NST Online: Sports

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 09:55 AM PDT

2011/06/02
Devinder Singh
devinder@nst.com.my

UP to six players could earn their first international cap today in Malaysia's friendly against Hong Kong as national coach K. Rajagobal assesses his options for the World Cup qualifiers later this month.

Rajagobal called up the new faces to fill the gaps left by eight players currently training with the national Olympic squad, who are preparing for their Asian zone second round qualifier against Lebanon.
While seeking to field his strongest side against Hong Kong at the Siu Sai Wan Stadium (kick-off: 8pm), several newcomers will make their debut in a bid to impress Rajagobal for places in the World Cup qualifier against Taiwan.
In the absence of Mahalli Jasuli and Sabre Mat Abu, the right-back position is a straight fight between two debutants in Kuala Lumpur captain Shahrom Abdul Kalam and Terengganu's Helmi Remeli while either Asraruddin Putra Omar or the returning Azmi Muslim should fill in at left-back.

Centreback Nasriq Baharom returns for his first international since last October although Rajagobal could deploy the Selangor defender on the right in which case Perak's Hisyamuddin Shaari will make his international debut in the centre alongside Aidil Zafuan Radzak.
Kedah winger Baddrol Bakhtiar is also expected to make his first appearance since October after missing the victorious AFF Cup campaign through injury while Amar Rohidan is set to reclaim his place in midfield and restore his partnership with skipper Safiq Rahim.
Aside from Baddrol, Rajagobal is spoilt for choice where wingers are concerned with S. Kunanlan, Amirulhadi Zainal, Ashaari Samsudin and S. Chanturu all battling for a starting position.

The national team's first-choice forward pair of Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and Indonesia-based Safee Sali are likely to line up from the start although Terengganu's Super League top scorer Abdul Hadi Yahya should also feature at some point.
Malaysia defeated Hong Kong 2-0 in their last meeting in a friendly in Shah Alam in February but today's fixture represents the national team's best chance to end a four-year away victory drought, a run of 13 matches.
The last time Malaysia won away was 4-1 over Sri Lanka in a friendly in Colombo on March 24, 1997 although Malaysia did beat Laos twice on neutral ground in the last two AFF Cup tournaments.

PROBABLE XI — Sharbinee Allawee Ramli; Shahrom Kalam, Aidil Zafuan Radzak, Nasriq Baharom, Asraruddin Putra Omar; S. Kunanlan, Amar Rohidan, Safiq Rahim, Baddrol Bakhtiar; Safee Sali, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha.

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price.

Li Na one win from history

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 08:27 AM PDT

CHINA'S Li Na shattered Maria Sharapova's dream of completing a set of Grand Slam titles by defeating the double-fault prone Russian 6-4, 7-5 in the French Open semi-finals yesterday.

In so doing, Li Na made it back-to back Grand Slam finals for her and she gets another crack at becoming the first player from China to win a major title after losing to Kim Clijsters at the Australian Open at the start of the year.

For Maria it was a bitter pill to swallow as she had hoped to become just the 10th woman in the history of the sport to win all four Grand Slam titles, having won one apiece at Wimbledon and the Australian and US Opens.

But 10 double faults, five in each set, proved to be her undoing.

In tomorrow's final, the 29-year-old Li Na will go up against the winner of the other semi-final which opposes defending champion Francesa Schiavone of Italy and Marion Bartoli, who is aiming to become the first home winner at Roland Garros since Mary Pierce in 2000.

"I never believed I could be in the final of the French Open," said Li Na, better known for her play on hardcourts and grass.

"I hope I can do even better on Saturday. Both players are tough so I will watch them later and just enjoy the day and then get ready for Saturday."

Maria came into the semi-final on a 10-match winning streak on clay following her victory in Rome and with a self-professed new-found confidence on the surface on which she has always struggled.

But it was clear early on that of the two players, she was the one most troubled by the gusts of wind that whipped up the red dirt on the Philippe Chatrier centre court on a sunny, pleasant Paris afternoon.

Regularly waiting for calm conditions before launching into her high ball-tossing service action, the Russian was broken in the second game as the more consistent Li Na dominated.

Maria had two break points of her own in the next game but failed to take them as the 29-year-old Chinese player jumped out into a 4-1 lead.

Some booming groundstrokes from the tall Russian forced a break back to get to 4-3, but three double faults in the next game as the wind played havoc with her serve handed the advantage back to Li.

The seventh seed failed to serve out for the set, but once again had little difficulty breaking Maria's serve to 15 pocketing the first set in 50 minutes. -- AFP

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price.

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Khamis, 2 Jun 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

0 ulasan:

Catat Ulasan