15,000 tickets for MEIS contest already sold out

According to organizers, only several tickets for the upcoming ONE Fighting Championship mixed martial arts contest in Jakarta on Saturday remain on sale.

The contest, which will feature four local fighters out of 18 contestants in nine fights, will be staged at the fifteen thousand-capacity Mata Elang International Stadium (MEIS) in Ancol, North Jakarta.

“Indonesian fans are awsome. We are almost sold out,” ONE FC public relations director Loren Mack said during his visit to pers on Tuesday.

He was accompanied by fellow organizing staff members Tammy Chan and Gerald Ng.

The Indonesians are Zuli Silawanto, Yohan Mulia Legowo, Fransino Tirta and Desi Rahayu.

Desi, who will take on Ella Tang of Malaysia in a bantamweight bout, will be Indonesia’s first female fighter in the championship.

Kenyans invincible at Jakarta 10K

Kenyan runners dominated the Jakarta International 10K with Silas Kipruto beating countrymen Titus Kwemoi Masai and Charles Wachiramaina, who came in second and third place, respectively, on Sunday.

Kipruto won the men’s international elite division in 28 minutes and 52 seconds, according to Antara news agency. Masai crossed the finish line in 29:01 followed by Wachiramaina in 29:12.

Germany’s Frank Andre finished in fourth place and Japan’s Nakatani Keisuke came in fifth.

In the women’s elite, the Kenyans also showed their prowess and took the top four positions.

Esther Chemtai Ndiema came first with a time of 32:28, followed by Sharon Jemutai Cherop with 32:41 and Violah Jepchumba 32:46. Maryanne Wangari Wanjiru took fourth place with Zakia Mohammed of Tanzania in fifth.

Desi Rahayu first Indonesian female cage fighter

Indonesia’s female mixed-martial arts fighter Desi Rahayu trains at the Jakarta Muay Thai Camp, South Jakarta, on Wednesday, in preparation of her debut in the ONE FC Era of Champions tournament slated for June 14 at the Mata Elang International Stadium, North Jakarta. She will fight against Malaysia’s Ella Tang.

Desi Rahayu has such a lust for fighting that not even her mother’s disapproval could dissuade her from stepping into the cage to become Indonesia’s first female fighter in an upcoming mixed-martial arts (MMA) contest.

Singapore-based ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC), which claims to be Asia’s largest MMA organization with a 90 percent market share, is returning to Jakarta with its Era of Champions tournament scheduled for June 14 at the Mata Elang International Stadium (MEIS) in Ancol, North Jakarta.

Desi will be one of four local fighters in the ring. An MMA contest provides fierce fighting with the participants risking bloody injuries. However, that has not deterred Desi.

“I have a lust for seeing somebody bleed. I have an indulgence for throwing punches, although as a consequence I have to take the blows as well,” she said after a workout session at the Jakarta Muay Thai Camp on Wednesday.

She said her mother would not have given consent for her to fights if she had told her about her fight plans.

“One day when I watched an MMA [bout] on TV, I told my mother that I wanted to be there someday, and she said ‘never’,” said the 23-year-old fighter.

During the workout, Desi sparred with a male fighter, demonstrating to the media her skills in boxing, judo and grappling.

Joining the small audience was Loren Mack, the director of ONE FC’s public relations.

Mack said that they had monitored Desi before deciding that she was eligible for a ONE FC contest.

“We had heard about her grappling skills and she has been training in MMA. You know 90 percent of the fights in MMA are on the ground and she is great on the ground. She is the best among the few female fighters,” Mack said.

ONE FC is partnering with entertainment company 7Kings Entertainment to organize the June 14 contest.

CEO Victor Cui expressed his enthusiasm about bringing the contest back to Indonesia.

“Our Indonesian fans have been eagerly awaiting our return to Jakarta and we are excited to be able to bring world-class MMA back to the capital city of Indonesia,” he said in a press release.

Jakarta is one of six cities hosting ONE FC’s 2014 season, which comprises 16 fights, with the other contest venues being Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Pnom Penh, Taipei and Singapore.

Desi will take on Ella Tang, the Malaysian kickboxing champion, in a bantamweight three-round bout.

“I have watched her fights on video. She is good at stand-up fights,” she said.

She said she had been training intensively for the past month, working out on her stand-up skills.

Desi initially developed her martial arts skills in judo. She represented Jakarta in the National Games twice, with her best achievement being a silver medalist in 2008.

She took up a new challenge by participating in a local grappling competition in 2010.

She said she had since become addicted to MMA fighting and joined the Tiger Sharks Club in 2011.

“I’m proud to represent Indonesia in an Asia-level tournament,” she said.

Old names replaced by new ones at Cipayung

Indonesia’s debacle at the recent Thomas and Uber cups has taken a toll on the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), which has sent home several underperforming players from the national training center.

Familiar names like Sony Dwi Kuncoro, Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka, Aprilia Yuswandari and Maria Febe Kusumastuti are among the 13 discarded players. Men single’s coach, Joko Suprianto, has also been cast out.

The players are returning to their respective clubs, which include PB Jaya Raya Suryanaga, PB Djarum and PB Semen Gresik.

“It’s about time the PBSI changes its strategy by recruiting young players who are hungry for honors to help the PBSI achieve its target at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,” PBSI chairman Gita Wirjawan said in a written statement sent to The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

“To fulfill the plan, we have also changed one of the coaches,” he added.

However, the PBSI will still facilitate the ousted players and coach for the upcoming BCA Indonesia Open Metlife BWF World Superseries Premier 2014, which will take place from June 17-22 at the Istora Senayan, Jakarta.

The PBSI has called up 16 new recruits. Among them is veteran Simon Santoso, who is returning to the national team after being sent home in January due to poor performance, partly caused by a nagging injury.

Besides Simon, the new recruits will be required to undergo a series of medical, physical and psychological tests.

Hendri Saputra, Simon’s coach at his current club, the Tangkas Specs in Jakarta, as well as Hendrawan, a silver medalist at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, are on the new coaching list for the training camp in Cipayung.

“The PBSI will also be calling Hendrawan, a former national player who is currently coaching a team in Malaysia,” the statement said.

Hendrawan moved to Malaysia in 1999 and became a coach for its second-tier national team.

The PBSI has been asking Hendrawan to return to Indonesia since last year, but so far Hendrawan has refused.

Indonesia’s Thomas Cup team lost to Malaysia in the semifinals in New Delhi, India, two weeks ago, while their female compatriots failed to reach the semifinals after losing to their Indian opponents in the Uber Cup championship.

“If we want better results, we need to prepare from now on. We need to prepare the young players to achieve our future target, including the 2016 Thomas and Uber cups,” the PBSI’s head of development, Rexy Mainaky, said.

New players

Men’s singles:
Simon Santoso (Tangkas Specs)

Women’s singles:
1. Fitriani (PB Exist, Jakarta)
2. Berlian Sudrajat (PB Semen Gresik)
3. Dinar Dyah Ayustine (PB Djarum)

Men’s doubles:
4. Fajar Alfian (PB SGS PLN Bandung)
5. Hantoro (PB Djarum)
6. Yanthoni Edy Saputra (PB Djarum)
7. Rian Swastedian (PB Jaya Raya)
8. M. Alpian Firsada Sangaji (PB Jaya Raya)

Women’s doubles:
9. Setyana Mapasa (PB Tangkas Specs)
10. Brigita Marcelia Rumambi (PB Exist)
11. Rika Rositawati (PB Mutiara Cardinal Bandung)
12. Nisak Puji Lestari (PB Mutiara Cardinal Bandung)
13. Jauza Fadhila Sugiarto (PB Pelita Bakrie)
14. Apriani Rahayu (PB Pelita Bakrie)

Mixed doubles:
15. Zakia Ulfa (PB Aufa, Banjarmasin)

Petkovic advances to French Open quarterfinals

Andrea Petkovic overcame an inconsistent serve and unseeded Kiki Bertens to reach the quarterfinals of the French Open with a 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory Monday.

The 28th-seeded German was broken three times in the first set, once in the second and three more times in the third. But she was able to earn seven breaks of her own — all in the final two sets — to advance to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros for the second time in her career.

"I was really relieved that I picked myself up after I was up 4-2 in the third and I started playing a little passively," Petkovic said. "I wasn't going for my shots anymore. I was sort of hoping that she's going to miss. She's too good for that.

"After going down 5-4 in the third, I just sort of told myself, 'OK, listen, you have to play aggressive. You have to go for your shots, and nobody's going to give you the quarterfinals just because you're nice, so go gain it."

Bertens, a Dutchwoman ranked No. 148, had been bidding to become the lowest ranked woman to reach the French Open quarterfinals since the field at the clay-court major was expanded to 128 players in 1983.

After splitting the first two sets, the players exchanged breaks quickly and often in the third. Each of the first five games went to the returning player, with Petkovic finally holding to lead 4-2.

Both players were broken once more, but Petkovic was able to hold in the last game with a forehand winner on match point.

"It was super tough, because I didn't know her at all. I just stalked her on YouTube yesterday the whole day, and I was already impressed yesterday," Petkovic said. "I think she's going to be a force on the WTA when she gets fitter and recovers from her injuries that she's had."

Petkovic reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2011. She reached the same stage at the Australian Open and U.S. Open that year for her best Grand Slam performances.

Fifth-seeded David Ferrer also advanced to the quarterfinals, beating 19th-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1. Ferrer reached the final last year but lost to eight-time champion Rafael Nadal.

Also Monday, Nadal was playing Dusan Lajovic for a spot in the quarterfinals. Nadal is 62-1 at Roland Garros, with his only loss coming in the fourth round in 2009.

Andy Murray will also be on court, a day after he completed a five-set win over Philipp Kohlschreiber. He will play Fernando Verdasco of Spain.

In the women's tournament, fourth-seeded Simona Halep of Romania will face Sloane Stephens of the United States.

Alan Shearer backs Daniel Sturridge to have long England career

The former Three Lions striker feels the Liverpool man's confidence is paramount to his performances, and backed him to start and shine against Italy at the World Cup. Alan Shearer feels confidence is key to Daniel Sturridge's performances for England heading into the World Cup.

Liverpool forward Sturridge bagged 21 goals in 29 Premier League appearances last term and carried his form into the national team, scoring three times in his last five outings.

Shearer feels Sturridge must start England's World Cup opener against Italy and hopes he is confident enough to make himself irreplaceable to manager Roy Hodgson.

"I think there is no doubt he will start against Italy and so he should and then the rest is up to him," Shearer said at a Lucozade promotional event.

"And the quicker he feels that shirt is his then the better it will be for him and everyone because he will play with the belief and confidence that he is a top player.

"He has had a great season. He also feels at home at Liverpool which is probably why he is performing. He feels a big part of it now whereas at previous clubs he was a bit part player.

"He likes running in behind making darting little runs and his movement in the box is very good and his goal scoring for Liverpool has been fantastic.

"I hope he can keep it up because if he does he could be around for a few years."

Mourinho backs "the Panzer" to win Group G ahead of Portugal

The Chelsea coach believes Joachim Low’s side will come out on top in qualifying for the knockout stages, but still thinks his native country should finish above Ghana and the USA
Jose Mourinho has admitted that he sees Germany as favourites to win their World Cup group over Portugal.
   
While predicting which sides would progress from the group stage, the Portuguese coach favoured Joachim Low’s men over his own national team, but still predicted them to overcome Ghana and the USA and reach the knockout stages in Brazil.

"I apologize deeply, but I opt for Germany as group winners and Portugal in second place,” said Mourinho to Yahoo Sport.

The 51-year-old added that while the two group favourites should both go through, he expected no team to finish with zero points in Group G.

Mourinho’s compatriots will play their first game in the tournament against Germany on June 16, before facing Jurgen Klinsmann’s USA side on June 22 and Ghana on June 26.

In his other predictions, the Chelsea coach gave notable mentions to "talented" Belgium and suggested that France would fare better than in their troubled campaign in South Africa in 2010.

Not everyone can play like Ronaldo and Messi, De Jong Said

The Netherlands international says he models his game on the likes of Claude Makelele and Patrick Vieira and admits that he could leave AC Milan this summer. Nigel de Jong says he is proud of his role as a destroyer, arguing that not every player can play in the same way as Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 29-year-old AC Milan ace has established himself as one of Europe's most formidable central midfield opponents in recent years, with his high lunging challenge on Xabi Alonso in the 2010 World Cup final becoming one of the most infamous images of the tournament in South Africa. 

However, while the Netherlands international - who is part of Louis van Gaal's 23-man squad for Brazil 2014 - admits he cannot play in the same way as the likes of Messi and Ronaldo, he is proud of his style of play, which he models on former stars Patrick Vieira, Roy Keane and Claude Makelele.

"I've always had the Amsterdam swagger. When I enter the pitch, I'm 1-0 up. I'm not the only one, though - Wesley Sneijder always had a big mouth and so does Robin van Persie with his Rotterdam style. It's not that I'm working on that, it's just who I am," he said.

"But I always try to stay calm. When I see other players shouting to raise the team spirit, I think: just stop it! I'm not a big fan of that kind of behaviour. Calm before the storm is way better. Opponents need to see that they're going to have a tough night.

"Look at players like Roy Keane, Claude Makelele, Patrick Vieira, Fernando Redondo: they also had this attitude. They just look ahead when they're in the tunnel. That's way more impressive.

"At Ajax, I was more playful, but that's not possible anymore. I changed because of my experiences in other leagues. Especially when you don't have the talent of Messi or Ronaldo, you can't be playful anymore. You have to present yourself as a footballer and that's what I did."

De Jong also refuses to listen to critics of his foul on Alonso in South Africa, for which he escaped a red card during the 1-0 loss to Spain.

"Everybody can say or write what they want. I prefer silence. There are always going to be critics, but Nigel de Jong is heading for his fourth tournament as a starting XI player," he said.

De Jong believes he has reached one of his best periods as a professional over the past year, having battled back to full fitness in 2013-14 following an Achilles injury the season before.

"I've always been patient that I could return to Oranje after my injury. When you can't play for six months, that's a long time. But I came out stronger and am only 29 years old. I still have to develop myself and become a better player. I think I had a good season at Milan.

"This is one of the strongest periods in my career. As a footballer and as person. I've found peace within myself."

However, while he admits he is enjoying life at San Siro, De Jong hinted he could consider leaving the club - who have yet to confirm their plans concerning the future of coach Clarence Seedorf - this summer in order to make one last "big transfer" in his career.

"I'm very happy at Milan, but the most important thing is that there is certainty around the club. I want to know what the plans are and the club has to show what they want," said the former Manchester City man.

"Maybe I have to make one final move in my career, it would be the last big transfer I make. It could be the fact that I'm staying at Milan.

"But first we have the World Cup, we'll have to wait and see what happens. First I want to reach 75 international matches with Oranje. Right now I have 70, so we need to reach the next round of the World Cup."