Category Archives: Sport

AFT Features, AFT Interviews, AFTNews, Sport

Lee Xin Ni: Malaysian Table Tennis Fireball

If you met Lee Xin Ni at a mall, you’ll be forgiven for thinking this 13 year old is a pushover. Shy in demeanor, she obviously doesn’t speak much but when she does, it hits the ball (pun intended).

Although she is yet a household name, Xin Ni was in the sports spotlight when she won her third singles match over Poland at the 2019 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Cadet Challenge. Her win meant the Hopes Team, that she was part of, went into the Finals to meet Team Europe.

Lee Xin Ni (1st from Right) with her ITTF Teammates with their Silver medals. Photo courtesy of TTAM

Meanwhile, she won the bronze medal for mixed doubles with 16 year old partner Choong Javen at the 56th Malaysia Open Table Tennis Tournament held in December 2019.

So what makes Xin Ni tick?

She lives with the mottos, “Have a dream” and “Work Hard”.  And she does work hard indeed! Practicing six to seven days a week, her training begins at 5pm. She says she begins by stretching for about 15 minutes then move on to warming up with some table tennis with her sparring partner or senior players. After that is 1.5 hours of drill practice where her coaches will help her improve her technique. Next, she plays some matches before cooling down.

But the sacrifices are worth it. As of our interview, Xin Ni has visited no less than 12 countries and met friends from around the world, all thanks to table tennis She also enjoys being able to try the different cuisine each country offers.  

But her mind is not always on food though. Just like every professional athlete, she always prepares herself before going for a tournament.            Aside from setting a personal goal, she also will take the time to study her opponents.

Shy and sweet, Lee Xin Ni is a smash on the table tennis circuit

She takes competing seriously because she “enjoys the fighting process.”

Lee Xin Ni started playing table tennis at the age of six with the encouragement of her mother who used to play table tennis for her school. When asked if she considers table tennis a physical exercise, she replies, “Yes, because it can improve your speed, response, eyesight, judgment, and determination.”

So what’s next for this fireball? Hopefully we will see more of Lee Xin Ni in the near future and who knows, she may be competing in the Olympics in the near future!

Asia Fitness Today’s interview with Lee Xin Ni was held at the Table Tennis Association of Malaysia and was conducted by our intern, Dany Haiqal.

AFTNews, Rugby

Statement on behalf of independent World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont

It has been confirmed that independent World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont will be running for re-election as Chairman in the upcoming in May. Below is the statement released on his behalf by World Rugby.

Having consulted with my union and region colleagues and my family, I can confirm that I will be seeking re-election as World Rugby Chairman at the Council meeting in May.

I will be standing with Fédération Française de Rugby President Bernard Laporte as my candidate for Vice-Chairman.

Bernard is a great servant of the game and shares my vision for a strong, sustainable and inclusive game that provides even greater opportunity for expansion and growth.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this four-year term and have always sought to lead for the global game, not the few, by engaging with all levels of our sport to understand what really matters to our unions, players, fans, broadcasters and commercial partners.

Through this spirit of engagement and partnership, collectively we have achieved a great deal and I would like to thank the World Rugby membership for their commitment to taking a global perspective, enabling us to:

  • Deliver a truly game-changing and record-breaking Rugby World Cup 2019 igniting rugby growth in Asia, a special Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017, an innovative Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 and a fantastic Olympic Games debut
  • Fuel record participation and rapid fan growth driven by young people, largely female, in emerging rugby markets
  • Put player welfare at the heart of all our decisions, implementing an evidence-based approach to stabilize injuries and reduce concussion risk in the game
  • Implement historic governance reform, delivering an agile, fit-for-purpose decision-making structure, furthering the role and contribution of women on Council and across our committees
  • Launch our ambitious 2017-25 Women’s Plan, driving forward new and meaningful competition, commercial, participation, profile and leadership opportunities
  • Reform our eligibility rules for international representation, protecting the integrity of the test environment

Serving the game is a privilege and while we have made great, game-changing progress over the last four years and accelerate into a new decade in excellent shape, there is much work to be done. I am excited by the future and the opportunities for rugby and should I be re-elected, Bernard and I would:

  • Undertake further governance reform of World Rugby structures
  • Reinforce the international competition structure with a focus on unions outside of the Six Nations and The Rugby Championship
  • Strengthen the financial sustainability of the game
  • Strengthen and accelerate the development of women in rugby
  • Promote greater player dialogue with a particular focus on player welfare

World Rugby is a strong organization, and it is important that we further reform our decision-making structures for the betterment of all in the game as we accelerate into a new decade full of opportunity. The global rugby landscape is constantly changing and there is opportunity, and necessity, to implement structured and consistent international competitions, supporting the development of our unions, especially those who do not participate in the Six Nations and The Rugby Championship, while generating further engagement, interest and commercial investment.

I will be unveiling further details of our five-point manifesto in due course.

AFTNews, Basketball, PRNews, Sport

Tragic loss with death of Kobe Bryant and daughter GiGi

LA Times reports at least nine people died in the crash, including Bryant’s 13-year old daughter, Gianna.

Gianna Bryant, Kobe’s daughter shared his passion for basketball and the 13-year-old, who hoped to play in the WNBA, died with her father reported The Guardian.

AsiaFitnessToday did some research and found that Gianna, who’s fondly known as Mambacita, a play with daddy’s court name “Black Mamba”, was very much the face of youth sport empowerment at the Mamba Sports Academy – a facility designed to update the way men, women and youth approach human performance, by creating a multi-platform environment that activates, educates and provides an opportunity for humans to unlock their full potential. Mamba Sports Academy launched in 2018 as a joint business venture in holistic athletic training between NBA legend Kobe Bryant and Sports Academy’s CEO Chad Faulkner.

“Mamba Mentality isn’t about seeking a result. It’s about the journey and the approach. It’s a way of life”

– Kobe Bryant

Reuters issued a summary about Kobe Bryant’s career. He won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, died at age 41 on Sunday in a helicopter crash in California. Here is biographical information on him and highlights from his career.

Courtesy Instagram.com/KobeBryant

Born in Philadelphia in 1978, son of former NBA player Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant.

Lived for eight years in Italy, where his father played professionally after his National Basketball Association career ended.

On returning to the United States, Kobe Bryant attended Lower Merion High School outside Philadelphia and gained a reputation as one of the best high school players in the country.

Chosen as the 13th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 draft and immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

A forward and shooting guard, he made his NBA debut in November 1996 at the age of 18 and played 20 consecutive seasons in the league.

Nicknamed the ‘Black Mamba,’ he won NBA championships with the Lakers in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.

Won the NBA Most Valuable Player award in 2008, and was named to the NBA All-Star team 18 times.

Won Olympic gold medals with the United States in 2008 and 2012

Retired in 2016 after playing 1,346 regular season games and averaging 25 points a game, twice leading the league in scoring.

He earned more than $300 million on the court during his career.

His career points total of 33,643 is fourth on the all-time NBA list.

Off the court, he married Vanessa Laine in 2001.

In 2005, he reached a civil settlement with a woman who said he raped her in a Colorado hotel.

Died on Jan. 26, 2020, when a helicopter in which he was a passenger crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, California.

AFTNews, Rugby, Sport

Five women’s teams unbeaten on day one in Hamilton

The top five women’s teams in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2020 will all go into the deciding round of pool matches at the HSBC New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton unbeaten after day one at FMG Stadium.

Hosts and series leaders New Zealand, Olympic champions Australia and France currently sit top of their respective pools, the latter two on points difference only from USA and Canada respectively, after all enjoyed two victories from two on Saturday.

Fiji and China were the two other winners on the opening day of the first ever women’s series event in New Zealand, Fiji having held on to beat England in their opener after a impressive first-half display but then lost to 19-12 to the weekend’s invitational side China thanks a late brace by Yang Feifei.

VIEW FIXTURES/RESULTS >>VIEW POOLS >>
The pool stage concludes on 26 January after which the three teams topping their respective pools and the best runner-up will progress straight to the Cup semi-finals. The other teams will go into play-offs to determine the rankings from fifth to 12th.

READ FULL REPORT >>
This weekend’s tournament is the first women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series event to be held in New Zealand and comes as World Rugby has expanded the women’s series to a record eight rounds this season.

The 2020 women’s series has already toured to the USA, Dubai and Cape Town, the latter two and Hamilton being combined men’s and women’s events.

Hamilton also marks the start of an Olympic year for rugby sevens where it will be played as part of the Olympic Games programme for the second time in Tokyo this summer.

The action in Hamilton gets back underway at 08:45 local time (GMT+13) on 26 January with Spain’s Pool C encounter against Ireland.

Follow the action unfold on www.world.rugby/sevens or @WorldRugby7s

AFT TV, Sport, UFC

Post-fight press conference UFC-246 Conor McGregor TKOs Cowboy Cerrone

At the official weigh-in, at T-Mobile Stadium in Nevada, USA the night before the game, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone’s official weight was locked in at 170kg and the same for Conor McGregor. When emcee Joe Rogan spoke to the fighters, Cowboy said, “It’s incredible, we’re gonna blow the %#$(*%& roof off this place. I cannot wait!”. McGregor said, “I’m coming for all of them in this division. It begins with Donald! Let’s go! I’m excited! Thank you for all your support…..”. He added, “Tomorrow night I’m dedicating this fight to me ma back home. I luv ya ma, we all luv ya!”.

UFC 246: Conor McGregor Octagon Interview
On Episode 6 of UFC 246 Embedded, welterweight headliner Donald Cerrone relaxes in the comfort of making an easy weight cut to 170 lbs.  Anthony “Showtime” Pettis discusses how his technique of handling his own weight cut helps him.  Conor McGregor shows up to the UFC 246: Ceremonial weigh-ins with his son and crowds roar as the headliners position for a final flex-and-faceoff and deliver their thoughts in anticipation for the fight.
AFTNews, Airsports, PRNews

Team Korea victorious at FAI World Drone Racing Championship 2019

Team Korea

The 2019 FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final was held at a dedicated drone-racing track, built especially for the competition in Xiangshan Ningbo, a coastal city in the south east of China about 300km from Shanghai.

16-year-old Korean drone pilot Changhyeon Kang is the new FAI World Drone Racing Champion in the Overall and Junior categories while 12-year-old Wanraya “Milk” Wannapong of Thailand successfully defended her title for the Women’s category.

Photo credit: FAI.org via AsiaFitnessToday.com

Australia’s Thomas Bitmatta, 20, in second place and French pilot Killian Rousseau, 15, came in third in the Overall category while Korean Siyun Park, 15, and Teng Ma, 34, of the USA in the Women’s category in the championship that took place at Ningbo, China from 11-14 December 2019.

Drone racing pilots from Korea, Australia and France dominated this year’s meet

Speaking at the event, Acting Secretary General of the FAI Markus Haggeney said: “Congratulations to all the medallists, particularly the Korean team on claiming gold medals in a total of three categories, and the impressive young Thai pilot Wanraya Wannapong, who is now an FAI World Champion for the second time at just 12 years old.

“And thanks to everyone who has played a part in making this FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final such an excellent competition. There has been a fantastic atmosphere throughout and the Aero Sports Federation of China (ASFC), the organiser Starmach, the city of Ningbo and all the officials and volunteers have done a great job.” 

Team Malaysia’s Amir Rijal and Amir Keri Jr.

The competition took place over four days:

  • 11 December: Model processing and practice flights
  • 12 December: Opening ceremony and qualifying rounds
  • 13 December: Elimination rounds
  • 14 December: Elimination rounds, finals, medal and closing ceremonies

Among the 112 participating pilots, 103 drone pilots, including 40 juniors and nine women, competed as part of 31 national teams. The other nine pilots competed as individuals.

Team Malaysia sent two drone pilots this year, Amir Rijal, 24 (ranked 93/111) and Amir Keri Jr., 20 (ranked 83/111).

The race track this year was inspired by the Bi-Fish, a traditional Chinese Tai Chi symbol

Pilots tested their skills on a three-level championship racetrack that was 4m wide and 6m high, with a total length of 630m. Called Bi-Fish, it was inspired by the traditional Chinese Tai Chi symbol, and the maritime culture of Xiangshan, Ningbo – a former fishing village – and included lots of sharp turns, 16 air gates, and a tunnel.

AsiaFitnessToday.com supported Team Malaysia as its Official Media Partner, and drone racing has been adopted as a Move8 Pro program for youth – getting young people outdoors and moving.

RESULTS

Overall

  1. KANG Changhyeon (KOR)
  2. BITMATTA Thomas (AUS)
  3. ROUSSEAU Killian (FRA)

Women

  1. WANNAPONG Wanraya (THA)
  2. PARK Siyun (KOR)
  3. MA Teng (USA)

Juniors

  1. KANG Changhyeon (KOR)
  2. KIM JaeJong (KOR)
  3. HEEPS Sam (AUS)

National teams

  1. Korea
  2. Australia
  3. China

AFT Podcast, AFTNews, Airsports

Tengku Abdillah (Malaysia) receives Compagnon D’Honneur award at 113th FAI General Conference, Lausanne

Video

AFT News Network // Lausanne, 8 December 2019 – Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, FAI – The World Air Sports Federation conferred the prestigious award of “Compagnon D’Honneur” to Malaysia’s Tengku Abdillah – Regional Vice President for East and South East Asia.

Tengku Abdillah (Malaysia) receiving the prestigious Companions of Honour award from FAI President, Bob Henderson (New Zealand)

In a phone interview, Tengku shared his excitement.

https://www.australiafitnesstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WhatsApp-Audio-2019-12-08-at-23.40.23-1.ogg
AFT speaks with Tengku Abdillah in Lausanne

When they mentioned my name, I was shocked and tears start coming from my eyes. I never never expected it, not at all. What I’ve done for FAI was just my passion and my love for airsports… After seven and a half years as regional Vice President of FAI, I’ve said that’s it, I’ve got to stop somewhere and end of this year, I’ll stop”.

“I started airsports by flying the aeromodelling aircraft with my son and a few of my friends. When the Department of Civil Aviation at that time decided to organise an air carnival, they wanted all activities of airsports to be there. A DCA representative contacted me, and I became the leader for aeromodelling… DCA was very happy, and after four air carnivals, they contacted me and mentioned that Tun Dr. Mahathir, the Prime Minister then asked to setup an Air Sports Federation. They gathered four disciplines; aeromodelling, parachuting, paragliding and hot air balloon and started the Malaysia Sport Aviation Federation. I was elected as MSAF President from 2012-2015 (correction: 2011-2015) and then concentrated on regional basis for the FAI, and then I was the one who initiated the AirSports Federation of Asia (AFA),”.

“Next year, I want to concentrate more time in Malaysia especially on drone, and eSports,”.

Photo credit: FAI / Marcus King

The 113th FAI General Conference took place in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 5 and 6 December 2019 and was attended by 110 delegates from Active, Associate, and Temporary Member Countries alongside International Affiliate Members, FAI elected Officers, Presidents of Honour, Companions of Honour, delegates appointed by Presidents of Commissions and Observers.

FAI COMPANIONS OF HONOUR

Tengku Abdillah (FAI Regional Vice President for East & Southeast Asia / Malaysia Sports Aviation Federation) and Dr John LANGFORD (National Aeronautic Association of the USA) were appointed FAI Companions of Honour by the Conference for their services to FAI.

Tengku Abdillah will join a team of two Malaysian pilots at the 2019 FAI World Drone Racing Championships in Xiangshan Ningbo, China next week from 11-14 December 2019. The championship, which attracts over 100 top drone racing pilots from around the world is a major highlight in the international drone-racing circuit.

What is the FAI?

The FAI was founded in 1905 and is a non-governmental and non-profit making international organisation with the basic aim of furthering aeronautical and astronautical activities worldwide, ratifying world and continental records and coordinating the organisation of international competitions. It is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

AsiaFitnessToday is a proud media supporter of the Malaysian team once again, having supported the pilots at the inaugural 2018 World Drone Racing Championships held in Shenzhen last year. Drone racing is adopted as a Move8 movement program for youth empowerment. Find out more: www.move8.org.

AFT TV, AFTNews, SEA Games, Sport

30th SEA Games 2019 Philippines

Video

Highlights from Philippines

Medal Tally

Updated 9.12.19 at 2.30pm (+8GMT)

Click here to view: https://www2.2019seagames.com/medals/

AFT News Network – The Philippines plays host for the 30th South East Asian Games from 30 November to 11 December 2019, with all major activities taking place in the northern city of Clark at the newly built New Clark City Sports Village with other locations at Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Metro Manila. The 12 day games will showcase 56 sports including eSports as a first showcase game this year and will welcome over 8,750 athletes and team officials, 2,050 technical officials, 1,500 members of the media, 12,000 volunteers and over than 500 million viewers.

eSports

DOTA Gold Medal Match / Ceremony 16:00 (+8GMT)
Via ANC Who will sweep the Southeast Asian Games eSports event? A monumental first time ever for eSports to be a medal event for the regional games.

Gymnastics, 4 December 2019

Via ESPN5 Carlos Yulo bagged his fifth SILVER medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the men’s gymnastics horizontal bar.

Badminton, 3 December 2019

Via Toggle SG Indonesia vs Malaysia – Badminton Men’s Team Finals – Match 1 #SEAGAMES2019

Beach Volleyball, 3 December 2019

Via Rappler Thailand’s beach volleyball teams beat the Philippine teams on Tuesday, December 3. Finals will be played on Friday, December 6 #SEAGames2019

Basketball (Men’s), 3 December 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_4aJfqQSwA
Via GMA News Full game and awards ceremony of the SEA Games 2019 3×3 basketball men’s finals between the Philippines and Indonesia.

Bowling (Women’s), 3 December 2019

Via SG Sports TV Singapore’s New Hui Fen and Shayna Ng won Gold and Bronze respectively at the Bowling Women’s Singles at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines.

Weightlifting (Women’s), 2 December 2019

Gymnastics (Women’s), 2 December 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dv5kvQTou0
Via ABS-CBN Philippines 2019 Southeast Asian Games Women’s Gymnastics on December 2, 2019

Volleyball (Men’s), 2 December, 2019

Via Rappler The Philippine men’s volleyball team gets its campaign off to a rousing start, winning in straight sets vs Cambodia Monday, December 2, 2019 #SEAGames2019

Wushu, 2 December 2019

Via ESPN Agatha Wong clinches the Philippines’ second GOLD in the 30th Southeast Asian Games after leading the Women’s Wushu Taijiquan competition with 9.67 points. ‬

Figure Skating (Freeskating Senior Category), 1 December 2019

Awards ceremony for the Figure Skating – Senior Men #SEAGames2019
Gold: Julian Zhi Jie Yee (Malaysia) Silver: Christopher Caluza (Philippines)
Philippines’ Alisson Krystle Perticheto’s at the Senior Ladies – Free Skating at the Figure Skating competition of SEA Games 2019.

Single Dance Quickstep, 30 November 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh04D_c9XmI

Opening Ceremony Finale, 30 Nov 2019

Via CNA Filipino boxing champions Manny Pacquiao and Nesthy Petecio light up the 2019 SEA Games cauldron, sparking spectacular fireworks to cap the opening ceremony on Nov 30, 2019.

Opening Ceremony (Full), 30 November 2019

Via GMA News The Full Opening Ceremony of the 30th SEA Games 2019 in Philippines

Football (Women’s), 29 November 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBl3YAV7GI4
Via ABS-CBN Game Highlights where Philippines defeated Malaysia to make its way into the finals at the Southeast Asian Games Women’s Football

AFTNews, Olympics, Sport

Transparency highlighted in Tokyo 2020 Olympic Boxing Regulations

Video

28 Nov 2019 Newsflash: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it has stopped planning for the boxing tournament at Tokyo 2020 and launched an investigation into its governing body the International Boxing Association (AIBA) – via Reuters

20 Nov 2019 – The International Olympic Council (IOC) Boxing Task Force has complemented existing International Boxing Association (AIBA) regulations with specific amendments to deliver its commitment to transparency while minimising the impact on boxers at the upcoming Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

The IOC Boxing Task Force has confirmed that the judges’ scores of all rounds will now be displayed at the end of each round. All officials will be selected from the IOC Boxing Task Force pool of eligible officials, which will consist of qualified AIBA-certified individuals who have been reviewed to ensure they meet the selection criteria. The IOC Boxing Task Force will then randomly select every official for each competition from the pool of eligible individuals.

The full referee and judge selection process will be conducted under the independent supervision of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and include extensive independent background checks of each individual. No referees or judges involved in the Olympic Games Rio 2016 will be eligible to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic boxing qualifiers or Olympic competition.

Download a summary version of the Boxing Technical Officials Selection Process here.

Mr Morinari Watanabe, IOC Boxing Task Force CHAIRMAN said:

“The main objective of the IOC Boxing Task Force is to ensure the completion of the mission of delivering events, while putting the boxers first, and with transparent and credible sporting results and fair play.”

“It is only fair to the boxers not to change the fundamental competition rules so close to the Olympic qualifiers and the Olympic competition in Tokyo. The IOC Boxing Task Force has therefore focused on the full review of the rules enforced by AIBA in the current year of 2019, limiting changes which impact on boxers while increasing transparency by displaying the scoring and in the selection process for referees and judges.”

Boxing Athlete Ambassador Shelley Watts (AUS), a 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Rio 2016 Olympian, said:

“The IOC Boxing Task Force amendments to the AIBA Rules will have a positive impact on the conduct of Olympic Boxing Qualifying Events and at Tokyo 2020, as they focus on key areas such as clarity, transparency and integrity. These amendments are the result of an inclusive decisional process that took into consideration the athletes’ voice: we made sure that changes will not impact the dynamics of the current practice of the sport, while improving the standard of the competitions.”

The AIBA Rules, effective as of 9 February 2019, and following the IOC Boxing Task Force Amendments, shall constitute the Tokyo 2020 IOC Boxing Task Force Event Regulations, applicable at the Olympic Boxing Qualifying Events and the boxing tournament at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Download the “Event Regulations for the Olympic Boxing Qualifying Events and the Boxing Tournament at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020” here.

About the IOC

The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit independent international organisation made up of volunteers, which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of 3.4 million US dollars goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.

Video: Boxing Men’s Middle (75kg) – Gold Medal Final – Brazil v Japan Full Replay – London 2012 Olympics

AFTNews, Olympics

Chinese women make history by winning Olympic berth at rugby sevens

AFT News Network // Guangzhou, China, November 11, 2019 – The Chinese women’s rugby sevens team defeated Hong Kong 33-0 at the Asian Rugby Women’s Sevens qualification tournament on Sunday, November 10 and has secured a spot in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The victory also created history as it will be the first time for China Rugby to appear in the Olympics.

Eight women’s teams from Asia competed for the solitary ticket to the Olympics. China dominated their group defeating Korea 49-0, Hong Kong 42-7 and Sri Lanka 55-0. In the semi-finals, China crushed Thailand 34-0.

Japan as hosts have already gained an automatic berth in the 12-team Olympic tournament. The other women’s teams to qualify are: New Zealand, United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Great Britain, Kenya and Fiji.

Hong Kong and Kazakhstan, who defeated Thailand 17-14 in the third-place play-off, will head to the global repechage in June 2020, where 12 teams will contest for the last two spots.

The Asian men’s Olympics rugby sevens qualifiers will take place at Incheon, Korea from November 23-24.