The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- 27th SEA Games will mark a milestone for Malaysia
- Gary believes he can recover in time for Myanmar
- Malaysia eyeing fine start in France
| 27th SEA Games will mark a milestone for Malaysia Posted: 08 Jun 2013 03:55 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: The 27th edition of the SEA Games in Nayphidaw, Myanmar, in December will mark a milestone for Malaysia in the series. The third gold medal that Malaysia win at the Games will be the country's 1,000th since the series began as SEAP Games in 1959. Malaysia have amassed 997 gold medals – just three short of the magical 1,000 mark. Naturally, the big question that's foremost on the minds of Malaysians is who will be the 1,000th gold medallist for the country. It's hard to say which sport will win the 1,000th gold medal as the Games' schedule is not ready yet. Usually, swimming and shooting are held in the opening days of the Games and Malaysia certainly stand a good chance of winning in these two events. At the last Games, co-hosted by Palembang and Jakarta, Malaysia returned home with 59 gold medals. It would have been 60 but the 4x400m athletics relay team tested positive for doping and their gold medal was taken away. Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary general Datuk Sieh Kok Chi admitted that it would be a great milestone for Malaysia to pass the 1,000-gold mark. "Yes, it will be special and I am sure that we will remember Myanmar for it," he said. "I just hope that the sport that delivers the 1,000th gold medal is an Olympic sport. That would make it more glamorous. "Nevertheless, it'll be a milestone to be cherished." Only two nations have hauled in more than 1,000 gold medals in the series – and they are both fast closing in on the 2,000-gold mark! Thailand lead the way with 1,887 gold medals – just 113 short of the 2,000 mark, which they should achieve in Myanmar. A total of 460 gold medals is at stake in Myanmar with 33 sports being contested. Indonesia are ranked second in the gold medal haul with a total of 1,602. Malaysia are third and the Philippines fourth with 835 medals. The Games started in 1959 as the South-East Asian Peninsula Games (SEAP Games) with seven teams – Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore. In 1977, it was renamed the South-East Asia Games (SEA Games) with the inclusion of Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei. Timor Leste joined the ranks in 2003 and have only one gold medal to their name – courtesy of Julianto Danabere in kempo at the 2011 Games in Indonesia. For the record, Myanmar will be hosting the SEA Games for only the third time. But the first two – in 1961 and 1969 – were still known as SEAP Games and the country was then called Burma. |
| Gary believes he can recover in time for Myanmar Posted: 08 Jun 2013 05:20 PM PDT PETALING JAYA: Harimau Muda A midfielder Gary Steven Robbat is confident he can shrug off his back injury and be ready for the Myanmar SEA Games in December. The Harimau Muda starlet picked up the back injury during a friendly against Harimau Muda B in January. He aggravated it during the team's ongoing training-cum-playing stint in Europe. The 21-year-old was sent home by coach Ong Kim Swee last month to consult a specialist and Gary said that he's getting better. "The scans revealed that I have a slipped disc and an injury to the facet joint on my back. I was given a jab and put on rehab," he said. "I've been undergoing rehabilitation at the National Sports Institute (NSI) for nearly a month and it's been a big success. My recovery process is starting to look promising as I feel better now." The Kulim-born player missed out on the 2011 Indonesia SEA Games, where Malaysia won a gold medal, with a hamstring injury. But he's hoping he won't have to miss out on the Myanmar Games. "I hate to be in this situation. "I missed the last SEA Games and the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 through injuries," said Gary. "I was devastated when I was sent home from training in Europe. I thought I blew my chances of playing in the SEA Games yet again. "My chances of making the SEA Games squad look better now but I have to be careful not to push myself too hard during recovery." |
| Malaysia eyeing fine start in France Posted: 08 Jun 2013 03:47 PM PDT PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will look for a strong start in a bid to make the top eight when they take on newcomers Botswana in the Men's World Team squash championship in Mulhouse, France, today. Fifth seeds Malaysia finished fifth in the World Teams two years ago but, then, they had former world No. 10 Mohd Azlan Iskandar in the squad. This year's team will be led by Ong Beng Hee, Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan, Mohd Asyraf Azan and 19-year-old Sanjay Singh Chal. Although Malaysia are favourites to cruise into the next round from Group E, they'll still need to be on their toes against debutants Botswana, led by world No. 15 Alister Walker. The 33-year-old Beng Hee, ranked 23rd in the world, is aware of the African threat and believes that winning his match would be crucial for the team. "Botswana may be new to the tournament but they are certainly no pushovers. With Alister in their side, it makes our job extra tough, especially for me," said Beng Hee, who has beaten Walker twice in three Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour meetings. Malaysia will face their toughest group opponents – New Zealand – tomorrow before wrapping up their final group match against Poland on Tuesday. Nafiizwan, who made the semi-finals of the HKFC Open in Hong Kong last month, believes that beating the Kiwis will set them on course for a top-eight finish. "We need to win all our group matches to avoid the likes of Egypt, England and even France in the second round. New Zealand will definitely be our toughest group opponents. But, if we play well and take our chances, we can do well in this tournament," said the 27-year-old Nafiizwan. Defending champions and favourites Egypt will take on Kuwait in Group A today while second seeds England will be up against Colombia in Group B. Hosts France, seeking to win their first team tournament, have recalled retired former world No. 1 Thierry Lincou to share the burden with current world No. 2 Gregory Gaultier. France will face Holland in their first Group C match. |
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