The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Golf: Woods, McIlroy ready for Ryder Cup showdown
- 44-year-old Sazali grabs eighth Mr Asia title in Guangzhou
- KLHC in great form to retain Premier Division title
| Golf: Woods, McIlroy ready for Ryder Cup showdown Posted: 24 Sep 2012 04:50 PM PDT ATLANTA (Georgia): World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and No. 2 Tiger Woods are set to lead their Ryder Cup teams this week after final-round fades cost them a chance at a US$10 million US PGA playoff prize. American Brandt Snedeker, a US Ryder Cup captain's choice selection by Davis Love, won the Tour Championship on Sunday at East Lake to win a record US$11.44 million and jump to 10th in the rankings ahead of this weekend's showdown. Holders Europe boast four of the world's top five players with England's Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose joining McIlroy in that select group. "I'm just going to really enjoy it. It's going to be a good week," McIlroy said. "I'm looking forward to it." Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the record of 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus but without a major title since 2008, looked forward to a rest day on Monday before beginning Ryder Cup practice sessions at Medinah. "It will be nice to shut it down and gear up again because we've got a long, long week ahead of us," Woods said. "We're all going to need our energy and get our rest when we can." Woods, who has seen 18 majors come and go since he last won one, is happy to be healthier and more competitive and consistent than he was a year ago. "Considering where I was at last year, it's nice to be where I'm at now," he said. "I was obviously struggling with my health last year and this year I was able to turn it around and I played some pretty good golf this year." Woods won at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Memorial and the PGA National in 2012 and contended at majors, showing flashes of the form that made him a legend but not often enough to capture a major crown. McIlroy won his second career major title, adding last month's PGA Championship to his breakthrough triumph at the 2011 US Open, and nearly added the playoff crown to his haul. "You've got to treat it like a four or five-week tournament," McIlroy said. "It adds excitement to the end of the year. Obviously, you've got the Ryder Cup next week, so that's going to be exciting too, but it definitely gives people something to watch and something to hang on to after the majors are finished. "I'm not going to complain. It's been a great year, and I'm very happy with how I'm playing still. "I'm looking forward to meeting up with all the guys. Just to get back into that team atmosphere and team spirit. It should be good fun. I'm just going to go there and enjoy it and try and help Team Europe out as much as I can." - AFP |
| 44-year-old Sazali grabs eighth Mr Asia title in Guangzhou Posted: 24 Sep 2012 05:10 PM PDT PETALING JAYA: Age is just a number for Sazali Samad who continues to stamp his mark as one of the best bodybuilders in Asia. Sazali, who turns 45 on Oct 8, gave himself an early birthday present by flexing his way to a record eighth Mr Asia title at the Asian bodybuilding and physique championships in Guangzhou on Sunday. Sazali came out tops in the below 70kg (lightweight) category final at the Tianhe Sports Centre to regain the title he last won in the 2010 edition in Teheran. Sazali was top ranked in pre-judging and maintained the form in the final to finish ahead of Iranian Yousef Karimi while Vietnam's Nguyen Hai Au took the bronze. Sazali is on record as the most successful bodybuilder Malaysia has produced. He won his first Mr Asia title in 1996 in the bantamweight category and followed up with triumphs in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2009 and 2010. The previous most decorated Malaysian bodybuilder at Asian level was Datuk Malek Noor, who was a six-time winner in the heavyweight category. "I wanted to regain the Asian title I lost last year and continued training although I was fasting last month. It's more of a challenge as I get older but I just try harder. "It's great to win here as bodybuilding wasn't in the programme at the last Asian Games which China hosted. "This year has been good for me as I was also promoted to sub-inspector in the police force," the two-time National Sportsman of the Year said from Guangzhou. The southern Chinese city hosted the Asian Games in 2010 and Sazali would have been a good bet for a medal as he had won the silver in Doha four years earlier. Sazali's triumph is certainly a welcome boost to his hopes of making a successful title defence in the world championships in Bangkok from Dec 5-10. He will be going for his eighth world title, having claimed his first in the 65kg category (bantamweight) in Malacca in 2000, followed by wins in Moscow (2004) and Ostrava, Czech Republic (2006). Sazali moved up to the 70kg category in 2007 and was on top again in Jeju, South Korea (2007), Dubai (2009), Varanasi, India (2010) and Malacca (2011). At the Asian championships in Guangzhou, Malaysia also bagged a silver through Mohd Shahrul Azman Mahen in the men's physique 170cm category and a bronze from Badrulshah Baharuddin in the below 75kg category. Buda Anchah and Mark Allan Magindol were placed fourth in the below 65kg and 85kg respectively. Two other Malaysians – Aloysius Jaimon and Ismadi Riji – did not make the finals in their respective 80kg and 100kg categories. |
| KLHC in great form to retain Premier Division title Posted: 24 Sep 2012 05:27 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: KL Hockey Club (KLHC) are in prime position to retain the Premier Division title in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) after a stellar showing last week. The defending champions shrugged off their stumble of the previous week to return to winning ways. KLHC took no prisoners this time as they thrashed Maybank 6-1 on Friday before mauling Nur Insafi-Perak 11-3 on Sunday. With only two matches left, the title looks all but decided as KLHC have a three-point advantage over closest rivals Tenaga Nasional. K. Dharmaraj's side will play UniKL on Friday before taking on Tenaga on Sunday. The champions are likely to register another big win against UniKL to bump up their already imposing goal difference, which should assure them the title even if they lose to Tenaga in their last match. Tenaga have to beat third placed Sapura on Friday but their form has taken a dip and they have drawn their last two matches. Sapura could well surprise them and even pip Tenaga to second place on Sunday. KLHC team manager George Koshy was glad that his players had made a quick recovery and regained their grip on the title. "We have the edge but we intend to retain the title in style with maximum points from our remaining games," he said. "Tenaga showed what they are capable of when they beat us the previous week. We allowed them to play to their strength and that cost us the match," said George. "Tenaga are a well organised side with a strong backline. They thrive in open spaces and their star player Faisal Saari is a handful. But we intend to avenge that defeat." An interesting weekend of matches is in store as the top four sides for the overall title are almost confirmed. KLHC, Tenaga and Sapura have made the cut while Maybank need a win to confirm their place. That should be a formality as Maybank play bottom team Nur Insafi on Friday. |
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