The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Sazali and Wong Hong grab golds in Bangkok
- Natasha steals the limelight at Yas Marina
- Arif and Sonia crash out of Korean Open semi-finals
| Sazali and Wong Hong grab golds in Bangkok Posted: 08 Dec 2012 06:23 PM PST PETALING JAYA: Sazali Samad and Wong Hong flew the flag high for Malaysia after flexing their way to the gold medals in the World Bodybuilding and Physique Federation (WBPF) World Championships in Bangkok. Sazali retained his world title in the below 70kg lightweight category at the Nimibutr National Stadium while Wong Hong came out tops in the Masters (age 40-50) yesterday. Both were top ranked in pre-judging en route to the final. The win was especially sweet for father-of-four Sazali, who hails from Batu Pahat, as he now has the distinction of holding the world and Asian titles in the same year. It's also the eighth world title for the 45-year-old sub-inspector and is without doubt the most successful bodybuilder the country has produced. Sazali claimed his first gold in the 65kg category (bantamweight) in Malacca in 2000 and followed it up with wins in Moscow (2004) and Ostrava, Czech Republic (2006). He then moved up to the 70kg category and came out tops in Jeju, South Korea (2007), Dubai (2009), Varanasi, India (2010) and Malacca last year. Sazali is happy that he still has the edge over his rivals despite his age. "I won my eighth Mr Asia title in Guangzhou two months ago and have now secured my eighth world title. "It has been a wonderful year for me as I also earned a promotion in the police force earlier this year. This win couldn't have come at a better time as I'm celebrating my 16th wedding anniversary with my wife (Hashrine Hashim) this month," said the two-time National Sportsman from Bangkok. Wong Hong made it a double delight for Malaysia when he stood on top of the podium shortly after. Bangkok will certainly hold fond memories for the 43-year-old physical trainer and gym owner as he won the super-heavyweight (above 100kg) category when the Asian meet was held there last year. Wong Hong was a pro bodybuilder before taking a break to pursue a Masters in Human Nutrition in the United States. He made his comeback two years ago. The former Mr Malaysia also won in the same category when Malacca hosted the world meet in November last year. |
| Natasha steals the limelight at Yas Marina Posted: 08 Dec 2012 06:26 PM PST PETALING JAYA: The national anthem – Negaraku – filled the Yas Marina Circuit not once but twice as Natasha Seatter clinched back-to-back wins in Rounds 3 and 4 of the Formula Gulf 1000 racing series on Friday. The 19-year-old Natasha, who is the first-ever Malaysian female driver to win an event at the prestigious Yas Marina F1 circuit, proudly stood atop the podium with the Jalur Gemilang draped over her shoulders. She shared the podium with fellow Malaysian racer Rahul Mayer, who took his first rookie podiums with a second and third placing. "I found the Yas track technically challenging, with its range of corner designs and chicanes, but my race pace was good and my lap times just got faster as the race progressed. "I am delighted and grateful to have such a superb team to work with," said Natasha, who set the fastest time in lap 21 of the 22-lap event. Natasha has now won four rounds of the series and is leading the championship. The next round is at the Dubai Autodrome on Dec 14. |
| Arif and Sonia crash out of Korean Open semi-finals Posted: 08 Dec 2012 03:28 PM PST PETALING JAYA: National back-up shuttler Mohd Arif Abdul Latif had the perfect chance to win his first GP Gold title at the Korean Open in Jeonnam – but he blew it. The top-seeded world No. 35 failed to make the most of a tournament shorn of several top players as he crashed 17-21, 21-18, 19-21 to world No. 176 Lee Dong-keun of South Korea in the semi-finals yesterday. It's certainly a major blow to Arif, who had reached the Hong Kong Open quarter-finals last month and was fancied to go all the way in Jeonnam. Dong-keun will face Thailand's Tanongsak Saemsomboonsuk, who defeated Singapore's Derek Wong, for the title. National singles coach Hendrawan tried to play down Arif's defeat. "If we look at the rankings, Arif should have made the final ... and it's a real shame that he didn't," said Hendrawan. "But sometimes we have to look at how our opponents play ... and his Korean opponent played really well. "Credit to Arif though, he never gave up. He was unlucky that his opponent was really fired up. Besides, there's always next time." Malaysia's challenge in a men's doubles also came to an end after the scratch pair of Goh V Shem-Ong Jian Guo were convincingly beaten 11-21, 16-21 by fifth seeds Ko Sung-hyun-Lee Yong-dae. The newly-formed Korean pair will face top-seeded compatriots Kim Ki-jung-Kim Sa-rang, who had no problems dispatching Taiwan's Liang Jui Wei-Liao Kuan Hao 21-19, 21-15. Budding women's singles shuttler Sonia Cheah's gallant run also came to a halt after losing 13-21, 21-15, 14-21 to Indonesia's Aprilla Yuswandari. Second seed Aprilla faces top seed and home favourite Sung JI-hyun in the final. |
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