Embed from Getty Images

You've Won The SEA Games, Now Go Grab That Olympic spot!

Katrina (left) and Zylane in action during the duet technical and free routine event. They won the gold medal.

SINGAPORE: Synchronised swimming coach has thrown a challenge to Katrina Ann Hadi and Zylane Lee Yhing Huey – qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The duo dazzled the judges at the OCBC Aquatics Centre to bring home the duet technical and free routine gold medal – Malaysia’s first at the Singapore SEA Games.

National coach Long Yan believes the real target for Katrina-Zylane is to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

No Malaysian synchronised swimmer has ever qualified for the Olympics.

To earn Olympic qualification, the pair needs to start getting 80-82 points. They are just averaging 75 points now.

“I believe they have the potential to make it to the Olympics. I really want them to go for it because it’s the Olympics,” said Long Yan.

“So far, they’ve been doing very well in the duet events and have shown great improvement and mental toughness.

“For this SEA Games, five international A judges were invited because there aren’t enough judges in the region.

“These judges have given us feedback saying that Katrina-Zylane are performing at a very high level and that, had this not been the SEA Games, they could scored higher.

“They will now focus on the World Championships in Kazan, Russia (July 24-Aug 9). If they can maintain their performance, they’ll be on the right track.”

Katrina and Zylane have pledged their commitment to not only try and qualify for the Olympics but to compete in the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia as well.

“Winning the duet gold here has been a boost and a stepping stone ... hopefully, we’ll be included in the Podium Programme,” said Katrina.

“We want to show that we can win medals at the Commonwealth Games level and also to qualify for the Olympics.

“And since we are the next SEA Games host, there’s no way we’re quitting!” 

Singapore SEA Games Merely a platform to expose young athletes

SINGAPORE: There’s a good reason why the National Sports Council (NSC) have not set any targets for the Singapore SEA Games.

Of the 670 athletes competing in the Games, 396 are back-up athletes.

The Singapore SEA Games are being used as a platform for these back-up athletes to show their mettle in preparation for the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in 2017.

This is the first time in the history of the biennial Games that Malaysia are sending more back-up athletes.

In Singapore, the NSC will be able to gauge the back-up athletes’ strengths and weaknesses when they go up against athletes from 10 other participating countries.

In some sports – like squash, waterski and men’s hockey – Malaysia will be represented by back-up players.

In squash, Malaysia will have no problem grabbing four of the five golds at stake. The only exception being the jumbo doubles event which Malaysia are not taking part in.

Diving and athletics have an equal mix of seniors and juniors.

Malaysian chef de mission Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria is confident that the Malaysian back-up athletes will do well in Singapore.

“The Singapore Games will be a good benchmark for our back-ups to give their best ... and win medals. Although we’ve not set any targets, we hope they will shine at the Games.

“It will be a good preparation for the back-up athletes for next SEA Games we’ll be hosting in 2017,” said Norza.

The NSC and the Youth and Sports Ministry may not have set any targets for them but StarSport has predicted that the Malaysian contingent can haul in 50 golds.

One is already in the bag, courtesy of syncronised swimming pair Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi-Zylane Lee Yhing Huey on Thursday.

That’s one down, 49 more to go. StarSport is confident the Malaysian athletes can hit the target.

Malaysia will feature in 35 of the 36 sports, except for the traditional boat race.

Malaysia are targeting to become overall champions in the SEA Games in two years’ time. Malaysia last emerged as overall champions in 2001, when they hosted the Games, with a total of 111 golds from 32 sports.

Skuad renang berirama sumbang pingat perak

PASUKAN renang berirama negara meraikan kejayaan selepas berjaya memenangi pingat perak dalam acara berpasukan di Pusat Akuatik OCBC Singapura semalam.

---

SINGAPURA – Malaysia terpaksa berpuas hati apabila sekadar merangkul pingat perak dalam acara renang berirama berpasukan selepas tewas kepada pasukan tuan rumah, Singapura pada aksi yang berlangsung di Pusat Akuatik OCBC malam tadi.

Skuad negara yang dibarisi Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi, Foong Yan Nie, Gan Hua Wei, Gan Zhen Yie, Kwong Zhi Kei, Zylane Lee Yhing Huey, Lee Yiat Lum dan Tasha Jane Taher Ali hanya berjaya memungut 146.5204 mata.

Keputusan tersebut sekali gus menyaksikan pasukan negara terpaksa melepaskan kejuaraan yang dimenangi empat tahun lalu pada Sukan SEA ke-26 yang berlangsung di Palembang, Indonesia.

Pingat perak tersebut cukup bermakna buat Malaysia kerana ia merupakan pi­ngat kedua yang dimenangi selepas beregu wanita acara ping pong menyumbang pingat gangsa kelmarin.

Seperti diduga, Singapura berjaya me­raih emas untuk cara ini apabila mencatat 150.8445 mata melalui perbezaan mata tipis dari aspek teknikal dan artistik berbanding skuad negara.

Pingat gangsa dimenangi Indonesia selepas mencatat 138.1796 mata. Acara tersebut hanya disertai empat negara termasuk Thailand.

Sementara itu, ketua pasukan, Katrina Ann berkata, dia dan rakan sepasukan lain telah melakukan yang terbaik dan berpuas hati dengan keputusan tersebut memandangkan Singapura juga merupakan lawan yang agak kuat.

“Persaingan kali ini lebih sengit berbanding Terbuka Jepun yang kami sertai bulan lalu. Jadi, kita tidak meletakkan harapan yang tinggi.

“Kami juga melakukan sedikit perubahan pada rutin yang menambah tahap kesukaran. Walau apa pun kami berpuas hati dengan keputusan ini dan Singapura telah melakukan yang terbaik,” katanya.

Artikel Penuh: http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2015&dt=0604&pub=Kosmo&sec=Sukan&pg=su_05.htm#ixzz3c5UOcn7w 
Hakcipta terpelihara 

Sukan SEA: Duet renang berirama sumbang emas pertama negara Selanjutnya di : http://www.bharian.com.my/node/59136

KATRINA (kanan) dan Zylane mempamerkan aksi menarik. - Foto Osman Adnan

 SINGAPURA: Pasangan renang berirama menyumbang pingat emas pertama Malaysia pada temasya Sukan SEA ke-28 di Singapura selepas mengungguli acara duet di Pusat Akuatik OCBC, sebentar tadi. Tampil sebagai pasangan keempat memperagakan aksi, persembahan menarik Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi dan Zylane Lee Ying Huey membolehkan mereka menghuni kedudukan teratas daripada enam negara peserta dengan mengumpul 150.9103 mata.

ZYLANE dan Katrina (kanan) menunjukkan pingat emas yang dimenangi. - Foto Osman Adnan

ZYLANE dan Katrina (kanan) menunjukkan pingat emas yang dimenangi. - Foto Osman Adnan Kejayaan itu mengecewakan impian tuan rumah, Singapura menambah emas kedua dalam saingan renang berirama apabila terpaksa berpuas hati dengan perak selepas mengumpul 149.8372 mata. Indonesia melengkapkan kedudukan podium apabila meraih gangsa dengan 139.0880 mata.

Selanjutnya di : http://www.bharian.com.my/node/59136

Sukan SEA 2015: Emas pertama Malaysia

PERENANG berirama negara, Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi dan Zylane Lee menunjukkan pingat emas yang dimenangi mereka dalam kategori duet, temasya Sukan SEA 2015 di Pusat Akuatik OCBC di sini hari ini.

SINGAPURA 4 Jun - Malaysia meraih emas pertama di Sukan SEA 2015 dalam acara renang berirama melalui gandingan Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi-Zylane Lee dalam kategori duet di Pusat Akuatik OCBC.

Mengumpul 150.9103 mata, mereka mengetepikan cabaran sengit daripada peserta tuan rumah, Chen Mei Qi-Crystal Yap Yu Hui yang mencatat 149.8372 mata.

Sementara gangsa menjadi milik Indonesia menerusi pasangan Anisa Feritrianti-Claudia Suyanto yang melakukan 139.0880 mata. - UTUSAN ONLINE

- See more at: http://www.utusan.com.my/sukan/sukan-sea-2015-emas-pertama-malaysia-1.99057#sthash.nmvM6pI0.dpuf

Kejayaan Katrina-Zylane Wajar Jadi Pemangkin Kontinjen Dalam Buruan Pingat - Ketua Kontinjen

SINGAPURA, 4 Jun (Bernama) -- Atlet Malaysia di temasya Sukan SEA ke-28 wajar menjadikan kejayaan gandingan Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi dan Zylane Lee sebagai pemangkin meraih pingat, kata Ketua Kontinjen Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria.

"Saya merasa terharu dan gembira sangat dengan kejayaan meraih pingat emas pertama negara hari ini. Saya harap kejayaan itu akan mencetuskan semangat untuk kontinjen kita memulakan buruan pingat emas.

Saya juga berharap kemenangan pingat emas hari ini akan mencetuskan kebangkitan luar biasa (kontinjen negara)," katanya kepada pemberita di Pusat Akuatik OCBC, Hab Sukan Singapura, di sini hari ini.

Menurut beliau, atlet-atlet Malaysia yang bersaing pada Sukan SEA kali ini perlu bijak menangani tekanan khususnya daripada penyokong-penyokong tuan rumah.

"Saya sentiasa ingatkan kepada mereka (atlet) supaya jangan membiarkan situasi mengawal kita sebaliknya kita yang mengawal situasi," katanya.

Setakat ini kontinjen negara telah mengumpul satu pingat emas, satu perak dan dua gangsa.

Temasya Sukan SEA ke-28 akan dibuka secara rasmi esok.

-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/bm/sp/newssports.php?id=1141112#