SEA GAMES: Bittersweet

MAAU’s lack of foresight overshadows 4x400m quartet’s fairytale feat

Muhammad Yunus Lasaleh (front), Schzuan Ahmad Rosely, S. Kannathasan (inset top) and P. Yuvaraaj (inset bottom) stunned favourites Thailand to win the 4x400m gold.

They came, they saw, they conquered and left without their gold medals. This was the bittersweet episode of the men's 4x400m quartet of S. Kannathasan, P. Yuvaraaj, Schzuan Ahmad Rosely and Muhammad Yunus Lasaleh, who surprised many by winning gold and then not being able to receive their gold medals, no thanks to the Malaysia AAU (MAAU) management, which many have said must undergo major changes.

Only 4x400m Relay Team Provide A Breath Of Fresh Air

PALEMBANG: The usual suspects stood up to be counted and the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) went on to achieve their six-gold medal target, after all.

As usual, the likes of Noraseela Khalid (400m hurdles), Lo Choon Sieng (20km walk), Lee Hup Wei (high jump), Tan Song Hwa (hammer) and Roslinda Samsu (pole vault) delivered the goods. The surprise gold No. 6 came from the unsung men’s 4x400m relay team.

They defied the odds to run the race of their lives and stun the everyone at the Jakabaring Athletics Stadium to clinch the unexpected gold on Monday.

Shock of the Games: (from left) S. Kannathasan, Mohd Yunus Lasaleh, P. Yuvaraaj and Schzuan Ahmad Rosely celebrating after winning the 4x400m relay gold on Monday.

SEA GAMES: They Don't Deserve Such Treatment

AGGRIEVED: The winning 4x400m quartet missed the medal presentation ceremony yesterday

The victorious men's 4x400m quartet have been treated like second class citizens by the Malaysia AAU (MAAU) as they didn't have time to celebrate their win nor given the chance to receive their gold medals as they had to fly home before the medal presentation ceremony yesterday.

S. Kannathasan, P. Yuvaaraj, Schzuan Ahmad Rosely and Muhammad Yunus Lasaleh winning the 4x400m gold would probably remain the most endearing image for Malaysia in this edition of the Sea Games but they had to miss their big moment -- the medal presentation ceremony -- which was held when the athletics programme began at 4pm (5pm in Malaysia) yesterday, as they had to catch a 12.45pm flight for Kuala Lumpur.

"We worked so hard for this and we want to receive our gold but we have to fly home tomorrow (yesterday).

Quartet Win Surprise Gold But Have To Fly Home Before Medal Ceremony

PALEMBANG: Veteran hurdler Noraseela Khalid clinched her fourth 400m hurdles SEA Games gold medal and immediately vented her outrage at the shocking manner the men’s 4x400m gold medal winning team had been treated by the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU).

The unheralded Malaysian quartet of S. Kannathasan, P. Yuvaraaj, Schzuan Ahmad Rosely and Mohd Yunus Lasaleh won the gold on Monday but flew home without receiving their medals because they had been booked on a flight home yesterday afternoon. The prize giving ceremony for the event was held yesterday evening.

Roslinda Dedicates Gold Medal To Coach Who Survived Heart Attack In Palembang

PALEMBANG: Pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu delivered Malaysia’s sixth athletics gold with a new SEA Games record of 4.20m and dedicated the victory to her coach Mohd Mansahar Abdul Jalil.

Mansahar, who has been coaching the 29-year-old Roslinda since she was 16, suffered a heart attack last Friday and was rushed to the hospital.

He has, however, recovered and was on the sidelines edging on Roslinda, who was involved in a nerve-wracking duel with long time rival Le Thi Phuong of Vietnam.

Joy of victory: Malaysia’s Roslinda Samsu celebrating with the Jalur Gemilang after winning the gold medal in the women’s pole vault.

Tagged As No-Hopers, The 4x400m Relay Team Deliver Golden Flourish

PALEMBANG: High jumper Lee Hup Wei delivered Malaysia’s third athletics gold as expected but it was the men’s 4x400m relay team who stole the thunder with a totally unexpected golden flourish.

What made it even more amazing was that the team, comprising P. Yuvaraaj, Schzuan Ahmad Rosely, S. Kannathasan and Mohd Yunus Lasaleh, were not even supposed to compete in the Games as they were initially dropped.

In fact, they did not even have a coach with them here.

Stunners: (from left) Mohd Yunus Lasaleh, S. Kannathasan, Schzuan Ahmad Rosely and P.Yuvaraaj celebrating after winning the 4x400m gold medalon

SEA GAMES: Extraordinary Gentlemen

GOLDEN QUARTET Rookies stun field

(From left) S. Kannathasan, Muhammad Yunus Lasaleh, P. Yuvaraaj and Schzuan Ahmad Rosely celebrate the 4x400m gold.

Disappointing Day On The Track For Malaysian Athletes

PALEMBANG: A downpour yesterday forced the shot putt event to be delayed until this morning.

Malaysia’s Adi Aliffudin, silver medallist in Laos two years ago, will have an extra day’s rest before taking a shot at the gold at 10am.

It was quite a disappointing day for the Malaysian athletics team as none of them managed to add to hammer thrower Tan Song Hwa’s gold medal.

SEA GAMES: Slow Start For Malaysia

BAD DAY: Food poisoning adds to contingent’s woes

Melinder Kaur battles a heavy downpour in the 3,000m steeplechase final at the Jakabaring Athletics Stadium in Palembang yesterday. She finished fourth.

 In what is turning out to be a problem-plagued Sea Games for Malaysia, only two gold medals were won on the first full day of competition in Palembang and Jakarta yesterday.

Malaysia started the day brightly enough when taekwondo exponents Ahmady Radi and Morren Urai Lian delivered a surprise bronze in the mixed poomsae (pattern), which was officially the nation's first medal of the Games.

SEA GAMES: Through The Pain Barrier

WINNER: Song Hwa wins hammer gold despite nursing slipped disc

Hammer thrower Tan Song Hwa and coach Frank Petrovic rejoice her gold medal triumph yesterday.

TAN Song Hwa  put her entire career in jeopardy when she decided to compete in the Sea Games despite suffering a slipped disc just two weeks ago.

Walker Lo Puts Up With Rescheduled Event

PALEMBANG: Walker Lo Choon Sieng could have given Malaysia the first gold medal at the Games.

The 26-year-old Choon Sieng and veteran Teoh Boon Lim were supposed to compete in the 20km walk at 6.30am today in a race they were fancied to snatch a 1-2 finish.

However, the organisers made a last-minute decision to reschedule the event to tomorrow.

But it doesn’t matter to the Malacca-born Choon Sieng, who just wants to win his first-ever gold medal at the Games after being disqualified at the Laos Games two years ago.

Song Hwa Defends Hammer Gold

PALEMBANG: Hammer thrower Tan Song Hwa successfully defended her SEA Games gold medal - Malaysia's second today despite carrying a back injury.

Her throw of 55.15m was way below the Games record of 56.41m which she set in Laos two years ago.

But it was fantastic result for the 25-year-old who took to the field and managed to play through the pain barriers.

Tan Song Hwa Delivers Gold

PALEMBANG: Tan Song Hwa delivered Malaysia's second gold and retained her women's hammer throw crown at Jakabaring Complex Athletics Stadium today.

Tan Song Hwa gets a lift from her coach Petrovic Frank. Pix by Yazit Razali

Song Hwa cleared 55.15m, to win the gold which was also Malaysia's first in athletics in the Games.

However, she failed to beat her Games record of 56.44m set in Laos in 2009.

Read more: Tan Song Hwa delivers gold - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/tan-song-hwa-delivers-gold-1.4940#ixzz1deHmKrA4

SEA GAMES: Roslinda Troubled, Song Hwa Focused

Roslinda Samsu, not in her best form, was hit with another hurdle in her quest to win her fourth consecutive pole vault gold when her coach Manshahar Abdul Jalil was hospitalised after collapsing at the Games Village due to breathing difficulties in Palembang yesterday.

Manshahar, 51, has been Roslinda's coach since she was 16 and  his condition has rattled the athlete as there are only four days left before  her event.

Manshahar  was asked to  rest and Roslinda hoped he would recover by Tuesday and  guide her to gold.

"My performance has not been good this year but I have been gradually improving.

"I never expected my coach would fall ill. I want him to be well but it would be good if he is there to guide me,"said the 29-year-old Roslinda.

Vietnam's Le Thi Phuong is likely to be Roslinda's main threat but the presence of Manshahar at the Athletics Stadiu in Jakabaring should be enough to boost the Malaysian to gold.

 Meanwhile, the change in schedule saw Malaysia missing the chance of probably winning the first athletic gold medal of the Games when the men's 20km walk was postponed to tomorrow and this is expected to give hammer thrower Tan Song Hwa the honour of securing the country's first gold today.

Teoh Boon Lim and Lo Choon Sieang were to battle for the first gold in the 20km walk at the Jakabaring Sports Complex today but the postponement means Song Hwa appears to be Malaysia best bet to  start the  hunt.

Song Hwa, 25, set a new Games record of 56.41m, to secure her first Sea Games gold in Laos 2009.

"I am not looking at a new record or thinking about becoming the first Malaysian to win in the Games but  focusing on defending the gold," said Song Hwa.

Read more: SEA GAMES: Roslinda troubled, Song Hwa focused - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/sea-games-roslinda-troubled-song-hwa-focused-1.4765#ixzz1deGCCfNU