SEA Games: Welson Sim swim to new 400m freestyle record

KUALA LUMPUR: National swimming ace Welson Sim retained his SEA Games 400m freestyle gold in style after splashing his way to new Games record of 3:50.26 at the National Aquatic Centre. The 20-year-old held the previous Games mark of 3:53.97. Aflah Fadlan Prawira of Indonesia came in second in 3:54.15 while Nguyen Huu Kim Son took bronze with 3:54.20.

Welson Sim secured yet another gold medal and another SEA Games record after finishing first in the men's 200m freestyle today. The latest achievement came just two days after he rewrote the SEA Games record in men's 400m freestyle. With a time of 1:47.79s, he beat the previous record (1.48.96s) set by Vietnam's Hoang Quy Phuoc, who finished today's race in second with a new personal best of 1:48.07s. Sim also equalled the time set by Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling in 4×200m freestyle relay at the 2015 SEA Games. Singapore's Yeo Kai Quan ame third in 1:48.98s.

While, in 12 June 2017, Welson Sim beats Olympic champion to win gold in Monaco. National swimmer Welson Sim splashed his way to a new men’s 400m freestyle national record at the Mare Nostrum Tour Swimming Championship in Monaco on Saturday. The 20-year-old Sarawakian clocked 3 minutes 49.48 seconds in the 400m freestyle to renew his own national record of 3:50.33s that was set at the National Age-Group Swimming Championships in Singapore, last year. Olympic champion Mack Horton of Australia came in second with a time of 3:50.14 seconds while China’s Qiu Ziao settled for third place with a time of 3:51.18s.

Sim’s victory also received praise from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who hailed the achievement via Twitter.

SEA Games: Women's squash team in final as men crash out

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's overconfidence cost them dearly after the men's team was knocked out in the semi-finals of the SEA Games squash competition. Despite boasting some of the best players in the region, Malaysia found a fired-up Philippines too hot to handle as they tumbled to a 2-0 defeat on Monday, thus ending their hopes of a seven-gold sweep. The decision to rest the team's No.2 Mohd Syafiq Kamal came at a hefty price as the Filipinos grabbed their chance with both hands.

Former world junior champion Ng Eain Yow was also off-colour as Robert Garcia claimed an 11-8, 11-3, 11-7 win in the first tie. It was sweet revenge for the 31-year-old Garcia who was beaten in straight sets by Eain Yow in the men's singles semi-finals just a day earlier. Malaysia's hopes then rested on 18-year-old Darren Rahul Pragasam. However, he crumbled under the pressure to lose 11-6, 8-11, 7-11, 11-4, 8-11 to Juan Rafael Yam. The win sends the Philippines into the final for the first time, where they will meet Singapore for the gold medal.

Meanwhile, Malaysia claimed gold No. 6 in squash through the women's team. But it wasn't a walk in the park as Malaysia was forced to dig deep before overcoming Singapore 2-1 in the final at the National Squash Centre, Bukit Jalil. With a 3-1-2 order of play, 16-year-old Ooi Kah Yan took to the court first against Pamela Chua. Kah Yan.

 However, was a bundle of nerves as she lost 10-12, 11-4, 4-11, 11-7, 9-11 to the 27-year-old Pamela. Malaysian No. 1 Andrea Lee levelled the tie by thumping Mao Shihui 11-8, 11-6, 11-6. And it was down to two-time British Junior Open winner Aifa Azman who confidently delivered the win by thrashing Sneha Sivakumar 11-4, 11-6, 11-4.

SEA Games: A great achievement for futsal team

Shah Alam: The men's futsal squad were edge out of their gold mission at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games (KL 2017) when they lost 3-4 to Thailand in the final round robin match tonight. In the round robin, all Malaysia needed was a draw to win the gold though it was a draw to win the gold though it was not to be as Thailand who reached the last 16 at the Colombia World Cup last year, held on for victory and the gold at the Panasonic Sport Complex in Shah Alam.

Before the match against Thailand, Malaysia were at the top of the league with seven point after defeating Myanmar, drawing 1-1 with Vietnam and blasting Indonesia  5-0. In the final match, Thailand opened strongly and entered the half-time break with a commanding 3-0 lead thanks to strike from Kritsada Wongkoe (4th minute), Suphawat Thueanklang (11th and Apiwat Chaemcharoen (18th)

Malaysia pulled on back through Syed Aizad Daniel (25th) only for Thailand to reply three minutes late via Suphawut Thueanklang, The national team pushed on were rewarded with goals from Yazid Kamaruzaman 31st and a second from Syed aizad (33rd) though it was enough as Thailand hung on untll the final whistle. Thailand were the futsal gold medalist in the 2007, 2011 and 2013 edition.

Meanwhile, in women squad Malaysia must win the first game in the women's futsal at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games 2017(KL2017) to at least repeat the achievement of winning the bronze medal won in the 2013 edition in Myanmar. At the end of the competition Malaysia just only in  4th position.Malaysia failed to achieve their target to win the bronze medal in SEA Games Kuala Lumpur 2017

SEA Games: Malaysia again excellent in SEA Games athletic

Kuala Lumpur : Malaysia has regained excellent result in track and field events at the SEA Games when it grabbed 25 medals overall, of which eight were gold, eight silver medals out of the 45 events contested. It was the best achievement after the last time Malaysia hosted the Game in 2001 and the one in 2003 Vietnam, Malaysia had won eight gold medals on both occasions. At the Singapore SEA Games two year ago, the national squad returned home with only three gold medals, a decline from the four gold  medals won in Myanmar in 2013.

The achievement of eight gold medal including the one won by Khairul Hafiz Jantan in the men's 100m sprint has put Malaysia in third placing overall, only one gold behind Thailand who was beaten by Vietnam as the King of Athletic at the SEA Games. "Speedy Jantan" Khairul Hafiz Jantan who emerged as the fastest man in Southeast Asia today eyeing a treble and wants Malaysians to cheer him on to make it a reality. 

Khairul Hafiz, 19, who ended a 14 year gold medal drought for Malaysia in the 100m sprint in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. The last time Malaysia bagged the gold medal in the blue ribband event was at the 2003 Vietnam Games when Nazmizan Muhammaad emerged the winner. The 19 year old sprinter clocked 10.38 seconds to finish ahead of 2015 gold medalist Eric Gray(10.43) of the Philippines and Kritsada Nasuwun of Thailand. Khairul joins  a list of Malaysian Sea Games 100m winners which include Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan (1965), G. Rajalingam (1967) and Nazmizan Muhammad (2003)

SEA Games: The great win for archery tean

Kuala Lumpur: It ent down to the wire but Malaysian women's team in compound did not falter, they kept calm and secured the country's gold medal at Kuala Lumpur SEA Games 2017. Malaysia's Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh and Nurul Syahzera Mohammad Asmi shot four 10's in row to ensure Malaysia kept pressure on Vietnam, bit Saritha Cham Nong failed to follow in her teammate's footsteps only managing an eight which led to a sudden death shoot off. Ftin and Nurul Syahzera hit nine each while third shooter Saritha Scored a perfect 10 to claim Malaysia's first gold in archery

  

Inspired by the women's success, the men's trio of Mohd Juwaidi Mazuki, Zulfadhli Ruslan and Lee Kin Lip  were in control throughout their final, never trailing Singapore before sealing a 228-222 win. Mohd Juwaidi, who failed to capitalise on an early  three-point lead and eventually lost 144-145 to indonesian Prima Wisnu Wardhana in the final of the individual competition, was delighted to get a gold medal around his neck

Meanwhile, the trio Nur Aliya Ghapar, Nuramalia Haneesha Mazlan and Nur Afisa Abdul Halil beat defending champions Indonesia 5-1 in the final. After that, the men's team comprising haziq Kamaruddin, Khairul Anuar Mohamad and Muhammad Akmal Nor Hasrin retained the gold medal won in Singapore after defeating Thailand (Denchai Thepna, Natthapoom Phusawat and witthaya Thamwong) 5-1. Malaysia end 12 years drought with archery gold after women and men trio winning the gold in recurve event.

This was an improvement of the women's recurve squad's performance in Singapore where they won the bronze, and at the same time ended the 12 years  drought of winning the gold after last winning it in the event in 2005 at the Manila Sea Games. The bronze medal in  the women's recurve team event went to the Philippines (kareel Meer Hongitan, Mary Queen Ybanez and Nicole Marie Tagle) who beat Vietnam (Le Thi Hien, Loc Thi Dao and Thi Phuong Nguyen)    6-0 

Rugby: A great achievement as a closure of the year 2017

Ipoh 20 May 2017 : Malaysian Rugby squad created history when it qualified for the World Cup Qualification 2019 in Japan after defeating Sri Lanka 22-9 at Ipoh Padang to emerge as Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) Division 1 2017 Champion. Earlier, before meeting Sri Lanka, the Malaysian team had recorded two win after beating United Arab Emirates (UAE) 36-22 and trashing Philippines 40-8. 

During the final match in front of about 5,000 supporters, Malaysia started off aggressively and succeeded in taking a 5-0 lead though a try by Nasalo Jone Mawara after three minutes of play. however, several errors proved costly to Lee Nyuk Fah's men when the visitors were awarded two penalties which were scored by Thilina Wijesinghe Gurukandure Gedera, making the score 5-6 at the interval. Gedara managed to ad three point through penalty kicks for Sri Lanka to increase their lead to 9-5. Malaysia redoubled its effort an was rewarded when the Sri Lankan's defense crumbled in the last 15 minutes of play to allow Malaysia to pile on the points to 22-9 until the end of the match.   

In SEA Games 2017, Malaysian players proudly show off their gold medal after 22-7 win over Singapore in SEA Games Mens 7s  Rugby final at Stadium MBPJ, Petaling Jaya. The men buried Singapore 22-7 in the final at the Petaling Jaya Municipal Stadium, erasing their disappointment of only achieving the bronze at the singapore edition two years. The Philippines won the gold then and Singapore the silver. 

The girls played their hearts out to secure a 7-5 win over the Philippine for the bronze, thier first ever medal in the SEA Games. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin were rsent to give moral support.

Malaysia went of the offensive from the starting whistle and collected the first points from a try by Muhammad Azwan Zuwairi Mat Azizi but singapore narrowed the deficit to 7-5 from a try by Yau Yu Hong followed by a conversion by Marah Moehammad Ishraf Marah Moehomad Hoessien. However, the homesters coached by Mohd saizul  hafifi regrouped afterwards resulting in Muhammad Zulhisham Rasli outrunning the oppennts for a try followed by a conversion by Muhammad Azwan, leaving the score to stand at 12-7 at the break 

Formula One : Lewis Hamilton wins fourth world title.

Mexico: Lewis Hamilton has been crowned the 2017 Formula 1 world champion for the fourth time. Lewis Hamilton said his fourth Formula 1 world championship was the hardest to win, after he clinched it by finishing ninth in the Mexican Grand Prix. His victory came despite a collison with rival Sebastian Vettel on the first lap of the Mexican Grand Prix. F1 title rival Sebastian Vettel needed to win with Hamilton sixth or lower to keep the title battle alive until the penultimate race in Brazil, but the Ferrari driver could only finish fourth with Hamilton ninth following a first-lap collision between them.

There was understandable joy and elation from the 32 year old at his remarkable achievement in becoming Britain's most successful racing driver and not a little relief after a race that had the driver, his team and fans on the edge of their seats. Eventual race winner Max Verstappen's aggressive start in Mexico saw him take the lead from Hamilton's chief title rival Sebastian Vettel on the outside of the first corner, though there was contact between the pair.

Hamilton then found a gap to squeeze ahead of Vettel  but the pair collided, causing damage to the German's front wing and a puncture to the Briton's rear tire. Both had a pit at the end of lap one, with vettel undergoing a nose change and Hamilton a tire change. After 35 laps, Vettel found himself in eight place, still a huge 63 seconds behind the second place he needed to keep his title hopes alive. Conveniently for Hamilton though bad news for Vettel, it was his Mercedes teammate Bottas who occupied that position.       

Vettel, however had just set the race's fastest lap and climbed to seventh to give him a glimmer of hope. With 20 laps remaining, he then passed home favorite Sergio Perez with a brave, intricate move on the inside though it didn't go down well with the partisan crowd. Vettel continued to set fastest laps ad make his away through the field, finding himself in fifth and 50 second behind Bottas with 16 laps to go. The German had at least made thing interesting but, at this stage, would ned a miracle to secure at least second place.

To make matters worse for Vettel, Hamilton had found some speed and began working his way up through the pack, eventually entering the points position in 10th. Hamilton eventually crushed ant remaining hope Vettel had by brilliantly overtaking Fernando Alonso to take ninth place, leaving the German needing to win the race keep the World Championship alive. It was game over, ensuring Hamilton becomes the first driver to win a world championship     

MotoGP: Marquez crowned champion

                                        

                

Valencia 2017: Bringing an end to a dramatic season, Repsol Honda's Marc Marquez has been crowned as the 2017 MotoGP world champion. The 24 year old took his sixth world title at Valencia. Third place was enough for Marc Marquez to seal the 2017 MotoGP world championship in a tense season ending Grand Prix of Valencia. Honda's Marquez held a commanding 21-point lead in the championship from Ducati rival Andrea Dovizioso, and was guaranteed the title with a top -11 finish or if Dovizioso failed to win the race. 

Teammate Dani Pedrosa, on other hand, won he Valencia Grand Prix after an intense battle with Johann Zarco on the last lap. World title contender Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati pu up a fantastic display of determination and hardwork, before crushing in the closing stages of the race along with Ducati teammate Jorge Lorenzo. The Valencia GP was every bit packed with the action fans were hoping for with Zarco putting up a brilliant show from the Yamaha family. Marquez held on to the lead with the start on the Valencia GP, but it was teammate Pedrosa who had a brilliant start and took the second place like a perfect winman. 

Pedrosa fended off attacks from competition as Tech 3 Yamaha's Johann Zarco, as well as Ducati's Jorge Lorenzo and Davizioso, aimed at getting closer to the top spot. The top five riders soon formed a pack and started detaching from the other riders on the track. By Lap2 though , Zarco was at his aggressive best and soon passed Pedrosa to take the second spot. It wouln't be untill Lap 5 when Zarco would pass Marquez to take the lead in the race, while both Hondas followed suit P2 and P3 

At the top, Marquez was now charging at Zarco to take back P1 and even did so by lap 20. However, Zarco was not letting go on what would be his first ever MotoGP win his rookie season, The Frenchman was sson back to the top, only to be overtaken by Marquez two laps later. It seemed Marquez blew his championship title on lap 23 though as the Spaniard overshot his entry on Turn 1 and ran wide slowing his pace dramatically Marquez was pushed to fifth as a result, behind Zarco, Pedrosa, Lorenzo and Dovizioso     

Marquez comfortably took the third spot with the world title  now confirmed, while Zarco and Pedrosa battled for the top spot. it wasn't until the last lap when Pedrosa passed the Frenchman to secure his second win of the season. Zarco certainly wowed fans world over with some incredible riding not only at Valencia but thought the season as well, while also putting Yamaha's factory riders behind.    

Sea Games: Malaysia failed to seize gold from Thailand.

Kuala Lumpur: The national sepak takraw team settled for a disappointing bronze in the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games team regu event after going tamely 3-0 to defendingf champions Thailand at the Titiwangsa Indoor Stadium this morning. The Thai defending the champion sepak takraw team regu event for their 16th gold medal in this category.

Malaysia had started well at the 2017 SEA Games with a 3-0 win over Brunei, but a surprise 1-2 loss to Indonesia. Indonesia force Malaysia's team need to a big win against Thailand to stand a chance of winning gold. Thier first regu trion of Syahir Rosdi, Hanafiah Dollah and Farhan Adam put up a strong resistance against the Thais ultimately lost 15-21, 17-21. It got worse as Thailand completely dominated the second match 21-10, 21-6 against Said Ezwan Said De, Norhafizi Abdul Razak and Safarudin Abu Bakar, beore continuing their one-sided demolition in the third 21-9, 21-8 over Meor Mohd zulfikar Mat Amin, Syazreen Qamar and Alan Alias.

National sepak takraw team captain Syahir Rosdi has apologized for Malaysia's poor performance in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games team regu event. The team had focused too much on beating Thailand causing them to lose focus.

Meanwhile, the national women's sepak takraw aquad created history when it grabbed the silver medal in the women's regu at the 29th SEA Games at the Titiwangsa Indoor Stadium, improving on the bronze that i won in Singapore in the last edition.  

In the final round robin match against Thailand, both teams needed to win to confirm the gold medal after Malaysia and Thailand were tied with four point. The Thailand regu lead by Thidarat Soda started strongly beat the national team 21-10 in first set. Malaysia tried to comeback in the second half but Thai were clearly in class of their own when they again beat the Malaysian 21-12.

The defeat saw the national squad lifting the silver with four points overall while Thailand collected six points to grab the gold medal as the champion.

SEA Games: Singapore falls 65-41 to Malaysia in netball final.

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's SEA Games netball team avenged their 2015 loss to their rivals from across the causeway when the clinched the gold medal 65-41 in front of a packed Juara Stadium.Malaysia avenged their narrow 46-43 defeat to Singapore in the 2015 SEA Games in emphatic fashion. Malaysia goal shooter, An Najwa Azizan and Norashikin Kamarulzaman leading their team victory.

The superior experience of the Malaysian side, which comprised nine players from 2015 team, proved crucial and the reigning Asian champions finished the Games by winning  all six of their match.

Malaysia's team has won all the games during the round robin stage. In the first game, Malaysia beat Thailand 73-30. Second game Malaysia beat Brunei 64-27, third game Malaysia beat the finalist two years ago, Singapore 50-37, in the final group stages, Malaysia beat Philippines 96-11. Malaysia semi-final and meet Brunei again, Malaysia win 70-28.

In the final game, Malaysia's team has started strong, racing to a 20-7 lead in the first quarter, and built a 36-12 lead at halftime. Goal shooter An Najwa Azizan was unplayable, making all 17 of her first quarter attempt and 14 out of 16 in the second, pumping her right fist to gee up the home supporters after every one of her goals.

In third quarter, An Najwa Azizan had been replaced with Norashikin Kamarulzaman. Singapore strived to amount a comeback with goal scorer Charmine Soh sinking 15 over but Malaysia's Norashikin was equally clinical at the other end. The third quarter ended 51-28 to the Malaysia. With their gold medal chance winning fast, Singapore went into the final quarter determined to salvage some pride.

The trio Charmine Soh, Vanessa Lee and Nurul Baixura tried their best to lead their team, but Malaysia buoyed the home crowd, were determined to sink in any point they could. At the final whistle, the game ended 64-41 to the Malaysia.

"POCKET ROCKETMAN" won the title

Hong Kong: Malaysian's "Pocket Rocketman" Azizulhasni Awang won his first world title with a superb men's keirin victory at the Track Cycling World Championship in Hong Kong. The 29-years-old timed his last sprint to perfection to win the kierin final. by a comfortable margin to create history for Malaysia. Azizulhasni beat the likes of Colombian Fabian Hernando Puerto Zapata and Thomas Babek of Czech Republic with time of 10.253 second. Puerto Zupata was just 0.382s behind Azizul Hasni Awang, while Babek at 0.471s behind

Another Malaysian rider, Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom failed to win the repecharge, Shah Firdaus, who had won his first Track World Cup medal in the final leg in Los Angeles, United State was beaten by reiginning world champion Joachim Eilers of Germany to a place in second round, Shah Firdaus need to ride the repecharge after he finished third in his first round heat earlier.

Last year, Azizul managed to win the bronze medal in the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championship. He was third in the kierin in 2016 and 2015 before triumphing this year. Azizul has come close on numerous on occasions and is perhaps best known in Britain as the cycylist who in February 2011 has  his calf muscle skewered by a splinter off the Manchester Veledrome track. In 2010, Azizul won silver in kierin in Copenhagen, Denmark before he got serious injury at Manchester in 2011. In 2009, Azizul won silver in kierin and sprint in Pruszkow, Poland. Azizul previously had four World Championship medal in his collection since his debut in 2008.

Before this Azizul was disappointed many year, but he never give up and keep trying until he won the title World Championship. After this, Azizul need to focus on SEA Games Kuala Lumpur 2017 and Olympic Tokyo 2020.