UNCONVENTIONAL WORLD RECORDS

Another high profile Malaysian sportsperson declared bankrupt

What is it with them? First Jalani, then Rashid and now Shalin - owing RM1.75 million loan to Affin Bank where she stood as guarantor to her family-owned enterprise, a bowling alley, which collapsed 3 years after it started operations. Sad story of bumiputra businessmen continues…..Mr Zulkifli, did u service your loans?

Using line speed tester supplied at www.sabah.gov.my
tested at a cybercafe on 2nd floor, Alam SentraL, Shah Alam on 29th May 2003, 12:55pm
highest 872Kbps
lowest 300Kbps
avg 550Kbps

on 27th, tried a cybercafe at sunway pyramid. quite fast, or should i say, much faster than sabahnet.
highest 1500 Kbps
lowest 1300 Kbps
avg 1400 kbps

webmail.sabah.net.my, www.compserv.sabah.gov .my and www.sabah.gov.my all loaded up quickly and without hassle.
also internet websites like yahoo and blogger downloaded quickly.

Been in KL since Sunday 25th. Had monthly convivencia in the morning, but left after lunch. Flight to KL 3pm. Attending ISO17799 + BS7799 pt 2 ISMS comprehensive workshop. Will be back 31st.
Writing this log from a cybercafe in sunway pyramid.

Interesting articles on the World Table Tennis Championships 2003

Bercy, Paris Thursday 22nd May

Over the years the classic table tennis match has been regarded as the attacker versus the defender with the latter making desperate efforts to retrieve the topspin onslaught of the adversary.

In the modern era those who ply the defensive trade are far outnumbered by those who attack but at the World Championships in Bercy two players whose skills are based principally on backspin play have survived into the fourth round of the men�s singles, both winning their contests in the crucial seventh game.

JOO Se Hyuk of Korea recovered from a three games to two deficit and saved a sequence of match points before overcoming LI Ching of Hong Kong whilst CHEN Weixing of Austria came through against his younger opponent Lars HIELSCHER of Germany. Both players are defenders in the modern day style; good backspin returns from both wings, good services and lethal forehand topspins to win the point or follow up the service as the need arises.

However, for the more traditional defender, the one who relies on a quick hit when attacking as opposed to a devastating forehand, it was farewell; Daniel TSIOKAS of Greece is a fine defensive artist but when faced with the reigning Olympic champion the end result was never in serious doubt, KONG Linghui was in the fast lane and emerged victorious in straight games to progress to round four.

Similarly, in the women�s singles two defenders remain, KIM Kyung Ah of Korea and Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus; the latter winning a titanic struggle that was thoroughly appreciated by her coach Alexandre PETKEVITCH: `She was incredible�, he extolled. `We played each other in the Bundesliga some weeks ago, I won then but this time it was much harder, she kept making me move in to the table to play short returns and that made life difficult�, added PAVLOVICH.

A tough encounter but one that had the spectators glued to the contest, it was entertaining and brought out the best in both players.

http://www.smpke.jpm.my

Oleh/By : DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tarikh/Date : 21/05/2003
Tajuk/Title : PENGUMUMAN PAKEJ STRATEGI BARU KE ARAH MERANGSANG PERTUMBUHAN EKONOMI NEGARA

1. Kerajaan telah menyediakan satu pakej strategi baru yang mengandungi langkah komprehensif bagi merangsang pertumbuhan ekonomi. Strategi baru ini diperlukan kerana perkembangan politik dan ekonomi dunia akhir-akhir ini, pencerobohan ke atas iraq dan ancaman SARS. Persekitaran global kini menjadi tidak menentu dan rumit, dan akan menghalang pemulihan ekonomi dunia.

2. Setakat ini ekonomi negara masih mampu mengekalkan tahap pemulihan yang kukuh. Pada 11 Mac tahun ini, Kerajaan telah pun mengumumkan 10 langkah baru untuk merangsang dan memantapkan lagi pasaran modal negara. Bagaimanapun, pakej strategi baru ini adalah perlu bagi merangsang lagi pertumbuhan ekonomi dan tahap keyakinan pelabur dan pengguna. Pakej ini memberi tumpuan kepada empat strategi utama iaitu menggalakkan pelaburan swasta, memperkukuhkan daya saing negara, menjana punca pertumbuhan baru dan meningkatkan keberkesanan delivery system Kerajaan dan swasta. Pakej ini mengandungi 90 langkah termasuk untuk mengatasi kesan SARS.

Strategi Pertumbuhan

3. Kerajaan peka kepada keluhan berterusan mengenai akses kemudahan pinjaman kepada peniaga kecil. Kerajaan akui walaupun bank memenuhi kuota bagi peniaga kecil dan sederhana, tetapi kelemahan penyaluran dana oleh institusi kewangan telah mengakibatkan kegiatan pinjaman haram. Oleh itu, antara langkah utama pakej ini ialah penubuhan Skim Kredit Mikro untuk peniaga kecil di bawah Bank Pertanian Malaysia dengan dana permulaan RM 500 juta. Di samping itu, Dana Amanah
Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) akan ditambah sebanyak RM 200 juta dan diletakkan di bawah Bank Pertanian Malaysia. Satu lagi Skim Kredit Mikro sebanyak RM 300 juta diletakkan di bawah Bank Simpanan Nasional. Ini bermakna Kerajaan menyediakan tambahan dana sebanyak RM 1 bilion di bawah Skim Kredit Mikro. Syarat pinjaman skim ini dipermudahkan dengan kadar faedah pinjaman pada empat peratus tanpa cagaran, sementara pembayaran balik akan dijadualkan mengikut penerimaan aliran tunai yang viable.

4. Bagi IKS, Kerajaan akan meningkatkan peruntukan
untuk Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usahawan atau TEKUN
sebanyak RM 200 juta. Di samping itu, Bank Negara
Malaysia akan menyediakan sejumlah RM 600 juta kepada
Tabung IKS dan RM 400 juta kepada Tabung Usahawan Baru.

5. Pembangunan luar bandar juga diberi tumpuan.
Kerajaan akan meningkatkan taraf infrastruktur dan
delivery system luar bandar dengan menyediakan
peruntukan sebanyak RM 300 juta. Di samping itu,
tambahan dana sebanyak RM 200 juta di bawah AIM akan
memudahkan accessibility pinjaman oleh rakyat di luar
bandar.

6. Bagi sektor pertanian, tabung makanan juga akan
ditambah sebanyak RM1 bilion lagi untuk membiayai
projek pengeluaran makanan. Di samping itu, untuk
membolehkan nelayan meningkatkan penangkapan, Kerajaan
akan membina 1,000 bot yang dilengkapi dengan peralatan
moden untuk disewa beli kepada mereka melalui Nekmat.

7. Bagi menggalakkan pelaburan asing, Kerajaan akan
melonggarkan garis panduan FIC untuk menjadi lebih
mesra pelabur, selaras dengan matlamat menarik Foreign
Direct Investment.

8. Untuk mempertingkatkan daya saing negara, antara
langkah cukai ialah memanjangkan tempoh taraf perintis
dan elaun cukai pelaburan di bawah skim pra-pakej. Di
samping itu, taraf perintis atau elaun cukai pelaburan
kali kedua diberikan kepada syarikat R&D, sementara
pengecualian sepenuhnya cukai pendapatan diberikan
kepada OHQ (operational HQ). Insentif juga diberi
kepada hypermarkets dan syarikat jualan langsung yang
mengeksport produk buatan tempatan.

9. Keupayaan negara untuk menarik FDI dalam sektor
perkhidmatan bergantung kepada kualiti gunatenaga
negara. Oleh itu, program latihan dan latihan semula
amat penting. Kita masih mempunyai ruang untuk
meningkatkan kualiti gunatenaga negara bagi
menggalakkan lebih banyak pelaburan seperti ini. Tabung
pembangunan kemahiran bagi membantu pelajar teknikal
dan vokasional mendapat pinjaman, akan disusun semula
dan ditambah sebanyak RM 500 juta. Di samping itu,
tabung latihan semula ditubuhkan dengan dana sebanyak
RM 100 juta bagi program latihan dan re-skilling
graduan baru dalam bidang seperti ICT dan perakaunan.
Syarikat Kerajaan diminta menyediakan latihan kepada
graduan baru dan pihak swasta harus juga menyediakan
latihan yang sama sebagai memenuhi tanggungjawab sosial
mereka.

10. Bagi membolehkan rakyat memperolehi tempat tinggal
yang lebih selesa dan persekitaran yang sihat dan
bersih, Kerajaan akan melaksanakan Projek Harapan
(harapan rakyat memiliki perumahan). Langkah bagi
sektor perumahan ini dijangka menjana kegiatan ekonomi
sambil meningkatkan prestasi anak-anak dalam bidang
akademik, mengelakkan masalah sosial seperti budaya
lepak sambil mengurangkan jurang antara golongan the
haves and the have-less.

11. Ciri utama Projek Harapan ialah pemberian subsidi
bayaran kadar faedah pinjaman perumahan sebanyak tiga
peratus untuk tahun pertama, atau pinjaman tanpa faedah
untuk 10 peratus deposit bagi tahun pertama bagi
pembelian rumah di bawah RM 100,000. Ini adalah bagi
pinjaman yang diperolehi dari Bank Simpanan Nasional.
Untuk rumah berharga antara RM100,000 dan RM180,000,
pelepasan cukai akan diberi sebanyak RM 5,000 ke atas
faedah pinjaman bagi tahun taksiran 2003, RM 3,000
untuk 2004, dan RM 2,000 untuk 2005. Insentif ini
diberikan bagi perolehan rumah dalam tempoh setahun
mulai 1 Jun 2003.

12. Bagi pinjaman perumahan dari bank-bank lain,
bayaran sebanyak RM 600 akan diberi kepada mereka yang
memperolehi rumah berharga di bawah RM100,000.

13. Pengecualian duti setem juga akan diberi ke atas
surat cara bagi perolehan perumahan tidak lebih
daripada RM180,000, sementara cukai keuntungan hartanah
pula dikecualikan untuk tempoh setahun mulai 1 Jun.

14. Kerajaan juga akan membina lebih banyak rumah kos
rendah dan sederhana. Sebagai permulaan Syarikat
Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) akan membina 150,000
unit lagi rumah rakyat. Ini akan memberi peluang kepada
kontraktor yang mempunyai rekod yang baik.

15. Bagi ibu tunggal, Kerajaan sentiasa prihatin
terhadap kebajikan mereka. Untuk ini, mereka juga akan
diberi keutamaan untuk memiliki unit rumah kos rendah
dan sederhana yang akan dibina dan diperolehi di bawah
program perumahan SPNB.

16. Untuk menambah pendapatan boleh guna rakyat,
caruman pekerja kepada KWSP dikurangkan daripada 11
peratus kepada 9 peratus untuk setahun bermula dari 1
Jun 2003. Kerajaan berharap pihak MTUC akan menyokong
langkah ini.

17. Bagi kakitangan Kerajaan pula, Kerajaan akan
memberi bonus sebanyak setengah bulan gaji. Syarikat
Kerajaan yang menjangkakan keuntungan pada tahun ini,
juga disarankan untuk memberi insentif kewangan yang
sama kepada kakitangan mereka.

18. Untuk mengurangkan kos menjalankan
perniagaan, kadar campurtangan BNM (BNM intervention
rate) dikurangkan sebanyak 50 mata asas. Pengurangan
ini hendaklah dimanfaatkan (pass through) kepada semua
peminjam oleh institusi kewangan.

Meningkatkan Keberkesanan Delivery System

19. Antara langkah untuk meningkatkan keberkesanan
delivery system ialah mempercepatkan urusan memproses
dan memberi kelulusan CFO dan menggunakan sistem fast
track bagi urusan pemberian milik dan penukaran
kegunaan tanah. Proses permohonan permit dan lesen
perniagaan yang lain akan dipendekkan. Pada masa yang
sama, pihak swasta juga perlu memperbaiki delivery
system mereka.

Langkah-langkah Mengatasi Kesan Negatif SARS

20. Pakej ini juga menggariskan langkah spesifik bagi
menangani kesan negatif wabak SARS. Langkah ini
termasuk pemberian diskaun lima peratus daripada jumlah
bil elektrik bulanan bagi pengusaha hotel. Cukai
perkhidmatan dikecualikan ke atas perkhidmatan yang
disediakan oleh hotel dan restoran. Kedua-dua ini
diberikan mulai 1 Jun hingga 31 disember 2003. Di
samping itu, cukai perkhidmatan ke atas complimentary
room yang disediakan oleh pengusaha hotel dihapuskan
mulai 1 Jun 2003.

21. Bagi syarikat pelancongan, pembayaran ansuran
cukai pendapatan mereka ditangguhkan mulai 1 Jun
sehingga 31 Disember 2003. Syarikat pelancongan dan
hotel juga diberi pengecualian levi Tabung Pembangunan
Sumber Manusia bagi tempoh yang sama. Cukai jalan teksi
bagi tempoh enam bulan pula dikurangkan sebanyak 50
peratus sekali sahaja.

22. Bagi membantu pengurusan aliran tunai pengusaha di
sektor pelancongan, satu special relief guarantee
facility berjumlah RM 1 bilion disediakan. Bagi pekerja
yang dipotong gaji, institusi perbankan akan
menyediakan skim penyusunan dan penjadualan semula
pinjaman, termasuk rumah dan kereta mereka.

23. Langkah-langkah awal dan decisive yang telah
dilaksanakan oleh Kerajaan telah berjaya mencegah wabak
SARS, satu hakikat yang diakui oleh Pertubuhan
Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO). Namun tanpa usaha sepenuhnya
daripada setiap individu bagi menjaga kebersihan,
ancaman penyakit dan wabak tidak akan dapat diatasi.
Kerajaan akan memperuntukkan RM 200 juta kepada pihak
berkuasa tempatan bagi meningkatkan kerja-kerja
pembersihan, termasuk memastikan kebersihan tandas-
tandas awam.

24. Pelupusan sampah mestilah diterima oleh rakyat
pada standard yang bersesuaian dengan negara yang
sedang membangun. Menolak sistem dan amalan yang
diterima oleh negara maju hanya akan menyulitkan usaha
untuk membersihkan persekitaran kita. Jika sampah
terpaksa dilonggok di kawasan terbuka, iaitu di rubbish
dump, ia akan meracun air bawah tanah, selain dari
menjadi tempat untuk serangga dan kuman membiak.

25. Bagi membendung dan mengawal penyakit-penyakit
mudah berjangkit, Pusat Kawalan Penyakit atau CDC
(Centre for Disease Control) akan ditubuhkan di bawah
Institut Penyelidikan Perubatan (IMR).

26. Pembiayaan pakej ini akan melibatkan peruntukan
sebanyak RM 1.7 bilion dalam bajet Kerajaan
Persekutuan. Di samping itu, Bank Negara akan
menyediakan RM 2 bilion, manakala institusi kewangan
pembangunan seperti Bank Pertanian Malaysia, Bank
Simpanan Nasional, Bank Pembangunan dan Infrastruktur
dan Bank Industri menyediakan sebanyak RM 3.6 bilion.
Institusi-institusi ini akan memperolehi sumber
kewangan daripada excess liquidity in the market,
terutamanya daripada KWSP.

Penutup

27. Pada keseluruhannya, strategi dan langkah baru ini
digubal bagi merangsang kegiatan ekonomi, serta
menjamin asas ekonomi yang lebih teguh. Pakej strategi
baru ini juga menekankan aspek harapan dan peluang
kepada rakyat untuk memperbaiki taraf hidup mereka.
Kerajaan yakin negara akan dapat mencapai pertumbuhan
ekonomi yang lebih baik pada tahun ini dibanding dengan
tahun lepas. Kerajaan juga yakin semua lapisan rakyat
akan memperolehi faedah daripada langkah-langkah yang
diambil di bawah pakej ini. Untuk menjayakan pakej
ini, saya berharap semua rakyat Malaysia memberi
kerjasama sepenuhnya dan sokongan padu serta memainkan
peranan dengan lebih berkesan.

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The World Table Tennis Championships 2003

Pre-tournament comments:
Who will win it this time?
Timo Boll, world no.1
Vldamir Samsonov, 3rd seed and current European Champion?
Kong Linghui, Reigning Olympic Champ and 1995 world champion
Wang Liqin, Reigning World Champ
or my alltime favourite, Jan-Ove Waldner, 1989 and 1997 world champ
or even my 2nd fav, Jean-Michel Saive
or even old horses Jean-Philippe Gatien, 1993 world champ
and dont count out Kim Taek Soo
The Europeans usually have more success in the blue riband event, the men’s singles, triumphing, since the 90’s, in 1991, 93 and 1997, the Chinese winning it in 95 (Kong Linghui), 99 (?) and 2001 (Wang Liqin)

Notable actual results and commentary, mostly from www.ittf.com

Final comments: women’s championship - to me, basically boring, all being won by the Chinese. The Chinese won 4 out of 5 gold medals on offer. To me, they lost the thunder again, because the most important title is the men’s singles, and neither Wang Liqin, Ma Lin nor Kong Linghui made it. All were upset in titanic battles that went the full stretch. During the week 500 million viewers around the World (accumulated figure) and 90.000 spectators at Bercy in Paris followed a fantastic event.

Top 20 Men’s World Ranking updated on: 5/25/2003, just after the world championships ended
Rank Name Assoc.
1 (6) 2273 SCHLAGER Werner AUT
2 (Werner Schlager bt Joo Se-Hyuk 4-2: 9,6,-6,10,-8,10
Nope, totally wrong! Werner Schlager achieved the impossible by beating defensive player Joo Se-Hyuk to be crowned the new World Champion! 4-2 Se-Hyuk is the first defensive player to reach the final since another guy in 1969. Bercy, Paris Sunday 25th May 2003 - `It�s just absolutely unbelievable,� says Werner SCHLAGER after beating JOO Se Hyuk to be crowned World Champion.`My goal was the quarter finals and perhaps a medal if everything went my way, this is just unbelievable, playing and winning in front of a crowd of 10.000 people, all going crazy, it is like a dream. Players from over a hundred and thirty countries entered the tournament, over a billion play the sport in China and I�m world champion; it�s dream come true!�
Victory over JOO Se Hyuk of Korea had two important consequences for Austria�s Werner SCHLAGER. Firstly, he had become the Champion of the World and secondly he was elevated to the number one ranked position on the World Ranking List.
`It�s hard to describe how I feel�, said SCHLAGER. `If you are going to win a big event you need the luck of the draw, I was confident before the final; I�m used to playing against JOO Se Hyuk�s style of play.� Undoubtedly, it helped SCHLAGER that in his national team is CHEN Weixing, a defensive player who has a strong forehand attack and uses similar materials on his racket, long pimples on the backhand and reversed rubber on the forehand.
It was a fantastic achievement by SCHLAGER, he has scaled the heights so should he now retire? `No!� came the very quick reply. `There are other goals and other things to achieve.�
Against earlier opponents SCHLAGER had taken risks but against JOO Se Hyuk he was more circumspect playing consistently with topspin strokes but not too carefully, as JOO Se Hyuk was always looking for the opportunity to unleash a tirade of forehand topspins should there be a weak return.
`The tactic was to serve principally short to the forehand and vary the spin on the service,� explains an absolutely delighted Austrian coach, Ferenc KARSAI. `In the rallies it was important that he changed the tempo and so he varied the amount of topspin on the ball whilst sometimes playing strongly from the backhand in order to add to the variation.�
`I congratulate Werner, he was too clever for me today, he stopped me dominating the match�, says JOO Se Hyuk who, after all, was undoubtedly well satisfied with his week in Paris. `Of course I am disappointed right now, but reaching the final makes me very proud.�
For SCHLAGER, the plan worked and the Austrian was crowned Champion of the World.

Semifinals
prediction: Kong Linghui vs Wang Liqin
Actual: Werner Schlager bt Kong Linghui 4-3: 9,-7,10,8,-8,-7,12
Austria�s Werner SCHLAGER striving every sinew, taking risks but remaining totally focused throughout ended China�s hopes of a grand slam of titles at the Liebherr 47th World Table Tennis Championships in Bercy when he beat the reigning Olympic champion KONG Linghui by the narrowest of seven game margins at the penultimate stage.
`I can�t believe it, it�s incredible I�m crying, I�m so emotional�, said SCHLAGER�s men�s doubles partner Karl JINDRAK, clearly as delighted as if he�d won first prize in the national lottery.
Victory for SCHLAGER meant that he had levelled the score in contests between the two players. SCHLAGER had won when the two met in the World Cup in October 1999 and in the World Club Championships in 2000 but on the next three occasions the victor had been KONG Linghui. He had beaten the Austrian in the quarter-finals of both the ITTF Pro Tour Brazilian Open and the Olympic Games in 2000 whilst also being successful in the World Cup in November 2002.
SCHLAGER was the player who was prepared to take the risks, especially when it came to the crucial point. He went for an outrageous forehand on his first match point. `I thought I might have missed my chance�, said SCHLAGER; it was a stage at which he had sunk to his knees but quickly had recovered his composure and amidst scenes of unbridled joy from his supporters was through to the men�s singles final.
`I�ve beaten two of China�s best players in the last two days, it�s fantastic; the match was very close, it�s been a very tough event, KONG Linghui�s a great player and although we fought hard against each other we are still good friends�, smiled sweat ridden SCHLAGER.
`I had a chance�, sighed KONG Linghui. `The key was the third game, I led 7-3 and lost it; also, I had match point at 12-11 in the seventh and missed the service.� It was a miss that cost the Olympic champion dear, SCHLAGER won the next two points and the bronze medal was to be the lot of KONG Linghui.
KONG Linghui was the safer player in the contest and perhaps with games being played to eleven points the player who is prepared to take a risk has a better chance than in days gone by?
`Maybe we have to change our techniques and tactics,� said YIN Xiao, the coach who has been at KONG Linghui�s side throughout his outstanding career. `The shorter game is more difficult for the Chinese player, at crucial points the European player seems more prepared to take a risk and win the point more quickly.�
Certainly, SCHLAGER took his chance. It was the first time he had beaten KONG Linghui when matches have been played to eleven points; when they had played to twenty-one points the score was two win each.

Joo Se Hyuk bt Kalinikos Kreanga 4-1: 5,-3,7,8,10
The last time they played, the U.S. Open in 2001, Kalinikos KREANGA had beaten JOO Se Hyuk in straight games to proceed to the round of the last sixteen; in Bercy the latter gained revenge and in four games overcame his adversary to become the first defensive player to reach the men�s singles final since Eberhard SCH�LER in 1969.
Retuning heavily with backspin, JOO Se Hyuk forced errors from his Greek opponent, he was too consistent, he never let KREANGA settle and when it came to forehand topspin exchanges he could match his adversary point for point.
`It�s wonderful, very good�, said JOO Se Hyuk, a player who had yet to come to terms with the magnitude of his achievement. However, the last time the two had met he had been well beaten, so what had changed? `I told him to attack with his forehand more�, explained coach YOO Nan Kyu; this he did in splendid style and KREANGA must have wondered at times if he was playing an opponent who skills were honed on backspin play.
`The improvement in his play in Paris is that he has taken his chance, when he�s had the opportunity to attack, he has attacked very positively and very strongly�, added YOO Nam Kyu. `Also, his backhand defence has been very strong, returning consistently with heavy backspin and making full use of the table.�
JOO Se Hyuk has excelled all expectations with his tremendous defensive play and exciting forehand topspins; equally he has a good range of services that he follows with strong forehand attacks. It didn�t seem to matter how KREANGA returned the service; it was attacked viciously whether the return was with backspin or topspin.
He is a fine example of the new breed of defender, he has a style that adds a further dimension to the sport of table tennis and above all is good for the spectators to watch.

Quarterfinals
Kong Linghui vs Qiu Yuke 4-1: 1,9,-4,1,8
KONG Linghui having beat his compatriot QIU Yike in a match where undoubtedly experience proved the telling factor as he came home in five games.

Werner Schlager upset Wang Liqin, 4-3 in probably the most drama-packed match of the whole championships: -5,5,-8,-13,9,11,5
Saturday 24th May - It seemed that the writing was on the wall. Austrian coach Ferenc KARSAI called a `Time Out� with his charge, Werner SCHLAGER, trailing by three games to two and down 5-8 in the sixth. SCHLAGER walked slowly towards his coach, seemingly dejected, WANG Liqin ran to his adviser, CAI Zhenhua, sensing that victory was in sight.
The protagonists returned to the fray. WANG Liqin went ahead 9-6 when SCHLAGER sportingly acknowledged that the ball had hit his shirt, a long backspin serve to SCHLAGER�s body was not returned and WANG Liqin had match point.
Surely, it was too much to ask the Austrian to recover from such depths? However, there was a glimmer of hope. SCHLAGER won his two serves, the first WANG Liqin returned into the net, the second was followed with a rocket like forehand to the Chinese star�s forehand to win the point.
There was light at the end of the tunnel. SCHLAGER won the next point with a backhand down the line, then matters were levelled as WANG Liqin missed a crucial forehand topspin and SCHLAGER leapt ecstatically in the air, knowing that he had been given a reprieve.
However, was it only a temporary stay of execution? Seemingly not, the tactic of a fast backhand topspin down-the-line to WANG Liqin�s forehand worked again and SCHLAGER had game point. Tension mounting, WANG Liqin served a let, he composed himself once more, served and mirrored SCHLAGER�s tactic by playing a point winning backhand topspin to SCHLAGER�s forehand; level again at 11-11.
SCHLAGER fanned his face with his racket, a long rally ensued which he won with a strong forehand topspin and clinched the game at 13-11 when the ball hit the net cord and WANG Liqin failed to return.
Reprieve granted, WANG Liqin, serving, won the first two points of the vital seventh game; SCHLAGER replied in kind to level proceedings and no player could establish more than a one point lead until SCHLAGER went ahead 6-4.
The momentum was now with the Austrian, WANG Liqin, looking somewhat dumfounded, was to win only one more point and, to a standing ovation from the crowd, SCHLAGER ended the world champion�s tenure of office with a rapid fire forehand followed by a leap in the air of which any higher jumper would have been proud.
Throughout the whole drama the Austrian coach, Ferenc KARSAI, had remained seated, laid back in his chair with his arms spread wide across the adjacent seats, as if enjoying a relaxing afternoon at the seaside. Surely, he was suffering inside? Undoubtedly, at the end of the contest his emotions exploded; he hugged SCHLAGER in a show of unbridled delight that reflected admiration for a player who had given his all and had risen to the occasion.
`I felt confident�, said SCHLAGER, still not quite at terms with his achievement. `I think I had the better concentration in the final game, it was very tough, I just tried to keep concentrating and not worry about what he does.�
It was the third time that he had beaten WANG Liqin and the second time in row, the last contest being in the Polish Open in November 2002. The result on that occasion? SCHLAGER victorious in seven games.

Kalinikos Kreanga bt Chen Weixing (AUT) 4-0: 10,9,8,7

Joo See Hyuk upset Ma Lin 4-3: 11,-10,-8,9,-6,8,9
MA Lin, beaten by the narrowest of margins by the Korean defender JOO Se Hyuk. `It�s good for defenders here in Bercy,� explained JOO Se Hyuk. `The tables, the big hall, the court mat all seem to help but playing MA Lin was very difficult, he plays with so many variations of spin.� Certainly, he has made the most use of any advantage that may be going his way but MA Lin is player whom he has beaten in the past.

4th round
Qiu Yuke bt Adrian Crisan 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8
Kong Linghui bt Oh Sang Eun 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 10-12, 6-11. Both pretty laid back players, unlike Kalinikos Kreanga. I saw this live on Astro.

Wang “robot like” Liqin bt Ching “scruffy hair” Peng-Lung 6-11, 11-4, 1-11, 10-12, 11-6, 6-11. I saw this live on Astro.

Kalinikos “manic” Kreanga bt Vladimir “laidback, gangly” Samsonov 11-8, 6-11, 1-11, 15-13, 9-11, 11-7, 5-11. I saw this live on Astro. Vladimir SAMSONOV, the dominant player in the recent European Championships in Courmayeur fell to Kalinikos KREANGA of Greece.
`He was in good shape, he didn�t miss�, sighed SAMSONOV after losing a match that had been full of rallies that had kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.
`I wasn�t the favourite, so I wasn�t under any pressure�, said KREANGA. `I�ve played several tournaments in Japan in the past year, I won the Japan Open last year and I reached the final of the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals in Sweden at the end of 2002, I think I�ve improved.�
Undoubtedly, it was one of KREANGA�s better performances. Typically, he played in uninhibited fashion with a tirade of heavy topspin strokes flowing from both wings; in several previous encounters we have seen SAMSONOV weather the storm, this time the storm gained in strength, for the Belarus star there was no place for shelter.

Fredrik Hakansson lt Ma Lin 12-10, 5-11, 11-9, 4-11, 1-11, 3-11

Werner Schlager bt Kim Taek Soo 5-11, 11-3, 13-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-8. `Werner had lost 3-2 to KIM Taek Soo at the English Open in 1997, this time he played the first ball with more topspin and only played fast when he was absolutely sure the opportunity was there.�
SCHLAGER executed his mentor, Ferenc Karsai’s instructions to the full and maintaining his focus overcame the Korean star.

Joo Se Hyuk bt Chuan Chih-Yuan 5-11, 11-6, 2-11, 9-11, 6-11. Joo entertains with outstanding backspin retrieving, both have good serves and both have devastating forehand topspins.

Chen Weixing, Austria bt Wang Hao, China 5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-13, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9 CHEN Weixing of Austria excelled all expectations to beat WANG Hao of China, entertaining with outstanding backspin retrieving, both have good serves and both have devastating forehand topspins. In the women�s singles defensive players exited the tournament in the fourth round, in the counterpart men�s event it was the backspin players who flourished at the same stage.
`I think that was my best ever performance,� said a CHEN Weixing. `If I could return his first forehand topspin I felt I had a chance�. WANG Hao started the match seemingly intent on keeping the rallies as brief as possible. Safety first was not his priority, his first topspin stroke was quite devastating, the tactic forced the Austrian into the offensive and as topspin rallies ensued CHEN Weixing forced errors from his younger adversary.
`He wasn�t nervous and I think it helped that CHEN Weixing uses long pimples on the backhand�, explains Austrian coach Ferenc KARSAI. `Most of the Chinese defensive players now uses short pimples so when CHEN Weixing returned WANG Hao�s topspin with the long pimples the amount of backspin on the ball was heavier than a player who uses short pimples.�

3rd round - now it gets interesting
Oh Sang Eun bt Kuzmin Fedor 11-8, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5

Kim Taek Soo beat Petr Korbel 12-10, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6

Wang Liqin beat Jean-Michel Saive 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3
The spectators call his name, the horns sound, they take him to their hearts, they urge him to greater heights and he receives a standing ovation when winning a point that has necessitated a series of high thrown topspin lob returns, yet it�s only the early stages of the opening game.
He is the underdog but he is a fighter and that�s why the crowd love him. French speaking from neighbouring Belgium, he will take a risk and never give up, covering every centimeter of the court in the quest for victory. Nowadays he is one of the more experienced players on the international scene but his enthusiasm has never diminished, he revels in the theatre, it is where he is at home.
The effort he makes creates a very special atmosphere in the playing hall, it motivates the crowd to assume the air if a carnival resulting in a `Mexican Wave� circumnavigating the hall between games.
However, despite all the efforts of the crowd and his never-say-die attitude it is the end of the road for Jean-Michel SAIVE, the task of beating the reigning World Champion, WANG Liqin, proves to be too great.
`If I could have won the second game and gone two nil ahead it might have been different�, explained SAIVE. He had won the first but the second went the way of his adversary after the latter�s coach, CAI Zhenhua had called `Time Out� when the Belgian ace was on a roll, recovering to trail 9-10.
`SAIVE played very well, in fact better than I expected�, said CAI Zhenhua. `He is a fighter and is similar in style to WANG Liqin but WANG Liqin played very well and was not affected by the crowd. We sometimes train in noisy conditions so that the players are prepared for such situations; we asked a great deal of him and he responded superbly.�
Undoubtedly he did, now very experienced and certainly mentally very strong, WANG Liqin clearly underlined that he will not relinquish his title lightly.

Kong Linghui bt Daniel Tsiokas 11-5, 11-8, 11-3, 11-8
A traditional defender, Tsiokas relies on a quick hit when attacking as opposed to a devastating forehand, but it was farewell. TSIOKAS of Greece is a fine defensive artist but when faced with the reigning Olympic champion the end result was never in serious doubt.

Fredrik Hakansson bt Patrick Chila 7-11, 13-11, 11-7, 10-12, 10-12, 11-6, 11-7
Ma Lin bt Toshio Tasaki 11-4, 6-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9
Vladimir Samsonov bt Daniel Gorak 11-4, 13-11, 11-5, 11-7

2nd round
Timo Boll, 22 lost to Qiu Yuke, 18 (China) 11-3, 11-7, 7-11, 12-14, 9-11, 10-12. Timo BOLL, the world�s number one ranked player and top seed in the men�s singles at the World Championships in Bercy fell in the second round to eighteen year QIU Yike of China. BOLL started in positive mood and was dominant in the opening two games `It�s the first time I�ve ever played BOLL, he is the world number one and I was quite nervous in the first two games,� said QIU Yike. BOLL established a two games to nil lead at which stage the young Chinese star from Sichuan appeared more relaxed and started to take the initiative.
`Perhaps BOLL became a little nervous after I managed to level at two games all but I think I had the luck; I was 6-10 down in the fourth, I know I won 12-10 but I can�t remember the points!� said a delighted QIU Yike who seemingly had not come to terms with the magnitude of his achievement. BOLL, to his eternal credit, accepted the result in his usual sporting manner. `I started well but I let him get back�, he said. `It�s fun to play him but not when you lose!�

Oh Sang Eun bt Evgueni CHTCHETININE 12-10, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6

Petr KORBEL beat LIU Guozheng 12-10, 3-11, 10-12, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7. A good start can give a player immense confidence and that was certainly to be a telling factor in Petr KORBEL�s victory over China�s LIU Guozheng in the second round of the men�s singles.
`The first game was very important�, explained KORBEL who was clearly satisfied with his evening�s work. `I was losing 6-10 and then won the next six points to clinch the game, I think it shocked him; if you are playing against a Chinese opponent and they are leading then they become even stronger and you have a mountain to climb.�
KORBEL never let the mountain block his path, exciting forehand-to-forehand exchanges were the order of the day in the early part of the contest but as the duel progressed the Czech ace changed his tactics. `I started the match playing as strongly as I could to his forehand but he had the answers, so I changed my plans and attacked his backhand more.� The plan worked, for when LIU Guozheng moved to play his forehand from the backhand court KORBEL proved more than adept at blocking the powerful topsins wide to his adversary�s forehand to win the point or gain a weaker return from which he could seize the advantage.
Equally, as the match progressed KORBEL won the long rallies and having lost a tough match to LIU Guozheng at the Swedish Open two years previously, when matches were played to twenty-one points, the victory was very rewarding.

Kong Linghui bt Johnny Huang 11-7, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7
Werner Schlager bt Koji Matsushita 11-8, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8
Slobodan Grujic bt Jorg Rosskopf 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 13-15, 11-2, 14-12
Kim Taek Soo bt Allan Bentsen 8-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5, 12-10. KIM Taek Soo of Korea who overcame a spirited Allan BENTSEN of Denmark by the narrowest of seven game margins in a match where KIM Taek Soo in typical style covered every centimeter of the court in an attempt to unleash his trademark forehand topspin strokes.
Leung Chu Yan bt Jorgen Persson 11-9, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9
Jean-Michel Saive bt Christophe Legout 11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-2
Vladimir Samsonov bt Josef Plachy 13-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-6
Ma Lin bt Robert Gardos (Austria) 11-7, 11-3, 11-6, 11-9. In qualification round Gardos made headlines by beating Achille Hountondji of Benin. `First of all my duty is to the public, the French public who have come to watch the table tennis; secondly my responsibility is to my country�, explained Achille HOUNTONDJI with a smile beaming across his face as perspiration dripped from his furrowed brow.
Certainly, he had entertained the public with his antics against Robert Gardos of Austria in his final group match. Outclassed by the slim Austrian star HOUNTONDJI raised his arms aloft on winning a point and like a long jumper preparing for action clapped his hands above his head as he encouraged the spectators to applaud his efforts. The crowd in Bercy took him to their hearts as the forty year old car salesman, who lives in Paris and plays for Schlomberg� Mont Rouge in the Regional Division of the National League, gave the spectators full value.
Amid whistles from the crowd HOUNTONDJI stretched his arm out to accept the yellow card awarded by the umpire but to the official�s credit he joined in the carnival and with a broad smile hid behind his folded arms as GARDOS stood equally amused by his adversary�s clowning.
The whole of the Benin team present in Bercy live in France and they gave credence to the old adage that it is the taking part that counts, not the winning; certainly everyone present enjoyed the fact that Achille HOUNTONDJI had taken part in the World Championships. Final result: Gardos beat Hountondji 4-0. Highest point the Benin man got was 3! But in a ruthless display of the gulf in class, the furthest Gardos got in the competition was the 2nd round where he was promptly beaten by world no.2 Ma Lin 0-4.

Jean Philippe Gatien lost to Adrian Crisan 4-11, 9-11, 7-11, 12-10, 4-11

1st round
Konstantinos PAPAGEORGIOU bt Jan-Ove Waldner 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8. The enforced time away from the sport through injury took its toll on former World and Olympic champion, Jan-Ove WALDNER. A player who over the years has been at his best in crucial situations almost performed the great escape but in the end it proved to be a bridge too far. Trailing 1-10 in the vital seventh game against Konstantinos PAPAGEORGIOU of Greece, the Swedish star, encouraged by the crowd, gradually clawed his way back, the Greek player on the precipice of the best win of his career could see the winning post but the one point necessary was becoming increasingly elusive. At 3-10 he took a `Time Out� but WALDNER remained composed, five more points went the way of the man whom many regard as the greatest player ever to have graced the table tennis arena but at 8-10 a backhand topspin found the net and to the undoubted relief of PAPAGEORGIOU a victory he will never forget had been achieved. Even family support could not see WALDNER through, in his corner to give advice was his elder brother Kjell- �ke who after the contest was quite realistic about the result. `It was his first tough game for eight months and it showed; concentration was up and down, he tried his best but he never had a lead early in any game and that puts extra pressure on you�, sighed a resigned coach. `He said his injury wasn�t causing him any problems but you never know; if you can win such a match then you forget any injuries and confidence grows; to be realistic it was too much to ask that he could reach the latter stages.� But in the next round Konstantinos lost 0-4 to Fejer-Konneth (?)

EOP

The great debate: Microsoft.NET vs J2EE

http://java.oreilly.com/news/farley_0800.html
http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-03-2002/jw-0308-j2eenet.html

1st day of work after 5 days of leave

greeted with gen set failure, firewall problem, head-cracking meeting, alternative access headache, high priority quotation technical evaluation and recommendation report making, wednesday meeting preparation, burglar scare……..whew, glad today’s over

The first of my 3 most anticipated films of 2003, Matrix Reloaded (so far rated 7.9/4000+ by imdb) premiered 15/5

2nd is Terminator 3 in July followed by Matrix: revolutions in Nov

i finally bought doctor zhivago on vcd a few weeks ago (7.8)