Asian tour golf stars return to Malaysia CIMB Classic

PETALING JAYA: The talented trio of Kevin Na, Charlie Wi and Noh Seung-yul are taking trips down memory lane when they compete in the US$6.1mil CIMB Classic at the Mines Resort and Golf Club during 25-28 October, 2012
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Malaysia has been a happy hunting ground for the trio, who have all won tournaments here when they featured on the Asian Tour previously before moving on to the PGA Tour.

The 40-year-old Wi claimed the first of his seven Asian Tour titles at the 1997 Kuala Lumpur Open before establishing himself as one of Asia’s top golfers with six more victories, including the 2006 Malaysian Open.

Na, a Korean-American, enjoyed his career breakthrough by winning his maiden professional title at the 2002 Volvo Masters of Asia in Malaysia while the gifted Seung-yul has since emerged as one of the Asian Tour’s greatest talents in recent times.

Seung-yul has been touted as a potential top-10 player in the world and is currently training under swing guru Sean Foley, who is also the coach of 14-time Major champion Tiger Woods.

Former world No. 1 Woods will headline the CIMB Classic along with title holder Bo Van Pelt and inaugural champion Ben Crane.

The slender Seung-yul produced an impressive rookie season on the PGA Tour this year, notching three top-10s and 13 top-25s. He has also made 17 consecutive cuts on the PGA Tour dating back to April.

Seung-yul, who started hitting golf balls on the beach near his home when he was seven, said competing on the Asian Tour laid the foundation for his rapid rise in the game.

Sanctioned by the PGA Tour, Asian Tour and Professional Golf Association of Malaysia, the CIMB Classic will see a top class field of 48 players competing for the US$1.3mil winning purse.

The tournament will feature 30 players from the PGA Tour and the top 10 available players from the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit. Eight sponsors’ exemptions will make up the rest of the field, with two places reserved for Malaysian professionals. - The Star

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Former badminton star admitted a British barrister-at-law and now an advocate and solicitor of Malaysian High Courts

Raising the bar: Ang showing her admission petition to her father Chin Huat. Looking on is her mother Yoong Lai Chun and sister Annie. 

 

KUALA LUMPUR: She used to be a star in the badminton court but now it is the court of law that beckons gutsy Ang Li Peng.

She has created history by being the first Commonwealth badminton gold medallist to be called to the Malaysian Bar.

The national badminton player overcame the odds, including the language barrier, to achieve her ambition, which seemed like a dream seven years ago.

“I am over the moon. I never thought this day would finally come. Thank God, everything turned out beautifully today. It is amazing, it is like a dream come true,” the 31-year-old said after being admitted and enrolled as an advocate and solicitor of the High Courts in Malaya at the Jalan Duta Court Complex here along with others.

The petition was made by lawyer Tan Sri Cecil Abraham at the Appellate and Special Powers High Court before Justice Abang Iskandar Hashim.

Besides family members and friends, Kuala Lumpur Racquet Club founder Datuk Seri Andrew Kam and Olympic Council of Malaysia honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi turned up to show their support.

Ang posing with her gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

 

Ang, who read law in Britain and has been a barrister-at-law at Middle Temple since last November, said she wanted to become a lawyer because as a badminton player, she believed in fair play and justice.

But the road to success was not an easy one. She managed to do her A-levels at the age of 24 and had to overcome her struggles with the English language.



“I did not speak good English. I could not even construct a sentence properly,” said Ang, who had studied at a Chinese medium school.

“That is why I'm very pleased for being able to graduate with a British law degree. I kept practising and will keep practising,” she added.

Ang, who is now pursuing her post-graduate studies in law in London, said she still had a lot to learn.

“The transformation from one court (badminton) to the other is challenging but I will continue to work hard and focus on being a better lawyer,” said the former doubles champion, who plans to specialise in corporate law.

She said it was very tough to study A-levels seven years after completing her SPM examinations.

“Going back to school was really tough. There were times when I wanted to quit.

“But I decided to remain steadfast with the support of family and friends. Determination is the best way,” said Ang, who retired from professional badminton at the age of 21 after winning the Commonwealth doubles gold in Manchester.

By FLORENCE A. SAMY The Star/Asia News Network