The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- MNCF to get tough after Shafiq’s death
- Twenty-three teams for trimmed Jelajah
- Iskandar, Joo Ven and Teck Zhi clear tough openers
| MNCF to get tough after Shafiq’s death Posted: 05 Jun 2013 05:13 PM PDT PETALING JAYA: It was a sad day for the Malaysian cycling fraternity as they mourn the death of junior state cyclist Mohd Shafiq Imran Syahril, who was killed during training in Terengganu yesterday. "It's sad news that a junior cyclist had been killed in an accident today ... let us pray for him," Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said in his opening speech at the launch of the Jelajah Malaysia cycling race in Putrajaya yesterday. He also sent his condolences to the family. Shafiq, 15, was training with a team of 40 cyclists at 9.30am in Kampung Gemuruh, Tepuh yesterday when he crashed into an oncoming trailer. The Form Three student of Sekolah Menengah Bandar had apparently tried to avoid another rider, who swerved into his path after hitting a pothole. Shafiq succumbed to his injuries on the way to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah hospital in Kuala Terengganu. The cyclists were training for the National Cycling Grand Prix, which is scheduled to be held in Perlis in two weeks' time. Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamad said that it was standard practice for state and national cyclists to have an escort vehicle following them when they are out training on the road. "This is not a regulation set by the federation ... it's a general practice for the coach to drive with them as an escort so as to let other traffic users be aware of cyclists in training," he said. "I haven't received a report on the accident ... whether there was an escort with them." Last year, recreational cyclist Rafizi Hamdan was killed in an accident at the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) near Taman Melawati after being hit by a car in March. In January last year, national cyclist Mariana Mohammad suffered multiple fractures on her left arms and ribs after being hit by a car during a closed road training session in Putrajaya. She was training for selection to the Asian Cycling Championships. In April last year, national cyclist Ng Yong Li escaped with just bruises after a motorcycle hit him during training near Taman Tasik Ampang, also at the MRR2. "We will sit down to discuss the need for the regulations to be adhered strictly in terms of conducting training for state and national cyclists," said Naim. "This is a sport with high risks ... but the safety of the athletes is paramount." |
| Twenty-three teams for trimmed Jelajah Posted: 05 Jun 2013 05:13 PM PDT PETALING JAYA: The oldest bike race in Malaysia – Jelajah Malaysia – will return on June 26-30 as the race celebrates its 50th anniversary. The International Cycling Union (UCI) 2.2 race will have five stages this year – one fewer than last year. The race was initially slated to run from May 7-12 but was postponed due to the general election in May. The race this year will start from Kuala Lumpur and head to Rembau for the Stage One finish before going south towards Johor Baru and culminating with a finish at Putrajaya on June 30. Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who is also the Rembau MP, was clearly surprised to see the race making a stop in Rembau this year. "It's a great deal that the race will come to Rembau for a stage this year. I'd like to thank all the sponsors, namely Resort World, Milo, 100 Plus and Suzuki, for making the race happen," said Khairy during his speech at the launch yesterday. Also present at the launch were Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) president Datuk Abu Samah Abdul Wahab, his deputy Datuk Naim Mohamad and Youth and Sports Ministry secretary general Datuk Mohid Mohamad. The Youth and Sports Ministry have been staunch supporters of the race and are injecting RM800,000 into the race this year. The cost of organising the race is about RM2mil. "A total of 23 teams, including a number of international outfits, will be in the fray this year and we'll make an announcement on that soon," said Naim, who is also the chief operating officer for the race. |
| Iskandar, Joo Ven and Teck Zhi clear tough openers Posted: 05 Jun 2013 05:03 PM PDT PETALING JAYA: It was a good start for three national back-up shuttlers at the Thailand Open GP Gold as they cleared tough first matches in Bangkok. Iskandar Zulkarnian Zainuddin, Soong Joo Ven and Soo Teck Zhi – all seeking to make their mark on the international stage – made the second round yesterday. The 22-year-old Iskandar, who reached the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open GP Gold and Kedah Open last month, put up a confident display to beat Indonesia's Adi Pratama 21-17, 21-15. Iskandar, the world No. 58, faces seventh seed Hsu Jen Hao of Taiwan next. There will be extra motivation for Iskandar to do well after second seed Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia was dumped in the first round by local lad Thammasin Sitthikom, who won 16-21, 21-19, 21-17. Asian Junior runner-up Joo Ven was also in superb form as he sent the higher-ranked Ville Lang of Finland packing with a stunning come-from-behind win. World No. 175 Joo Ven showed his potential by beating world No. 40 Lang 19-21, 21-10, 24-22. Fellow youngster Teck Zhi was also in excellent form, disposing of Singapore's Robin Gonansa 21-13, 15-21, 21-18. World No. 172 Teck Zhi, however, is up against Joo Ven in the second round. A fourth Malaysian, independent shuttler Tan Chun Seang, also made the next round after dispatching Thai qualifier Kanpop Athaviroj 21-16, 21-8 and will face Indonesia's Andre Marteen next. Malaysian Open GP runner-up Goh Soon Huat, however, suffered a disappointing day after losing in three games to fourth seed Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka. In the women's singles, youngster Yang Li Lian continued to struggle at the senior level after losing 12-21, 16-21 to Singapore's Liang Xiaoyu. There was some cheer in the mixed doubles when eighth seeds Tan Aik Quan-Lai Pei Jing stayed in the hunt for their first career title after beating Irish siblings Sam Magee-Chloe Magee 21-13, 21-18. The world No. 15 pair will take on England's Marcus Ellis-Alyssa Lim next. Results *Malaysian results only FIRST ROUND Men's singles: Soong Joo Ven bt Ville Lang (Fin) 19-21, 21-10, 24-22; Soo Teck Zhi bt Robin Gonansa (Sin) 21-13, 15-21, 21-18; Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka (Ina) bt Goh Soon Huat 15-21, 21-13, 21-16; B. Sai Praneeth (Ind) bt Mohd Hafiz Hashim 21-12, 9-21, 22-20; Son Wan-ho (Kor) bt Loh Wei Sheng 21-14, 21-14; Matthieu Lo Ying Ping (Fra) bt Beryno Wong 21-17, 27-25; Tan Chun Seang bt Kanpop Athaviroj (Tha) 21-16, 21-8; Iskandar Zulkarnian Zainuddin bt Adi Pratama (Ina) 21-17, 21-15; Andre Kurniawan Tedjono (Ina) bt Kuan Beng Hong 21-17, 21-18; Vladmir Malkov (Rus) bt Chiang Jiann Shiarng 21-16, 19-10 (rtd). Women's singles: Liang Xiaoyu (Sin) bt Yang Li Lian 21-12, 21-16. Mixed doubles: Tan Aik Quan-Lai Pei Jing bt Sam Magee-Chloe Magee (Irl) 21-13, 21-18. |
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