Kathirvale among eight inducted into OCM Hall of Fame

Former greats: Kathirvale (fourth from left) with the others inducted into the OCM- Hall of Fame and OCM president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar (left) and Danyal.

EIGHTY-TWO-year-old S. Kathirvale had reasons to be elated when he was inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) - Hall of Fame at the Coca-Cola Olympian of the Year ceremony in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Kathirvale, a former FIFA referee and FIH umpire, said he was pleased to be on stage with some of the top officials and athletes in Malaysia.

“I started being involved as a match official, in both hockey and football, when I was 28. It was very challenging then and there were days when abuses were hurled at me. But today, the OCM had made me proud with this honour,’’ said Kathirvale.

Besides Kathirvale, the OCM also honoured Datuk Khalid Yunus, Datuk W.Y. Chin, Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee, S. Jahendran, Datuk Thomas Lee, Marina Chin and Karu Selvaratnam.

Khalid, Chin, Yong Wee and Jahendran had served in the OCM. Khalid and Chin were vice- presidents while Yong Wee and Jahendran were treasurer and assistant treasurer respectively. Former athletes — Marina Chin and Karu Selvaratnam — also made it to the Hall of Fame.

Marina, now the principal of the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), won three gold medals in the 1977 and 1979 SEAP Games. She was also named as the Sportswoman of the Year in 1976 and 1977. Karu has the honour of having represented Malaysia in athletics and cricket.

Organising chairman Datuk Danyal Balagopal said the awards were a recognition for the recipients’ contribution to sports.

“All the winners have an impressive track record as administrators and athletes. They deserve to be given the honour to be inducted into the OCM Hall of Fame,’’ said Danyal, who is also the OCM vice-president.
BJSS netball coach Choo Kon Lee was presented with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Women and Sports Diploma.

The Olympian of the Year awards went to shooter Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi and archer Cheng Chu Sian. Both were impressive in the recent SEA Games in Indonesia. Nur Suryani won the 10m air rifle and 50m three position gold medals while Chu Sian won the individual and team events.


Both Nur Suryani and Chu Sian were rewarded with RM10,000 and a medallion each.
 
Roll of Honour
Olympian of the Year (women): Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi (shooting).
Olympian of the Year (men): Cheng Chu Sian (archery)

IOC Women and Sport Diploma: Choo Kon Lee (netball)

IOC Trophy (Sport and Social Responsibility); Saujana Golf and Country Club

Hall of Fame: Datuk Khalid Yunus, Datuk W.Y. Chin, Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee. S. Jahendran, Datuk Thomas Lee, S. Kathirvale, Marina Chin, Karu Selvaratnam.

Tahniah! Datuk Santokh Singh

Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah conferring the ‘Darjah Datuk Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’ award, which carries the title ‘Datuk’, on former national footballer Datuk Santokh Singh at Istana Alam Shah in Klang yesterday

PM Hails Nicol David As Malaysia's Most Successful Sports Icon

Nicol David showing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak her World Open trophy at his office in Putrajaya yesterday. Bernama pic

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hailed national squash queen Datuk Nicol Ann David on Monday as the country's most successful sports icon, saying her ability to defend the world title for six consecutive years is unmatched.

Speaking to reporters after receiving a courtesy call by the World No. 1 squash player at his office here, Najib expressed the hope that her success would spur other athletes to similarly excel in their respective sports.

"On behalf of the government and the people Malaysia, I would like to extend heartiest congratulations to Nicol," he said.

Present were Nicol's parents, Desmond David and Anne Marie David, as well as CIMP Group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Nazir Razak.

"Nicol should be made a role model because she is the most successful sports icon in our country's history," he said.

He wished Nicol all the best and more success in the future, and said that it would set a high benchmark for the country's sports, especially in squash.

Nicol described the meeting with the prime minister as a truly meaningful event for her and her parents.

"It was a great honour for me and family to get the recognition from the government and Malaysians. Thank you for the all support," she said.

Nicol wajar dijulang tokoh sukan

Nicol David bersama dengan ibu bapanya, Ann Marie dan Desmond David memegang trofi Kejohanan Skuasy Piala Dunia yang mana tercatat nama beliau sebanyak enam kali sebagai pemenang selepas pertemuan dengan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Abdul Razak di Pejabat Perdana Menteri, Putrajaya, semalam. - BERNAMA

PUTRAJAYA - Ratu skuasy negara Datuk Nicol Ann David wajar dijulang sebagai tokoh sukan paling berjaya dalam sejarah negara apabila mampu mempertahankan gelaran Pemain Terbaik Dunia sebanyak enam kali berturut-turut, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Perdana Menteri berkata, kejayaan yang dicapai Nicol itu adalah satu pencapaian yang belum pernah dicapai oleh sesiapa dalam sejarah negara.

"Saya bagi pihak kerajaan dan rakyat Malaysia ingin mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi tahniah kepada Nicol," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menerima kunjungan pemain No. 1 dunia itu di pejabat beliau di sini, semalam.

Turut hadir ayah dan ibu Nicol, Desmond David dan Anne Marie David serta Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan CIMB Datuk Seri Nazir Razak.
Najib berkata, diharapkan kejayaan Nicol itu, akan menjadi pendorong serta penguat semangat kepada atlet sukan bukan sahaja dalam arena skuasy tetapi juga sukan lain.

"Nicol juga patut dijadikan contoh ikutan, beliau merupakan seorang ikon sukan yang paling berjaya dalam sejarah negara kita," katanya.

"Diharapkan Nicol akan terus mencipta kejayaan yang lebih cemerlang pada masa akan datang, seterusnya meletakkan satu penanda aras yang tinggi untuk sukan negara terutamanya skuasy, kata beliau.
Sementara Nicol berkata, pertemuan dengan Perdana Menteri hari ini, merupakan satu peluang yang amat bermakna buat diri dan kedua-dua ibu bapanya.

"Ia adalah satu penghormatan untuk saya dan keluarga untuk mendapatkan pengiktirafan daripada kerajaan dan rakyat Malaysia, terima kasih atas segala sokongan," katanya. - Bernama

Aaliyah creates SEA Games history

Malaysia's eight-year-old Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah created waves at the Jakabaring Lake here when she grabbed gold in the women's tricks category at the 26th SEA Games today (17/11/11), becoming the youngest athlete to ever win a gold medal in the history of the games.

She skiied confidently through her first round routine, scoring 2,810 points, and nailed a one-leg trick in the second round to earn 2,960 points.

Being much shorter and smaller than the other contestants, her appearance at the lake had drawn attention from spectators and the media.

Aaliyah said she felt excited to win the gold medal for Malaysia.

"I was confident all the way. I almost lost my balance in the first round but luckily I didn't," she sheepishly told reporters.

Thailand's Sareeya Promsuntisit won silver with 2,410 points in the first round and 2,570 in the second, while another Malaysian, Phillipa Yoong-Barly, netted bronze with 1,890 (first round) and 1860 points (second round).

Aaliyah's father, Hanifah Yoong, said his daughter had been water skiing since she was five.

"We don't want to push her too hard because she's still a child . We don't want her to be pressured. But she enjoys training very much, it's like she's addicted to the sport," he said.

He said Aaliyah underwent training five days a week and still had time to play with her friends. -- BERNAMA.

In sports, a tougher road to fame

Building a successful sports career may mean spending many years abroad, an option which most of our budding athletes are reluctant to consider

Minutes after she captured a record sixth World Open crown last Sunday in Rotterdam, squash queen Nicol David took to the microphone and declared: "Winning a world title is huge in Malaysia."
She is right.

The 28-year-old Penang lass, who has won every world title since 2005 with the exception of 2008, was quick to add that the country was always gunning to have more people in sports.

In reality, getting more and more Malaysians just like her onto the global stage -- and collecting major titles -- is posing a bigger challenge now than ever before.

Our biggest hurdles, I think, are the glaring lack of a sports culture, unlike the Australians for example, stiffer competition from other active sporting nations, our hit-and-miss sports policy and inadequate funding.

The constant pressure on children to do well in public examinations is also taking a toll on sports. Sports also arguably offers a less secure future than a desk job and parents are unwilling to sacrifice their children's education for sports.

"We complain that Malaysia is not doing well (in sports). But how many parents want their kids to be professional athletes?" asks a friend of mine who works in the Youth and Sports Ministry.

 "I, for one, don't want my kids to go through painful training regimes."

Sharing the limelight with Nicol last Sunday was shuttler Zulfadli Zulkifli, who upset favourite Viktor Axelsen of Denmark to clinch the world junior title in Taipei.

A jubilant 18-year-old Zulfadli  told this newspaper that he would not rest on his laurels. "My aim next year is to break into the top 100 and start doing well in open tournaments."

Building a successful sports career may mean spending many years abroad, an option which most of our budding athletes are reluctant to consider.    

My colleague at the sports desk reminded me that Nicol wouldn't be the player she is today had she stayed in Malaysia.

Similarly, this is also the case for cyclist Azizul Hasni Awang and his teammates who took up the challenge and moved to Melbourne. They are now winning medals at the world stage.

Badminton icon Datuk Lee Chong Wei was quite fortunate as he had good sparring partners when he was an up-and-coming player.

Funding is also a pressing issue. Currently, it is still very much government driven.

There was a sharp spike in federal allocations when we won the bid to host the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.

 Since then, sports bodies and associations, irrespective of how successful they are, are unable to wean off their reliance on government finances.

We always wonder why Germany excels in sports.

One Malaysian who grew up there noted that in Germany, schools in the same neighbourhood form a sports club and share the facilities. In Malaysia, each school tries to have facilities and coaches (mostly untrained) for every sport!

As such, sports should start in schools and the community. Just like in Australia or Germany, where it is a way of life.

The Youth and Sports Ministry, which has declared 2011-2012 as Sports Industry Year, wants to turn sports into big business to help lift the standards of sports in the country.

It wants more private sector investment in sports via sponsorships, training, infrastructure development, event management, merchandising, production of apparel, sports equipment, sports nutrition and many more.

In terms of gross national income, our sports industry was worth an estimated RM30.2 billion in 2009, or five per cent of the total gross domestic product.

Commentators doubt whether the ministry's plan can take off. "Do we have the ingredients to develop a thriving sports industry?" asks a former sports writer. "The industry can only go big if there is a market.

"Banks were big in sports at one time. They were the biggest employers of sportsmen and sportswomen. Unfortunately, most banks have merged and now sports does not feature highly on their list of priorities.

"Inter-bank championships in the 1980s drew greater interest than national meets. Even government departments and government-linked companies have stopped or reduced hiring of sportsmen and sportswomen. Maybe Tenaga Nasional still, but then it is limited to only hockey," he noted.

Once the current crop of top-notch players bow out of the world arena, we will once again be devoid of our own sporting kings and queens.

Developing new ones will take years and a lot of sweat and tears. We have to act  now.

Otherwise, we will  end up as a mere spectator nation.

Hilang Sebutir Permata Sukan Memanah

ULU TIRAM - Jenazah Pemanah elit paralimpik negara, Mohd Salam Sidik, 28, selamat disemadikan di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Sungai Tiram, di sini, kira-kira jam 11 malam, semalam.

Turut berada di tanah perkuburan berkenaan adalah kedua ibu bapanya, adik beradik, saudara mara, jiran, rakan seperjuangan dalam bidang sukan dan kakitangan Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN).
Jenazah Allahyarham selamat di bawa pulang ke rumahnya di Kampung Sungai Tiram, di sini, terlebih dahulu, selepas mendapat kebenaran pihak hospital sekitar jam 10 malam untuk diberikan penghormatan terakhir.

Terdahulu, Allahyarham Mohd Salam mengadu sakit kepala dan berehat di kediaman atlet Casa I, MSN sebelum disedari tenat oleh rakannya.

Beliau meninggal dunia pada pukul 1 petang ketika dalam perjalanan ke HUKM, semalam.

Sepanjang kerjayanya sebagai atlet, Mohd. Salam pernah beraksi di Sukan Paralimpik Athens (2004) dan Beijing (2008).

Beliau juga pernah menduduki ranking No. 1 dunia Kesatuan Memanah Antarabangsa (FITA) pada tahun 2009.

 Al-Fatihah!