The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Lilian proves dad wrong with historic world bodybuilding crown
- Liu Ying to play in mixed and women’s doubles after pow-wow
- Perlis BA revive Closed badminton meet
| Lilian proves dad wrong with historic world bodybuilding crown Posted: 24 Jan 2013 04:58 PM PST "YOU will not grow muscles and you will never make it as this is a man's sport." These words from her father rang loud and clear in Lilian Tan's mind when she continued to lift weights on her return to Penang in 1997 after graduating with a business management degree from the United States. It only strengthened Lilian's resolve to go out and prove her father wrong. Today, the 40-year-old Lilian is a world champion bodybuilder and the first woman from Malaysia to do so. Lilian struck a historic first for Malaysia by bagging gold in the above 50kg division at the World Championships in Bangkok last month. * Full story in your copy of The Star today. |
| Liu Ying to play in mixed and women’s doubles after pow-wow Posted: 24 Jan 2013 04:59 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Goh Liu Ying's dilemma on which event — the mixed doubles or women's doubles - is more important to her has finally been solved. Yesterday, after a meeting between the doubles coaches and players at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara, it was decided that the pretty-faced Liu Ying will give equal attention to both events until after the World Championships in Guangzhou in August. Liu Ying, however, has been given a target – to win a medal in the mixed doubles with Chan Peng Soon for the first time at the world meet. As for the women's doubles, she has given a target to qualify for the world meet with Lim Yin Loo. Liu Ying-Yin Loo are ranked 24th in the world and they will have to stay within that range to qualify for the world meet. Earlier, Liu Ying's participation in both events was in doubt because of her persistent knee problems, which had affected her performances at the recently concluded Maybank Malaysian Open at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil. The critics believe that playing in two events would put too much strain on her knee and she would not be able to give her best in either one. Yesterday, all uncertainties were cleared. Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM)'s coaching and training committee chairman Ng Chin Chai, who facilitated the meeting, said an open discussion between the coaches and players had proved fruitful. "The doubles event is a tricky one and one has to tread on it carefully. Most of our players are playing dual roles. Sometimes one feels left out when their partner is injured. The coaches are also sometimes caught in between as they want to give their best to their respective departments," said Chin Chai. "Today, we laid our cards out. "The players are now clear of their roles and targets in the team. Liu Ying is still confident that she can give her best in both events and her partners are willing to stand by her. It is good that we have it all out in the open. "She is taking all the measures to ensure that her knee does not give her any more problems." Chin Chai added that he was confident that Peng Soon-Liu Ying, the world No. 3, would shine in the world meet. "This is the first year after the Olympic Games and there are changes in the pecking order and some players are slowing down. It is usually easier to win as the race is quite open. We hope Liu Ying-Peng Soon will take advantage of that," he said. Besides the world meet, the other important events for Liu Ying-Peng Soon are the All-England in Birmingham in March and Sudirman Cup in May. |
| Perlis BA revive Closed badminton meet Posted: 24 Jan 2013 04:59 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM)'s development programme is finally "on fire". Yesterday, Perlis, one of BAM's most dormant affiliates, revived their local tournaments with the first leg of the State Closed Junior Tournament at the Perlis BA Hall. Three age categories – Under-12, Under-15 and Under-17 – for both the boys and girls are being staged in the tournament. The boys' Under-15 drew an overwhelming response with 77 competitors. BAM secretary Ng Chin Chai said their aggressive investment in the states over the last two years was bearing fruit. "The BAM have pledged to hand out subsidies for the states to re-invent their tournaments at grassroots level. The subsidies are only given when the state organises tournaments. So far, we see more states taking up our challenge," said Chin Chai. He added that he was happy to see the states keeping abreast with the IT technology. "All the results, including the junior events, are updated immediately on www.tournamentsoftware.com. "Last year, we invited three officials from every state to attend a course to familiarise themselves with the results software. We want to develop the officials at the states too," said Chin Chai. With Maybank coming in a big way to sponsor the national team and the development programmes since 2011, the BAM are now able to dispense about RM100,000 to each state to revamp their programmes at junior level. |
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