Great Wall of China which could not be demolished

Yesterday, the badminton world witnessed the supremacy of the Chinese badminton team grabbing the Thomas Cup for the 5th time in a row. The ladies also matched the mens' capabilities by recapturing the Uber Cup from South Korea.

More sweetly moment came both team did not drop any match and trashed their opponents either 5-0 or 3-0.

They even look strong to retain the title in year 2014. Just wonder, who will be the 1st team to beat them?

New Plan...Will it Work?

After dismal performance in 2012 Thomas Cup, now BAM has set sights on 2016 Thomas Cup.

The above could be the team.

Looks like they are throwing the towel for 2014 Thomas Cup. Though it looks long term, but at least they have the targeted group.

Now, will be the revamp in coaching method, coaches, talent nurturing and many more. But we have been doing this since year 1996, when Malaysia fail to qualify for semifinals of Thomas Cup. Till today, we are still not on right track compared to China whom became a factory of badminton players. Japan has improved tremendously where they even beat Malaysia in last Thomas cup. Similar case to Denmark with adequate successors.

We are still planing and planning....Are we working out the plan on right manner?

As Taufik Hidayat says do we have too many politicking?

Growth...

QPR is coming to Malaysia but not to KL

It's always a practise for the European clubs to visit other continents i.e Asia, USA, Australia or Africa to spend their summer break.

Last year we had triple treat of Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal coming to Malaysia. This year, we will have Arsenal again. In addition, we will have Tony Fernandes's QPR. But this club will  be going to Sabah to give a treat to the fans over there.

It's rare to see clubs going to East Malaysia and this is 1st of it's kind. Hope this will lead more clubs to go there. 

A Tigress in the making

Cheyenne Woods, the 21-year-old niece of 14-time major winner Tiger Woods, has signed with her uncle’s agent, Mark Steinberg, and is set to start playing in LPGA Tour events this year.

The daughter of Tiger Woods’ half-brother Earl Woods Jnr missed the cut at the 2009 Wegmans LPGA while playing on a sponsor’s exemption.

Steinberg has represented Tiger Woods since 1998 and departed IMG to work at Excel a year ago.
“We are excited about the opportunity to represent Cheyenne,” Steinberg said.
“She had an outstanding career at Wake Forest and has the chance to be a major star on the women’s golf scene.” — AFP

Chong Wei say Bye Bye to Thomas Cup 2012

WORLD No. 1 Lee Chong Wei’s Olympic dream suffered a severe blow when he tore a tendon on his ankle during a Thomas Cup Group C tie against Denmark at the Wuhan Sports Gymnasium Centre yesterday.
The pain was excruciating and the shuttler wept unabashedly.
But it was the “pain” of not being able to help his Thomas Cup team-mates – and the possibility of not being at his best for the Olympics – that proved even more intolerable.
The 29-year-old is now expected to be out for three to four weeks, thus affecting his preparations for the London Games, which will be held from July 27-Aug 12.
Chong Wei, the Beijing Olympics silver medallist, is seen as the strongest rival for defending champion Lin Dan of China.

It's Kim Her, NOT Chong Wei whom brought Malaysia down

Yesterday, Malaysia lost their final group match against Denmark (2-3). When, most people voiced, if Datuk Lee won, Malaysia would have became group champions and could have avoided China.

In actual fact, even when the 1st singles lost, the other two singles, Daren Liew and Hafiz Hashim lift up to their expectation to win their matches. However, for the doubles, only if our pairs were field as it is, we would have had a chance through the 1st doubles to steal the crucial point.

The doubles coach, Kim Her has stratch the pair to Tan Boon Heong-Hoon Thien How and Koo Kien Keat-Goh V Shem failed miserably to turn the tables on Denmark’s Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen and scratch pair Jonas Rasmussen-Joachim Fischer Nielsen.


Actually, Malaysia blundered even before the start of competition when they listed Kien Keat-V-Shem as the top pair ahead of Boon Heong-Thien How. The referee overturned the request because the combination of Thien How-Boon Heong are placed higher than Kien Keat-V Shem under the national rankings.

Now, this leaves us with 2nd place in group and we are facing host and defending champion, China tomorrow.

After breakup with AirAsia, MAS no longer flies with QPR

Loss-making Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has ended its multi-million ringgit shirt sponsorship deal with Queens Park Rangers, the English Premier League club owned by their former director Tan Sri Anthony Fernandes.

The reported RM18 million deal was initially set to last for two years after the flag carrier and AirAsia became joint jersey sponsors last September in a move that came just a month after the now discarded share swap between the two airlines.

The deal drew widespread criticism from business analysts and politicians from both sides of the divide with some warning that MAS, which later reported a record loss of RM2.5 billion for the financial year, was being dragged into AirAsia boss Fernandes' "football fantasy."

But the club announced on its website yesterday that Asia's biggest budget carrier will now be its sole shirt sponsor for the upcoming 2012/3 English football season.

"Queens Park Rangers Football Club is delighted to announce that AirAsia have signed a new contract as our Official Playing Kit Sponsor and Main Club Partner.

"AirAsia initially announced that the airline will be the Official away and third kit sponsor of QPR for the 2011/12 season. The relationship has developed and grown over the past season in the Premier League, and it was a natural progression to become the full kit sponsor," it said.

Previously, MAS's logo was emblazoned on the home jersey of the team that Fernandes purchased a two-thirds stake in for RM220 million and called a marketing vehicle for the two airlines which had just signed off on the share swap the week before.

“This sponsorship is the first major initiative of our new brand and marketing strategy that would see important advertising money spent on boosting our top line. This is a key component in our drive to regain global market share, profitability and pride for the people of MAS,” MAS executive director Mohammed Rashdan Yusof had said last September.

The Malaysian Insider

So Long King Kenny.....

Kenny Daglish aka King Kenny was sacked yesterday.

Main reasons:

1. Finishing below rivals Everton
2. Not qualifiying for Champions League
3. Finishing 8th in Premier League (lowest for the past 20 years)
4. Lost FA Cup title to Chelsea
5. Won Carling Cup beating Cardif City only through penalties
6. 100 million pounds spent on buying players only to achieve above results

Who's next to ensure Liverpool "never walk alone"? 

Fresh Graduates are "Liabilities"?

Employers consider fresh graduates liabilities as many require additional training before they can perform.


Companies would rather hire experienced and skilled professionals who can bring instant returns, said Kelly Services marketing director for Singapore and Malaysia Jeannie Khoo.

She said employers felt many fresh graduates lacked communication skills and had poor English and needed to improve before they could add value to the business.

“This means additional costs for the company. Employers are looking for people who can hit the ground running,” she said after launching the Kelly Services Professional and Technical Salary Guide 2012 here yesterday.

Khoo said the 27 polytechnics in the country generated thousands of skilled workers every year but many of them needed to be retrained by their employers.

She advised fresh graduates to be less choosy and to have realistic expectations on salary and remuneration.

“You are unlikely to earn RM3,000 in your first job.

“Be willing to learn. If you are offered an internship, take it,” she said.

Kelly Services Asia Pacific head of professional and technical, Mark Sparrow, said demand was growing for professionals with experience and niche skills.

Extracted from "The Star 16/5/12"

European Football headlines

1. Dirk Quit may leave Liverpool this summer back to homeland as he is struglling for 1st 11 for the team.

2. Former Man Utd striker, Rud Van Nistelroy retires from football after contributing to his latest team Malaga to qualify for Champions League.

3. Gary Neville was appointed as Asst.Coach to Roy Hodson, to coach England.

4. Under-fire Alex McLeish has been sacked by Aston Villa after holding talks with senior club officials.

5. Alan Pardew has been named League Managers Association (LMA) Manager of the Year after guiding Newcastle to fifth place in the Premier League this season.

A day of Sports Fiesta

It's normal for me to follow on various sports, though I don't play all of them. But it came to my attention, where several sporting events/matches which set to glorify the arena.

English Premier League
Manchester City got their 1st league title after 44 years by beating QPR 3-2 in dying seconds. When, the audience thought the title was wrested to rivals Man United,  2 goals in injury time of 5 minutes and there goes the title to Ethihad Stadium. Maybe it's time for Man City to taste the victory and join the big boys league. My concern is, they need to spend huge amt to buy high profile players i.e Nasri, Aguero, Tevez, Barry & Glichy, unlike Man Utd, who groomed players.

Madrid Masters
It's the 1st ATP tournament which is played on Blue Clay Court. When everyone were complaining the suitability and adaptability of the court including Novak Djokovik, our "Fedex" made it perfect by capturing the title and reclaimed the World Number 2 spot. Hope this will spur him to reclaim the French Open title with World Number 1 too.

Spanish Grand Prix
Pastor Maldonado, became the 1st Venezuelian to win the F1 race title. He beat home favorite Fernando Alonso and former champ Kimi Raikonen. It was also 1st title for Williams since 2004. It was also disaster for Williams team as the garage caught in fire and made some of the pit stop official into hospital.

Asia Junior Cup
Malaysia created history by claiming their maiden title by beating Pakistan 2-1 in final, thanks to home crowd support. As they lead 2-0 in 1st half, 2nd half rather a defensive strategy. After qualifying for final during 1992 where they fell to same opponent. This time the team manager, whom then played in finals, Minarwan Nawawi, glad his dream was fulfilled indirectly. At least, the wound of failing to qualify for Olympics has been healed through this title.

Asia Under-16 Elite Cup
We can be proud to say we are the Asian Champions at this age group, less India and Pakistan whom didn't take part in the tournament. Hope this will spur the development of Cricket in Malaysia.

Running Quote

Meeting World Champion

As a Toastmaster and of course, as public speaker, one would always would like to meet the World Champions or the cream of the crops.

I had the chance recently to meet Dana Lamon (1992 World Champion). He was born with partial impaired and, his unfortunate became blind at age of 24.

But he did not give up in his life and became Judge, father of 4 and of course international speaker.

It was great meeting him and having chat with him over a dinner. He has sharp listening and sensing skills.

Glad to share experience on public speaking and journey to move forward in life.

Tamil school under Opposition Government

when the school was basically begiing for funds from our "Bee Ann", they were just ignored and actual funds allocated was used for some other matters.

With the new state government, the school had a new look with a convention centre (rarely I hear it for Tamil schools).

Hope, this will make a change for all the tamil schools around Malaysia.

Alexander the Great's last words of wisdom

"Ice melts when heated"

"Eyes melt when hated"

Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence. He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would not permit him to reach his distant homeland. So, the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last.

He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail."

With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's last wishes.

"My first desire is that", said Alexander, "My physicians alone must carry my coffin." After a pause, he continued, "Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury".

The king felt exhausted after saying this. He took a minute's rest and continued. "My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin".

The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes. But no one dared bring the question to their lips.. Alexander's favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. "O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?"

At this Alexander took a deep breath and said: "I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt.


Lessons to learn from last 3 wishes of King Alexander...

I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted.

The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.

And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world".

With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last. . . .


LESSONS TO LEARN:
Remember, your good health is in your own hands, look after it.
Wealth is only meaningful if you can enjoy while you are still alive and kicking.
What you do for yourself dies with you but what you do for others, lives on.
It is called "Legacy."