The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Venus Williams leads US to victory over S. Africa
- Ramdan follows Misbun’s footsteps by winning national title
- Senheng-Samsung offer RM1mil for gold in 2016
| Venus Williams leads US to victory over S. Africa Posted: 30 Dec 2012 03:28 PM PST PERTH, Australia: American tennis star Venus Williams gave her comeback hopes a boost with a win at the Hopman Cup in Perth on Sunday, and said she still believed she could be a force in the Grand Slams. The former world number one beat Chanelle Scheepers in three sets to help the United States post a 2-1 win over South Africa in their Group B tie at the mixed teams tournament. Williams, playing for the first time since October and just 24 hours after arriving in Australia, made a slow start against the 60th-ranked Scheepers but steadied to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. The seven-time Grand Slam singles winner has climbed the rankings this year as she recovered from a major setback due to illness in 2011. Williams has not won a Grand Slam singles title since her 2008 success at Wimbledon. She slipped to 134th in the rankings last year after suffering from Sjogren's Syndrome, a systemic autoimmune disease. However, the 32-year-old has enjoyed much better fortunes this year. She won her first singles title since 2010 in Luxembourg, teamed with sister Serena to win gold in the doubles at the London Olympics and finished the season ranked 24th in the world. Speaking after hitting 44 winners in disposing of Scheepers, Williams said this year was a great platform for the coming 12 months. "Last year was so awesome for me, winning a tournament and getting to the Olympics and getting a gold," she said. "I was extremely happy last year and moved up quite a few spots. "This year is just about building on it and continuing to play deep into the draws and put myself in positions to play well deep into the tournaments." Williams said she still believed she could be a force in the Grand Slams. "I always feel that way," she said. "That's how you have to feel, you have to be positive. "I try to be positive and tell myself I'm the best now. It doesn't happen every time but you've got to have that mind frame." Kevin Anderson levelled the tie for South Africa with an upset win over fellow big man John Isner in the men's singles, the world number 37 beating the world number 14 after two tie-breaks, 7-6 (7/0), 7-6 (7/5). The Americans then prevailed in straight sets in the deciding mixed doubles 6-3, 6-2. In the evening Group A session Spain beat France 2-1, with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga recovering from a break down in the first set to beat Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-3 in the men's singles, before Anabel Medina Garrigues levelled the tie with an easy win over Mathilde Johansson, 6-3, 6-2. The Spanish dominated the mixed doubles, winning 6-3, 6-3. Meanwhile, Germany's Andrea Petkovic has withdrawn from the tournament after injuring her right knee during her singles match on Saturday, and will be replaced in the German team for the remainder of the tournament by Tatjana Malek. The injury-plagued Petkovic, a former top 10 player, has ruptured the meniscus in her right knee and will miss the Australian Open, but hopes to only be sidelined for a month. - AFP |
| Ramdan follows Misbun’s footsteps by winning national title Posted: 30 Dec 2012 03:58 PM PST ALOR SETAR: There is another national champion in the Misbun family now. Yesterday, Misbun Ramdan Misbun etched his name in the Malaysian badminton annals by beating Chong Wei Feng 13-21, 21-18, 21-18 in the men's singles final of the National Grand Prix Finals at the Kedah BA Hall. The 21-year-old Ramdan, the son of six-time national champion Datuk Misbun Sidek, was an underdog against second seed Wei Feng. Despite losing the first game, the fifth-seeded Ramdan refused to give up and was rewarded for his perseverance in the next two games to take home RM7,000. "I'm really happy with the result. I was a bit nervous in the first game as I could not cope with Wei Feng's pace," said Ramdan. "Luckily, I settled down in the second game and managed to overcome him." There was also joy for Tee Jing Yi. She exacted sweet revenge over Lydia Cheah to reclaim the women's singles title. Jing Yi won 21-18, 23-21 to take home the winner's cheque of RM4,000. It was Jing Yi's third title, having also emerged triumphant in 2009 and 2010. Last year, she lost to Lydia in the final. "I think both of us were quite nervous and we played quite conservatively because we wanted to win," said Jing Yi. "Lydia lost because she made a lot of mistakes." In the men's doubles event, Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong had no trouble fending off Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han's challenge. Top seeds Thien How-Wee Kiong were hardly troubled as they beat the 2009 world junior champions 21-14, 21-15. There was a thrilling battle for the mixed doubles crown with Goh V Shem-Soong Fie Choo prevailing over Lim Khim Wah-Vivian Hoo to win 21-18, 7-21, 21-19. |
| Senheng-Samsung offer RM1mil for gold in 2016 Posted: 30 Dec 2012 04:00 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: A RM1mil reward will be given to a shuttler who wins a gold in the 2016 Olympic Games. The coach will also get RM1mil for his efforts in producing the gold medallist. And should a doubles pair emerge triumphant in Rio de Janeiro, the reward will be shared by all three. And if there is no winner in Rio, the offer still stands for the 2020 Games. But there is a catch. The reward, offered by Senheng Electric (KL) and Samsung, is only for players from the Looi Badminton Academy (LBA). The incentive was announced during LBA's inaugural annual dinner at Sports Arena, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday. Lim Kim Heng, the managing director of Senheng Electric, said the offer was made early to motivate the players at the academy. "The 2016 Olympics is four years away so it will give them time to internalise that dream. It's a great mental motivator. I'm sure the players' families and friends will be behind them and encouraging them all they way," said Kim Heng. "We made the offer to both the player and coach because one will not achieve success without the other. We want this to be a concerted effort. It's an incentive for both to work hard. And I think they've got a great set-up here and hopefully, with this incentive, future Olympic champion will come out of Looi BA," he added. Kim Heng, however, quipped: "In the final, after he or she wins the last point, they must come and hug me first! If they hug their coach, there will be no reward." LBA chief coach Cheah Soon Kit, a member of the 1992 Thomas Cup winning team and 1996 Olympic silver medallist, was delighted with the offer. "It's a good gesture by Senheng and Samsung to offer the reward. It will definitely motivate and encourage our players to look forward to the Olympics," he said. "Our recruitment is on-going and it's not easy to find a talent with skills. "They must also have the right attitude. But it's not an impossible target to win an Olympic gold. We will try our best and we have to think positive. Anything is possible," added Soon Kit. |
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