Sok Lim Heng crowned King of Khmer chess at Angkor Sangkran

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1TaK-uODIDla2JEEwwPIA2eXjpC55dbwBqXZVMjEP_OQ7TSTiFQTMPjT8lkKMoj8SyATSOKLeQpY3hyphenhyphenDvi8ywReR3qn2MqC78jOk9bqAADrpI4jNV7F_BKrw8YN7dzUBDynDemUGQEk/s1600/chess_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1TaK-uODIDla2JEEwwPIA2eXjpC55dbwBqXZVMjEP_OQ7TSTiFQTMPjT8lkKMoj8SyATSOKLeQpY3hyphenhyphenDvi8ywReR3qn2MqC78jOk9bqAADrpI4jNV7F_BKrw8YN7dzUBDynDemUGQEk/s640/chess_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Youth triumphed over experience as 19-year-old Sok Lim Heng outmoved two-time champion Chheav Bora in the final round of the 2018 Angkor Sangkran Khmer Chess Championship.<br /> <br /> The final battle to crown the new ‘King of Chess' was a highlight of the traditional Khmer New Year festivities at Angkor Wat on Monday.<br /> <br /> After Bora and Lim Heng smoothly made their way through a select field of eight qualifiers to set up the pieces for the championship game, there was lively anticipation that the fast emerging Phnom Penh prospect Lim Heng and Kampong Cham's Bora would produce a game of high quality.<br /> <br /> And chess enthusiasts and onlookers including tourists were not disappointed as a confident Lim Heng handled his pieces tactically better than his rival to be crowned the King of Khmer chess.<br /> <br /> The champion received a gold medal along with prize money of 10 million riel (around $2,500), and additional rewards for Lim Heng also came from Prime Minister Hun Sen, who offered 20 million riel, and Siem Reap Governor Khim Bunsong, who added another 10 million riel.<br /> <br /> Runner-up Bora had to be content with a silver medal and 18 million riel in total, including 12 million riel from the Prime Minister.<br /> <br /> Third-placed Thim Dy from Kampong Cham was compensated for his efforts with a bronze medal and a prize of 12 million riel, out of which the Prime Minister's personal contribution was 8 million riel.<br /> <br /> In the lead-up to the grand final, 24 players from seven cities and provinces – Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Kampong Speu, Kampong Cham, Siem Reap, Kratie and Battambang – vied to qualify for the eight places in the Angkor Sangkran finals.<br /> <br /> The final field of candidates included Chheav Bora, Dim Dina, Keo Vathana, Bun Kea Seng, Bou Pon Malika, Eng Sengheak, Siv Sin and Sok Lim Heng.

Sok Lim Heng crowned King of Khmer chess at Angkor Sangkran

Youth triumphed over experience as 19-year-old Sok Lim Heng outmoved two-time champion Chheav Bora in the final round of the 2018 Angkor Sangkran Khmer Chess Championship. The final battle to crown t…

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Hockey hopefuls beat Thai club in build-up to qualifiers for 2018 Youth Olympics

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA2xArvuxNJkO-KXbQWADhAucnehPl9t-_0TWAOHTq8zVWn-nMyQ8vug-Nt2s2xqF-cxA4Pn4XBi3rk9-HFTMbMKHZoSHX4uoCySVxRWsvgWpmllgsLuSqzNJH2hl67jYhYhJb6GrXYs/s1600/hockey_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA2xArvuxNJkO-KXbQWADhAucnehPl9t-_0TWAOHTq8zVWn-nMyQ8vug-Nt2s2xqF-cxA4Pn4XBi3rk9-HFTMbMKHZoSHX4uoCySVxRWsvgWpmllgsLuSqzNJH2hl67jYhYhJb6GrXYs/s640/hockey_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Cambodia's raw but enthusiastic group of young field hockey players turned in a gutsy performance on Wednesday, beating one of Thailand's frontline clubs Saraburi 5-2.<br /> <br /> The victory came after Cambodia were outplayed by Thailand's national team in a friendly just days earlier in the build-up to Asia zone Youth Olympic Games five-a-side hockey qualifiers to be held in Bangkok from April 25 to 29.<br /> <br /> While Cambodia entered the women's hockey arena a few years ago, this will be the first foray into regional competition by the Kingdom's boys, who will be matching skills with some of the best in the continent aiming for two qualification spots to the Youth Olympic Games to be held in Argentina later this year.<br /> <br /> Apart from Argentina as hosts, last year's beaten finalists Canada and Mexico have already qualified from the Pan American zone.<br /> <br /> While the Asia, Europe and Africa zones will send two teams each, Oceania has been granted three slots.<br /> <br /> The Bangkok qualifiers will be contested by 11 teams after Oman pulled out.<br /> <br /> Cambodia have been grouped with India, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore in Pool A, while Pool B is made up of Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand, Bangladesh and Chinese Taipei.<br /> <br /> Despite falling behind twice, a strong second-half showing saw Cambodia sound the boards four times to complete a morale-boosting 5-2 win ahead of the qualifiers.<br /> <br /> Saraburi shot into the lead nine minutes into the game, but Cambodia drew level within three minutes.<br /> <br /> The Thai club then made it 2-1 just before half-time.<br /> <br /> But after the restart it was Cambodia all the way as they scored at regular intervals in the second session.<br /> <br /> <b>'Happy with our boys'</b><br /> <br /> As the Khmer New Year celebrations were in full swing, the Kingdom's young hockey hopefuls aiming for their first big competitive test could not match strides against a strong Thailand in the country's first ever international hockey friendly.<br /> <br /> Though Rama Anas managed to level Thailand's first-half strike, the hosts were too strong and wily in the second half as they powered to a 5-1 win.<br /> <br /> "This was a good game for us. The team had zero experience before today and this was our first international friendly," team coach Asif Rana Masqsood said.<br /> <br /> "I was happy with the way our boys handled the game against Saraburi. They were stiff competition for our team playing at this level in the qualifiers without any regional exposure at all.<br /> <br /> "But playing against some of the best teams will certainly give our players a chance to improve in this futuristic 5s format,'' Masqsood added.<br /> <br /> The compact hockey 5s on a smaller field was introduced at the Youth Olympic Games in China's Nanjing in 2014 after the inaugural edition in Singapore in 2010 used the outdoor format.<br /> <br /> Australia beat Pakistan to clinch gold at the first ever Youth Olympics in 2010, and the Aussies went on to retain the gold four years later, beating Canada in the final 3-2 on penalties after regulation time ended 3-3.

Hockey hopefuls beat Thai club in build-up to qualifiers for 2018 Youth Olympics

Cambodia's raw but enthusiastic group of young field hockey players turned in a gutsy performance on Wednesday, beating one of Thailand's frontline clubs Saraburi 5-2. The victory came after Cambodia…

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IOC monitoring Samsung Olympic lobbying claims: Bach

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFb0gz5QBjK8geVaZKIWAcq15HPINWOpNpaRJH8vh64HWKOmkzevqsLwDjKGCh3-NBr6rDKz1JzI26tvEwfMXz36jjdIQsRVlLL9JaNGSayW7N9NDEvvtbpoR4joQKX2hS85MonMTVzvY/s1600/bach_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFb0gz5QBjK8geVaZKIWAcq15HPINWOpNpaRJH8vh64HWKOmkzevqsLwDjKGCh3-NBr6rDKz1JzI26tvEwfMXz36jjdIQsRVlLL9JaNGSayW7N9NDEvvtbpoR4joQKX2hS85MonMTVzvY/s640/bach_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> The Olympics ethics watchdog will "monitor" developments after South Korean media said Samsung carried out illicit lobbying for Pyeongchang to be awarded this year's Winter Games, IOC president Thomas Bach said on Thursday.<br /> <br /> Samsung, a top sponsor of the Olympics, has denied the claims made by the SBS television network that the company offered incentives to get votes from International Olympic Committee members.<br /> <br /> Bach told a press conference during a visit to New Delhi that the allegations "have been clearly denied by Samsung, this is all that we know so far. But I am sure that our our ethics commission will monitor the situation".<br /> <br /> SBS TV said it had obtained copies of 137 emails including messages between Samsung executives and Papa Massata Diack – the son of the scandal-tainted former International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Lamine Diack.<br /> <br /> The mails included one listing 27 IOC members with voting rights in the decision for the 2018 Games, which was contested by Pyeongchang, Munich in Germany and Annecy in France.<br /> <br /> <b>'Success fee'</b><br /> <br /> The report said Papa Diack had promised to convince each of the named members to vote for Pyeongchang.<br /> <br /> In one 2010 mail Diack requested $12 million in funds – including a three-year, $9.5 million sponsorship for the IAAF's Diamond League athletics meetings. He also asked for a "success fee".<br /> <br /> The emails were confiscated by South Korean prosecutors last year during a graft investigation into former president Park Geun-hye, SBS said.<br /> <br /> As a top level Olympics sponsor, Samsung is not allowed to lobby for Games venue candidates. It strongly denied the allegations last week.<br /> <br /> "Samsung has never engaged in any illegal lobbying activities to have Pyeongchang win the bidding", the South Korean tech giant said in a statement.

IOC monitoring Samsung Olympic lobbying claims: Bach

The Olympics ethics watchdog will "monitor" developments after South Korean media said Samsung carried out illicit lobbying for Pyeongchang to be awarded this year's Winter Games, IOC president Thoma…

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Alvarez banned for six months over failed drug test

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNje5z8xjoECl8HpM9sHfNBpCe6D3xwQv3RReWILPsvTX_Z9wSBhCoYVudk9AhTFfLvhuH5Ne1XmBisS7GrAq8NqLYyGCi9jOcRIK4t91_hTzHQCiX1yi3DjM6DJNl4OxX0QDjZkGaOs/s1600/canelo_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNje5z8xjoECl8HpM9sHfNBpCe6D3xwQv3RReWILPsvTX_Z9wSBhCoYVudk9AhTFfLvhuH5Ne1XmBisS7GrAq8NqLYyGCi9jOcRIK4t91_hTzHQCiX1yi3DjM6DJNl4OxX0QDjZkGaOs/s640/canelo_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Mexican middleweight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez was handed a six-month ban by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday over the failed drug test which forced his rematch with Gennady Golovkin to be cancelled.<br /> <br /> At a hearing in Las Vegas, the commission unanimously approved a deal that will see Alvarez suspended for six months from the date of his failed test on February 17.<br /> <br /> The ruling means Alvarez, who did not attend the hearing, will be free to fight again in August – raising the possibility of a rescheduled Golovkin fight in September.<br /> <br /> Alvarez tested positive for Clenbuterol twice, on February 17 and February 20, during voluntary out-of-competition tests as he prepared for his May 5 rematch with Golovkin.<br /> <br /> He later blamed the tests on eating contaminated meat in his native Mexico, where several athletes across different sports have encountered similar problems in recent years.<br /> <br /> The 27-year-old risked a one-year ban over the failed test, but Nevada authorities said he had been given a six-month suspension citing his cooperation with authorities.<br /> <br /> In a statement, Alvarez's promoters, Golden Boy Promotions said they accepted the sanction – and indicated they aimed to reschedule the Golovkin rematch for September.<br /> <br /> "Canelo looks forward to returning to the ring in September for Mexican Independence Day weekend to represent Mexico and boxing in what will be the sport's biggest event of the year," Golden Boy said.<br /> <br /> "He is ready to continue his remarkable record of fighting at the highest level."<br /> <br /> <b>'Forget Mexican meat'</b><br /> <br /> Any rematch between Alvarez and Golovkin will be tinged with animosity. The two fighters have traded verbal blows in the months since Alvarez's positive drug test came to light.<br /> <br /> At a news conference in Los Angeles earlier this month, Alvarez insisted he was the victim of an innocent mistake, hitting back at claims from Golovkin that he was dope cheat.<br /> <br /> "I am truly shocked about what has happened, and for those who have doubts and suspicions about my integrity, I have always been and always will be a clean fighter," Alvarez said. "I respect this sport. I will always be a clean fighter."<br /> <br /> Alvarez and Golovkin fought to a controversial draw in their first meeting in Las Vegas last September, a fight most neutrals believed unified champion Golovkin had won.<br /> <br /> Their rematch at the T-Mobile Arena next month was expected to be one of the biggest fights of 2018 but was thrown into uncertainty after news of Alvarez's drug test emerged.<br /> <br /> Golovkin has dismissed Alvarez's claims that he ingested the Clenbuterol inadvertently, telling reporters last month at his training camp in Big Bear, east of Los Angeles, that he believed the Mexican was guilty of doping.<br /> <br /> "Forget Mexican meat," Golovkin said. "Come on . . . Canelo's cheating. They're using these drugs and everybody's trying to pretend it's not happening."<br /> <br /> The unbeaten 35-year-old will now fight American Vanes Martirosyan on May 5 in an open-air bout at Los Angeles' StubHub Center.

Alvarez banned for six months over failed drug test

Mexican middleweight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez was handed a six-month ban by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday over the failed drug test which forced his rematch with Gennady Golovkin to …

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Mourinho backs Pogba after Scholes taunt

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xSUoUgBYsz1xhJr1CAqrsv4t_3BeDLNy9P7jW5K3xEZOoCiS-Og6It9jH4FGkwjPc9n_PdK4iTtgrgxUgGFxmUZnWbi9BgI35kGQT6a-l3Rbvodeg1_ZdxQCd7269_omc1wu4TKyCXw/s1600/pogba_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xSUoUgBYsz1xhJr1CAqrsv4t_3BeDLNy9P7jW5K3xEZOoCiS-Og6It9jH4FGkwjPc9n_PdK4iTtgrgxUgGFxmUZnWbi9BgI35kGQT6a-l3Rbvodeg1_ZdxQCd7269_omc1wu4TKyCXw/s640/pogba_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Jose Mourinho has defended Paul Pogba after the Manchester United star was branded "disrespectful" by Paul Scholes.<br /> <br /> United legend Scholes claimed Pogba's lacklustre display in Sunday's shock defeat against lowly West Bromwich Albion showed a lack of respect for Mourinho.<br /> <br /> Scholes's criticism came amid growing speculation that Mourinho is ready to sell Pogba following the France midfielder's inconsistent form over the last two seasons.<br /> <br /> But Pogba produced one of his better performances in United's 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Wednesday as he set up Romelu Lukaku for the second goal at Dean Court.<br /> <br /> Asked to comment on Scholes's criticism of Pogba, Mourinho said: "I don't agree. I agree that it wasn't a good performance at all [against West Brom] – with that I agree."<br /> <br /> Mourinho made seven changes from the West Brom loss as he axed some of his underperforming players and rested others for Saturday's FA Cup semifinal against Tottenham.<br /> <br /> His decision to keep Pogba in the starting line-up raised questions about the chances of the midfielder retaining his place at Wembley.<br /> <br /> But Mourinho, who has dropped Pogba several times this season, offered an enthusiastic review of his man of the match display on the south coast.<br /> <br /> "Top performance. Top performance. Obviously the performance against City was special, coming with two goals," he said.<br /> <br /> "But this performance was a very similar level. So top performance. He can do it."<br /> <br /> United's return to winning ways was not enough to ease Mourinho's frustrations over Sunday's woeful loss to West Brom.<br /> <br /> That result gifted the title to Manchester City, but Mourinho believes he can catch the champions next season.<br /> <br /> "My face is still the face of last Sunday and not the face of somebody who just finished a game and a win," Mourinho said.<br /> <br /> "I still live with the emotions of last Sunday.<br /> <br /> "I know how to win titles. In case some of you guys don't know, I won eight championships in four different countries, and three in this country.<br /> <br /> "I know why you win; I know why you don't win.<br /> <br /> "OK, no doubts about City's quality, and that in any circumstances they would win this title because they are the better [team].<br /> <br /> "But we could have, perfectly, I would say 10 more points than we have."

Mourinho backs Pogba after Scholes taunt

Jose Mourinho has defended Paul Pogba after the Manchester United star was branded "disrespectful" by Paul Scholes. United legend Scholes claimed Pogba's lacklustre display in Sunday's shock defeat a…

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All Blacks past and present slam Folau anti-gay comments

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHz0yG4uuA4a8Dw-WSVnpDIzQp40TDaOFsN3Poby3OiilUeoDZXbYPLa5o68a2QbIqssnUtDUkDAAL24fVAi2mdxdm10axyXRoGNUrmkQsQhWmtLBV91dg3eDIVAn43aywQIlVY4bzDw/s1600/folau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHz0yG4uuA4a8Dw-WSVnpDIzQp40TDaOFsN3Poby3OiilUeoDZXbYPLa5o68a2QbIqssnUtDUkDAAL24fVAi2mdxdm10axyXRoGNUrmkQsQhWmtLBV91dg3eDIVAn43aywQIlVY4bzDw/s640/folau.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> All Black halfback TJ Perenara has become the highest-profile rugby player to condemn Wallaby Israel Folau's anti-gay comments, with New Zealand legend Michael Jones also saying he disagreed with the Australian player's stance.<br /> <br /> Perenara, who shares Polynesian heritage with Folau, said homophobic remarks from an athlete of Folau's stature were particularly hurtful to young Maori and Pacific islanders struggling with their identity.<br /> <br /> "You don't need to look far to know that young Maori/PI are overrepresented in youth suicide statistics and, as I understand it, even more so when you look to those who are part of the Rainbow community," he tweeted late Wednesday.<br /> <br /> "Comments that cause further harm cannot be tolerated."<br /> <br /> The 45-Test All Black added: "As professional rugby players, whether we like it or not, we are role models for a lot of young people."<br /> <br /> Folau wrote on social media this month that God's plan for gay people was hell unless they repent their sins.<br /> <br /> He later explained that his remarks were prompted by deeply held religious beliefs and Rugby Australia decided against sanctioning him.<br /> <br /> <b>'Dumb jock card is history'</b><br /> <br /> Jones, the loose forward who fired the All Blacks to victory in the inaugural World Cup in 1987, said his own faith did not prevent him from accepting gays.<br /> <br /> A devout Christian from a Polynesian background who refused to play on Sundays during his international career, Jones urged 'wisdom' from Folau.<br /> <br /> "There's members of my family from those [gay] communities and we love them, they're integral in our lives and they're a big part of who we are," he told reporters.<br /> <br /> "Being able to express yourself is important, but doing it respectfully, with wisdom. There needs to be a lot of love and grace, particularly as Christians."<br /> <br /> Waikato Chiefs back Brad Weber became the first player to challenge Folau about his comments this week, saying they left him disgusted.<br /> <br /> Perenara said young people should ignore them and realise: "It's OK to be you; you are perfect as you are."<br /> <br /> "I am 100 percent against the comments that were made by Israel. It was not OK to say that," he tweeted.<br /> <br /> "It's not an attitude I want to see in the game I love."<br /> <br /> <i>New Zealand Herald</i> rugby writer Gregor Paul welcomed the fact that players now felt comfortable calling out intolerance, rather than shying away from controversy.<br /> <br /> "The dumb jock card may now be consigned to history, no longer valid or appropriate for players to use," he wrote.<br /> <br /> "They are professional athletes some of the time, but human all of the time and because of that, players have the same responsibility as everyone else to speak out against wrongdoing."

All Blacks past and present slam Folau anti-gay comments

All Black halfback TJ Perenara has become the highest-profile rugby player to condemn Wallaby Israel Folau's anti-gay comments, with New Zealand legend Michael Jones also saying he disagreed with the…

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