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ATHLETICS/Malaysian Open: Oh, no! Roslinda is in S Korea
J. Naidu

Sept 22:
KEDAH AAA officials got a rude shock when they found out that Roslinda Samsu, their sure bet for a women’s pole vault gold medal at the MAAU Championships, is in Deugo, South Korea for an invitational meet.
The MAAU Championships get underway at the City Stadium in Penang today.

Roslinda left for South Korea with national hurdler Moh Siew Wei of Perak on Monday at the invitation of the host country.

An upset Kedah AAA secreatry S. Govindarajoo said that it is a pity that the State will lose a gold medal in Roslinda's absence.

"But national duty comes first. I hope Roslinda will gain more exposure and experience by competing in international meets," said Govindarajoo. "I hope she improves on her personal best."

Without Roslinda, Kedah will be depending on national long jumper Mohamad Syahrul Amri Shamsul, former national long distance runner R. Muniandy and triple jumper Ahmad Firdaus Salim to deliver gold.

Syahrul who has a personal best of 7.69m should get the gold but like Roslinda, he too will be aiming to improve on his personal best.

Muniandy, making a comeback after two years, is determined to qualify for the Manila Sea Games in his pet event the 10,000m or the 5000m.

Muniandy has been recording good times in training.

The other athletes who make up the 25-member Kedah squad are from the State’s Malaysia Games training squad.

Team manager Idris Saad believes that several of the athletes are good for medals.

"They should be able to get medals but I do not know what colour," said Idris.

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ATHLETICS: Mediocrity rules for Malaysians
S. Selvam

Sept 23:
Malaysian athletics after the opening day of the Malaysian Open Athletics Championships ended on a mediocre note at the City Stadium in Penang yesterday.
The three-day competition ends tomorrow.

National athletes were expected to rise to the challenge, more so with berths in the Sea Games at stake, but it was not to be.

It was not just the poor performances that was cause for concern but many failed to finish their respective races as they succumbed to injuries.

Which raises the question on the preparations of the national and the country's top athletes.

Former sprint star Azmi Ibrahim of Pahang pulled up midway of his 100 metres heat with a strained groin. This was followed by Azizah Ibrahim in the women's 100m.

Even Terengganu's Nazmizan Mohamed, who finished third in a time of 10.86 seconds, began to limp as soon as he crossed the finish line.

Hong Kong took the top two places in the men's 100m with Tang Yik Chin and Lau Yu Leong finishing on 10.81s and 10.85s, respectively.

In the women's 100m, it was Myanmar's turn for a 1-2 with Kay Khine Lwin and L.L. Win taking gold and silver in 11.67s and 11.80s, respectively. Third was Hong Kong's Wan Kin Yee who clocked 12.10s.

As for Mohamed Syahrul Amri (representing Kedah), he too complained of some pain after finishing third in the men's long jump.

Walker Yuan Yu Fang raised another point when she raced to the women's 5,000m gold medal with relative ease, finishing ahead of Myanmar's Pa Pa.

Yu Fang clocked 17:26.64s, while Pa Pa stopped the clock at 17:54.49s. Terengganu's Norlida Ismail was third in 18:53.00s.

While Yu Fang's gold medal was welcomed by Kuala Lumpur, it sent a grim reminder to the rest of the States on the quality of Malaysia's women middle distance athletes, especially those who are ‘specialists’ in the respective discipline.

It could be even more embarrassing today if Yu Fang wins the women's 10,000m walk and the 1,500m as well.

And that alone is food for thought for the MAAU and the National Sports Council.



Pole Vault: 1 Teh Weng Chang (Prk) 4.60m (all other athletes failed to clear starting height)

Pole Vault: 1 Alia Basalamah (Ina) 3.50m, 2 Sundari (Ina) 3.50m, 3 Kathleen Ong (Joh) 3.50m.