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Malaysia play second fiddle to Asian champs Pakistan again
Jacqueline gets into medal position in singles event
Ivanovic tops Stephens in straight sets at US Open

Malaysia play second fiddle to Asian champs Pakistan again

Posted: 03 Sep 2011 06:31 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia again had to play second fiddle to Pakistan after losing 2-3 in their opening Asian Champions Trophy match at the Yijinhuoluo Hockey Stadium in Ordos, China, yesterday.

This was the third time in 10 months that Pakistan have beaten Malaysia. They did it last November at the Guangzhou Asian Games to win the gold medal (2-0) and then again at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (3-2) in May.

Malaysia led twice yesterday but failed to hold on to their lead and were sunk by a 63rd minute goal.

Coach Tai Beng Hai's men took a fourth-minute lead through a Mohd Amin Rahim penalty stroke but Pakistan equalised through national junior Abdul Asim Khan's field attempt in the 22nd minute.

Amir Farid then marked his senior team debut with a field goal in the 31st minute, only for Pakistan's Mohd Imran to flick in a penalty corner goal a minute later.

The came the late blow as Malaysia conceded a penalty stroke with just seven minutes remaining. Pakistan assistant skipper Shakeel Abbasi converted it to give the Asian champions their opening victory in the inaugural tournament.

In an earlier match, South Korea warmed up for their match against Malaysia today with a 3-2 win over Japan.

India also got off to a winning start, routing China 5-0. It was also India's first match under new Australian coach Michaell Nobbs.

Jacqueline gets into medal position in singles event

Posted: 03 Sep 2011 06:30 PM PDT

PETALING JAYA: Teenage debutant Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore put a big smile on national chief coach Holloway Cheah's face yesterday.

The steely 19-year-old Jacqueline bowled like a real pro to put herself in a medal position in the women's singles event on a glorious opening day for Malaysia in the Women's World Championships in Hong Kong.

The Sarawakian lass blazed the lanes with lines of 266-279-267-258-202-214 for a whopping six-game total of 1,486 pins to top the chart in Squad B.

She is now second in the overall standings – just 10 pins short of Squad A leader Son Yun-hee of South Korea, who downed 1,496 pins.

Jacqueline is the only Malaysian in the running for the medals after three others – Sharon Koh, Sin Li Jane and Esther Cheah – struggled to stay within the top 10 on the opening day in both the Squad A and Squad B actions.

Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi and Zatil Iman Abdul Ghani will be in action in Squad C today and hopes are high that the duo wil get off to a flying start as well.

Only the top fours bowlers after the completion of all three squads – A, B and C – will get to play in a knockout semi-final round.

The top seed will play the fourth-ranked bowler while the second and third seeds will square off in another elimination match.

The winners will then face each other to determine the singles champion.

Esther won the singles gold at the world meet in 2005 in Aalborg while Wendy Chai bagged a bronze medal at the following series in Mexico in 2007.

Malaysian bowlers returned home empty-handed from the last edition in Las Vegas two years ago.

An elated Jacqueline said: "I surprised myself with the way I bowled here.

"I gave it my all and just played my game ... and it all turned out nicely. I hope to qualify for the semi-finals and bag Malaysia's first medal." Holloway too is keeping his fingers crossed that Jacqueline will be in the final four.

"I am happy for Jacqueline as she bowled really well. I've never doubted her although this is her first world meet. To me, she is already an experienced and good bowler," said Holloway in a telephone interview.

"Hopefully, she can stay in the top four with one more squad to go. This long oil lane condition is suitable for high scoring games and, hopefully, no one from the final squad will dislodge her. She deserves a medal for all her hard work.

"The others – Esther, Li Jane and Sharon are not there among the top pack but they did not do too badly either," added Holloway, who hopes they will grow in strength in the doubles event next.

Ivanovic tops Stephens in straight sets at US Open

Posted: 03 Sep 2011 06:26 PM PDT

Published: Sunday September 4, 2011 MYT 9:26:00 AM

NEW YORK (AP): Ana Ivanovic beat American teenager Sloane Stephens in straight sets Saturday to reach the fourth round of the U.S. Open.

The 16th-seeded Serb won 6-3, 6-4. and will next face Serena Williams. Ivanovic has never been past the fourth round of the U.S. Open.

There were 10 breaks of serve in 19 games in the match. The former world No. 1 made the most of her opportunities, converting 6 of 7 break points, to overcome 26 unforced errors.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Sabtu, 3 September 2011