Latihan di China tambah keyakinan Raihan ke Laos

Oleh Meor Hisham Zulkifli

ATLIT angkat berat wanita negara, Raihan Yusuf percaya latihan intensif dua bulan di China, mampu merealisasikan impiannnya mencipta angkatan lebih 190kg dalam kategori snatch dan clean & jerk, menjelang Sukan Sea di Laos, bagi mendapat sekurang-kurangnya satu pingat di sana.

“Di sini kami hanya berlatih, makan dan tidur saja, membolehkan kami memberikan sepenuhnya tumpuan terhadap usaha melakukan angkatan yang lebih sempurna dan menambah bebanan,” katanya ketika dihubungi di wilayah Haikou, China semalam.

“Jurulatih kini menetapkan sasaran untuk saya mengangkat bebanan 85kg untuk snatch serta 105kg untuk clean & jerk, dan saya harap mampu mencapai sasaran itu kerana setakat ini saya beransur-ansur menghampiri kepada jumlah angkatan itu.”

Dia yang turut disenaraikan dalam Kategori A untuk ke Sukan Sea Laos Disember ini bersama seorang lagi peserta angkat berat wanita, Zaira Zakaria, merasakan langkah mengadakan latihan di China tepat pada masanya, dalam usaha meraih kejayaan di Sukan Komanwel di India tahun depan.

Second-liners Emerge Champions In Lawn Bowl Competition

LANGKAWI, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- The national second-liners showed their mettle at the International Lawn Bowl when they lifted a gold and a silver medal in the mixed pairs to win the Mahsuri Cup.

The Malaysian Squad C, comprising Ramble Dalan Rice Oxley and Ku Nor Hazirah Ku Yaakob, had secured a gold medal and brought home a cash prize of RM3,800 after defeating Malaysian Squad B who ended second with 16-9.

The B squad was represented by Mohamad Fairus Abd Jabal and Zuraini Khalid who collected the silver medal and received RM1,900 in cash prize in the match which took place in Lada Sports Complex here.

The Singapore team which was represented by Shermeen Lim and Chiristian Huang had won the Plate category (a match between the losing teams) after defeating the Brigade Tenggara 'A' team represented by Abdul Latif Jalil and Raziah Abd Razak with 14-8.

More than 81 teams including from Brunei and Singapore took part in the five-day tournament organised by the Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF) and the Langkawi Development Authority.

The prizes were presented by MLBF president Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid.

Meanwhile, MLBF secretary, Ramble Dalan Rice Oxley said the federation was focusing attention on the preparation for the Commonwealth Games 2010 in India targeting at least to maintain the two gold medals won in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

-- BERNAMA

Randhir gets down to the nitty-gritty of the Games work

New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Vice-chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) Randhir Singh, who has emerged as the pointsman for the 2010 New Delhi Games, has started addressing the areas of concern listed by Games Federation (CGF) president Michael Fennell here over a week ago.
Randhir, who has been entrusted the control of the Games sub-committees, started to use the whip Monday by calling the panels in-charge of the functional areas Fennell raised.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary-general is also meeting the officials of the 17 national sports federations Wednesday to discuss the problems they are facing in carrying out their functions. And Thursday-Frdiay he will interact with chairpersons of various sub-committees.

Addressing a news conference at the end of the CGF General Assembly meeting here over a week ago, Fennell said little work had been done in crucial functional areas like ticketing, actual technical conduct of the Games, spectator support management and logistics operations. Randhir Singh says he is keen on addressing these problems on a priority basis.

Randhir told IANS coordination among various committees was crucial as a lot of work was overlapping.

“It was decided to have one member of every committee on other committees wherever there is a danger of duplication of work and clash of interests. Things will have fallen in place and a lot of work would have been done by the time the coordination committee of the Games (COCOM) meets here in December,” said Randhir.

Randhir, who has been the secretary-general of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for 18 years, said he has little doubt that the Games would be a great success and the entire OC is fully focussed towards it.

“Our aim is to project India’s stature as a rising nation and the successful organisation of the Games will only enhance the country’s image. It is very important for all of us to see that Games are a big success.”

Randhir said he wants the working of all committee to be transparent and he himself would interact with the media at least once a week to address all questions as such meetings would also throw up ideas and valuable suggestions.

“I am not opposed to media criticism so long as it is positive and it is without any malice or vested interests. As far as possible, the reports I submit to the Prime Minister’s Office, CGF and OC will also be released to the media so that everyone is in the know of things. Frankly, I don’t want to stick my head in the sand.”

Randhir pointed out that in the hullabaloo of controversies, good work sometimes goes unnoticed, like it happened when the CGF delegates were here.

“No-one noticed the praise the delegates heaped on the reception, accommodation and organisation. They were extremely happy with the way Ashok Hotel rose to the occasion,” Randhir said.

“Some of the International Olympic Committee members who arrived here straight from Copenhagen IOC meeting like Tunku Imran of Malaysia, great Kenyan athlete Kipchoge Keino and Austin Sealy of Barbados, were so happy to receive such a wonderful reception they received at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, particularly the welcoming signage put up by the Immigration authorities.”

Randhir insists that the delegates had nothing but admiration for the way their week-long stay was taken care of by various agencies, particularly the tourism ministry. They had the taste of the organisational capabilities of the OC and they left imagining spectacular Games in October next.

Thaindian News

PLBM Sasar Pertahankan Dua Emas Pada Sukan Komanwel 2010

LANGKAWI, 18 Okt (Bernama) -- Persekutuan Lawn Bowl Malaysia (PLBM) meletakkan sasaran sekurang-kurangnya dapat mempertahankan dua pingat emas yang dimenangi pada Sukan Komanwel 2010 di India.

Setiausaha Agung PLBM, Ramble Dallan Rice Oxley berkata, atlet-atlet boling padang negara kini memberi tumpuan kepada persiapan menghadapi temasya sukan itu yang dijadualkan berlangsung dari 3 hingga 14 Oktober 2010 di New Delhi.

"Bagaimanapun Malaysia berharap dapat meraih pingat lebih dari itu dan akan menghantar dua belas pemain terdiri daripada enam lelaki dan enam perempuan untuk membawa cabaran negara pada Sukan Komanwel di India tahun depan" katanya yang ditemui pada kejohanan Boling Padang Antarabangsa Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Ketika Sukan Komanwel 2006 di Melbourne, Australia, Malaysia meraih dua pingat emas menerusi acara individu wanita menerusi Siti Zalina Ahmad dan trio wanita menerusi gandingan Nor Hashimah Ismail, Azlina Arshad dan Nor Iryani Azmi.

Sementara itu, skuad pelapis negara mengungguli kejohanan Boling Padang Antarabangsa Malaysia apabila meraih satu pingat emas dan satu pingat perak untuk menjulang Piala Mahsuri bagi kategori beregu campuran.

Skuad pelapis Malaysia C yang diwakili oleh Ramble Dallan dan Ku Nor Hazirah Ku Yaakob memenangi emas dan membawa pulang hadiah wang tunai RM3,800 setelah berjaya mengalahkan pelapis Malaysia B di perlawanan akhir dengan keputusan 16-9.

Skuad pelapis Malaysia B yang diwakili Mohamad Fairus Abd Jabal dan Zuraini Khalid meraih perak dan membawa pulang hadiah wang tunai RM1,900.

Pasukan Singapura yang diwakili oleh Shermeen Lim dan Chiristian Huang memenangi kategori Plate selepas menumpaskan pasukan Briged Tenggara yang diwakili oleh pasangan Abdul Latif Jalil dan Raziah Abd Razak dengan catatan mata 14-8.

Sebanyak 81 pasukan termasuk dari Brunei dan Singapura menyertai kejohanan lima hari yang dianjurkan bersama oleh PLBM dan Lembaga Pembangunan Langkawi (Lada).

-- BERNAMA

"Delhi Games will be successful"

Delhi’s confidence about conducting a memorable Commonwealth Games 2010 was shared by a many delegates of the CGF.

Kenyan track legend Kip Keino said that Delhi will host the best Games.

"The Games is going to be successful. I am giving you the assurance. The arrangements are being done very smoothly," he said. "A child born today cannot walk tomorrow. It has to be taken care of until it can walk and run.

"The Games is going to be successful. After seeing and listening to them all, I am confident that the Indian Government, the Organising Committee and the Commonwealth Games Federation are all working as one team and we will have the best Games," Mr Keino said, pointing out that the CGF President Mike Fennell had spoken of problems dogging the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Pakistan Olympic Committee Secretary-General Abdul Khaliq Khan reinforced that message. "In our country, the sports fraternity sees itself as co-host of the Commonwealth Games with India. I had to do my moral duty to speak up for the Organising Committee when some went on nitpicking non-issues," said the former captain of the Pakistan volleyball team. "I believe that Delhi will be ready well in time for the Games and we will see a very successful Games."

Olympic Council of Malaysia Vice President Beng Choo Low said she understood the position Delhi is in now, with a year left for the Games to be held. "We organised the 1998 Games and we understand the position you are in. We have the benefit on being on both sides," she said. "We had to support Delhi.

"The Organising Committee has already said that they take on board and appreciate the wake-up call and has made tremendous progress in the last two months. The CGF President and the delegates acknowledge that. The Games are not tomorrow. The Games are next year. We have seen a difference in two months," she said.

"Besides, it is important for everyone to not forget that the Organising Committee has the full support of your Government and we have confidence in the Organising Committee," she said.

Commonwealth Games Fed rejects Indian demand

The Commonwealth Games Federation has rejected calls for the removal of its leading official in New Delhi and urged Indian organizers of next year's event instead to focus on the issues highlighted in a full review of the troubled preparations.

Suresh Kalmadi, who heads the New Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games organizing committee, had demanded that the CGF remove its chief executive officer, Michael Hooper, from his operational role in the Indian capital and accused him of being an "impediment to functioning."

But CGF president Michael Fennell said Hooper had the full support of the event's governing body and had a vital role to play in the Delhi Games.

"We are naturally very surprised and disappointed in receiving this request to remove Mr. Hooper from Delhi given his unquestionable commitment to the successful celebration of the 2010 Commonwealth Games," Fennell wrote in a statement released on Friday. "He is totally dedicated to the Commonwealth Games movement and we consider that such a personal attack on him is unwarranted. "Instead of attacking Mr. Hooper, I urge the Organizing Committee to focus on the issues raised by us in Delhi following our General Assembly on Monday, and to commit to working collaboratively with all stakeholders on addressing these matters with urgency." Kalmadi, who is a federal lawmaker and president of the Indian Olympic Association, also complained about the independent technical review panel that the CGF plans to set up to oversee the preparations. He said that the "multiplicity" of committees would hamper efforts to deliver the games.

Fennell, who returned to Jamaica this week following high-level CGF meetings in New Delhi which coincided with the one-year countdown to the games, confirmed that the review panel would be implemented and the hiring of experienced international staff must go ahead.

"I made it clear when I was in Delhi that time is short, that no day can be wasted," Fennell said. "We will implement the Technical Review Panel as detailed, and urge the organizing committee to embrace the use of Games experts to fast track systems required for the Games operation.

"The hiring and use of foreign expertise is ... now considered best-practice with organizing committees of major international multi-sport events.

"The goal is to conduct a Commonwealth Games that India can be proud of, setting itself up for other Games in the future, so as to take advantage of its new sporting infrastructure." India had hoped the event - from October 3-14 next year and featuring 71 nations and territories of the old British empire - would enhance its credentials to bid on even bigger events, maybe even the Olympics.

But the slow pace of preparations and several lapsed deadlines have sparked fears that the event will descend into chaos and embarrass India, with the CGF voicing serious concerns. Hooper responded to Kalmadi's comments by saying they were "very, very disappointing."

"It seems to be a position of ... instead of addressing the real issues, launching a personal attack which to be quite honest is most unfortunate and totally inappropriate." - AP

‘Don’t shoot the messenger’

Mike Hooper (50), chief executive officer, Commonwealth Games Federation, was disappointed and felt that instead of addressing the issues of the Organising Committee (OC), Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi had chosen to attack him. In a freewheeling interview with HT, Hooper defended his stand and said no one could force him to leave Delhi.

Will you leave Delhi?
I have not got an official communication from the OC. There is no question of sacking or repatriating me. I have been appointed by the CGF and I still enjoy their confidence, so let’s see what happens. I am not leaving.

What’s your reaction to Suresh Kalmadi’s remark (that Hooper is useless)?
The reaction is one of disappointment. Instead of addressing the issues (like work running behind schedule, etc), Mr Kalmadi has chosen to attack me.

What prompted Kalmadi to say this?
I don’t know. Don’t shoot the messenger, address the message. Unfortunately, he is shooting the messenger. We have been critical about the functioning of the OC, as highlighted in the media and as expressed by CGF president Michael Fennell, and we have expressed our concerns to the OC. It’s probably a knee-jerk reaction to this.

Will you have problems interacting with the OC?
It’s a question of being honest with the OC and other stakeholders and I do believe more of this is required. We don’t indulge in personal attacks. We have broad shoulders to take this along and walk forward. I am happy to work with all stakeholders.

Was there a clash of interest between you and the OC?
As far as I see, there was no conflict. I am here from the CGF, in fact, I am the CGF and am acting as a messenger. I evaluate things and report. I have been here because of the concerns CGF had two years ago. I have been an impediment? I refute that. I am here to assist the OC and push them. I am not here as a policeman. I am here to assist.

Your take on the Technical Review Panel that the IOA has rejected.
The panel was CGF’s and was even being paid by us. As far as I am concerned, till I am instructed to the contrary to what the CGF Executive Board has told me on Sunday, appointing and executing of the panel stays.

www.hindustantimes.com

Games organisers want CGF’s Hooper sacked from committee

NEW DELHI: India’s troubled preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi suffered a major setback yesterday as local organisers clashed angrily with their international bosses.

The Indian organising committee demanded that Mike Hooper, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, be sacked in an escalating row over whether the city will be ready when the Games open in less than a year’s time.

“Hooper has not been beneficial for the organising committee. He is of no use to us,” Suresh Kalmadi, head of the Delhi 2010 committee, told reporters. “We want the Commonwealth Games Federation to replace him.”

Kalmadi also slammed the federation’s insistence that an independent review panel oversee New Delhi’s struggle to speed up work at delayed venues and facilities ahead of the opening ceremony on Oct 3.

“I am willing to take any expert suggested by the CGF on our coordination committee, but we feel there is no need to impose an additional panel on us,” Kalmadi said.

Senior Indian Olympic Association member Vijay Kumar Malhotra told AFP that outside interference in the Games’ planning had infuriated Indian officials.

“India is a sovereign country capable of doing its own work,” he said. “It is wrong to believe that only foreigners are capable.”

Hooper, from New Zealand, has been the senior link between the host city and the London-based Commonwealth Games Federation, and has lived in Delhi for the last two years.

He immediately lashed out at Kalmadi for “launching a personal attack” against him, and said that the Indian’s reaction to necessary criticism was “defensive and very disappointing“.

On Monday the federation’s president, Michael Fennell, had warned Delhi that it faced “an enormous challenge” to be ready for the Games, which involve 6,000 top-class international athletes competing in 17 sports.

“Time is your enemy, but together we can defeat it,” Fennell told Kalmadi at a press conference after delegates from competing countries ended a week-long inspection of the Indian capital.

Fennell highlighted problem areas ranging from ticketing, accommodation and transport to accreditation and logistics, and said the CGF would set up a special independent review panel to supervise Delhi’s progress.

“The organising committee knows of its own deficiencies and Mr Kalmadi is committed to achieving a great Games for India,” Fennell said.

Fennell, Hooper and Kalmadi sat side by side at Monday’s press conference. But Kalmadi yesterday criticised the planned review panel and described Hooper as an “impediment” to a successful Games, adding: “I have written to the CGF to send him back to London.”

Kalmadi said that the organising committee only needed foreign advice on sports with which Indians were unfamiliar, such as lawn bowls.

The Commonwealth Games, the biggest multi-sport event to be staged in India since the Asian Games in 1982, will feature 71 nations and territories, mainly from the former British empire.

India, which has enjoyed a decade of rapid economic growth, is keen to present a modern image of the country and Delhi is currently undergoing major infrastructure work, including new metro lines and a train link to the airport. — AFP

MOM pilih Zolkples, Nadzmi ke China, India

KETUA Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong dan Presiden Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) Datuk Mohd Nadzmi Salleh, masing-masing dinamakan oleh Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) untuk menjadi Chef-de-Mission ke Sukan Asia dan Komanwel tahun depan.

Presiden MOM, Tunku Imran Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar, berkata kedua-dua tokoh itu dipilih berdasarkan sumbangan besar mereka terhadap kemajuan sukan di negara ini termasuk sukan badminton kekal menjadi kebanggaan negara ini.

"Kami akan mendapatkan kelulusan menteri untuk mencadangkan nama Zolkples selaku Chef-de-Mission ke Sukan Asia di Guangzhou, China tahun depan manakala bagi Mohd Nadzmi, kami akan mendapatkan persetujuan beliau," katanya di Wisma OCM semalam.

Beliau berkata, keputusan berkenaan dibuat pada mesyuarat Lembaga Eksekutif MOM yang turut membincangkan rayuan persatuan berbasikal, angkat berat dan judo untuk menambah bilangan atlit Kategori A ke Sukan Sea Laos.

"Kami meluluskan dua nama atlit berbasikal iaitu Stanley Jahid (Downhill) dan Jefrey Jeny Jerniy (rentas desa) serta Zaira Zakaria dalam kategori 48 kilogram acara angkat berat. Ini adalah berdasarkan pencapaian semasa mereka," katanya.

Mengulas mengenai sukan olahraga, Tunku Imran berkata sukan itu kini berada di era kemerosotan dan pelan strategik baru perlu dicari bagi mengembalikan kegemilangan sukan itu yang sebelum ini menjadi penyumbang utama pingat untuk negara.

"Persatuan (Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia) menyenaraikan 43 atlit untuk ke Sukan Sea Laos tetapi kebanyakan mereka adalah dalam Kategori B. Bagaimanapun, MOM gusar dengan keadaan persatuan yang kini kelihatan ketandusan atlit.

"Mereka tidak lagi boleh bergantung kepada sekolah untuk menyediakan atlit dan perlu ada pelan strategik yang berkesan bagi menangani isu ini. Persatuan perlu mengkaji dengan mendalam serta memerlukan pemimpin yang inovatif dan mampu berfikir," katanya.