said Katrina, who is also bound for the World Championships in Shanghai in August. Fellow Shanghai-bound synchronised swimmer Yhing Huey also received a timely boost to her confidence by completing a double sweep for Selangor later in the afternoon. Yhing Huey danced her way to the gold with 73.200 points, finishing ahead of Emanuelle Mah of Penang (71.800 points) and Jacqueline Ng of Kuala Lumpur (67.100 points) in the Solo Free Routine event The 19-year-old Yhing Huey, whose elder sister Zylane Lee is also in the national swimmming team, was delighted to realise her mission to become a Sukma gold medallist. "I did well today but I still need more experience. "We do not go for many competitions and we need the exposure if we are to improve to fight with stronger opponents," said Yhing Huey. Selangor and Penang now have two gold medals each after the team and solo disciplines ended. Two more gold medals will be decided in the duet competitions (technical and free) today. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Vivian-Khe Wei overpower Indonesian pair to reach semi-finals Posted: 10 Jun 2011 05:49 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: Women's doubles pair Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei continued their surprise run by over-powering Indonesian pair Anneke Feinya Agustin-Nitya Krishinda Maheswariin in straight games to reach the semi-finals of the Thailand Open in Bangkok yesterday. Vivian-Khe Wei won 21-18, 21-19 in 42 minutes to chalk up their second straight win over an Indonesian pair and will play Chinese seventh seeds Shu Cheng-Bao Yixin today for a place in the final. Shu Cheng-Yixin sent another Indonesian pair, Imawan Gebby Ristiyani-Nuraidah Tiara Rosalia, packing 21-10 21-8 in the quarter-finals. Vivian-Khe Wei are playing in their first international Open since they were reunited in a bid to qualify for the London Olympics next year. The qualifying campaign for the London Olympics started last month and Vivian-Khe Wei can give their bid a big boost if they can upset the scratch Chinese pair in the semi-finals today. Vivian-Khe Wei stunned top seeds and local favourites Duanganong Aroonkesorn-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul in rubber games en route to reaching the last eight on Thursday. However, it was the end of the road for veteran Wong Choong Hann and the men's doubles pair of Lim Khim Wah-Goh Wei Shem last night. World Championships-bound Choong Hann was outclassed 9-21, 7-21 by reigning world champion Chen Jin and it was the Malaysian's ninth consecutive defeat out of 11 meetings against the Chinese shuttler so far. Fourth seed Chen Jin and top seed Chen Long will be out to make it an all-Chinese affair in the final when they play South Korean opponents Lee Hyun-il and Park Sung-hwan respectively. Khim Wah-Wei Shem failed to put the pressure on Ko Sung-hyun-Yoo Yeon-seong after winning the first game 21-17 and allowed their more experienced Korean rivals to come back. Sung-hyun-Yeon-seong, the second seeds, won 21-11, 21-10 to secure a semi-final meeting with Indonesia's Alvent Yulianto-Hendra Aprida Gunawan. Quarter-final results Men's singles: Chen Long (Chn) bt P. Kashyap (Ind) 21-18, 21-5; Park Sunghwan (Kor) bt Sourabh Verma (Ind) 16-21, 21-16, 21-11; Chen Jin (Chn) bt Wong Choong Hann (Mas) 21-9, 21-7; Lee Hyunil (Kor) bt Wang Zhengming (Chn) 18-21, 21-9, 21-9. Women's singles: Li Xuerui (Chn) bt Saina Nehwal (Ind) 21-13, 21-12; Jiang Yanjiao (Chn) bt Juliane Schenk (Ger) 16-21, 21-13, 21-8; Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (Tha) bt Sung Ji-hyun (Kor) 21-16, 21-19; Cheng Chao-shieh (Tpe) bt Bae Joo-youn (Tpe) 21-19, 21-17. Men's doubles: Alvent Yulianto-Hendra Aprida Gunawan (Ina) bt Chai Biao-Guo Zhendong (Chn) 21-17, 21-18; Howard Bach-Tony Gunawan (US) bt Fang Chiehmin- Lee Sheng-mu (Tpe) 21-10, 21-17; Jung Jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae (Kor) bt Ingo Kindervater-Johannes Schoettler (Ger) 21-11, 21-13; Ko Sung-hyun-Yoo Yeon-seong (Kor) bt Goh Wei Shem-Lim Khim Wah (Mas) 17-21, 21-11, 21-10. Women's doubles: Poon Lok Yan-Tse Ying Suet (Hkg) bt Mariana Agathangelou-Heather Olver (Eng) 21-15, 21-19; Shu Cheng-Bao Yixin (Chn) bt Imawan Gebby Ristiyani-Nuraidah Tiara Rosalia (Ina) 21-10 21-8; Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei (Mas) bt Anneke Feinya Agustin-Nitya Krishinda Maheswari (Ina) 21-18, 21-19; Qing Tian-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) bt Jung Kyung-eun-Kim Ha-na (Kor) 21-16, 21-12. Mixed doubles: Xu Chen-Ma Jin (Chn) bt Songphon Anugritayawon-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul (Tha) 22-20, 21-11; Lee Sheng-mu-Chien Yu-chin (Tpe) bt Cho Gun-woo-Kim Min-seo (Kor) 21-17, 29-27; Shin Baek-choel-Kim Min-jung (Kor) bt Lee Yong-dae-Ha Jung-eun (Kor) 25-23, 22-20; Nova Widianto-Vita Marissa (Ina) bt Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam (Tha) 21-17, 21-14. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Audi defending Le Mans title with faster car Posted: 10 Jun 2011 05:31 PM PDT LE MANS, France (AP) — Peugeot's hopes of breaking Audi's domination in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend has become even more challenging thanks to Audi producing a faster car. Benoit Treluyer of France in his Audi No. 2 clinched the pole with a fastest qualifying lap of 3 minutes, 25.738 seconds on the 13.6-kilometer circuit in western France. Defending champions Romain Dumas of France, Timo Bernhard and Mike Rockenfeller of Germany will start from second on the grid in their Audi No. 1 on Saturday. Audi has won six of the last seven titles in the world's best known endurance race, but the pole is its first since 2006. "We worked hard for this result," Audi Sport director Wolfgang Ullrich said. "It is not what is important, it is the outcome of the race on Sunday. This provides motivation for the team. No car was in qualifying configuration because we worked on the setup for the race. "I am surprised to see such a close result between the leading prototypes. The level is extremely high." Audi took the top three spots last year with its R15 model, while no Peugeot was able to finish the race. The German manufacturer has enjoyed a relatively smooth transition with its new R18 model. But speed is no guarantee of victory. In the 1,000 kilometers of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium last month, Audi posted the best time in qualifying but could finish only third behind two Peugeots. "We know that anything can happen in 24 hours," Peugeot Sport director Olivier Quesnel told French daily L'Equipe. "We will have to make no mistake to win it. We will have to be impeccable in every area. We are prepared but it's a very long way to go." Audi will be under the pressure of the French manufacturer in the opening laps as the Peugeot No. 9 and No. 8 will respectively start from third and fourth on the grid. Tom Kristensen of Denmark, the winningest driver at Le Mans with eight victories, clocked the fifth best lap in his Audi No. 3. The Peugeot No. 7 driven by Marc Gene of Spain, who won the 1,000 kilometers of Spa-Francorchamps, will start from sixth. Meanwhile, a Swiss team will be the first to race a hybrid car in the 79th edition at Le Mans, bolstering the green credentials of a sport better known for its gas-guzzling engines. Hope PoleVision Racing will make its debut in the endurance race this year and unlike the other 55 vehicles, its engine will feature hybrid technology designed by the UK-based Flybird Company by which a carbon disc stocks the energy generated under braking and releases it as the car accelerates out of the corner. This allows the team to save as much as 5 percent on fuel and reduces the number of pit stops needed. The race is won by the team that completes the most laps in 24 hours, with up to three drivers alternating. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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