NEWS

Archery: Asian Grand Prix championships on despite H1N1 threat

THE National Archery Association of Malaysia (NAAM) will go ahead with its plans to host the 3rd Asian Grand Prix championships despite the A H1N1 virus threat, at least for now.

NAAM secretary Abdul Hamid Hasan said the decision to continue with plans to host the July 5-12 championships at the Keramat sports complex, was made at a meeting chaired by its president Tan Sri Abdul Khalil Abdul Mutalif at the National Sports Council (NSC) yesterday.

"However, if the Health Ministry and NSC issue a directive to cancel the event, we will abide by their decision," Abdul Hamid said when contacted yesterday.

Abdul Hamid also said that all countries must be aware of the situation and be ready to accept any cancellation at the last minute.

He said seven countries -- South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Hong, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines -- have so far confirmed their entries for the championships.

"We are expecting 10 countries to confirm their participation by Saturday's closing date," he said.

Abdul Hamid said Malaysia will field six men and six women archers for the championships. -- Bernama

Memanah ranking ke-4 dunia

SKUAD memanah recurve negara menduduki ranking keempat dunia dengan 282,70 mata terkumpul ketika pemanah Olimpik, Cheng Chu Sian melonjak dua tangga bagi menduduki ranking ke-11 dunia dengan mengumpul 149,850 mata.

Berdasarkan ranking pasukan dunia Persekutuan Memanah Antarabangsa (Fita) yang dikeluarkan Jumaat lalu - dengan turut mengambil kira keputusan di Piala Dunia , Korea Selatan menduduki tangga teratas dengan 450,000 mata, diikuti India (342,000 mata) dan Itali (301,900).

Bagi acara individu pula, Chu Sian yang sebelum ini berada pada ranking 13 dunia, berjaya membaiki kedudukannya hasil aksi konsisten termasuk mengakhiri saingan di peringkat suku akhir pada Sukan Olimpik di Beijing, tahun lalu.

Prestasi kian meningkat oleh pemanah pelapis elit, Muhammad Izzuddin Abd Rahim menyaksikannya melonjak ke kedudukan 75 berbanding 182 selepas mengumpul 36,900 mata; diikuti Nazrin Aizat Mat Nasir pada ranking ke-82 (31,725 mata) berbanding kedudukan 87, sebelum ini.

Archery: Malaysia in bronze play-off after semi-final loss to India

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia failed to topple fancied India in their bid to reach the men’s recurve final of the Archery World Cup in Antalya, Turkey yesterday.

After a dismal performance in the individual competition earlier, Malaysian archers Cheng Chu Sian, Wan Khalmizam Wan Abdul Aziz and Zulkifli Tahil got their acts together in the knockout stage of the team event to beat sixth seeded Russia, led by Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Badenov Bair, 212-209 to reach the last eight.

Malaysia, who qualified 11th, went on to beat third ranked France 214-213 to reach the semi-finals.

However, second seeded India, the winners of the previous World Cup series in Croatia last month, proved too strong and the Malaysians bowed out 215-219.

Malaysia will face off with fifth ranked Australia for the bronze today.

The Australians lost 216-219 to Olympic champions South Korea in the other semi-final.

The women’s recurve team of S. Anbarasi, Nur Amirah and Nor Aziera Taip also did well to upset third ranked China 196-192 in their opening tie.

However, they succumbed 189-201 to Russia in the last eight.

Malaysia’s campaign in the knockout stage of the individual competition ended early with Chu Sian, Zulkifli and Khalmizam eliminated in the first round.

National back-up archer Mohd Izzuddin Abdul Rahim reached the third round but lost 100-115 to India’s Kapil, who had shocked top seed Im Dong-hyun of South Korea earlier.

Izzuddin beat China’s Xue Haifeng 106-101 and went on to down Briton Alan Wills 108-107 in the second round.

Nur Amirah and Anbarasi were beaten in the first and second rounds respectively in the women’s individual competition.

Chu Sian ketuai cabaran negara

PEMANAH nombor satu kebangsaan, Cheng Chu Sian akan mengetuai cabaran negara dalam acara memanah pada Sukan Universiti Dunia di Belgrade pada 2 sehingga 12 Julai ini.

Turut bersama Chu Sian yang pernah bersaing di Sukan Olimpik Beijing 2008 ialah rakan sepasukan, Wan Mohd Khalmizan Wan Abd Aziz dan Mohd Izzuddin Abd Rahim.

Selain mereka, kejohanan yang menemukan penuntut universiti dari seluruh dunia itu ialah pemanah elit wanita negara, S Anbarasi dan pemanah pelapis, Nor Fariza Abdul Razak.

Pengurus skuad negara, Hamzah Ismail, berkata peserta lelaki negara akan mengambil bahagian dalam acara perseorangan dan berpasukan manakala wanita pula dalam acara perseorangan saja serta beregu campuran.

Selain itu, kejohanan itu juga adalah gelanggang terbaik untuk menguji keupayaan mereka selepas kembali dari menyertai Piala Dunia di Porec, Croatia baru-baru ini.