Miri junior shuttlers set to soar
MIRI: Mi r i B admi n t on Association ( MBA) believe their shuttlers will emerge from the Sarawak Junior State Closed tournament from March 27- 29 with flying colours.
Assistant Minister of Sport Datuk Lee Kim Shin said this confidence stems partly from the benefit of having two fulltime professional coaches from Indonesia.
“The use of the professional c o ache s in tr a i n i ng and development are behind Miri being dubbed as “the centre of
FOUR TALKING POINTS FOR THE MALAYSIAN GP
• Can Rosberg catch Hamilton?
It is early days but the 2015 title race may well boil down to Mercedes rivals Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg after they left the other teams trailing in Melbourne. Although he finished well clear of the chasing pack, second- placed Rosberg cut a reflective figure after being comprehensively out-run in both qualifying and the race by his British stablemate. “He drove like a world champion all weekend,” admitted the German. Neutrals will hope Rosberg can find a way of reeling in the reigning world champion and puncturing a confidence which currently looks unassailable.
• Alonso boost for McLaren
The early part of the year has not been kind excellence” in badminton in the state,” Lee remarked when he met the Kuching- bound junior shuttlers at Miri Indoor Stadium yesterday.
“Currently, MBA have shuttlers as young as six years old for the comprehensive training with the coaches,” he noted.
“We are conf ident for our shuttlers to shine in the statelevel championship.”
The associat ion reached another milestone when their boys doubles pair took second place and girls double pair third to McLaren but their season can get under way in earnest with the return of Fernando Alonso after his February crash in testing. The two-time world champion impressed in an underwhelming Ferrari car last season and he is well qualified to lead a resurgence by the British team. McLaren started from the back of the grid in Melbourne and Jenson Button trailed in last, but there is quiet optimism around the team that they can make up significant ground this year.
• Nasr leads the new kids
Max Verstappen’s outing at the recordbreaking age of 17 years and 166 days in Melbourne put the focus on youth in F1, but it was Felipe Nasr who led the way for Generation Next with a superlative drive on debut. The 22-year- old Brazilian made light of legal challenges surrounding Sauber’s line-up to finish fifth, the best debut by a place at the MSSM tournament held in Selangor last week.
MBA will send off a total of 31 shuttlers comprising 21 boys and 10 girls to compete in the coming state junior tournament in Kuching. They will compete in the Under-12, 14, 16 and 18 singles and doubles events.
Lee also stated that top shuttlers from the championship wi l l represent Sarawak in the 100 Plus National Junior Inter- State Mixed Team Championship to be held in Negri Sembilan from June 11-14. Brazilian driver -- outstripping even the late, great Ayrton Senna. Several million Brazilian eyes will be on the young hopeful to see if he can add more points in race number two.
• Can Malaysia top the Terminator?
Ricciardo slammed the Australian Grand Prix as “boring” but the podium ceremony was anything but. After a processional win for Hamilton and Mercedes, the biggest cheer of the day was reserved for Hollywood’s Arnold Schwarzenegger appearing on the victory podium to interview the winners. With stars of stage and screen often to be seen in the F1 paddock, Malaysian organisers may also consider collaring one of them to pep up the post- race proceedings before the champagne lets fly. It makes a welcome change from talk of hybrid technology and double diffusers.