Lee Chong Wei is still good for the gold at the London Olympics next year. Has he burried the 'Lin Dan block'? Will Malaysia's first ever gold medal at the Olympics be delivered by a badminton player...; a track cyclist...; or perhaps in the diving events?
Too bad squash will not be an Olympic event up untill the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. From the look of things, including the overall signs during my participation at Sportel Asia 2011 in Hong Kong, squash is not an "internationally acclaimed" sports,...not yet!
On the other hand, diving is a sports considered to have a somewhat low level of interest in Malaysia despite it's strong status at Olympic Games. It is in the diving events, through the determination of it's lovely pair of Leong Mun Yee and Pandelela Rinong, could be the surprise package for Malaysia at London Olympics next year.
So called sports critic, Tan Sri Khoo Kay Kim, was quite blatant by saying that all the hype of hopes that Malaysia would win it's first ever gold medal at the Olympics in London next year, was misleading.
I would agree with Tan Sri Kay Kim, but not totally. Suprises in sports do happen. There could be one 'fine day' for Malaysian sports...And, whatever the storyline would be, Malaysia's gold medal target at London 2012, if ever achieved, will be a surprise!
Azizul Hasni is being said as our best bet for gold but to me personally, there are at least 8 to 10 track cycling sprinters who are serious contenders for gold...not just Sir Chris Hoy of GBR. There are othe power-packed sprinters like Gregory Bauge (France), Shane Perkins (Australia), Kevin Sireau (France), Jason Kenny (GBR), Levy Maxmillian (Germany) and not to mention China's "Zhang brothers".
No doubt Chong Wei has boosted his confidence tremendously by beating Lin Dan at the All England final. But it will still be a surprise if he could wrest the gold from Lin Dan by avenging the defeat in Beijing 2008. Perhaps with the Games being in London, not Beijing, Pandelela and Mun Yee could spring the biggest surprise, taking the shine away from Chinese divers to bring home Malaysia's first ever gold medal at the Olympics!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Lee Chong Wei nyalakan kembali impian Olimpik
Mesti sibuklah media tempatan hari ini menyanjung Datuk Lee Chong Wei di atas kejayaannya mempertahankan kejuaraan All England, di NIA, Birmingham, awal pagi tadi. Bukan calang pencapaian. Dia pemain pertama Malaysia yang mempertahankan kejuaraan sejak Datuk Eddy Choong pada tahun 50-an dulu.
Namun, apa yang lebih penting, kejayaan Chong Wei kali ini, telah menyalakan kembali cahaya harapan untuk merangkul pingat emas Sukan Olimpik yang pertama buat Malaysia di London tahun depan. Ini setelah LCW berjaya mempamer dan membuktikan dia mempunyai corak permainan dan pukulan yang tetap mampu untuk menumbangkan jaguh China (mungkin jaguh sepanjang zaman badminton China), Lin Dan. Chong Wei menang straight-games, 21-17, 21-17 - tenang, menerkam, pukulan kemas dan pergerakan di gelanggang yang teratur! Itulah sedikit rumusan aksi Chong Wei kali ini. Kali ini, Lin Dan pula kelihatan cemas dan terdesak!!
Namun, apa yang lebih penting, kejayaan Chong Wei kali ini, telah menyalakan kembali cahaya harapan untuk merangkul pingat emas Sukan Olimpik yang pertama buat Malaysia di London tahun depan. Ini setelah LCW berjaya mempamer dan membuktikan dia mempunyai corak permainan dan pukulan yang tetap mampu untuk menumbangkan jaguh China (mungkin jaguh sepanjang zaman badminton China), Lin Dan. Chong Wei menang straight-games, 21-17, 21-17 - tenang, menerkam, pukulan kemas dan pergerakan di gelanggang yang teratur! Itulah sedikit rumusan aksi Chong Wei kali ini. Kali ini, Lin Dan pula kelihatan cemas dan terdesak!!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Local sports reporting need a re-look?
Aahh..press conferences! Seems like the most favourite and compulsory thing for organisers and sports people in Malaysia these days. PC, as the media guys would call it, has been the main source for news among sportswriters and reporters in the country, especially for the last decade or so. But to me personally, it has turned sour lately with too many stereotyped, repetitious and rhetoric story angles dominating Malaysian sports via print and electronic media.
Yesterday was another classic example of one, coincidentally involving Sports Minister and, also coincidentally, during the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) Awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.
Perhaps some same group of sportswriters, asking more or less the same kind of questions from the same Sports Minister who had on previous occasions had also said almost the same phrases. No malice to Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek on this matter. He had given his comments to reporters immediately after news broke out that Safee Sali has become the first Malaysian footballer to play in Indonesia's Djarum Super League in February. Shabery was also quoted in Manchester on track cycling star, Azizulhasni Awang's freak accident at the Manchester Velodrome.
But nothing new in Malaysian sports reporting. They just had to ask him on a day after Safe scored on his debut for Pelita. Malaysian sports press was also excited to hear an update from the Minister who had returned to Kuala Lumpur after a State visit with the PM to Australia where they had also met with Azizulhasni in Melbourne.
What else is there for these so called "up-and-coming" group of sportswriters who had gathered on their association's (SAM) awards. They must ask something from the Sports Minister who is, afterall, their Guest of Honour!
But what else does Shabery has to say, other than the same old "bangga... semangat...bukti...produk Malaysia...jadi contoh ikutan.."
We have heard that too many times before and fully understand it! However, I still think that it is about time the Malaysian sports press comes out with 'something new' and a slightly higher level of intelligence.
But, WHAT THEN?, they might ask!
1) Up-date angle
2) To fill page (sub-editors need 'something')
3) Follow-up on something
4) 'Other' stories/angle are difficult (lazy to think lah)
5) Malaysian Sports Ministers always craves for the media
Yesterday was another classic example of one, coincidentally involving Sports Minister and, also coincidentally, during the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) Awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.
Perhaps some same group of sportswriters, asking more or less the same kind of questions from the same Sports Minister who had on previous occasions had also said almost the same phrases. No malice to Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek on this matter. He had given his comments to reporters immediately after news broke out that Safee Sali has become the first Malaysian footballer to play in Indonesia's Djarum Super League in February. Shabery was also quoted in Manchester on track cycling star, Azizulhasni Awang's freak accident at the Manchester Velodrome.
But nothing new in Malaysian sports reporting. They just had to ask him on a day after Safe scored on his debut for Pelita. Malaysian sports press was also excited to hear an update from the Minister who had returned to Kuala Lumpur after a State visit with the PM to Australia where they had also met with Azizulhasni in Melbourne.
What else is there for these so called "up-and-coming" group of sportswriters who had gathered on their association's (SAM) awards. They must ask something from the Sports Minister who is, afterall, their Guest of Honour!
But what else does Shabery has to say, other than the same old "bangga... semangat...bukti...produk Malaysia...jadi contoh ikutan.."
We have heard that too many times before and fully understand it! However, I still think that it is about time the Malaysian sports press comes out with 'something new' and a slightly higher level of intelligence.
But, WHAT THEN?, they might ask!
1) Up-date angle
2) To fill page (sub-editors need 'something')
3) Follow-up on something
4) 'Other' stories/angle are difficult (lazy to think lah)
5) Malaysian Sports Ministers always craves for the media
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Di antara semangat Azizul dan 'kelewehan Media'
Sungguh ketara sekali laporan media (sukan) Malaysia yang mengatakan: "Kecederaan Azizul tidak serius.." Kayu keras tajam tembus betis, tak serius lagi"? Media gerangan mana agaknya yang paling awal terbawa-bawa dengan semangat tinggi "Rocket Pocket", Azizul Hasni Awang? Media mana agaknya, atau mungkin Pak Menteri Sukan kah yang lebih dulu terbawa-bawa dengan kegagahan Azizul, pelumba yang menjadi harapan pingat Sukan Olimpik London tahun depan (harapan pingat pertama Olimpik selain acara badminton).
Semangat juang Azizulhasni, daya saing dan profesionalismanya, memang tidak boleh dinafikan. Benar, dia bangun segera dalam keadaan betis kirinya telah tertusuk kayu 9 inci untuk menamatkan perlumbaan, sekaligus berjaya merangkul pingat gangsa acara keirin siri Klasik Piala Dunia diMachester, bulan lalu. Anak Terengganu itu juga mengesahkan posisinya selaku juara siri klasik dunia (4 siri perlumbaan), di depan lagenda trek Britain, Sir Chris Hoy.
Malangnya, bagi saya, semangat tinggi dan kekuatan Azizulhasni telah disalahtafsir, gara-gara keghairahan untuk melihat dia bangkit daripada insiden ngeri di Manchester, dengan membutirkan sebuah pingat untuk Malaysia pada Sukan Olimpik London, tahun depan.
Memang benar, perancangan dan peluang Azizulhasni menuju London 2012, tidak mungkin terjejas kerana insiden di Manchester. Pun begitu, janganlah sampai kata apa yang menimpanya itu tidak serius. Ia cukup serius dalam semua segi!
Lebih malang lagi, dek kerana terbawa-bawa dengan "harapan syok sendiri" terhadap Azizul, tiada satu pun media tempatan Malaysia berani atau cekap untuk mengutarakan "apa yang sebenarnya berlaku di trek Manchester itu?"
Velodrom berkenaan begitu gah sebagai "Home of British Cycling" tetapi apa sudah jadi? Kayu trek terkopek?..Maintainence 'ala-Malaysia'?...Penganjur terlepas pandang? Kalau berlaku di Malaysia, mesti ramai penulis sukan media tempatan, termasuk yang ada blog sendiri, dengan pantas mengritik, menyalahkan penganjur atau menyiasat bagaimana kayu trek kecil dan tajam boleh menusuk tembus betis kiri pelumba kebanggaan kita.
Kenapa tiada yang menyentuh langsung sudut Manchester dan penganjurnya? Yang ada pun, Datuk Naim Mohamad dikatakan tidak akan membuat bantahan kepada penganjur. Dan sekarang sibuk pula dengan laporan bagi meniup keghairahan Azizulhasni untuk berlumba pada World Championships di Belanda bulan depan.
"Kecederaan Azizul tidak serius?"...the Malaysian sports media must be joking!!!
Semangat juang Azizulhasni, daya saing dan profesionalismanya, memang tidak boleh dinafikan. Benar, dia bangun segera dalam keadaan betis kirinya telah tertusuk kayu 9 inci untuk menamatkan perlumbaan, sekaligus berjaya merangkul pingat gangsa acara keirin siri Klasik Piala Dunia diMachester, bulan lalu. Anak Terengganu itu juga mengesahkan posisinya selaku juara siri klasik dunia (4 siri perlumbaan), di depan lagenda trek Britain, Sir Chris Hoy.
Malangnya, bagi saya, semangat tinggi dan kekuatan Azizulhasni telah disalahtafsir, gara-gara keghairahan untuk melihat dia bangkit daripada insiden ngeri di Manchester, dengan membutirkan sebuah pingat untuk Malaysia pada Sukan Olimpik London, tahun depan.
Memang benar, perancangan dan peluang Azizulhasni menuju London 2012, tidak mungkin terjejas kerana insiden di Manchester. Pun begitu, janganlah sampai kata apa yang menimpanya itu tidak serius. Ia cukup serius dalam semua segi!
Lebih malang lagi, dek kerana terbawa-bawa dengan "harapan syok sendiri" terhadap Azizul, tiada satu pun media tempatan Malaysia berani atau cekap untuk mengutarakan "apa yang sebenarnya berlaku di trek Manchester itu?"
Velodrom berkenaan begitu gah sebagai "Home of British Cycling" tetapi apa sudah jadi? Kayu trek terkopek?..Maintainence 'ala-Malaysia'?...Penganjur terlepas pandang? Kalau berlaku di Malaysia, mesti ramai penulis sukan media tempatan, termasuk yang ada blog sendiri, dengan pantas mengritik, menyalahkan penganjur atau menyiasat bagaimana kayu trek kecil dan tajam boleh menusuk tembus betis kiri pelumba kebanggaan kita.
Kenapa tiada yang menyentuh langsung sudut Manchester dan penganjurnya? Yang ada pun, Datuk Naim Mohamad dikatakan tidak akan membuat bantahan kepada penganjur. Dan sekarang sibuk pula dengan laporan bagi meniup keghairahan Azizulhasni untuk berlumba pada World Championships di Belanda bulan depan.
"Kecederaan Azizul tidak serius?"...the Malaysian sports media must be joking!!!
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