The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Squash stronger despite failed bid, says David Posted: 08 Sep 2013 11:06 PM PDT The International Olympic Committee (IOC) yesterday restored wrestling as an Olympic sport, leaving other short-listers squash, baseball and softball on the sidelines for the 2020 Games, which will be hosted by Tokyo. "I think this is the closest that the sport has ever been to the Olympics," David, 30, told AFP. "We just hope that we deserve better in the end." "But no doubt this is a really good position we are in to really spearhead forward our tours, with the men's and the women's tour, and also squash in general," she said in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia's most dominant athlete, David has ruled women's squash. She has held the top rank for seven straight years, won a record seven world titles, and would be a solid bet to bring home her country's first-ever Olympic gold medal. She has been a passionate campaigner for Olympic squash but the 2020 failure likely dashes her medal hopes. Even if squash makes it into the 2024 Olympics, David would be in her 40s by then. It "would be pretty tough because squash is very brutal on the body and, to be competitive then, it's difficult." David said she would happily support any future drives for Olympic squash. "For squash, we have a strong case and I don't think we will back down that easily. We will really stick to our guns," she said. Squash has repeatedly attempted to gain Olympic entry over the past decade. It topped a vote of Games aspirants in 2005 but failed to get a required two-thirds of the ballots. "Today's decision is heartbreaking for the millions of squash players around the world, particularly given the 10-year journey we have been on to join the Olympic Games Sports Programme," said squash federation president Narayana Ramachandran. He had earlier said that squash would try again for inclusion in future Games. - AFP, September 9, 2013. |
| Zidane calls Bale transfer fee “incomprehensible” Posted: 08 Sep 2013 06:02 PM PDT Bale signed for the Spanish giants from Tottenham Hotspur last week on a six-year contract for a fee of around £80 million (RM416.4 million). Asked whether Bale was worth the hefty fee paid for him, ex-France playmaker Zidane replied: "You need to ask that question in a year's time. "Ten years ago, they bought me for 75 million euros and I said I wasn't worth it," Zidane told yesterday's Canal Football Club television programme. "Today, I tend to say a player is not worth that. Two clubs agree on a price and no-one is forcing the other to do anything. "That's football. Unfortunately, it's incomprehensible with what's happening today to pay so much." Zidane said he would offer Bale some advice as the Welshman seeks to hold down a place in manager Carlo Ancelotti's team. "My role will certainly be to tell him that he plays as he knows how to, to not put too much pressure on himself," he said. "He has an incredible potential but he still has room for improvement." Bale, who is currently on international duty with Wales, is expected to make his Real debut against Villarreal on September 14. - AFP, September 9, 2013. |
Malaysian world number one Nicol David (pic) said today she was disappointed squash failed to make it into the 2020 Olympics but that the sport's run for the Games had raised its profile.
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