Wushu

National meet draws 360

THREE hundred and sixty exponents will compete in the National Wushu Championships at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium in Cheras on Aug 22-24.

National exponents, previously barred from participating, will be allowed to compete this time.

They will feature in three disciplines -- taolu (barehands and weapons), traditional taichi and sanshou (Chinese boxing).

Wushu Federation of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee said the meet is for the affiliates to prepare its exponents for next year's Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Malacca.

"Wushu has always produced medals for the country and we hope that the national championships will see more exponents come through," said Kee.

Kuala Lumpur emerged overall champions last year with a medal haul of 15 gold five silver and two bronze.

For the national exponents, the national meet will be their last competition to brush up their skills before the World Championships in Toronto, Canada from Oct 24-29.

There are 22 exponents in the national squad, consisting of elite and back-up athletes.

Bowling / World Championships: Form of bowlers has coach smiling

MALAYSIA'S bowlers must be able to conquer Stockholm and Athens before they can rule the world.

That is because the 34-foot short oiling pattern at Las Vegas' Cashman Centre, the venue of the women's World Championships, is named "Stockholm" while the 40-foot medium pattern is known as "Athens".

Those who can conquer both conditions, will dominate proceedings in the world meet.

And national coach Holloway Cheah had a smile on his pencil-thin face after his charges had a session on Stockholm and Athens on Monday.
All six bowlers felt comfortable on the lanes, leaving Holloway was satisfied with their approach and consistency during the two-hour practice.

"The bowlers are getting used to the championship oiling patterns. Though I had to fine-tune their equipment, it went well for us," said Holloway when contacted in Las Vegas yesterday.

"I have reminded the bowlers to keep focused during their games. Those who adapt to the patterns faster will do well here."

Shalin Zulkifli, Esther Cheah, Zandra Aziela, Sharon Koh, Wendy Chai and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman started their world campaign late yesterday in the singles competition.
The top three bowlers in the singles will proceed to the medal competition, scheduled for tomorrow.

Holloway, who believes the singles competition will be an open affair, said: "Based on my observation, the top 50 bowlers in the competition have an even chance of winning the singles gold.

"I am not setting targets for my bowlers in this event but I hope for a good start to give them the confidence ahead of the other events," said Holloway.

Holloway said all his bowlers, including Wendy, are free from injuries, "Wendy has recovered fully from her knee injury. I hope she will deliver here," he added.

Meanwhile, at a glittering opening ceremony on Monday, participants were entertained by Elvis Presley and Cher impersonators in true Las Vegas style at the Cashman Centre.

Dos Santos: We showed our pride

(FIFA.com) Monday 27 July 2009
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Mexico's emphatic 5-0 win over USA in Sunday's CONCACAF Gold Cup final in New York might well prove to be pivotal in the career of Giovani Dos Santos. The lively Tottenham Hotspur forward, still just 20, was named man of the match for a role that included scoring the crucial second goal midway through the second half.
Indeed, it was a good couple of weeks in the USA for the prodigy, which culminated in him being named the tournament's top player having inspired El Tri to an unequalled fifth Gold Cup crown. "This result and having won the trophy will give us lots of confidence," said Dos Santos, whose running with the ball from deep positions caused the Americans fits throughout the decider in New Jersey. "We showed pride and a lot of heart."

My game is improving little by little. I'm feeling better with each game and feeling less pressure.
Gio dos Santos
A starring role and an adidas Silver Ball earned in Mexico's run to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2005 title launched Dos Santos, and current team-mate Carlos Vela, into the international spotlight, but his career waned both domestically and internationally before exploding back into life in the USA. A stint in Barcelona, a club he joined as a teenager, saw only intermittent opportunities with the first team, resulting in the move to White Hart Lane, with a loan spell at Championship side Ipswich Town ensuing.
Mexico's inconsistent displays over the past year, which have left them fourth in regional qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, have proved a source of pain for Dos Santos and Co, but the result at the Giants Stadium is likely to prove a springboard for a change in luck.

"I am personally very happy, I felt I was getting better and improving throughout the tournament," said Dos Santos after the defeat of USA. "My game is improving little by little. I'm feeling better with each game and feeling less pressure."
USA have undoubtedly had the edge on Mexico in recent years but Sunday's result, albeit against a significantly weakened line-up comprised largely of rarely-used and untested Americans, is set to provide Javier Aguirre's charges with a timely boost in confidence. The US claimed bragging rights in the sides' last FIFA World Cup qualifier in Columbus, Ohio, where they won 2-0 in February, but Mexico will now have added motivation and belief going into the return leg at the Estadio Azteca next month. The match, a must-win for the Mexicans, who have only ever once lost a qualifier at their fabled home, takes place in just over two weeks.
"The win over the USA was important for us in many ways," added Dos Santos. "In the eyes of the fans and media, they're going to believe a lot more after the victory. We didn't have all of our players (either), we weren't at full strength, but it doesn't matter. We were the better team. We'll enjoy this and begin to think about August 12 (qualifier against USA) almost immediately.''

We weren't at full strength, but it doesn't matter. We were the better team. We'll enjoy this and begin to think about August 12.
Dos Santos, looking ahead to the qualifying rematch
El Tri's legendary Stateside support was again out in force on Sunday, making up a vast contingent of a huge crowd of 79,000 at Giants Stadium. If that atmosphere was intimidating for USA - whose first team shocked the world by reaching last month's FIFA Confederations Cup final - then the atmosphere at the Azteca 15 days from now could cause players to tremble.
USA have never won a game at the Azteca, a stadium which regularly holds more than 100,000 and is perched up over 7,000 feet in the hills that surround the Mexican capital. El Tri will be trying to keep momentum going and the Americans will be desperate to reclaim their good name.

No matter what, the 5-0 result will play a critical role in what is bound to be another passionate meeting between these two old rivals, as Dos Santos understands fully. "We'll have confidence and heart from this win," he concluded. "But the game in August will be a totally different story, and we must be ready."