Malaysia is already in the map for being part of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tennis tours. The latest inclusion in the world sporting calendar is the inaugural Sime Darby Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) in October, which may well feature Pak Se Ri and her Korean colleagues!
For Immediate Release
INAUGURAL SIME DARBY LPGA MALAYSIA SCHEDULED IN OCTOBER
Kuala Lumpur, 11 February 2010 – The inaugural Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia has been scheduled to take place in Malaysia from 22 – 24 October 2010 at the prestigious Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC).
The Sime Darby Group, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and event promoter IMG today announced that they will, for the first time in Malaysia’s history, bring a full-field LPGA sanctioned event to Malaysia’s shores.
It will feature the top 50 LPGA members from the Official Money List, along with 10 sponsor’s exemptions. The three-day stroke play event with no cut will ensure that players spend most of their time in Kuala Lumpur and provide for a great tournament where the local and regional golf community can catch their favourite stars in action.
“The tournament will be a catalyst for the development of the women’s game in Malaysia,” said Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman of the Sime Darby Group. He noted that with Asian professional lady golfers, particularly the Koreans, having proven their ability to perform at the highest level, there is no reason why Malaysians cannot attain the same level of achievement.
“The tournament will also promote Malaysia as a reputable golf ground via KLGCC and is also a testimony to Malaysia’s ability to host events of this scale at the international level,” added Tun Musa.
The LPGA is recognised as the official governing body for professional women’s golf and has been making inroads in Asia. The selection criteria of LPGA, which has been staging more events in this part of the world as well as having a global reach, will enable IMG to secure the best international playing field. A stellar line up can be expected come October.
“IMG prides itself in playing an integral role in developing the sport globally and our footprint in Asia has been growing from strength to strength. So we are excited that we can finally stage a full-field LPGA event in Malaysia,” said Robbie Henchman, Senior Vice President of IMG.
“With the support of Sime Darby and the LPGA, we can be assured that this inaugural event will deliver high quality in terms of international and local players as well as through the fabulous host venue.”
The world’s leading women golfers, through their participation in golf tournaments throughout the world, have endorsed Malaysia as a leading golf destination. More details about the event, including star players, local players and prize money, will be announced closer to the event.
Event Details
Player Field:
Qualification criteria for the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Open cater for a maximum number of 60 players. There will be no cut, so all will play the full 54 holes. Those invited to participate will be:
• Top 50 players from the Official Money List (as of 5 October, 2010)
• Ten Sponsor’s Exemptions
Format / Criteria: 54 hole stroke play event – no cut
Prize Purse: To be Announced
Friday, February 12, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
New twist to SAM-100 Plus Excellence Awards
UPDATED, Friday Feb 12, 11.0am
Overall winner of the SAM-KBS media awards stand to take home this trophy plus cash RM7,000. There are six categories of the award, namely best news report - print, commentary - print, best news report - electronic, commentary (electronic) special report - print and electronic and best photography. Winner of each category will receive RM3,000 and a trophy.
The Athlete of the Year will take home RM10,000 and this trophy
from left SAM vice-president Eric Samuel, president Ahmad Khawari Isa, Datuk Kamal Harun, F&N national corporate affairs manager and Jin Ye of F&N at the press conference
ORIGINAL POSTING
Cycling champ Azizulhasni Awang
Swimming sensation Daniel Bego
Squash star Datuk Nicol Ann David
Datuk Lee Chong Wei
One of the most prestigious awards in the sporting world is the Ballon D'or, or widely known as the European Footballer of the Year award. It was conceived by France Football journalist, Gabriel Hanot. As many as 96 journalists around the globe pick the top five players on an annual basis. The FIFA annual awards, by contrast, invite coaches of national teams affiliated to FIFA, numbering more than 200 countries, to cast their votes. The PFA Awards in England is the province of the professionals, where players pick the winners among their colleagues.
The Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) awards, a prestigious award in the days of yore, was traditionally restricted to an elite few. These individuals formed a selection committee comprising experts before picking the winner. This year, it's open to all members of SAM. A step that is designed to involve members.
So come Feb 20, journalists who have access to the athletes, the sports fraternity and statistics, will pick the winner or winners of the SAM-100 Plus awards to be graced by Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin.
The shortlisted candidates are Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Datuk Nicol Ann David, Azizulhasni Awang, Daniel Bego, Leong Mun Yee-Pandelela Rinong and the women's badminton team.
Another highly anticipated event is the sports journalism awards. More than 100 entries have been submitted for the six categories.
Overall winner of the SAM-KBS media awards stand to take home this trophy plus cash RM7,000. There are six categories of the award, namely best news report - print, commentary - print, best news report - electronic, commentary (electronic) special report - print and electronic and best photography. Winner of each category will receive RM3,000 and a trophy.
The Athlete of the Year will take home RM10,000 and this trophy
from left SAM vice-president Eric Samuel, president Ahmad Khawari Isa, Datuk Kamal Harun, F&N national corporate affairs manager and Jin Ye of F&N at the press conferenceORIGINAL POSTING
Cycling champ Azizulhasni Awang
Swimming sensation Daniel Bego
Squash star Datuk Nicol Ann David
Datuk Lee Chong WeiOne of the most prestigious awards in the sporting world is the Ballon D'or, or widely known as the European Footballer of the Year award. It was conceived by France Football journalist, Gabriel Hanot. As many as 96 journalists around the globe pick the top five players on an annual basis. The FIFA annual awards, by contrast, invite coaches of national teams affiliated to FIFA, numbering more than 200 countries, to cast their votes. The PFA Awards in England is the province of the professionals, where players pick the winners among their colleagues.
The Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) awards, a prestigious award in the days of yore, was traditionally restricted to an elite few. These individuals formed a selection committee comprising experts before picking the winner. This year, it's open to all members of SAM. A step that is designed to involve members.
So come Feb 20, journalists who have access to the athletes, the sports fraternity and statistics, will pick the winner or winners of the SAM-100 Plus awards to be graced by Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin.
The shortlisted candidates are Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Datuk Nicol Ann David, Azizulhasni Awang, Daniel Bego, Leong Mun Yee-Pandelela Rinong and the women's badminton team.
Another highly anticipated event is the sports journalism awards. More than 100 entries have been submitted for the six categories.
KL 31 Buenos Aires 58
We lost the bid to host the 2013 IOC Congress by 27 votes to Buenos Aires, the land that gave us Diego Maradona, Kun Aguero, Mario Kempes, Alfredo di Stefano and Daniel Pasarella, not forgetting Gabriela Sabatini, a short while ago during the IOC session in Vancouver.
My question is, was there a committee formed to carry this task to illustrate our seriousness or was it a last minute arrangement with the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM)? Bidding for events of this magnitude requires co-operation and support from all parties.
Remember how the Kuala Lumpur City Hall under Tan Sri Elyas Omar supported the 1998 Commonwealth Games bid? A high-powered committee was formed to take the Games to Asia for the first time and we did! Studies and efforts were made to discover nations friendly and unfriendly to our bid and canvassing for support became the main task for a lot of people, especially sports leaders in positions of power in the continental and world bodies.
So, a video message from the Prime Minister does not necessarily translate into votes!
My question is, was there a committee formed to carry this task to illustrate our seriousness or was it a last minute arrangement with the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM)? Bidding for events of this magnitude requires co-operation and support from all parties.
Remember how the Kuala Lumpur City Hall under Tan Sri Elyas Omar supported the 1998 Commonwealth Games bid? A high-powered committee was formed to take the Games to Asia for the first time and we did! Studies and efforts were made to discover nations friendly and unfriendly to our bid and canvassing for support became the main task for a lot of people, especially sports leaders in positions of power in the continental and world bodies.
So, a video message from the Prime Minister does not necessarily translate into votes!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
I love Legend Water Chalet
It was a few years back that loose cannon took his family to Legend Water Chalets in Port Dickson, spending his hard-earned money for a day of rejuvenation, not a romantic getaway, what with a baby and a toddler forming part of the entourage. The family came back feeling that the place was designed with honeymooners in mind. Next time loose cannon will make sure the entourage stays at home so that he and the wifey can rekindle the romance!
The Malay Mail's revelation on the National Sports Council's extravagance for purchasing two units of the exact chalet that loose cannon and family had stayed is timely. It serves as a timely reminder to NSC that proper procedures and due dilligence must always be observed and performed.
1. Should NSC buy the units in the first place?
2. For whom are they for?
3. Was the investment worth it?
Loose cannon is OK with the purchase since every statutory body has a place to call its retreat. Loose cannon had been to a few in Fraser's Hills and Cameron Highlands. If the cash had remained in the coffers, in hindsight it would have been spent for something else, knowing how the NSC functioned from 2004 to 2008.
The price by now may have shot through the roof. If NSC is scraping the bottom of the barrel, they have the option of selling the place.
Now if this purchase was put under the microscope by the MACC, loose cannon wonders why other questionable and dubious spendings are not under scrutiny!
Read Ministry's reactions here, that the chalet was supposed to a secret here and the Malay Mail revelation here. And of course Citizen Nades' brutal take here.
The Malay Mail's revelation on the National Sports Council's extravagance for purchasing two units of the exact chalet that loose cannon and family had stayed is timely. It serves as a timely reminder to NSC that proper procedures and due dilligence must always be observed and performed.
1. Should NSC buy the units in the first place?
2. For whom are they for?
3. Was the investment worth it?
Loose cannon is OK with the purchase since every statutory body has a place to call its retreat. Loose cannon had been to a few in Fraser's Hills and Cameron Highlands. If the cash had remained in the coffers, in hindsight it would have been spent for something else, knowing how the NSC functioned from 2004 to 2008.
The price by now may have shot through the roof. If NSC is scraping the bottom of the barrel, they have the option of selling the place.
Now if this purchase was put under the microscope by the MACC, loose cannon wonders why other questionable and dubious spendings are not under scrutiny!
Read Ministry's reactions here, that the chalet was supposed to a secret here and the Malay Mail revelation here. And of course Citizen Nades' brutal take here.
Pemergian Pak Alwi ditangisi
Harris Fadillah Osman, dulunya dianggap pengganti mutlak Rosman
Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad, antara pengasas lumba basikal Kuala LumpurSalam takziah kukirimkan kepada keluarga Allahyarham Pak Alwi Ahmad juga kepada Zainal Abidin Hassan atas kematian ibu tercinta.
Pemergian Pak Alwi, seorang pejuang lumba basikal, sudah tentu diratapi. Baca di sini. Baca sumbangan teman sekampung Rosman di sini dan kenanganku mengekori Alfa Pak Alwi di sini.
Arwahnya tidak banyak bercakap. Namun antara watak di balik tabir yang menghidupkan lumba basikal di Kuala Lumpur.
Banyak yang kupelajari membuat liputan lumba basikal sepanjang 90-an, termasuk tuduh-menuduh di kalangan orang kuat sukan itu mengenai "buatan orang".
Al-Fatihah buat Pak Alwi, moga rohnya ditempatkan di kalangan solihin.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Subkhiddin for Africa
If everything goes according to plan, Malaysia will finally have a representative on the pitch, officiating a FIFA World Cup match.
Teacher Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh, according to the-afc.com, is one of four referees to be appointed for the South Africa edition in June-July. Malaysia's previous representatives were assistant referees the late Halim Abdul Hamid in France'98 and Mat Lazim Awang Hamad in South Korea-Japan 2002.
Teacher Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh, according to the-afc.com, is one of four referees to be appointed for the South Africa edition in June-July. Malaysia's previous representatives were assistant referees the late Halim Abdul Hamid in France'98 and Mat Lazim Awang Hamad in South Korea-Japan 2002.
Subkhiddin's inclusion probably came at the expense of Aussie Matthew Breeze who is considered one of the continent's top referees.
Subkhiddin's prospects were believed to have taken a huge dent last year when Thanom Borikut, one of his assistant referees, was arrested for alleged murder. In place of Thanom is Singapore's Jeffrey Goh. China's Mu Yuxin completes Subkhiddin's team.
Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh
Zainal Abidin Abu Bakar
S. Kathiravale
Olympian hockey keeper-turned-referee T. Nadarajah
Datuk George Joseph once shared the pitch with Maradona
Subkhiddin's appointment is indeed a timely tribute to his predecessors, notably the late Mohd Nazri Abdullah, who passed away exactly a year and three days ago. Nazri came close to be given the honour but missed out by a whisker in the 90s. Read here and here.
Our referees over the decades have done the country proud, namely Tan Sri Zain Hashim, Datuk George Joseph, T. Nadarajah, S. Kathiravale, Mohd Noor Saud, Patrick Nice, Koh Guan Kiat, Othman Omar, Othman Kamaluddin, Steven Ovinis and Nik Ahmad Yaakub to name a few, without getting the opportunity to officiate at the most prestigious sporting extravaganza. Subkhiddin has earned the distinction at the age of 43 and four months, one year shy of the FIFA age limit. But I wonder who next after the teacher from Penang? This question must be posed to ex-referee, Kol Kamaruddin Sakhari.
The rest of the Asian team, as reported by the-afc.com, are: 1. Referee: Khalil Al Ghamdi (KSA) Assistant Referee 1: Hassan Kamranifar (Irn) Assistant Referee 2: Saleh Mohamed Al Marzouqi (UAE)
2.Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzb) Assistant Referee 1: Rafael Ilyasov (Uzb) Assistant Referee 2: Bahadyr Kochkarov (Kgz)
3. Referee: Mohd Salleh Subkhiddin (Mas) Assistant Referee 1: Yuxin Mu (Chn) Assistant Referee 2: Jeffrey Goh Gek Pheng (Sin)
4.Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Jpn) Assistant Referee 1: Toru Sagara (Jpn) Assistant Referee 2: Hae Sang Jeong (Kor)
The FIFA Referees Committee met on Friday to announce the appointments. A total of 30 referees representing 28 different countries will be in action for the world showcase of football.
The group of 30 trios of referees selected will participate in a training seminar next month.
In May, a final assessment will be conducted and a decision made regarding the acting and support referees prior to the first match appointments being made for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Houllier and I, part one
Actually, I personally do not rate Gerard Houllier. To me, he is a coach associated with failures. Really. I remember the tragedy at Parc des Princes in November 1993, when Emil Kostadinov's last-gasp winning goal crushed the hopes of a generation that boasted Jean-Pierre Papin, David Ginola and Eric Cantona - the latter two having never played in the World Cup. The coach - Houllier.
In Liverpool, most of Houllier's signings were basically nondescript.
But if one studies the factors leading to France's 1998 World Cup success and the concept of academy (centre-de-formation) which helped nurture hundreds of top-class footballers, Houllier's contribution cannot be denied.
Three times I have had the good fortune of coming face to face with the man.
In 1997, he brushed aside my question on the speculation linking him to the England FA job.
In 2005, he refused to mention any name when I asked him before the entire family of Asian coaches attending the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Symposium on who was the recently deceased French coach widely respected by the generation of Giresse, Tigana and Fernandez.
In 2010, however, I managed to leave a mark. In my desire to interview Houllier for the Kerusi VIP column for EPLx Kosmo! and obtain unanswered questions that harked back to 1997, I took the trouble to catch him on three occasions during the Asean Football Federation (AFF) seminar for technical directors. On the pitch, off the pitch and in between classes!
Apart from these glowing words for loose cannon, Monsieur Houllier gave me a FFF pen
That's France Under-21 coach Eric Mombaerts on the left, loose cannon and Monsieur Houllier.
In Liverpool, most of Houllier's signings were basically nondescript.
But if one studies the factors leading to France's 1998 World Cup success and the concept of academy (centre-de-formation) which helped nurture hundreds of top-class footballers, Houllier's contribution cannot be denied.
Three times I have had the good fortune of coming face to face with the man.
In 1997, he brushed aside my question on the speculation linking him to the England FA job.
In 2005, he refused to mention any name when I asked him before the entire family of Asian coaches attending the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Symposium on who was the recently deceased French coach widely respected by the generation of Giresse, Tigana and Fernandez.
In 2010, however, I managed to leave a mark. In my desire to interview Houllier for the Kerusi VIP column for EPLx Kosmo! and obtain unanswered questions that harked back to 1997, I took the trouble to catch him on three occasions during the Asean Football Federation (AFF) seminar for technical directors. On the pitch, off the pitch and in between classes!
Apart from these glowing words for loose cannon, Monsieur Houllier gave me a FFF pen 
That's France Under-21 coach Eric Mombaerts on the left, loose cannon and Monsieur Houllier.
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