Impian palsu trio pemanah
Selepas tampil memberangsangkan pada aksi penentuan ranking bagi acara berpasukan dan individu, Sabtu lalu sehingga mencetuskan harapan meraih pingat, tanpa mengira warna, segalanya lebur apabila trio negara tewas kepada Itali di saingan suku akhir di Padang Memanah Olimpik Green, semalam.
Trio � Wan Khalmizam Wan Abd Aziz, Cheng Chu Sian dan Muhammad Marbawi Sulaiman � tewas 218-213 di tangan Itali, sekali gus mengakhiri impian indah mereka yang bermula sejak tampil dengan status pasukan keempat dunia ketika ini.
Malah, kejayaan meletakkan diri dalam ranking ketiga di Sukan Olimpik ini, bagi mengelakkan pertemuan awal dengan juara dunia dan Olimpik, Korea Selatan, dilihat mencerahkan peluang untuk sekurang-kurangnya melangkah ke separuh akhir.
"Saya sudah melakukan yang terbaik hari ini (semalam). Saya percaya perlawanan ini pasti dalam jangkauan jika rakan sepasukan yang lain dapat menepati sasaran," katanya.
Selepas kedua-dua pasukan terikat 54-54 pada pusingan pertama enam panah, trio Itali yang terdiri daripada juara Olimpik, Marco Galiazzo, Mauro Nespoli dan Ilario Di Buo, mula menjarakkan diri dengan 109-108 pada pusingan kedua.
Aksi lesu Chu Sian yang mencatat enam mata di pusingan ketiga turut memberi peluang kepada Itali membuka jurang kelebihan lebih besar dengan mendahului 164-159 sebelum sekali lagi sekadar mencatat tujuh di pusingan keempat, bagi memberi ruang kepada Itali untuk menamatkan acara itu dengan 218-213.
"Saya gagal menepati sasaran kerana agak gemuruh ketika membuat bidikan sedangkan ketika latihan, ia tidak ada sebarang masalah," kata Chu Sian.
Ketiga-tiga pemanah negara akan kembali ke gelanggang sama untuk beraksi dalam acara individu, esok dengan Wan Khalmizam mendapat ranking kelima diikuti Chu Sian (26) dan Muhammad Marbawi (27).
sources : Berita harian
Jittery Malaysians fall to Italy in the quarter-finals
IT was a disappointing end to Malaysia’s campaign in the men's team recurve archery competition, bowing out in the quarter-finals at the Olympic Green Archery Field yesterday.
The team of Cheng Chu Sian, Mohd Marbawi Sulaiman and Wan Khalmizam Wan Abdul Aziz had raised expectations of a medal after finishing third in the ranking round on Saturday to earn a bye into the last eight.
But nervousness got the better of the trio when it came to the crunch, especially Chu Sian, who shot a six on the third end in the 213-218 defeat by Italy.
The Malaysians had started well enough and were tied with the Italians on 54 points after the first end of six arrows and dropped a point behind to 108-109 after the second end. The six from Chu Sian and an eight from Marbawi put Malaysia back by five points at 159-164 after the third end.
Italy, led by their individual Olympic champion Marco Galiazzo, also chalked up 54 points in the fourth and final end but it was enough to give them a place in the last four against Ukraine.
The other members of the Italian team were Di Buo Ilario and Mauro Nespoli. The Italians had edged Canada 219-217 in the first round of the elimination stage.
Chu Sian, the highest ranked Malaysian in the world rankings at No. 15, admitted he was the one to blame for being off the mark at the crucial moment.
“In the third end, I shot a six. It too far to the right, so I adjusted direction the left, but it was too much to the left and then I ended up with a seven,” he said.
“It was just like our training where we adjust our directions. But I was nervous and I did not adjust well today.”
The Malaysian trio now have the individual competition to look forward to tomorrow. All three qualified for the elimination rounds and Wan Khalmizam is the highest placed Malaysian as fifth seed.
But it will be hard for them to make any headway against a strong field.
sources : The Stars
