MASUM 2007 Table Tennis (4) - Training and 1st Day Group Matches

Another round of light training was held in the morning at the competition venue, Dewan Utama, USM Kampus Kejuruteraan as for the players to get themselves acclimatised to the competition venue.

Light training at the Dewan Utama, USM Kampus Kejuruteraan.

The first match involved UTAR team was the Men’s Group D match against Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) which UTAR won by 5-0. The format of the competition is two singles games, followed by a doubles game and ended with another two singles games. All our players won their matches.

1st singles (left) and 2nd singles (right) matches against UTHM.

Doubles (left) and 3rd singles (right) matches against UTHM.

4th singles match in progress.

(Left) Full support was given by all team players during the matches
(Right) A group photo of UTAR and UTHM Men’s players

In the same group, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) received a walkover from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), which did not turn up for the competition. Both UKM and UTAR are heading the group with a win each.

The ladies team was having a rest day as their matches were scheduled on the second day of the competition.

Next entry:
MASUM 2007 Table Tennis (5) - 2nd day group matches

Previous Entries:
MASUM 2007 Table Tennis (3) - The day before the competition
MASUM 2007 Table Tennis (2) - Journey to Nibong Tebal
MASUM 2007 Table Tennis (1) - Pre-Competition

MASUM 2007 Table Tennis (3) - The day before the competition

Kompleks Sukan, USM Kampus Kejuruteraan

The team managed to have a light workout at the Sport Complex in the morning for almost 3 hours as the actual competition will only starts the next day.

Light training in progress.

It was a small venue as there were only three tables available in a small room with a few teams sharing the facilities. The setting for the main venue will only be done in the evening.

At first, there was only a team practising at that moment. We managed to get a table for the team to practice. Later, players from other universities such as UTM and UM also joined in the practice in this humid small room.

Light training in progress.

However the practice was abruply brought to an end when the campus was experiencing electricity blackout, which lasted for more than 9 hours, starting from 12.30pm until 9.30pm.

Under such circumstances, everyone was still able to maintain spirit as we gathered at the hostel’s cafeteria for our meals.

Posing for the romantic torch-light dinner.

A romantic group candle-light (torch-light) meal was experienced during the dinner as the electricity failed to be restored by then. Players from other universities were seen leaving the campus by their own university buses to destinations unknown to us before we realised that we were the only group of people left behind in the dark campus.

The team continued with their team talks and discussion for the next game tomorrow. Once the electricity was restored, everyone went back to their respective rooms to have an early rest.

Elsewhere in Wembley Stadium on the same night, Manchester United was defeated by Chelsea 0-1 in the FA Cup Final 2007 by a late Drogba's goal after Giggs goal was disallowed. Anyway, I'm neither Chelsea nor MU supporter. So this result wasn't excite me at all.

Next entry (coming soon):
MASUM 2007 Table Tennis (4) - Training and 1st Day Group Matches

Previous entries:
MASUM 2007 Table Tennis (2) - Journey to Nibong Tebal
MASUM 2007 Table Tennis (1) - Pre-Competition

MASUM 2007 Table Tennis (2) - Journey to Nibong Tebal

The team departed from Pudu Raya to Nibong Tebal on the 18th May (Friday) afternoon by public transportation. It stopped at the Jalan Duta Station to pick a few more passengers before hitting the North South highway.

The journey took about four and a half hours (4 ½ hours). Although it was a long journey, everyone was in high spirit and excitement as they were looking forward to represent UTAR for the first time in such competition. The bus driver treated us with a comedy movie first - Mr Bean, before showing a horror movie - Jangan Pandang Belakang.

It was already dark when we reached Parit Buntar Bus Station. We decided to fill up our stomachs first. After our dinner, we took three taxis to USM Engineering Campus which is situated about 15 minutes drive from the town. Upon arriving at the campus, we checked-in immediately and had an early rest. I spent another 30 minutes cleaning up my room as it was a bit dusty before hitting my bed.

(Left) USM Fakulti Kejuruteraan (Faculty of Engineering)
(Right) The MASUM 2007 Table Tennis banner

Next entry (coming soon):
MASUM 2007 Table Tennis (3) - The day before the competition

Previous entry:
MASUM 2007 Table Tennis (1) - Pre-Competition

MASUM 2007 Table Tennis (1) - Pre-competition

As mentioned in one of the post earlier, UTAR table tennis men's team emerged as the Gold Medalist and ladies' team won the 4th placing during the recent MASUM (Inter-Varsity Games) 2007.

Here are the detailed stories part-by-part on the preparation and experiences encountered during the MASUM 2007.

We started with the pre-competition first before moving on the actual competition, highlighting each groups matches, quarterfinals, semifinals, 3rd & 4th placing (ladies) and final (mens). The 1st part relates the pre-competition.


Pre-Competition: (February 2007 to May 2007)
Table Tennis Competitions were organised at each faculty, FAM (Sg. Long), FAS & FICT (PJ) and FES (Setapak), prior to the MASUM to unearth talented players during the months of February to April.

Players from each faculty who performed well during the Faculty’s table tennis competition were then being invited to participate in the centralised selection process, which was conducted at the Petaling Jaya Campus. A total of 12 players were selected comprises of 7 men’s and 5 ladies.

Players (Ladies):
1. Kan Zu Jane (FAM) - Team Captain
2. Kok Cai Ping (FES)
3. Teh Teng Sim (FICT)
4. Tay Ai Shan (FAM)
5. Yap Yin Yee (FAM)

Players (Mens):
1. Tan Cheng Keat (FAS) - Team Captain
2. Tan En Yi (FICT)
3. Tham Chee Hui (FICT)
4. Kan Yew Joe (FES)
5. Lee Wai Kit (FAM)
6. Seow Yen Ming (FAM)
7. Lim Nah Teng (FAM)

Centralised Training (Setapak Campus) 15^th - 17^th May 2007.

A 3-days centralised training was held at the Setapak campus prior to the departure for the MASUM from 15^th May to 17^th May 2007.

Raring to go for the competition!

Part 2 - The Journey to Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang.

Bianca Ryan - a professional 11 years old.

Introducing the winner of America's Got Talent 2006 - Bianca Ryan. Fantastics voice and professional performance for a 11 years old.

Pirates of the Caribbeans 3

Watched this movie at the comfortable GSC Cineplex at the 1U new wing.

It was a nice and entertaining movie with lots of comical and exciting story line. Jack Sparrow with his insanity and funny expressions, the little monkey and the parrot, Chow Yun Fatt's plus other pirates chief antics during their 'round table' discussion were enough to convince me that I have no regret selecting this movie.

Worth of watching it. For those who haven't watch it, give it a try and you will start loving Jack Sparrow, William Turner and Captain Swan.

And I also love Simon Cowell from American Idols. Watch this performance and I really sure that it will blow you up beside seeing Simon smiled - http://youtube.com/watch?v=i0dzZTPWrSM

Sunday night in city center - Terrible jam

Can you imagine that KL was so jammed on Sunday night? And it was 11.00pm. Of course, this was true as I was stuck in the jam after a heavy downpour around 8-9pm.

The notorious flash flood hit a few places but I got stuck at the infamous Jalan Tun Razak. there was flood in front of the Maxwell school. Well, students coming back from their holiday will be greeted with surprise visitors - MUD. Then the underneath tunnel before the SMART tunnel was closed - I guess it was flooded too causing a long line of cars up to National Library, may be.

The is a report of flash flood in KL in today's TheStar.

This is where I got stuck - Jalan Tun Razak. (Photo from TheStar)

Surprisingly, after entering the SMART tunnel, it was a smooth drive all the way to Bandar Sg. Long. By the way, I have been using SMART tunnel for 8 times since it started it one-month free trial. Coming Friday 15th June, a RM2 toll will charged for the motorists, very much lower than what has being anticipated earlier.

New Template, New Layout

How's the new template and layout? No intention to change but somehow just want to upgrade the blog to the newer version. So, I decided to change the template and reorganised it a little bit.

I will put up more post in this blog soon. In the mean time, you can visit my E-Commerce blog.