Azraai keeps his charges’ feet on the ground

The Star Online>13/8/2008

GEORGE TOWN: Kedah coach Mohd Azraai Khor does not want his players to believe too much in their favourites tag ahead of their Malaysia Cup semi-final against Terengganu.

The Super League and FA Cup champions, who are just three steps away from a historic second consecutive treble, take on the Turtles in the first-leg today at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Star.

Motivated marksman: Selangor striker Safee Sali has promised to fire the Red Giants to victory in their Malaysia Cup semi-final against Johor FC.

Azraai has warned his players not to get carried away with all the accolades heaped on the team following their clinical 5-0 aggregate demolition of Perak in the quarter-finals.

In contrast, Terengganu had to slog for their ticket to the semis, enduring a goalless 210 minutes of football before overcoming Perlis 7-6 on sudden-death penalties.

“People can say whatever they want about Kedah being the favourites but the players should not believe the hype and must stay focused. Terengganu were one of the few teams who beat us in the league this season. They are a very hard-working side and will never give up as proven in their penalty shoot-out triumph over Perlis in the last eight,” said Azraai from Alor Star yesterday.

In the league, Terengganu defeated Kedah 3-1 at the Sultan Ismail Stadium last December, but the Canaries avenged that with a 2-1 win at the Darulaman Stadium in April.

“Although I would prefer to play the return-leg at home, we can still take advantage of playing at home first like we did against Perak last week. Taking a comfortable lead in Alor Star would pile the pressure on our opponents and allow us more breathing space when we travel to Kuala Terengganu this weekend.”

The return-leg will be played at the Sultan Mizan Stadium in Gong Badak on Saturday.

Double joy for Nur Azriyn

The Star Online>13/8/2008

GEORGE TOWN: Selangor’s Nur Azriyn Ayub bagged a double for Malaysia at the recent Badminton Asia Under-16 Championships at the Brunei National Indoor Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan.

The Bukit Jalil Sports School student defeated Indonesian Kenas Adi Haryanto 21-15, 21-13 in the boys’ final.

Nur Azriyn then teamed up with Teo Ee Yi to defeat compatriots Tan Wing Sham-Heg Wei Keat 21-16, 21-16 in the all-Malaysian boys’ doubles final.

Wei Keat made up for his disappointment in the boys’ doubles final by delivering Malaysia’s third title in the competition in the mixed doubles category.

The Penangite teamed up with Shevon Lai Jamie to beat another Malaysian pair – Goh Giap Chin-Chow Mei Kuan – 21-13, 26-24.

Thailand snapped up the remaining two titles in the girls’ categories.

Phelps menang emas kelima

Utusan Online>13/8/2008

BEIJING 13 Ogos – Rangkaian renang 4×200 meter gaya bebas Amerika Syarikat – Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Ricky Berens dan Peter Vanderkaay meraih pingat emas Sukan Olimpik Beijing dengan masa yang tipis menewaskan pemenang perak, Rusia.

Mereka mencatatkan 6:58.56 saat sambil mencatatkan rekod dunia, mengatasi 4.68s daripada catatan lama juga milik Amerika sementara Australia memenangi gangsa.

Phelps yang memenangi emas 200m gaya bebas kelmarin, sudah mengumpul emas kelima di Beijing.

Memanah: Cheng Chu mara ke pusingan ketiga

Utusan Online>13/8/2008

BEIJING _ Pemanah Malaysia, Cheng Chu Sian mara ke pusingan ketiga acara recurve individu Sukan Olimpik Beijing manakala rakan sepasukannya, Muhammad Marbawi Sulaiman terkandas dalam pusingan pertama hari ini.

Chu Sian menang 109-101 ke atas pemanah Australia, Matthew Gray dalam pusingan pertama sebelum menumpaskan Matti Hatava dari Finland 110-103 dalam pusingan kedua di Padang Memanah Olimpik Green itu.

Marbawi pula kecundang kepada Chen Szu Yuan dari Taiwan,107-106. Sementara Wan Khalmizan Wan Abd. Aziz juga gagal selepas tewas kepada pemanah dari Romania, Bodnar Alexandru 106-105.

Cabaran Mew Choo berakhir

Utusan Online>13/8/2008

BEIJING – Wakil tunggal pemain badminton wanita negara, Wong Mew Choo tewas dalam perlawanan peringkat suku akhir kepada pemain tuan rumah Lu Lan 21-7, 29-27 di Sukan Olimpik Beijing hari ini.

Kekalahan straight set itu melenyapkan impian pemain negara itu untuk mara ke separuh akhir, walaupun cuba memberi tentangan sengit pada set kedua.

Siow Yi Ting pulang ke tanah air dengan rekod kebangsaan.

Utusan Online>: 13/08/2008 <!–         –>

BEIJING – Siow Yi Ting akan pulang ke tanah air selepas menyertai Sukan Olimpik dengan mencatatkan rekod baru kebngsaan dalam acara 200 meter kuak lentang.

Dia memenangi acara saringan hari ini dengan mencatatkan masa 2 minit 29.21 saat, menjadi perenang kedua yang berjaya memecah rekod kebangsaan dalam acara renang selepas Daniel Bego berjaya melakukannya sebelum ini untuk 200 meter gaya bebas lelaki.

Masa yang dicatatkan merupakan yang ke-19 terpantas dari 40 perenang yang menyertai acara tersebut. Perenang terakhir yang mara ke separuh akhir ialah Jeong Darae dari Korea Selatan 2:27.28s.

Yi Ting mencatatkan masa terbaik musim ini 2:17.11s dalam acara 200 meter rampaian dua hari lalu. Dia merupakan pemegang rekod kebangsaan 2:16.92s. – Bernama

Harapan beregu negara menang emas berkecai

Utusan Online> 13/08/2008 <!–         –>

Harapan beregu negara menang emas berkecai

BEIJING – Harapan pemain beregu negara Koo Kien Kiat – Tan Boon Heong untuk memenangi pingat emas pertama Sukan Olimpik musnah selepas tewas di peringkat suku akhir kepada pasangan Indonesia Markis Kida – Hendra Setiawan 21-16, 21-18 di Beijing hari ini.

Pasangan Indonesia itu hanya memerlukan 34 minit untuk mengalahkan Kien Kiat dan Boon Heong walaupun mereka menunjukkan peningkatan di set kedua.

Cabaran negara dalam acara badminton Sukan Olimpik Beijing hanya terletak di bahu pemain perseorangan tunggal negara Lee Chong Wei yang akan beraksi esok dalam perlawanan suku akhir menentang Sony Dwi Kuncoro.

Lalas dipecat, Gullit tinggalkan Galaxy

Utusan Online > 13/08/2008 <!–         –>

CARSON, California – Tanpa mencapai sebarang kemenangan dalam tujuh perlawanan berturut-turut telah mendesak pasukan Liga Bola Sepak Utama (MLS), Los Angeles Galaxy memecat pengurus besar pasukan itu, Alexi Lalas dan menerima perletakan jawatan jurulatih, Ruud Gullit, kelmarin.

Pasukan yang dibarisi oleh bintang terkemuka, David Beckham hanya merekodkan keputusan 0-4-3 dalam tujuh perlawanan terdahulu, biarpun pada mulanya pasukan itu dijangka memberi persaingan dalam liga tersebut musim ini.

Galaxy berada di kedudukan tempat keempat dalam carta Western Conference dengan rekod 6-8-5.

Tempoh terpanjang tanpa sebarang kemenangan yang dicatatkan oleh Galaxy dalam sejarah bola sepaknya adalah selama 10 perlawanan berturut-turut iaitu pada musim 2006.

Gullit bagaimanapun enggan mengulas lanjut mengenai perletakan jawatan yang dilakukan olehnya dan hanya menjelaskan bahawa ia adalah melibatkan ‘alasan peribadi’.

“Kedua-dua pihak telah bersetuju dengan terma-terma yang ditetapkan oleh syarikat.

“Kedua-dua pihak mencapai persetujuan secara baik itu dan kami sangat menghargai serta menghormati isu yang melibatkan Gullit dengan kelab ini.

“Kami sangat berterima kasih dengan segala kerja keras yang telah diberikan ketika bersama dengan organisasi ini.

“Diharap dia (Gullit) telah meninggalkan asas yang boleh digunakan oleh Los Angeles Galaxy di masa depan,” kata presiden Kumpulan AEG, Tim Leiweke. Kumpulan AEG ialah pemilik kepada pasukan Galaxy.

Tempat yang ditinggalkan oleh Gullit itu akan digantikan oleh jurulatih sementara, Cobi Jones.

Beckham, 33, menjadi pemain yang mendapat bayaran termahal di MLS apabila Galaxy menandatanganinya kontrak dengannya pada tahun lalu.

Namun begitu, kehadiran pemain termahal itu masih tidak dapat diterjemahkan untuk mencipta kemenangan kepada Galaxy.

- AFP

Keane tingkat keyakinan penyokong

Utusan Online > 13/08/2008 <!–         –>

LIVERPOOL, England – Kehadiran Robbie Keane (gambar) telah menaikkan keyakinan penyokong setia Liverpool untuk memenangi kejuaraan Liga Perdana England pertama mereka tahun ini, selepas menjuarainya pada 1990.

Kapten Ireland yang berhijrah dari Tottenham Hotspur ke Liverpool dengan kos bernilai 20 juta pound (RM140 juta) itu telah berjanji untuk memberi persembahan mantap bersama penyerang sensasi Liverpool musim lalu, Fernando Torres.

Wira pasukan Sepanyol di Euro 2008 itu telah menjaringkan 33 gol pada penampilan pertamanya di Anfield musim lalu.

Kehadiran Keane dilihat dapat membantu penyerang berbisa Sepanyol itu mendapat sokongan di bahagian serangan, sekali gus membantu Torres untuk terus menjadi hero kepada pasukan penyokong setia Liverpool yang dikenali sebagai Kop.

Pengurus Liverpool, Rafael Benitez telah meringankan beban yang dipikul oleh Torres sebelum ini, setelah membawa masuk Keane yang berperanan memberi sokongan dan boleh membantu pasukan itu mencipta lebih banyak jaringan pada musim baru ini.

Keane yang telah menjaringkan 23 gol untuk Tottenham musim lalu pastinya tidak akan menyesia-siakan peluangnya untuk beraksi dengan sebuah pasukan yang sangat diminati olehnya sejak kecil lagi.

Benitez yang masih mengejar khidmat pemain tengah Aston Villa, Gareth Barry terus berharap pemain antarabangsa England itu dapat menyertai Liverpool sebelum pintu perpindahan ditutup pada penghujung bulan ini.

Meskipun Benitez tidak menetapkan sebarang jangkaan berhubung keupayaan Liverpool memenangi kejuaraan musim ini, namun dia begitu optimistik pasukan itu mampu melakukannya.

“Saya mempunyai keyakinan terhadap skuad ini dan gembira kerana kami mempunyai sebuah pasukan terbaik sejak saya berada di Anfield.

“Saya tidak mahu menyatakan bahawa kami akan memenangi kejuaraan kerana Liga Perdana England pada ketika ini adalah yang terbaik dan mempunyai persaingan yang semakin sukar di Eropah.

“Manchester United, Chelsea dan Arsenal adalah pasukan yang terbaik di Eropah. Namun begitu, perkara itu tidak akan menggoyangkan keyakinan saya bahawa kami boleh menandingi mereka,” kata Benitez kepada akhbar Daily Mirror.

Walaubagaimanapun, kehadiran Keane dan sikap optimistik Benitez itu masih tidak cukup untuk melengkapkan hasrat tinggi Liverpool.

Benitez mengakui bahawa dia masih memerlukan pemain sayap kiri yang berkualiti dan perkara itu masih gagal memperbaiki masalah yang dihadapinya itu.

Selain itu, dia juga masih berhadapan dengan bahagian pertahanan tengah pasukan itu yang masih longgar jika berlakunya masalah kecederaan yang menimpa pemain utama di bahagian tersebut.

Liverpool berjaya mendapat khidmat pemain pertahanan kanan baru dari Borussia Dortmund, Philipp Degen dan Andrea Dossena dari Udinese bagi memperkukuhkan bahagian pertahanan pasukan itu setelah kehilangan khidmat John Arne Riise yang berpindah ke Roma.

- Reuters

Kedah waspada jumpa Terengganu

Utusan Online>13/8/2008

ALOR STAR – Ketua jurulatih bola sepak Kedah, Mohd. Azraai Khor Abdullah menyifatkan barisannya bakal berdepan saingan paling getir dalam misi mempertahankan Piala Malaysia apabila menentang Terengganu pada perlawanan separuh akhir pertama, di Stadium Darul Aman malam ini, lapor SHARIZA ABDULLAH.

Katanya, dua rekod pertemuan Kedah dengan pasukan dari pantai timur itu dalam saingan Liga Super musim ini adalah 50-50, di mana kedua-dua mereka mencatatkan satu kemenangan. Malah katanya, Kedah turut menyedari keampuhan Terengganu yang mempamer aksi cemerlang sepanjang kempen Piala Malaysia sehingga layak ke separuh akhir kejohanan prestij itu. Ia sekali gus, kata Mohd. Azraai menjadikan Sang Penyu sebagai lawan yang perlu dihormati meski pun pasukan tersebut bakal beraksi tanpa pemain import. “Kedah akan berwaspada menentang pasukan Terengganu lebih-lebih lagi perlawanan malam ini adalah pusingan kalah mati. “Namun kami berazam untuk mencari bekalan selesa dengan menggunakan sebaik-baiknya kelebihan beraksi di hadapan penyokong sendiri,” katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia di sini, semalam. Mohd. Azraai juga mengingatkan anak buahnya agar tidak menyesia-siakan peluang untuk mencipta sejarah merangkul tiga piala buat musim kedua berturut-turut sesudah berjaya melangkah jauh dalam saingan Piala Malaysia kali ini. Menurut beliau, pada peringkat seperti inilah para pemainnya perlu mengguna pakai peluang yang dicipta dengan mempamerkan persembahan terbaik mereka selaku penyandang juara untuk mencipta kemenangan. Dalam pada itu, Mohd. Azraai lega memandangkan kesemua pemainnya bebas daripada kecederaan dan sedia untuk diturunkan beraksi malam ini. Katanya, keadaan itu termasuk sekembalinya pemain tengah, Ahmad Fauzi Shaari ke dalam skuad selepas tidak dapat diturunkan bermain kerana mengalami kecederaan yang akan memberinya peluang untuk mencongak strategi ampuh bagi membenam cabaran Terengganu.

Pemain Perak Carlos Caceres (kiri) dikawal ketat oleh pemain Kedah, Sahfizan Hashim pada perlawanan kedua suku akhir bola sepak Piala Malaysia di Stadium Perak baru-baru ini, menyaksikan Kedah menang 2-0. – Bernama

Hope of The Malaysian Olympic Debutants

WAN KHALMIZAM WAN ABDUL AZIZ (Archery)

Age: 21

Disciplines: Individual and team recurve

World ranking: 29

Career highlights: Finishing third in the Asian Championships to hand Malaysia the full quota for the team event in the Olympics.

Previous multi-Games experience: 2005 Manila SEA Games; 2006 Doha Asian Games, 2007 Korat SEA Games

BEIJING HOPES: I never thought I would take part in the Olympics when I first took up archery. I only took up the sport because I was not good in tennis and was looking at a sport that I could excel in. Although I reached the last eight in the World Cup leg in Croatia this year, I think we have a better chance of doing well in the team event.

WONG MEW CHOO (Badminton)

Age: 25

Discipline: Women’s singles

World ranking: 9 Career highlights: Winning the 2007 China Open title

Previous multi-Games experience: 2003 Vietnam SEA Games; 2005 Manila SEA Games; 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games; 2006 Doha Asian Games

BEIJING HOPES: Winning my first Open title in China last year was great but the Olympics is a different level altogether. I will go into the Games with no expectation but try to focus on the task and take each round as it comes.

AZIZUL HASNI AWANG (Cycling)

Age: 20

Disciplines: Track (Individual keirin, Individual 200m sprint and team sprint)

World ranking: 19

Career highlights: Becoming the first Malaysian cyclist to win two gold medals in the senior ranks of the Asian Championships in Japan in April.

Previous multi-Games experience: 2007 Korat SEA Games

BEIJING HOPES: I am deeply honoured to be the flag bearer for the Malaysian contingent. To win an Olympic medal will be like a wildest dream come true but if a chance comes my way, I will grab it.

PANDELELA RINONG (Diving)

Age: 15

Discipline: Women’s individual 10m platform

World ranking: None

Career highlights: Winning a gold in her first outing in the SEA Games in Korat last year Previous multi-Games experience: 2007 Korat SEA Games

BEIJING HOPES: I never thought I would qualify for the Olympics because of my limited experience in diving. I will try my best not to disappoint my coach and everyone back home.

CHE CHEW CHAN (Taekwondo)

Age: 26

Discipline: Women’s over 67kg

World ranking: None

Career highlights: Winning the Asian qualifiers in Vietnam last year to qualify for the Olympics

Previous multi-Games experience: 2001 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games; 2002 Busan Asian Games; 2005 Manila SEA Games; 2007 Korat SEA Games

BEIJING HOPES: My dream is to win a medal and I have been pushing hard in training for the last two years to prepare myself for the Olympic level of competition.

Chong Wei hopes to topple Lin Dan and win a gold medal for fans

The Star Online>6/8/2008

BADMINTON

VENUE: Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium COMPETITION DATES: Aug 9-17 MEDALS AT STAKE: 5-5-5

THE TEAM Men: Lee Chong Wei, Wong Choong Hann (singles); Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Lee Wan Wah-Choong Tan Fook (doubles) Women: Wong Mew Choo (singles); Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty (doubles) Manager: Datuk Lim Teong Kiat. Coaches: Yap Kim Hock, Misbun Sidek, Rexy Mainaky, Wong Tat Meng

PAST ACHIEVEMENTS 1992 Barcelona: Jalani-Razif Sidek (doubles, bronze) 1996 Atlanta: Yap Kim Hock-Cheah Soon Kit (doubles, silver); Rashid Sidek (singles, bronze) 2000 Sydney: No medals 2004 Athens: No medals

KUALA LUMPUR: It was eight years ago but national number one Lee Chong Wei still remembers vividly his first painful defeat by China’s Lin Dan.

In his first international tournament, the 2000 Asian Junior Championships in Kyoto, Chong Wei lost by just one point to Lin Dan in the rubber game (15-8, 7-15, 17-16) in the quarter-final match. The Chinese went on to lift the title.

There will be another clash of titans between Lin Dan and Chong Wei in the final of the Beijing Olympics men’s singles event if both players live up to their billings. And that will be a dream come true for Chong Wei.

“I was 18 and was so excited to feature in my first international tournament. I played against Lin Dan for the first time and lost to him by one point … it was so close,” said Chong Wei, who was then the country’s top national junior.

“But I knew then, that this player (Lin Dan) will become the world’s top player.”

Since then, the talented Lin Dan had taken the lead to dominate world badminton. In fact, the duo had met 12 times with Lin Dan winning eight of the matches.

But in their last encounter two months ago, Chong Wei showed that he had narrowed the gap by bulldozing past the Chinese in straight games in the first match of the Thomas Cup semi-final tie in Jakarta.

After putting such great effort in training, Chong Wei is determined to cap an eight-year rivalry by taking on Lin Dan in the final of the Beijing Games.

“Both of us have come very far since that first meeting (in 2000). Currently, he is the greatest men’s singles player in the world. Nothing will give me the pleasure but to play against him in the final. If this happens, it will be a dream come true,” said Chong Wei.

The 26-year-old added that both of them had their own specialties.

“He has grown into a great attacking player since our first meeting. He is powerful and his speed is amazing. And his skills are extraordinary. That is why he has been dominating the world scene for a long time,” said Chong Wei.

“I used to play a more defensive game. But now, there is more bite in my game. Since I followed coach Misbun (Sidek), I have become a more complete player.”

In his bid to make the final in Beijing, the second seeded Chong Wei is wary of the threat posed by the players in his half of the draw. He opens his campaign in the second round against Singapore’s Ronald Susilo. Both players drew first-round byes.

In his quarter are Indonesian Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana. The other quarter has China’s Bao Chunlai, Denmark’s Kenneth Jonassen and South Korea’s Lee Hyun-il.

Top seed Lin Dan has South Korean Park Sung-hwan, Dane Peter Gade-Christenten, compatriot Chen Jin, defending champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia and Malaysian Wong Choong Hann in his half of the draw.

After letting down Malaysia in last year’s World Championships where he lost in the third round to Sony, Chong Wei is determined to make up for the disappointment.

“I know that about 27 million Malaysians will be hoping for the badminton team to do well in the Olympics. My mission is to bring the cheers,” he said.

Malaysia have yet to win a gold medal in the Olympics.

Boon Heong adopts a ‘have fun’ approach

The Star Online>5/8/2008

The 21-year-old has found fun and joy playing badminton once again after being critical of himself for several failures this year.

And the cool and composed Kedahan hopes that his first Olympic outing with Koo Kien Keat will turn out to be the best in their two-year partnership.

Final tune-up: Beijing-bound men’s doubles players (from left) Choong Tan Fook, Koo Kien Keat, Lee Wan Wah and Tan Boon Heong listening to coach Rexy Mainaky during a training session yesterday.

“Kien Keat and I want to have fun in our first Games. We are not going to put any undue pressure on ourselves. It will be all about bringing out our best and enjoying each match as it comes. Nowadays, I do not get too worked up over simple mistakes even though I strive to make perfect shots,” said Boon Heong.

“I have given my best in training. I feel calm with myself and I hope to maintain this good feeling when I land in Beijing.”

Boon Heong-Kien Keat have failed in the defence of three Open titles this year – in Malaysia, England and Switzerland. And most of the times, the blame fell on Boon Heong for the lack of urgency in his game.

In the Thomas Cup Finals in Jakarta in May, Boon Heong was out of sorts and he was blunt in his attacks during the crucial semi-final tie against China. The pair lost to Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng in the first doubles match and Malaysia eventually lost the tie 2-3.

In the Beijing Olympics, Boon Heong-Kien Keat have a crucial first-round match against Japanese Shintaro Ikeda-Shuichi Sakamoto, whom they lost to in the World Championships last year and in the All-England this year.

“The first round will make all the difference for us. We can go far, if we clear this hurdle,” said Boon Heong.

The Malaysians have top seeds and world champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia and China’s Guo Zhengdong-Xie Zhongbo in their quarter of the draw. Also in the half are world number six Lee Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung of South Korea and Danes Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen.

Boon Heong is looking forward to the experience of playing in the Olympics.

“I was a national junior player when I watched our shuttlers in action during the 2004 Athens Olympics. Malaysia did not win a medal but it led me to think that one day I could be playing for the country in the Games,” he said.

“Everything has happened sooner than I imagined. Hopefully, we will be able to bring back home a medal.”

Even national doubles coach Rexy Mainaky is happy with Boon Heong’s new attitude.

“He is more relaxed. He has been enjoying the training sessions. He has taken great effort to polish up his smashing skills. Let’s hope he will show what he has gained in training in Beijing,” said Rexy.

Boon Heong-Kien Keat raised a hope of winning the country first gold medal at the Olympics when they ended the country’s 36-year wait for a title at the 2006 Doha Asian Games. They went on a great run last year and won six titles – in Malaysia, England, Switzerland, the Philippines, Macau and Denmark.

But after firing blank this year, the Olympics could be their first title this year – albeit the most prized one.

Olympics: Hasli targets top 10 finish in Beijing

The Star Online>5/8/2008

KUALA LUMPUR: Hasli Izwan Amir Hasan has created history for Malaysian shooting. And he hopes that his participation in the Beijing Olympics will encourage other shooters to try and qualify on merit and aim for a medal in future Games.

“Malaysian shooters featured in previous Games as wildcard entries and I am the first to make the grade on merit. But this is not the end of my battle. I will be competing against the best and I will aim to come back with a personal best score,” said Hasli.

Leading the way: ‘I have to do well and let my result serve as an encouragement for our future shooters.’

The 31-year-old secured an Olympic berth in the 25m rapid-fire pistol event at the Asian championships in Kuwait last year. He scored a national record-equalling 776.6 to finish second behind China’s Zhang Penghui (779.4).

“I have been training very hard and my target is to get among the top 10. It will be tough and I have to put aside the pressure and try to stay focussed on the task,” he said.

“There is no point coming all the way to Beijing and let nervousness get the better of you. I have to do well and let my result serve as an encouragement for our future shooters.”

Hasli works as manager at the Langkawi International Shooting Range, which also serves as his training base under coach Mohamed Hashim Desa.

“I took up the job two months ago and this offers me a secure future. Previously, I was jobless but trained full time,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to better things after the Olympics. One of my aims is to try and win an Asian Games medal. Age is no barrier in shooting and I can try to make it to the 2010 London Olympics as well.”

Hasli added that he was ready for the challenges in Beijing and most of the work over the last couple of weeks was confined to boosting his mental strength.

“I need to be strong mentally and to keep full concentration during the competition. Nerves will play a big part and I need to learn to control it,” he said.

Hasli will not be with his son, Hazrey Izuddin, who will turn one on Aug 14, the eve of his competition in Beijing.

“It’s a pity that I will not be around to celebrate his birthday. But he will certainly be my inspiration and it will be a good gift for him if I meet my personal target,” said Hasli, who will leave for Beijing on Aug 11.

Rexy: Malaysian men’s pairs have ways to counter Danes

The Star Online>4/8/2008

KUALA LUMPUR: The Danish doubles players hold an advantage in the badminton game played under the 21-point best-of-five games rally-scoring format.

The Danes, according to Malaysia’s national doubles coach Rexy Mainaky, have good serves. And he thinks that this will be an important key to the success of a pair in the Beijing Olympics.

“The service is really important and I think, the Danes are the masters when it comes to this skill. They have variety in their serves and often, they trap their opponents to make the mistakes,” he said.

Denmark will be banking on their seasoned campaigners Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard Hansen and Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen for honours in the Olympics.

But having said that, Rexy said that the Malaysians had analysed their opponents’ game. And they had come out with ways to counter the services from the Danes.

The Malaysian pairs in the fray are Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah and Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.

The Malaysians can only cross path with the Danes in the semi-finals with Kien Keat-Boon Heong taking on Paaske-Rasmussen and Tan Fook-Wan Wah up against two-time All-England champions Eriksen-Lundgaard Hansen.