The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- ATP boss Drewett to step down over ill health
- China coach Yongbo backs Malaysian for BWF president post
- National cyclists confident of shining in LTdL with new kit
| ATP boss Drewett to step down over ill health Posted: 14 Jan 2013 05:58 PM PST MELBOURNE - Men's tennis boss Brad Drewett Tuesday said he was stepping down from the post after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. The 54-year-old Australian said he will continue as executive chairman and president of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) until a replacement is appointed. "It has been a privilege to serve as executive chairman and president of the ATP, an organisation that I've been a part of for more than 35 years since I became a professional tennis player," Drewett said in a statement. "I hold the ATP very close to my heart and it's with sadness that I make the decision to enter this transition period due to my ill health." The sudden announcement, on day two of the Australian Open, prompted a flood of expressions of sympathy from well-wishers including Roger Federer, who called it "very sad news". - AFP |
| China coach Yongbo backs Malaysian for BWF president post Posted: 14 Jan 2013 06:17 PM PST CHINA head coach Li Yongbo has given the thumbs up for Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh to be the president of the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Yesterday, the 50-year-old Yongbo, who is here for the Maybank Malaysian Open, said Nadzmi could make a difference to the sport with his experience and passion for the game. Nadzmi, who is the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president, is contemplating going for the BWF job during the world body's election in May. President Dr Kang Young-joong of South Korea has decided not to contest for the post. "Nadzmi is a good choice. He has the clout and credentials to increase the popularity of the sport to a wider base. I believe he can also improve the hectic schedule in world badminton. "He has been in the badminton circle for many years and is supportive of the game," said Yongbo, after playing a round of golf at the Tropicana Golf and Country Resort here yesterday. "Our sport has the potential to be popular beyond the Asian and European region and we need to aggressively promote it." Yongbo said he had a bone of contention over the hectic tournament calendar and hoped to see the new president change the structure. "There are just too many tournaments. We need to cut it down. I would suggest that we limit the number of competitions and increase the prize money. Better income will surely widen the participation of the players and motivate them even more," he said. The former Chinese maestro said the busy calendar was a major cause to early retirements and withdrawals involving Chinese players. In the season opener, the South Korean Open in Seoul that ended on Sunday, Chen Long (men's singles), Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng (men's doubles) and Wang Yihan, Li Xuerui (women's singles) retired because of injuries. In the women's doubles match, Cheng Shu-Zhao Yunlei conceded a walkover to top seeds Yu Yang-Wang Xiaoli and it sparked rumours of match-fixing. "We do not have any agenda behind our players' retirements or withdrawals. They are sick and sometimes they carry injuries. In Super Series Premier events, all the top 10 players have to compete and most of our players are in the top 10. They have to travel and compete on a regular basis in so many tournaments," said Yongbo. "Sometimes, we pull them out even if there is a slight pain because we know if they push themselves, they can aggravate the injury. What can we do if the players do not feel comfortable to play? Most of the times, our action is misunderstood. "Unless the tournament calendar is reviewed or changed, this cycle will only continue." When asked why he did not throw in his hat for BWF president post with his years of experience as a player, coach and administrator for almost three decades, Yongbo said: "I still enjoy spending time with the China team. They still need my services and there is still a lot to be done. I may consider it when I retire from the post as head coach. But then, one does not have to be a president to contribute. I will do my best to promote the game through the China team." |
| National cyclists confident of shining in LTdL with new kit Posted: 14 Jan 2013 04:12 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: The national road cycling team have ditched the tiger stripes on their jersey starting with the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) from Feb 21-March 2. But the team are still hoping to compete in the prestigious race with the same bravado like they did wearing the tiger-striped jersey. The team will wear the new jersey, courtesy of homegrown company Ciclista, in all International Cycling Union (UCI) sanctioned races across Asia. National time trial champion Mohd Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi, Mohd Nor Rizuan Zainal, Mohd Rauf Nur Misbah, Ahmad Fakhrullah Alias, Mohd Ekbar Zaman Huri and London Olympian Amir Mustafa Rusli make up the team for the LTdL this year. Donning the colourful jersey, which harks back to glory days of M. Kumaresan and Nor Effandy Rosli in the 1990s, the national team are hoping to finish the gruelling race in the top three among the Asian teams. "And if we work hard enough, we can look to finish in the top 10 in the team general classification this year," said team coach Aminuddin Sulaiman after the unveiling of the new team kit at the LTdL headquarters in Bukit Jalil yesterday. Last year, the team had a tough time. They finished sixth among the Asian teams and 16th overall. "The cyclists have been clocking up the mileage diligently after our the original plan to send them to Kunming, China, for training in December was cancelled," said Aminuddin. Team leader Fauzan is looking forward to a good outing after wrapping up the National Cycling Grand Prix time trial title in Malacca in December. "It will be a tough Tour as there are five Pro Tour teams. And some of them are bringing in the big guns. But we will focus on the task at hand and tackle it day by day," said the 27-year-old. The five Pro Tour sides are Garmin-Sharp, Omega Pharma-QuickStep, Blanco, Astana and Orica-GreenEdge. The LTdL will visit its home in Langkawi on Feb 20 for team presentation before the race proper starts in Kangar. The race will once again end in Kuala Terengganu. |
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