Malaysian shuttlers sent packing at Hong Kong Open

Malaysian shuttlers sent packing at Hong Kong Open


Malaysian shuttlers sent packing at Hong Kong Open

Posted: 25 Nov 2016 07:58 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 ― Malaysia's campaign at the Hong Kong Open Super Series ended when all its shuttlers crashed out of the quarterfinals in Kowloon, tonight.

The highly-anticipated Rio Olympics silver medal winning men's doubles pair, Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong, went down to Mohammad Ahsan/Rian Agung Saputro of Indonesia.

The world number one pair managed to bounce back to win the second set 21-17 after losing the first set 11-21, but failed to continue their rhythm in the third set, losing 17-21.

However, national number two men's doubles pair, Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi gave the tournament's fourth seeded Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen a run for their money before losing the match.

After losing the first set 14-21, the unseeded Malaysian pair surprised the Danes in the second set with a 21-18 win. However, they lost 13-21 in the third set in the 55-minute battle.

The Danish pair will next face Mohammad/Rian tomorrow, to secure their berth into the finals.

Earlier, independent men's singles shuttler Chong Wei Feng was unable to continue his winning streak against Sameer Verma of India, losing 17-21, 21-23 in another match.

Despite leading 12-5 in the second set, the 2015 Singapore Sea Games gold medallist was unable to secure victory against the world number 43. ― Bernama

The dragon path — New attraction at Entopia

Posted: 25 Nov 2016 07:58 AM PST

Staff members of Entopia (from right) Neoh Lavinia, 26, Melissa Yung, 24, Eugena Choo, 47, and Shakirah Yacob, 32, kissing a small reptile of the species ‘Bearded Dragon’ that is among 11 species of reptiles introduced into the park in George Town, NoStaff members of Entopia (from right) Neoh Lavinia, 26, Melissa Yung, 24, Eugena Choo, 47, and Shakirah Yacob, 32, kissing a small reptile of the species 'Bearded Dragon' that is among 11 species of reptiles introduced into the park in George Town, NoBALIK PULAU, Nov 25 — Beginning tomorrow, enthusiasts of exotic reptiles such as the ginkgo, and lizards can watch them at close range at Entopia, via its new 'Dragon Path'.

With more than 11 small reptiles such as the Bearded Dragon, Cat, Tokay and Leopard Gecko, as well as the Veiled Chameleon on display, there are also more than 300 free flying dragonflies from more than 10 species at the new path.

"We hope this will bring more educational value to the visitors on the topic of eco-system, especially regarding the food chain of reptiles," said Entopia chief executive officer Joseph Goh.

He said the reptiles had been with Entopia since it was known as Butterfly Farm, and that the reptile families had been under its care for generations.

Entopia is open daily to visitors from 9am to 7pm, with the last entry at 5.30pm. — Bernama

Mishandled body identified as Fong Meng Tuck

Posted: 25 Nov 2016 07:51 AM PST

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 25 — Police today confirmed that the body of a man who was handed over wrongly by the Penang Hospital's Forensic Department here to another family, was identified as Fong Meng Tuck, 60.

Northeast district police chief ACP Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the confirmation came after the Chemistry Department found that the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) tests conducted using blood samples of the deceased's three sons were 99.99 per cent matched.

"We have received a police report from Fong's son on Monday who claimed that his father's body could have been handed over wrongly to another family. Police have since opened up an investigation paper on the incident.

"The DNA tests have been carried out based on Fong's blood samples taken during the post mortem, and the result was out today," he told a press conference here today.

Also present were the department's head Datuk Dr Zahari Noor and Penang Hospital Visitors Board chairman Lim Thoon Deong.

It was reported that the department had handed over Fong's body to another family about 12 noon on Monday, that coincidently claimed for the body of a 73-year-old man who died of a heart attack.

The family then took the body to a funeral home to be cremated.

Fong's son was shocked to find that the body of his father was no longer at the hospital when he came to claim it at about 2pm.

Mior Faridalathrash said investigations revealed that the standard operating procedures during the handover process had been violated, as the niece to the 73-year-old deceased did not identify the body due to the smell.

"The 53-year-old woman vomitted several times as she couldn't stand the smell of the body which was found three days after his death. She didn't identify the body.

"She only told the forensic department staff to handle the body of her bachelor uncle before taking the body to a funeral home in Mount Erskine for cremation," she said. — Bernama

KLIA’s rapid growth instrumental to Msia’s economic development

Posted: 25 Nov 2016 07:46 AM PST

SEPANG, Nov 25 — The Kuala Lumpur International Airport's (KLIA) rapid growth has been instrumental to Malaysia's economic development, opening up opportunities in trade and tourism, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Thus, he said, the government viewed quality improvements at the KLIA and klia2 very seriously, while proactively supporting the airports' operator, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd in various areas necessary for efficient operations at both terminals.

"Malaysia is fortunate in its location, being at the heart of Asean. As such, KLIA is well-positioned to capture growth from the larger Asia Pacific region which is forecasted by the International Air Travel Association to experience among the highest growth rate in air passenger markets," he said at the 2015 KLIA Awards at the Sama-Sama Hotel KLIA, here today.

Liow said KLIA's passenger traffic had recorded a 4.4 per cent growth in the first nine months of this year, compared with the same period of 2015.

"It also exceeded the initial traffic forecast of 2.5 per cent for 2016.

"With the opening of klia2, the second terminal serving low cost carriers, KLIA currently caters to 50 million passengers annually, with over 60 airlines serving more than 120 direct destinations.

"This is indeed a far cry from our days at Subang Airport which at its peak handled nearly 16 million passengers annually," he added.

Liow said the secret to KLIA's success lies in the synergy of dedicated people including the airport operator, airlines, service providers, government agencies, retailers, contractors and ground handlers who have walked hand in hand to where KLIA is today.

He presented a total of 17 awards at the event, where the winners were chosen based on their achievements respective categories last year in sectors such as passenger movement, growth factor, sales performance, international recognition and service excellence.

Indonesia AirAsia won the Foreign Airline of the Year (Passenger) award, Cathay Pacific the Foreign Airline of the Year (Cargo), MAS Kargo won the Airline of the Year (Cargo), while Air Asia bagged two awards, namely Airline of the Year (Passenger) and Low Cost Airline of the Year.

The Promising New Foreign Airline of the Year went to British Airways and the Best On Time Performance Airline of the Year was bagged by Japan Airlines. — Bernama

At least 31 dead in Iran train crash

Posted: 25 Nov 2016 07:43 AM PST

Injured people on stretchers being taken from a helicopter at a local hospital, in this still frame taken from video today. — IRINN via Reuters TVInjured people on stretchers being taken from a helicopter at a local hospital, in this still frame taken from video today. — IRINN via Reuters TVTEHRAN, Nov 25 — At least 31 people were killed in Iran today when a passenger train rammed into the back of an intercity express which had broken down, the provincial governor said.

More than 70 people were admitted to hospital after the crash in the northern province of Semnan on the main line between the capital Tehran and second city Mashhad, Mohammad Reza Khabbaz told state television.

The express train, operating one of Iran's longest distance services from Tabriz in the northwest to Mashhad, had been forced to stop between stations by a mechanical failure, perhaps caused by the cold November weather, Khabbaz said.

Two of its coaches burst into flames when the train behind ran into the back of it at 7:50 am (10:20 am Malaysian time).

The front four coaches of the second train — running from Semnan to Mashhad — derailed and overturned.

"One minute I was sleeping and the next I was being carried out of a coach on fire," one hospitalised passenger told state television.

Initial reports had said that the express train was stopped in a station when the accident happened.

But Khabbaz said it was some four kilometres (2½ miles) outside Haft Khan station between Semnan and Damghan, the next major town.

At midday emergency services were still battling to put out the fire and rescue injured passengers from the overturned carriages.

The province's Red Crescent director, Hassan Shokrollahi, said the remote location of the crash site had complicated rescue efforts.

"Due to the difficulty of access, only our helicopter has managed to reach the scene," he said earlier in the day.

The injured were taken to hospitals in Semnan and Damghan. — AFP

Sports star ‘targeted’ in growing South Korea scandal

Posted: 25 Nov 2016 07:42 AM PST

Swimmer Park Tae-hwan, who claims he was targeted by an official who has been arrested in the current corporate scandal. — Reuters file picSwimmer Park Tae-hwan, who claims he was targeted by an official who has been arrested in the current corporate scandal. — Reuters file picSEOUL, Nov 25 — South Korea's snowballing influence-peddling scandal has threatened to engulf one of the country's leading sport stars after prosecutors confirmed today they were investigating claims an Olympic swimmer was targeted.

Park Tae-Hwan is the latest figure to be caught up in an affair that could see President Park Geun-Hye impeached.

The president is accused of colluding with her former confidante, Choi Soon-Sil, who allegedly leveraged her personal relationship with Park to coerce donations from big firms to two non-profit foundations which were then used for Choi's personal gain.

Now Park Tae-Hwan has claimed he was targeted by the former vice sports minister, Kim Chong, who has been arrested for helping Choi extort corporate "donations".

Park, who won a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said Kim threatened in May to cut him off from corporate sponsorship should he compete in Rio.

"I was so scared back then as he was such a high-ranking official," Park said.

It remains unclear why Kim Chong attempted to stop Park from going to Rio but the athlete said the threat hampered his preparation for Rio, where he performed poorly.

An opposition lawmaker reportedly said Kim took a dislike to Park after the official visited the national athletes' training centre in 2014.

An audio recording of the alleged threat made by Kim has been handed to prosecutors.

"It's true that we've launched a probe into the allegations," a spokesman for the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office told AFP today.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency has also reported rumours another Olympic gold medallist, figure skater Kim Yuna, was picked on by government officials after she turned down an invitation to a calisthenics workout event attended by President Park in 2014.

However, at a Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Wednesday, she denied she felt she had been unfairly targeted. — AFP