NST Online: Sports

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 05:08 PM PDT

2011/09/16
Devinder Singh
devinder@nst.com.my

IT was not the send off that the Olympic squad had wanted but national coach Ong Kim Swee saw enough in the 1-0 friendly defeat to Oman yesterday to be cautiously optimistic ahead of the Olympic qualifier against Japan on Wednesday.

Immediately after the outing at the UiTM Stadium in Shah Alam, Kim Swee named a 21-man squad, that contained few surprises, for the Asian zone third round Group A match in Tosu.

The squad include two 17-year-olds in midfielder Nazmi Faiz Mansor and defender Syazwan Tajuddin, who will however see little action, if any, against Japan.

Rather, it is the core of the squad which Kim Swee has cultivated since embarking on a month-long tour of Slovakia in August which carry the hopes of the country in giving Asian Games winners Japan a tough fight.

"It is not so much the result (against Oman) that was important but the performance. I can say that I'm satisfied with the way the players played despite the defence allowing a goal due to a lack of focus (in the 40th minute).

"The intensity in the players was there to see, the passing was sharp and accurate and the only thing that let us down was our finishing. We've done everything possible but to put the ball into the net," said Kim Swee.

Indeed, Kim Swee gave every striker in the squad an opportunity as he started with A. Thamil Arasu and Irfan Fazail playing in an advanced role before Ahmad Hazwan Bakri, Izzaq Faris Ramlan and Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim took their turns in the second half.

Of the lot, Thamil impressed the most as in the span of 10 minutes after the break, he could easily have scored a hat-trick as he saw his attempts whistle past the posts and bar.

The defence looked solid with the AFF Cup-winning centre-back partnership of Fadhlis Shas and Muslim Ahmad reunited after the former's return from a loan spell with Slovak club ViON Zlate Moravce along with Irfan and Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor.

Kim Swee said he is happy with the team's preparation which also included a 0-0 draw with Iraqi club Arbil.

"The team needed exposure which they have received. Everything is ready and it's just a matter of keeping fit and polishing a few things in Japan. I was pleased with how the team responded to going a goal behind and I hope to see that fighting spirit when we play Japan," added Kim Swee, whose only injury worry is Irfan's right knee which has yet to fully heal.

Left behind from the 26-man training squad are goalkeeper Zamir Selamat, Azrif Nasrulhaq Badrul Hisyam, Ferris Danial Mat Nasir, Nazirul Naim Che Hashim and Reuben Kathiripillai, the Selangor President's Cup and national university side's captain who was only called up to the Olympic squad on Sunday.

SQUAD (Young Tigers, unless stated) -- Goalkeepers: Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (Kelantan), Izham Tarmizi Roslan; Defenders: Zubir Azmi (Terengganu), Syazwan Tajuddin, Amer Saidin, Fadhli Shas, Mahalli Jasuli, Muslim Ahmad;

Midfielders: Nazmi Faiz Mansor, Irfan Fazail, Abdul Shukor Jusoh, Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor, Fandi Othman, Wan Zaharulnizam Wan Zakaria, K. Gurusamy, Faizal Abu Bakar (Kedah);

Forwards: Izuan Solahuddin (Kelantan), Ahmad Hazwan Bakri (KL), A. Thamil Arasu, Izzaq Faris Ramlan, Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim.

Badminton: Only Koo-Tan survive

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 05:06 PM PDT

Tan Boon Heong (left) and Koo Kien Keat beat Chen Hung Ling-Lin Yu Lang 21-14, 9-21, 21-17 in the second round of the China Masters in Changzhou yesterday.

KOO Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong are the last Malaysians standing in the China Masters after advancing to the quarter-finals with an inconsistent show in Changzhou yesterday.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong defeated Taiwan's Cheng Hung Ling-Lin Yu Lang 21-14, 9-21, 21-17 in the second round that lasted only 34 minutes.

The match epitomised Kien Keat-Boon Heong's current form. They started well, stuttered in the second game and recovered in the deciding third game.

A more decent effort will be needed when they take on bogeymen Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae of South Korea today.

Hafiz Hashim took a game off four-time world champion Lin Dan but it wasn't enough to stop the China ace from registering a 14-21, 21-18, 21-9 in 48 minutes.

Promising women's doubles Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei's campaign also came to an end when they lost 21-16, 21-15 to Taiwan's Cheng Wen Hsing-Chien Yu Chin.

SELECTED 2ND RD RESULTS -- (Malaysia unless stated) Men's Singles: Lin Dan (Chn) bt Hafiz Hashim 14-21, 21-18, 21-9; Du Pengyu (Chn) bt Wang Zhengming (Chn) 21-11, 21-17.

Doubles: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong bt Chen Hung Ling-Lin Yu Lang (Tai) 21-14, 9-21, 21-17;

Women's Doubles: Cheng Wen Hsing-Chien Yu Chin (Tai) bt Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei 21-16, 21-15; Cheng Shu-Pan Pan (Chn) bt Ng Hui Lin-Ng Hui Ern 21-10, 21-16; Wang Xiaoli-Yu Yang (Chn) bt Goh Liu Ying-Chong Sook Chin 21-17, 21-9;

Mixed Doubles: Yoo Yeon Seong-Jang Ye Na (Kor) bt Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying 16-21, 21-10, 22-20.

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Khamis, 15 September 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

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