The Eberstadt organisers only invite the best high jumpers in the world and Hup Wei will be in exalted company in the senior men’s high jump event.
Others invited include reigning world indoor champion Ivan Ukhov of Russia, 2007 world champion Donald Thomas of the Bahamas, European champion Alexandr Shustov of Russia and American Jesse Williams, the World No 4.

Hup Wei has also been selected by the Asian Athletics Association to represent Asia Pacific at the IAAF/VTB Bank Continental Cup in Spilt, Croatia on Sept 4-5 in yet another indication of his growing status.

There he will have Qatar’s Rashid Ahmed Al-Mannai as his teammate and be up against Thomas and American Dusty Jonas of the Americas team, Shustov and Britain’s Martry Bernard of the European team and Botswana’s Kabelo Kgosiemang and Cameroon’s Raoul Matongo of the African team.
The invitations for Hup Wei comes after the 23-year-old won four meets this year including a hat-trick at the Asian Grand Prix series and his second career European international title in Liege, Belgium last month.

Hup Wei, who has matched his national record of 2.27m twice already this year, will use both meets as preparation for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games and Guangzhou Asian Games, where he has a realistic chance of a medal.

German Jorg Teichmann, who once coached former national and Sea Games high jump champion Loo Kum Zee, lent a hand in getting Hup Wei the Eberstadt invite, which he believes is fully deserved.
“This is one of the most biggest high jump meetings in Europe and only the best high jumpers in the world are invited. I believe Hup Wei deserves this chance to compete against the best.

“Most of the jumpers there have cleared 2.30m, which is the standard for this meet, but because Hup Wei won in Belgium and has been very consistent this year, the organisers were impressed and extended an invitation even though he has not cleared 2.30 before.

“It is also the first time they have invited an Asian high jumper since 1984, when the then-Asian champion from China was invited,” said Teichmann yesterday.

Read more: Hup Wei enters the big league http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/osghdba/Article/#ixzz0xg8pOgIk

This will be the second time Malaysia has been given the host job, after successfully hosting the 1990 edition which saw 1,024 athletes from nine countries taking part.

According to Malaysian Masters Athletics Association (MMAA) Honorary Secretary and the Asia Masters Athletics Championships competition director S. Sivapragasam, all 24 countries affiliated to the Asia Masters Athletics (AMA) association would be taking part in the championships.

“It is indeed a great honour for MMAA and Malaysia to be given the host job. We hope to stage the championships successfully so as to uphold Malaysia’s credibility as a capable host.

“We strongly believe that this championships will be a platform to spread the spirit of goodwill and solidarity among former athletes as well as provide a competitive competition for ex-international athletes to showcase their talent,” said Sivapragasam after launching the event on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek in his message expressed gratitude to all Asian countries for having shown confidence in selecting Malaysia as the host for the championships.

“Such championships will certainly keep masters athletes fit and healthy. We all believe in the saying “A healthy mind is in a healthy body”. Furthermore, it provides a good opportunity for those who had been prominent athletes in the past, to meet their old friends and exchange views on and off the competition arena,” said Ahmad Shabery.

The championships will feature 25 men’s and women’s events for 13 age groups, ranging from 35 to 99.

Men and women born on or before Dec 8, 1970 are eligible to participate in the competition.

The championships, sanctioned by AMA, is organized by the MMAA with support from the Ministry of Youth and sports.

Sivapragasam said Malaysia has targetted 35 golds in championships, 12 golds more than their previous feat in Chiang Mai, Thailand two years ago.

– BERNAMA

Ajmal began the gold rush by winning the boys’ 110m hurdles in 14.11 seconds but it was achieved with a tinge of frustration for he missed out on the world youth meet for the second year running through no fault of his.
The Terengganu youngster will be forced to skip the World Junior Championships in Canada next week after also missing last year’s World Youth Championship due to an influenza outbreak.

Having proved his credentials by becoming the first of four Malaysians to qualify for Canada in April, Ajmal will sit at home in frustration over the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union’s failure to raise funds for the trip to the World Juniors.

“It feels good to win today (yesterday), even on a wet track, but I regret I won’t be going to the World Juniors. It’s the second time this has happened despite qualifying on merit.
“It’s so frustrating but there’s nothing I can do except to try improve my performances. Maybe, I’ll get a chance in two years’ time,” said Ajmal, 17, who is ranked third in the country in the hurdles after Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian and Robani Hassan.

At least Ajmal has the consolation of competing at the Youth Olympics next month, along with Johor’s Nauraj, who impressed by winning the high jump in a personal best of 2.13 metres.

The Malaysia Games champion again denied teammate S. Navin Raj in a battle of the two Malaysian juniors after the latter could go no higher than 2.06.
“I can now consider myself the best junior high jumper in the country, at least when you compare our personal bests.

“I know I can improve further but if only I get to compete in higher level competitions,” said the strapping Nauraj, who hopes to get a call-up for the China Open next month.

Amir Fakhri’s ’special endurance’ allowed him to edge Thailand’s Arnon Jairee on the line after trailing about a metre at the final bend to win the boys’ 400m in 47.90 seconds, a personal best.

Although the time qualified him for Canada, the July 5 deadline for qualification had passed.

“I’m so happy to have won. It was special endurance that helped with the final burst of speed. But I was confident I would catch him,” said Kelantan’s Amir Fakhri.

Nadia led the girls’ long jump competition with her very first attempt and none of her rivals came close to beating her 5.86m effort, a new Games record.

The boys’ 4×100m quartet rounded out a perfect evening for Malaysia when they edged favourites Thailand to the gold, clocking 41.35s to the Thais’ 41.44.

RESULTS:

Boys — 400m: 1 Amir Fakhri Ismail (Mas) 47.90s (GR), 2 Arnon Jaiaree (Tha) 47.99, 3 Nitipol Thongpoon (Tha) 48.16, 4 Fairol Nazim Mohd Noor (Mas) 49.56;

4×100m: 1 Malaysia 41.35s, 2 Thailand 41.44, 3 Indonesia 42.46;

110m hurdles: 1 Ajmal Aiman Mat Hassan (Mas) 14.11s (GR), 2 Nichanon Pongpimay (Tha) 14.25, 3 Sean Toh Renjie (Sin) 14.97;

5,000m walk: 1 Nguyen Thanh Ngung (Vie) 22:26.80s (GR), 2 Khairil Harith Harun (Mas) 22:57.90, 3 Hakmal Lisauda (Ina) 24:01.34;

High jump: 1 Nauraj Singh Randhawa (Mas) 2.13m (GR), 2 S. Navin Raj (Mas) 2.06, 3 Tran Thanh Binh (Vie) 2.02;

Discus: 1 Teh Qun You (Sin) 49.29m, 2 Santi Kongtung (Tha) 46.85, 3 Panyawut Bumroong (Tha) 45.85… 6 Alif Hanif Afandi (Mas) 36.94.

Girls — 400m: 1 Nguyen Thi Huyen (Vie) 56.38s (GR), 2 Pornpan Hoemhuk (Tha) 57.10, 3 Sunisa Pedbanna (Tha) 57.21, 4 Nurulassikin Rasid (Mas) 59.19, 5 Nur Farahana Musa (Mas) 1:00.28;

1,500m: 1 Afriana Paijo (Ina) 4:46.77s (GR), 2 Nguyen Thi Bich Tram (Vie) 4:47.25, 3 Nguyen Thi Ha Trang (Vie) 4:48.97;

4×100m: 1 Thailand 46.70s, 2 Malaysia 47.56, 3 Indonesia 49.01;

Long jump: 1 Noor Shahidatun Nadia Zuki (Mas) 5.86m (GR), 2 Luu Thi Hiep (Vie) 5.64, 3 Nguyen Thi Tuoi (Vie) 5.59;

Javelin: 1 Saowalak Pettong (Tha) 42.57m (GR), 2 Stephanie Cimatu (Phi) 42.34, 3 Lo Thi Phien (Vie) 39.89… 5 Nur Fatin Adibah Suharman (Mas) 37.73.

Kelantan-born Baihaqi led a Malaysian one-two clocking a personal best and meet record of 53.95 seconds, an improvement of four hundredths of a second on his previous time. Teammate Firdaus Mazalan claimed silver, also in a personal best of 53.11.

Ambrose followed up with Malaysia’s second gold at the National Sports Complex training track with his first international success of any kind in a time of 10.77 seconds, a meet record.
Baihaqi’s win was a timely one as it reminded the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Association (MAAU) of his growing potential after the governing body declined to send him to the World Juniors in Monckton, Canada by using the age-old excuse of lack of funds.

Never mind the fact that Baihaqi had qualified for Canada on merit but the hurdler is taking it all in his stride despite MAAU not giving him his due.

“I won’t be going to Canada as I was told there is no money to send more than one athlete but there is always next year to aim for.
“For now, I want to enjoy this win as I was suffering from a cough and cold for the last three days and was not feeling in top condition,” said Baihaqi, who had a slow start but never trailed from the third hurdle onwards.

Ambrose had the inspiring words of his coach Watson Nyambek to inspire him to victory as he fended off two Thai sprinters — Pongsakorn Sopakorn (10.85) and Yuttana Rittiron (10.94) — to the line.

It was timely too as in the morning he could only manage silver in the long jump after a 7.03m effort. Indonesian Noval won with 7.29m.
“He (Watson) said do not think about anyone else, just focus on what you are good at and do it for yourself. Those were the words I carried with me through the race.

“This win is also special as it is my first in an international race. In my last race at the Malaysia Games, I did not even make the final so this was sort of revenge,” said Ambrose, 17, of Miri, Sarawak, who prior the Malaysia Games won gold at the Malaysian Schools Championships.

Malaysia were denied a third gold when M. Shandyiani had to settle for silver in the girls’ high jump on countback after all three medallists finished at 1.64m.

Thailand’s Arpaporn Kanti won the event after clearing 1.64m at her first attempt whereas Shandyiani needed two attempts and bronze medalist Vo Thi My Hua of Vietnam, three.

Thailand’s Pimpikom Kannikom outclassed the entire girls’ 100m field in 11.90 seconds while Siti Nurhayati Zulkifli, second in 12.21, and shot putter Alif Hanif Afandi took Malaysia’s silver medal tally to five.

Aini Nurazirah Ali claimed bronze in the girls’ 400m hurdles for Malaysia’s only bronze.

RESULTS

Boys’ 100m: 1 Ambrose Jilom (Sar) 10.77s (Games Record), 2 Pongsakorn Sopakorn (Tha) 10.85, 3 Yuttana Rittiron (Tha) 10.94.

800m: 1 Duong Van Thai (Vie) 1:53.72s (GR), 2 Ngo Dang Thanh (Vie) 1:55.38, 3 Endrro Kusworo (Ina) 1:55.53, 4 M. Kesavan (Mas) 1:56.07 … 8 C. Saarvin (Mas) 1:59.43.

5,000m: 1 William Lakolo (Ina) 15:54.19s (GR), 2 Somvichai Koomkrongchok (Tha) 15:57.93, 3 Nguyen Thanh Lap (Vie) 16:38.58 … Ahmad Luth Hamizan (Mas) DNF.

400m hurdles: 1 Baihaqi Razlan (Mas) 52.95s (GR), 2 Firdaus Mazalan (Mas) 53.11, 3 Sittichai Srisa (Tha) 54.45.

Long jump: 1 Noval (Ina) 7.29m, 2 Ambrose Jilom (Mas) 7.03, 3 Natthakorn Phongsungnoen (Tha) 7.00, 4 Syazwan Zakari (Mas) 6.50.

Shot put: 1 Panyawut Bumroong (Tha) 17.03m, 2 Alif Hanif Afandi (Mas) 16.89, 3 Tan Zhi Lao (Sin) 14.92.

Girls’ 100m: 1 Pimpika Kannikom (Tha) 11.90s (GR), 2 Siti Nurhayati Zulkifli (Mas) 12.21 , 3 Phensri Chairoek (Tha) 12.30, 4 Chiew Hui Lian (Mas) 12.52.

400m hurdles: 1 Le Binh Dinh (Vie) 1:03.07s (GR), 2 Chadaporn Panchuai (Tha) 1:04.26, 3 Aini Nurazirah Ali (Mas) 1:04.55.

3,000m: 1 Nguyen Thi Bich Tram (Vie) 10:14.13s (GR), 2 Afriana Paijo (Ina) 10:33.43, 3 Kitsana Toentuan (Tha) 10:33.43 … 6 Nur Aisyah Ahmat (Mas) 11:33.22.

High jump: 1 Arpaporn Kanti (Tha) 1.64m, 2 M. Shandyiani (Mas) 1.64m, 3 Vo Thi My Hua (Vie) 1.64.

Discus: 1 Subenrat Insaeng (Tha) 42.43m (GR), 2 Chan Zhi Xuan (Sin) 35.18, 3 Sawitri Thongchao (Tha) 34.37.

MAAU deputy president Karim Ibrahim said since the Asian AAA had allocated only five places for the Asian All Stars, the Union would appeal for two more slots since the meet would be a platform for athletes to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India from Oct 3-14, and Asian Games in Guangzhou, China from Nov 12-27.

“MAAU hope the Asian AAA will accept our appeal and provide two additional slots for potential athletes who will have an opportunity to qualify for the Commonwealth and Asian Games,” he told Bernama here Thursday.

The five athletes picked to participate in the Asian All Stars meet are S. Mathialagan, Mohd Zafril Zuslaini (800m), Azlan Samsuddin, P. Yuavaaraj (400m) and Mohd Ajmal Aiman Mat Hasan (110m hurdles).

Karim said MAAU hopes to send Adi Aliffudin Hussin (shot put) and Mohd Zaiful Zainal Abidin (400m) to New Delhi.

“The MAAU is actually worried as not many athletes have managed to make the cut for the Commonwealth and Asian Games. So, by sending them to meets like the Asian All Stars, we hope more athletes will qualify,” he said.

Athletes who have so far qualified for the Commonwealth Games are Teoh Boon Lim and Lo Chong Sieng (men’s 20km walk) and Lee Hup Wei (men’s high jump).

For the Asian Games, Hup Wei, Roslinda Samsu (women’s pole vault) and the women’s 4×400m quartet comprising Norjannah Hafiszah, Nurul Sarah, Siti Fatimah, Yee Yi Ling and Cynthia Manghing (reserve) have made the cut, he said.

– BERNAMA

BUKIT JALIL: National athletics coach, K.Jayabalan is pleased with Zaiful Zainal Abidin’s performance and predicts the national 400m runner will reach his first peak at the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) Closed Championships next month.

The national 400m runner clocked 47.95s at the 2nd Marhaleye Lige Bozorg Salan tournament in Iran last week which was improvement from his 48.02s in the Taiwan Open.

Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/category/tags/malaysian-amateur-athletic-union-maau

NATIONAL middle distance runner Melinder Kaur ran the race of her life to rewrite her own national record by more than eight seconds in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase on the fourth and final day of the athletics competition at the Hang Jebat Stadium last night.

The 22-year-old pint-size Penangite clocked 10:55.40 to improve her old mark of 11:04.14 she set at the Mini Olympics in Bukit Jalil last August.

It was also her fourth national record since last year. She also erased the Games record of 11:43.79 set by Vally Michael of Malacca in Seremban in 2004.

S. Sanggeetha of Federal Territories, who was lapped by Melinder, clocked 12:10.47 to finish second while Nur Fatiemah of Malacca came in third in 13:04.38.

Melinder said that she was confident of rewriting her national record but never thought she could dip below 11 minutes.

“I ran the race without any challenges from the other five participants and was surprise to improve the record by more than eight seconds.

“It is my best performance in Sukma. I am delighted to end my career in the Games by breaking the national record and two Games record (3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m). I also won two golds and one silver in three events,” said Melinder.

Besides winning the 3,000m steeplechase she also bagged gold in the 5,000m and silver in 1,500m.

Two other Games records were also broken yesterday.

Malacca’s J. Karthik shattered the men’s 3,000m steeplechase Games record by clocking 9:20.25 to better the old mark of 9:24.06 set by S. Vikkram of Perak in Kedah in 2006.

Kedah’s Alex Ramos (9:40.84) and P. Jenarthanan (9:42.08) won the silver and bronze respectively.

Johor’s Rahila Othman broke the Games record in the women’s shot putt event with a hurl of 13.39m in her sixth and last throw.

Her effort erased the old mark of 12.74m set by Asrenny Asik of Sabah in Terengganu two years ago.

The silver went to another Johorean Chan Poh Ling, who recorded a distance of 13.24m while Siti Nurulain of Negri took bronze with 12.71m.

Kelantan’s Amir Fakhri Ismail won the men’s 200m gold with a time of 21.64. Schzuan Ahmad Rosely of Malacca took the silver in 21.82 while Syed Aliff Syed Noh of FT, who won the blue ribband on Tuesday, clocked 21.99 to finish third.

Malacca’s Nurul Sarah Abdul Kadir completed a sprint double by winning the women’s 200m with a 24.86 timing to finish ahead of S. Komalam Shally of Perak (25.37) and Siti Nurhayati of FT (25.43).

NATIONAL middle distance runner K. Ganthimathi of Pahang ended her Sukma campaign with a bang.

The 23-year-old athlete from Cameron Highlands broke the Games record in the women’s 1,500m, clocking a personal best of 4:35.91 at the Hang Jebat Stadium last night. The time was more than nine seconds faster than her previous record of 4:45.57 set in Terengganu two years ago.

It was her second record-breaking effort in the Malacca Games. On Tuesday, she shattered her own 800m record with a time 2:09.60.

Ganthimathi thus bowed out of the Games with a third consecutive double since the 2006 edition in Alor Setar.

Penang’s Melinder Kaur, who won the 5,000m on Tuesday, clocked 4:48.82 to take the silver while Kelantan’s Nor Zulaili Nik bagged the bronze in 5:09.71.

Ganthimathi said that she was delighted to achieve a personal best.

“It feels really good to slice more than nine seconds off my previous record. I am happy to end the Games with two records and two gold medals,” said Ganthimathi, who bagged the silver in the 800m in the Laos SEA Games last December.

Johor’s S. Mathialagan, who won the men’s 800m on Tuesday, also bagged the 1,500m gold in 3:59.03.

It was also a double for Song Gie Chee of Penang , winning the 10,000m walk in 53:43.95 yesterday to add to her 5,000m event triumph on Monday.

Selangor’s Jen Chan Guo won the men’s long jump with a leap of 7.43m.

National high jumper S. Navinraj of Johor, who will feature in the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore in August, was a letdown. The 17-year-old, who has a personal best of 2.11m, only managed 2.03m to bag the bronze. Fellow Johorean Nauraj Singh won the gold medal (2.12m) and Negri Sembilan’s A. Kavee Alagan took the silver (2.09m).