NST Online: Sports

Badminton: RM41m smasher<br><small>BAM gets super partner in Maybank</small>

Posted: 05 Jul 2011 06:33 PM PDT

2011/07/06
K.M. Boopathy
boopathy@nst.com.my

BAM patron Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Maybank president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar (second from right) and BAM president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Salleh meeting the national badminton players after a sponsorship signing ceremony between BAM and Maybank at Menara Maybank yesterday. — Picture by Sairien Nafis

THE BA of Malaysia's (BAM) push to win the country's first Olympic gold medal at London 2012 received a massive boost when Maybank signed a whopping RM41 million six-year sponsorship deal in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

This is the biggest single sponsorship received by BAM and it stands to get RM6 million this year and RM7 million a year until 2016. Maybank has also pledged to continue the tie-up for another four years after that.

Proton used to be BAM's biggest sponsor at RM4 million for almost a decade but currently contributes RM2 million annually. This means Maybank will most likely become the outright title sponsor after the Malaysia Open Super Series.

Maybank president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar said the nation's leading financial institution wanted to do its part in taking Malaysian badminton to another level.

"We are attracted to badminton as it has tremendous popularity and is a sport where Asians excel in. It is a strong sports brand that puts Malaysia in the world arena," said Wahid.

"To kick-start our collaboration with BAM, Maybank will soon undertake a 'Going for Gold' campaign aimed at winning gold in the 2012 London Olympics. This will also set the stage to build champions beyond the Olympics where our players are able to achieve success in various events, including the Thomas Cup, All England and the World Championships.

"We are also committed to ensure that our funding will be able to churn out a new generation of champions once the current players retire. This will be done by putting the emphasis on grassroots development and focusing on schools.

"I would also like to reiterate that we (Maybank) are not here to run BAM but work hand in hand with them to take badminton to a higher level and provide information to BAM on promotional activities to popularise the event."

BAM president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Salleh said Maybank's sponsorship was timely as the national elite and development programmes had been expanding and funding was crucial on ensuring success at the highest level.

"We express our gratitude to Maybank for coming up with such a sponsorship which was necessary as our programmes at national level have been growing as we work towards rewarding Malaysians with the country's first Olympic gold in London.

"Maybank and Proton will be joint title sponsors for the Malaysia Open Super Series next year. After that, Maybank will become title sponsor while Proton will continue its support. We will also focus on development where RM1 million will be spent for that purpose."

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

Football: Praying for a miracle

Posted: 05 Jul 2011 05:32 PM PDT

2011/07/06
Ajitpal Singh
ajitpalsingh@nst.com.my

Selangor coach K. Devan (right) and Amri Yahyah in a training session.

SELANGOR coach K. Devan will be hoping for Sabah to provide one last twist to the Super League title race in Kota Kinabalu today.

"All we can do now is hope. It is not in our hands," said Devan of the final day of the Super League season.

Kelantan, who lead by two points, play Sabah while second-placed Selangor are away to Perak.

"I don't like to be in this situation. I've told my players to get the goals against Perak. We need to win big as Kelantan have the advantage in goal difference," he said.

Selangor will have a full strength squad except for injured centreback Nasriq Baharom. Devan hopes national trainees Amirulhadi Zainal, Asraruddin Putra Omar and Safiq Rahim, who reported for training yesterday, will be fit for the match.

Kelantan cannot afford to slip-up against Sabah, who drew 0-0 with them on April 16 in Kota Baru. A draw should be enough for Kelantan to lift their maiden league title.

But it will surely be asking too much of Sabah to provide one last twist to an exciting Super League season that hardly needs any more drama.

Kelantan messing up in Kota Kinabalu would be a great story, as it would hand Selangor, if they beat Perak, their third straight league title.

Kelantan coach M. Karathu said: "Beating Selangor to the title on the last day will be a great moment for us."

Devan appears to accept that Kelantan are too experienced to be unsettled at this late stage and has already begun his team's post-mortem.

"We could have been in a better position if we had done better in May. Our downfall started after we were beaten by Kelantan in the FA Cup semi-finals as after that, we lost three straight league matches," he said.

Devan may claim that his season was undermined by serious injuries. Selangor had actually recovered the points lost in May by notching three straight wins over Negri Sembilan (2-0), Perlis (7-1) and Felda United (2-1). But many believe Selangor's troubled season really started after striker Safee Sali left for Indonesian side Pelita Jaya. after the start of the league.

Third-placed Terengganu have an outside chance of clinching their first league title if both Kelantan and Selangor lose.

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

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Selasa, 5 Julai 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

0 ulasan:

Catat Ulasan