NST Online: Sports

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 08:39 AM PDT

2011/06/04
Zainuddin Muhammad

Kelantan's Nurul Azwan Roya (centre) is challenged by Terengganu players in their Super League match on Feb 1. The teams play at Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium tomorrow.

LOSING is not an option for Kelantan when they take on Terengganu at Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu tomorrow.

In fact, even a draw in the usually fiercely contested East Coast derby will not be a good enough result, said captain Badhri Radzi.

"For starters, this will be a prelude to the FA Cup final and a win in Kuala Terengganu will give us the psychological edge when we meet them again in Bukit Jalil on June 11.

"But more important than that, we are neck and neck with our neighbours on 47 points in the chase for the Super League title and with three more matches remaining in the league, we need all the points we can get," he said.

The midfielder who has scored 10 league goals thus far in the season, said a draw will allow Selangor who are two points behind, to catch up with the two teams.

"Should we draw with Terengganu and Selangor beat Perlis on Monday (tomorrow) then the three teams will share 48 points with two more matches to go.

"Terengganu will be playing their 'little brothers' T-Team next and chances are, they will get whatever they need from that match," he said.

Meanwhile, coach M. Karathu said his team will be weakened considerably without goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat and leftback Zairul Fitree Ishak.

"Khairul is still with the Olympic squad and his place will be taken by Sharizan Ismail who did good in our early FA Cup matches.

"Zairul is suspended for one match after receiving three yellow cards but both players will be available for the FA Cup final," he said.

Karathu said it was a relief to hear that Terengganu will also be missing attacking midfielder Ashaari Shamsuddin through suspension and defender Mohd Zubir Azmi who is also with the Olympic squad.

"As always, it will be tough to play Terengganu as both teams are more than familiar with each other. The last time we beat them in their backyard was two years ago and we hope we can do it again this time," he said.

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Fighting Syafiq comes up short in Singapore

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 08:38 AM PDT

Syafiq Ridhwan posted only 192 in the first match of the stepladder finals to finish fourth at Orchid Bowl yesterday..

WORLD No 12 Syafiq Ridhwan almost stole the thunder on the final day of the Singapore Open but lost steam in the stepladder finals, ending up fourth at Orchid Bowl yesterday.

Syafiq, a former national champion, overcame a setback in Friday's Masters first block with a gallant show in the following eight games to record a combined 16-game total of 3,358 pinfalls to finish fourth and qualify for the title deciding round.

But he could not sustain his performance as he posted only 192 to finish behind Singapore's Remy Ong (202) and UAE's Shaker Al Hassan (237), the eventual champion, in the first match of the stepladder finals.

Syafiq hopes his performance in last week's Malaysia Open and in Singapore will be enough to convince the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress to send him for the final two rounds of the World Tour in Thailand and Australia.

The elite bowler is ranked 12th on the tour after finishing second in the Brunswick Euro Challenge in France in March.

Former national bowler Kang Bo Long was Malaysia's second best performer in the Men's Open by recording 3,308 to finish 10th ahead of compatriots Zulmazran Zulkifli (18th: 3,169) and Aaron Kong (41st: 2,891).

Zulmazran has not been performing to expectations since injuring his wrist just before last year's Guangzhou Asian Games.

In the women's section, Siti Shazwani Ahmad Suffian missed by a mere 26 pins in her bid to qualify for the stepladder finals.

Siti Shazwani finished fifth on 3,319, behind Singapore's fourth-placed Daphne Tan (3,345).

Newly promoted elite bowler Sin Li Jane finished seventh on 3,238 followed by Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi (11th: 3,174), Hee Kar Yen (12th: 3,163), Zatil Iman Abdul Ghani (14th: 3,110), Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore (15th: 3,102) and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman (16th: 3,086).

Kelly Kulick of the United States defeated Singapore's Jazreel Tan in two games to lift the title.

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Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Sabtu, 4 Jun 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

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