NST Online: Sports

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 05:13 PM PDT

Football: Chance to live the dream

2011/06/23
By Ajitpal Singh
ajitpalsingh@nst.com.my

THE national Olympic team are just 90 minutes away from joining the elite of Asia's Under-23 level football.

Malaysia would achieve that dream if they beat Lebanon in today's second round return leg to earn a slot in the final round of the Olympic Qualifiers for the first time since 1984.

"We have the depth and experience to reach far in the qualifiers. I strongly feel we can do it. But my players must focus on the current mission first," said coach Ong Kim Swee after the team managers' meeting at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.

"We are just 90 minutes away from being part of the 12 elite teams in Asia. It would be good for Malaysian football if we do it.

"Who knows ... maybe once in the third round, we will be good enough to qualify for the London Olympics. Thinking big is good but we cannot think too far ahead just yet."

Kim Swee said the return leg will be a tricky affair as his side need to score quick goals to hold an advantage.

"We will have to do more attacking. But we must be careful as Lebanon have players with talent. These players are dangerous if we give them space.

"The draw in Beirut will prove meaningless if we fail to beat Lebanon here. We need to approach this match carefully to attain a good result," added the Malacca-born coach.

Kim Swee, however, will need to re-shuffle the team in the absence of suspended Mahalli Jasuli. The experienced right-back picked up his second yellow card in the first leg last weekend.

The coach said Mahalli's absence will slightly affect the team's game-plan as the defender adds more fluency on the right flank.

"We have Fandi (Othman) and Mohd Affize Faisal Mamat, who both can play on the right. Both are capable of doing well," he said.

On the form of striker Izzaq Faris Ramlan, Kim Swee said the youngster needs more experience to become a better finisher.

"Izzaq lacks international matches. He played well in Beirut but lacked the finishing. I have not decided whether to start him tomorrow (today)," he added.

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Badminton / Indonesia Open: Easy for Chong Wei

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 05:11 PM PDT

Badminton / Indonesia Open: Easy for Chong Wei

2011/06/23
By K.M. Boopathy
boopathy@nstp.com.my

TOMMY Sugiarto had given favourite Lee Chong Wei some scary moments in two previous meetings but was easily subdued in the Indonesia Open in Jakarta yesterday.

Chong Wei, gunning for a fourth Indonesian Open title since 2007, strolled to a 21-16, 21-8 win in 32 minutes to advance to the second round of this Premier Super Series event.

Tommy put up tough resistance in the opening rounds of the Malaysia Open Super Series in January and Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold last month but the Indonesian had no chance against Chong Wei yesterday.

Chong Wei is on course for a hat-trick after winning the title in 2009 and last year but the Malaysian World No 1 stated that yesterday's win was important to stay ahead of the pack going into the 2012 London Olympics.

"My two meetings earlier this year were enough for me to gauge Tommy's ability. I am aware of his strong points and managed to contain him," said Chong Wei.

"My target here is to win a hat-trick of Indonesia Open titles but more importantly, this event is vital in terms of earning points to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics."

Chong Wei will next play either Frenchman Brice Leverdez or Wong Wing Ki of Hong Kong, who were facing off in a late first-round match yesterday.

Liew Daren suffered another agony after a narrow 30-28, 21-23, 21-12 defeat to six-time champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia in 76 minutes.

Daren was also eliminated by Taufik in the first round of the Singapore Open last week.

China's Olympic champion Lin Dan also came through with a 21-12, 21-15 over Alamsyah Yunus of Indonesia to set up a second round meeting with Japan's Sho Sasakai, who beat Hans Christian Vitinghus of Denmark 11-21, 21-17, 21-18, today.

Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong were the only Malaysians left in the men's doubles when they thrashed Thailand's Songphon Anugritayawon-Sudket Prapakamol 21-10, 21-7 in 23 minutes.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong will meet Naoki Kawamae-Shoji Sato of Japan, who beat professionals pair Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen 21-10, 21-19, in the second round today.

Elite pair Fairuzizuan Tazari-Ong Soon Hock were beaten 21-10, 21-18 by Fang Chieh Min-Lee Sheng Mu of Taiwan while Zakry Latif-Hoon Thien How lost 21-15, 21-17 to Mohammad Ahsan-Bona Septano of Indonesia.

Women's doubles Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui advanced to the second round, beating Line Kruse-Marie Roepke of Denmark 21-18, 24-22.

SELECTED RESULTS -- 1st rd (Malaysia unless stated), Men's singles: Lee Chong Wei bt Tommy Sugiarto (Ina) 21-16, 21-8; Taufik Hidayat (Ina) bt Liew Daren 30-28, 21-23, 21-12; Nguyen Tien Minh (Vie) bt Lee Hyun Il (Kor) 21-15, 15-21, 21-13; Lin Dan (Chn) bt Alamsyah Yunus (Ina) 21-12, 21-15;

Doubles: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong bt Songphon Anugritayawon-Sudket Prapakamol (Tha) 21-10, 21-7; Fang Chieh Min-Lee Sheng Mu (Tai) bt Fairuzizuan Tazai-Ong Soon Hock 21-10, 21-18; Mohammad Ahsan-Bona Septano (Ina) bt Zakry Latif-Hoon Thien How 21-15, 21-17; Naoki Kawamae-Shoji Sato (Jpn) bt Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen 21-10, 21-19.

Women's doubles: Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui bt Line Kruse-Marie Roepke (Den) 21-18, 24-22.

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Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Rabu, 22 Jun 2011