The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Williams apologises in person for racist comment - Woods (update)
- World champion Nicol vows to keep on breaking records
- Future in Zul’s hands
| Williams apologises in person for racist comment - Woods (update) Posted: 07 Nov 2011 06:31 PM PST SYDNEY, Nov 8 (Reuters) - American Tiger Woods had a face-to-face meeting with his former caddie Steve Williams in Sydney on Tuesday at which the New Zealander apologised for a racist comment he made last week. Speaking about the comment for the first time, Woods told a news conference at the Lakes Golf Club that the once firm friends had shaken hands and he now wanted to move on from the incident. Williams said: "It was my aim to shove it up that b**** a*******"at an awards ceremony in Shanghai last Friday, explaining why he had celebrated Adam Scott's Bridgestone Invitational win in August so enthusiastically. "We talked about it this morning, we met face-to-face, we talked it through and we have agreed it was the wrong thing to say," former world number one Woods. "He did apologise, it was hurtful, certainly, but life goes forward." "Stevie's certainly not racist, there's no doubt about that," Woods added. "I think it was a commemt that shouldn't have been made and certainly one that he wished he didn't make." The New Zealander caddied for Woods from 1999 until he was sacked in acrimonius circumstances earlier this year after helping the American win 13 major titles. "It was a tough decision to make to go in a different direction professionally," Woods recalled. "I wasn't playing, I was injured, and I was trying to come back but I missed most of the major championships and he didn't want to miss them. That's understandable, wish I could have played them too." Woods has slipped to number 58 in the world rankings and not bagged a title since winning the Australian Masters almost two years ago after being forced to deal with injuries and the fallout from revelations about his private life. The 35-year-old continues his quest to end his title drought at the Australian Open this week before heading to Melbourne for next week's Presidents Cup. Williams, who had already issued an apology to Woods on his website last Saturday, has been caddying for Australia's world number eight Scott since August. "He obviously went with Adam," Woods said. "He's in a good spot right now. Adam's playing very well, he's just won a golf championship and professionally we've moved in different directions." Woods said he was lost for an answer as to how their relationship had broken down so badly and indicated that there was a way to go before it was repaired. "I don't know," he said. "It's just one of those things where we see what time does. Time does heal wounds and we'll see how it goes." Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| World champion Nicol vows to keep on breaking records Posted: 07 Nov 2011 05:20 PM PST ROTTERDAM: The past few days have been a dream for Nicol David and she has had more than her share of priceless moments. First, the squash legend from Penang, who has been based in Amsterdam since 2003, was inducted into her sport's Hall of Fame on Saturday for her amazing accomplishments. A day later, the long reigning world No. 1 created history by winning a record sixth world title - the first woman to do so in the 35-year history of the championships. Nicol has won all the major tournaments her sport has to offer and no other Malaysian athlete comes close to matching her achievements – 56 titles and still counting. What was really amazing is the way she played in the final, pummelling world No. 2 Jenny Duncalf of England into submission in straight sets - 11-2, 11-5, 11-0 - in just 29 minutes. Such was her domination that Duncalf simply surrendered. The 28-year-old Nicol, who has been the world No. 1 since August 2006, said that the win over Duncalf was the pinnacle of her professional career which began in 2000. "It was my best performance to date. I didn't want anyone else, but me, to put their hands on the trophy," she said. "Winning was great and the record means the world to me," said Nicol, who surpassed the previous milestone of five titles she jointly held with her mentor, Australian Sarah FitzGerald. But far from being satisfied, Nicol is hungry for even more success and plans to play on for another five to seven years. That is bad news for her rivals. "I hope to stay injury-free and win many more tournaments. Perhaps even a few more world titles so that nobody can overhaul my record," she said with a glint in her eye. Nicol's 56 Wispa titles put her level with former world champion Michelle Martin of Australia. She now wants to beat FitzGerald's record of 62 to seal her reputation as the best player in the history of the game. That should be a breeze if Nicol keeps playing like she did in Rotterdam. And given her insatiable appetite for records, it will be some time yet before the final chapter of the Nicol David legend is written. "Winning always feels good. But the pressure is mounting as there are several young players beginning to make their mark. The Egyptian girls have plenty of potential and are a real threat," said Nicol. "I have to work two to three times harder to stay on top. I will continue training in Amsterdam under coach Liz Irving as it has been a highly successful arrangement. Nicol's only regret is that she will not be able to add an Olympic gold medal to her impressive collection of trophies. "It's a pity that the IOC (International Olympic Committee) have not deemed it fit to include squash in the Games," lamented Nicol, who won the world junior title in 1999 and 2001. She has also won the World Games title twice - Duisburg, Germany, in 2005, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in 2009 - and bagged three British Open titles - in 2005, 2006 and 2008. Nicol is the first Malaysian to win the Commonwealth Games squash gold medal - at New Delhi last year - and has won eight Asian championships and three Asian Games -1998, 2006 and last year - gold medals. She has also won the Wispa's Player of the Year award five times since 2006. That is a giddy list of achievements by any standard and Nicol is taking a well-deserved break after her Rotterdam high. She is going on a Roman holiday with her parents Desmond and Mary Ann. "My parents have never been to Rome and I need a rest after winning the world title," said Nicol, whose next last assignment of the year is the Hong Kong Open starting on Nov 15. She will be gunning for another record in Hong Kong too – her sixth consecutive title. Nicol's male counterpart, Nick Matthew also lived up to his top ranking in the world championships. Matthew beat Gregory Gaultier of France 6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 to win the crown for the second time on Sunday. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Posted: 07 Nov 2011 05:20 PM PST SEPANG: There could be many interferences and obstructions but the future of newly-crowned junior world badminton champion Zulfadli Zulkifli is in his own hands. Yesterday, the 18-year-old decided to stay faithful to his father cum fulltime coach Zulkifli Sidek as he begins his journey as a senior player - aspiring to become the Olympic and world champion and natural successor to world number one Lee Chong Wei. Some have urged Zulfadli to try a new coaching style under a new trainer to raise his game to the next level. Some have even suggested that he should join the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) banner so as to get a chance to spar with Chong Wei regularly to speed up his development. But Zulfadli has chosen to remain an independent player for now. He confirmed that he had no immediate plans to move his training base or switch allegiance to another mentor. "I am fine with my father as coach," said Zulfadli on arriving home to a hero's welcome at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yesterday. "Afterall, he has coached me all my life. I owe all my success so far to my father. I am confident he can steer me to the pinnacle at senior level as well. "Of course, things will have to change. I will have to increase the intensity of training to cope with the more demanding challenges in the world of the big boys," added Zulfadli, who was born in Los Angeles while his father was a coach with the United States Olympic badminton team from 1991-1992. Zulfadli, currently ranked a lowly 207 in the rankings, defeated defending champion and world No. 43 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark on Sunday to become the country's first junior world champion in the sport. His 53-year-old father, a former coaching director with the National Sports Council (MSN), said he would have to chart a new course for his eldest son. "I am happy to be his personal coach. It is a dream come true seeing him scale the heights and do the nation proud. I am not boasting but I have the necessary credentials and knowledge to take him to the very top," he said. Zulkifli said that early exposure to international tournaments and sparring with many top players had benefitted Zulfadli. He thanked their sponsors - especially professional club KLRC - for having faith and taking a gamble with a young talent like Zulfadli. "Zulfadli was 11 years old when he took part in his first junior international tournament. By 13, he had already won several titles. All that exposure gave him an edge," said Zulkifli. Sparring sessions with his KLRC team-mates - former national players Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Wong Choong Hann, Tan Chun Seang and international shuttler Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam - prior to the world junior meet obviously did him a world of good. As did the month-long centralised programme with the BAM players and quality matches with the national back-up team. "There's nothing wrong in Zulfadli enjoying the best of both worlds. He can still be an independent player and spar with those in the national set–up," said dad. "I hope BAM will let my son train at least twice a week with Chong Wei. Zulfadli will progress a lot faster and the country will surely benefit from this. We can have grand plans but it all depends on Zulfadli. His future is in his hands," he said. BAM president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh said they would look into the request for Zulfadli to spar with Chong Wei regularly as he believed in an amicable partnership among all the stakeholders in the game. "Chong Wei has his own schedule and plans. But this is something we can look into because the future of badminton and the interest of the nation come first," said Nadzmi. "We also hope that Zulfadli will look into the option of training under different coaches. The challenges will get bigger and it is important that Zulfadli is managed in the right way." But as dad Zulkifli said, Zulfadli will be the master of his own fate. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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