The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Women’s World Open: Nicol breezes through but Wee Wern falls in quarter-finals
- Zul working overtime to shake off cobwebs
- Ishtiaq suspended after pleading guilty to drug possession charges
| Women’s World Open: Nicol breezes through but Wee Wern falls in quarter-finals Posted: 20 Dec 2012 04:06 PM PST PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Nicol David marched into the semi-finals of the Women's World Open in Cayman Islands but national No. 2 Low Wee Wern, hampered by a hamstring injury, crashed out. Nicol, who is bidding for a record seventh world title, dropped a set against Madeline Perry of Ireland before eventually winning 11-3, 11-7, 9-11, 11-3 in 51 minutes. The defending champion took control of the first set, winning 11-3, as Perry struggled to find her foothold. Nicol then went 10-5 up in the second and appeared to be cruising to an easy win after taking the set at 11-7. But 10th seed Perry, who famously beat Nicol in the 2009 British Open, gradually found her range and it came as no surprise that she managed to pull a set back. However, The 29-year-old Penangite, up the pace in the fourth and dropped only three points as she wrapped up the quarter-final match. "I was very happy to win that. Madeline kept plugging away and kept coming at me despite being two sets down," said Nicol on www.squashsite.co.uk. "She was really firing the shots in and I knew I had to do something to stop her. I did step up my game in the fourth and everything came my way eventually, but it wasn't easy at all," added Nicol who has now beaten Perry 17 times in 18 meetings. Nicol will next face sixth seed Jenny Duncalf of England for a place in the final. Duncalf, now ranked 12th in the world after a dismal run, rediscovered her form to beat world No. 4 and compatriot Alison Waters 7-11, 17-19, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9. World No. 7 Wee Wern, bogged down by the hamstring injury which she suffered in the Hong Kong Open earlier this month, went down 11-8, 4-11, 5-11, 5-11 to third seed Laura Massaro of England. "I played well but lost to a better player on the day," said Wee Wern in a text message. "I had my hamstring re-strapped after the second set, but I could not lunge forward or move back. "It's always disappointing to lose but I've done well this year. I'm happy to end the year at No. 7 in the world and by making the quarter-finals of the world meet," added Wee Wern. Massaro will next play Raneem El Weleily. The Egyptian world No. 2 ended experienced Dutch Natalie Grinham's gallant run with an 11-9, 11-9, 11-7. |
| Zul working overtime to shake off cobwebs Posted: 20 Dec 2012 02:48 PM PST PETALING JAYA: National bowler Zulmazran Zulkifli is working overtime on the lanes in the ongoing the Milo International All-Stars Masters at the Sunway Megalanes in Sunway Pyramid. The 29-year-old, who got hitched on Nov 25, said he needed extra playing hours to shake off the cobwebs. "After spending a week off for my honeymoon, I went straight to compete in the Penang Pesta International Open last week. I could only manage to finish sixth. It was not a good result for me," said Zulmazran. Zulmazran has hopes of winning the All-Stars. But to do that, he needs to be at his best. He is virtually assured of a place in the Finals after shooting a three-game 720 total. "To win the title, I need to be sharp and at my best. The formidable South Koreans are in town with their best bowlers including former World Cup winner Choi Yong-kyu, Kim Do-young and Jang Dong-chul. "I'm hitting the lanes in the last three qualifying sessions tomorrow night (today) to sharpen my game," said Zulmazran. The Masters, which culminates tomorrow with the step-ladder Finals, pits the men and women together. The champion will be taking home the RM35,000 top prize. Only the top 47 qualifiers plus the defending champion will make it to the knockout round where they will play 10 games. Only the top six will advance to the step-ladder Finals. Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) special squad trainee Mohd Rafiq Ismail won the title last year. |
| Ishtiaq suspended after pleading guilty to drug possession charges Posted: 20 Dec 2012 02:57 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: The National Sports Council (NSC) have suspended coach Ishtiaq Mubarak following his guilty plead to drug possession charges at the Langkawi Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. NSC director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong said NSC would be issuing a suspension letter to the former 110m hurdler to ensure the image of sports in the country is not tarnished by drug-related issues. "I was shocked to hear the news and saddened because he is a big name on the local sports scene," he said at his office yesterday. Ishtiaq whose full name is Ishtiaq Ahmad Mubarak Ahmad, 64, was a big sporting star in his heyday in the 1960s and 1970s. He competed in three Olympics and was a medallist at SEA and Asian Games. He pleaded guilty to possession of 37.9gm and 5.53gm of cannabis at the Akademi Pelayaran Malaysia, Jalan Padang Mat Sirat, Kuah, Langkawi, at around 1am on Sunday. He was charged under Section 39A (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which provides for jail term up to five years and five strokes of the rotan upon conviction. The court set Feb 17 for re-mention of the case pending the chemist's report. Zolkples said the NSC would wait for the outcome of the case before taking further action on Isthiaq whose contract with NSC ends on Dec 31. Isthiaq was on the resort island overseeing a national junior squad training stint when he was arrested for the drug offence last Sun–day. The stint started on Dec 1 and is scheduled to end this Sunday. — Bernama |
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