ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Future Bright With New Talent

HOPE: Total of 13 records broken with six from senior age-group

Perak’s Cheah Yau Chung

 A NEW hope has arisen from the ashes of the scandals that have plagued Malaysian athletics after the emergence of several talented youngsters at the recent Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships in Kangar.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Blunder Denies Kirthana A Treble

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Sprinter forced to compete in 200m, long jump at the same time

R. Kirthana en route to winning the long jump gold at the Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships in Kangar yesterday. Pic by Amran Hamid

R. Kirthana

R. KIRTHANA displayed gritty determination to win a gold and silver when she was forced to compete in two events concurrently at the Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships in Kangar yesterday.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Azly, Jonathan Serve Notice

HIGH jumpers are a special breed, one in which Malaysia have never been short of and so it proved at the Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships in Kangar.

Sarawak’s Jonathan won the Under-15 high jump gold. 

  Azly Ghazali came within a whisker of breaking Lee Hup Wei’s 2.15m record from 2005 in the boys’ Under-18 event while Jonanthan Tinggang did manage the feat but in the Under-15 event on Friday.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Record Breakers Light Up Kangar

SUPER SHOW: Norzilawati smashes 800m mark to join Wei Heng as golden double winners

Nik Norzilawati Nik Wil sobs after breaking the 800m record yesterday. Pix by Amran Hamid 

TAN Wei Heng and Nik Norzilawati Nik Wil continued to rule the middle-distance events after completing a golden double at the Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships in Kangar yesterday.

Kelantan's Norzilawati also smashed a seven-year-old meet record, one of five registered yesterday to bring the total records rewritten or equalled this week ahead of the final day at the Utama Stadium today to 13.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Amirul Gets His Revenge In Re-run

REVENGE was sweet for Amirul Mukmin Yusmiza of Pahang after he retained the Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships boys Under-18 100m gold medal in a final re-run in Kangar yesterday.

Amirul Mukmin Mohd Yusmiza won gold in the re-run of the Under-18 100m yesterday. 

Amirul turned the tables on Negri Sembilan's Hakim Faizi Rosli, who had won the final when it was originally held on Wednesday but a technical error necessitated yesterday morning's re-run.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Saranraj Scores In 5,000m

S. SARANRAJ had to be calmed down after he agitated for a fight the moment he crossed the finish line to win the Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships boys' open 5,000m gold medal in Kangar yesterday.

S. Saranraj

   The Bukit Jalil Sports School Fifth Former was clearly unhappy with silver medallist J. Kaviarasan of Perak for what he believed to be a push during the 12-and-a-half lap race.

After being taken away by his coach to cool off, Pahang's Saranraj declined to say much about the incident at the Utama Stadium.

"There was some pushing in the race. It's normal," he said later with a smile back on his face.

"I'm very happy to have won. It's the first time I won the 5,000m.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Re-run After Technical Rrror

MISTAKE: Jury annuls Under-18 100m final result after false start fiasco

Noor Shahidatun Nadia Zuki leaps to win the Under-18 long jump gold yesterday. Pic by Amran Hamid 

A technical error on Wednesday led to protest by Pahang against the winner Hakim Faizi Rosli of Negri Sembilan, who they alleged should have been disqualified for a false start.NOOR Shahidatun Nadia Zuki completed a jumps double in setting her second meet record in Kangar yesterday but the Malaysian Schools Athletics Championships was hit with controversy after the result of the boys' Under-18 100 metres final was annulled.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Norzilawati Looking At Bigger Picture

THERE must be a perverse logic to forcing young athletes to run middle distance finals under the blazing sun but it did not stop Nik Norzilawati Nik Wil to blitz the field in the Under-18 category.

Nik Norzilawati Nik Wil is eyeing a repeat of the 800m-1,500m double.

After nearly all the runners in the girls' Under-15 1,500m final collapsed upon crossing the finish line, Norzilawati made light of the heat to win the 1,500m gold at the Malaysian Schools Athletics Championships in Kangar yesterday.

It was the Kelantan runner's fifth gold in the series and it would not be her last as she is eyeing a repeat of the 800m-1,500m double she did in Ipoh last year.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Iskandar Soars To Glory

ACHIEVES TARGET: Johor schoolboy sets Asean junior record in pole vault with ease

Iskandar Alwi needed just four vaults to set the new Asean record of 4.73m at the Malaysian Schools Athletics Championships at the Utama Stadium in Kangar yesterday. Pix by Amran Hamid

ISKANDAR Alwi stole the limelight from the sprinters after setting a new Asean junior record in the Boys' Open pole vault at the Malaysian Schools Athletics Championships at the Utama Stadium in Kangar yesterday.

ATHLETICS: Nadia, The Next Jumps Queen

IT would not be an exaggeration to say that Noor Shahidatun Nadia Zuki is destined to succeed Ngiew Sin Mei as the next national jumps queen.

Kedah’s Noor Shahidatun Nadia Zuki wins the Malaysian Schools Championships Under-18 triple jump gold with a meet record of 12.36m yesterday. Pic by Amran Hamid

This talented 16-year-old athlete from Kedah is on the verge of becoming just the third Malaysian woman to soar past the 13-metre mark in the triple jump.

Nadia, who burst onto the scene two years ago when she won the Asean Schools Games long jump gold at the age of 14, set a personal best of 12.99m at the FT All-Comers meet earlier this year.

ATHLETICS: Four Records Fall On Day 1

ON TRACK: Big guns Sarawak claim six gold

DEFENDING overall champions Sarawak flexed their muscles again by claiming six gold medals as four meet records were broken on the opening day of the Malaysian Schools Athletics Championships at the Utama Stadium in Kangar yesterday.

Terengganu won the two main events of the day in the boys' and girls' Under-18 400m finals for their only gold medals yesterday while Perak's Mior Amerul Sahak bagged the first gold medal of the meet by winning the boys' Under-18 5,000m walk in 24:34.0s.

ATHLETICS: Future stars in the limelight

STRIVING FOR GLORY: Five-day battle for honours begins

GROWING disillusionment with the state of Malaysian athletics will be put aside for a week as the future stars of track and field take centre-stage at the Malaysian Schools Championships in Kangar from today.

Athletes from 13 states, Kuala Lumpur and Labuan will battle it out over five days in the Under-18, Under-15 and Under-12 categories, striving for glory in a battle-scarred sport which is fast losing credibility due to the ineptitude of its administrators.

As bad as things are, the young athletes gathering at the Utama Stadium this week will probably be oblivious to the failings of the upper echelons and concerned only with doing their best.

The Malaysian Schools Championships has long acted as a rite of passage for national athletes, the stage scouts scour the field for development.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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

Baihaqi's A Bright Spark

Baihaqi Razlan intends to continue improving in training under coach Ishtiaq Mubarak.

NOT since Shahdan Jamaluddin won a surprise gold in the men's 400 metres hurdles in 2005 has Malaysia had a chance to win the event again at the Sea Games.

In a boost for the often-ignored single-lap hurdle event, teenager Baihaqi Razlan has emerged as a medal contender in Indonesia after qualifying for the Sea Games in November by clocking 52.94 seconds to win gold at the recent Malaysian Institute of Higher Learning Games in Malacca.

The 18-year-old Kelantanese also improved on his personal best by 0.05 of a second which he had set at the Malaysia Games last year.

"I made qualifying for the Sea Games my target for this year and I'm very happy I have achieved it. 

"It will be my debut in Indonesia and I hope to do my best to win a medal there," said Baihaqi yesterday.

Baihaqi may not be alone in going for medals in the 400m hurdles as Azlan Samsuddin, the country's top hurdler at the distance, should also qualify before long.

The 2010 Malaysia Games winner, Azlan, 20, has a personal best of 52.57, easily within the qualifying mark of 53.40.

Thailand's Narongdech Janjai won gold in Vientiane in 2009 in a time of 52.49s, which Azlan and Baihaqi will be aiming to best as they continue training under coach Ishtiaq Mubarak.

"I know I can run better and my plan is to continue to improve in training under coach Ishtiaq.

"I don't know if I'm ready to challenge for gold but it would be a dream to win a medal at the Sea Games at my age.

"In the meantime, I will also be competing in the Asean Schools meet next month," added Baihaqi, who first began running the 110m hurdles in his early years.

Given the dearth of talent coming through Malaysian athletics, Baihaqi's qualification for the Sea Games is just the kind of hopeful story that the sport needs.