Ex-Singapore hockey player Farouk Marican Ali dies
SINGAPORE, Feb 26: Former Singapore hockey player-cum-manager Farouk Marican Ali, who is of Indian lineage, died on Thursday.He was 80.The country’s sports community mourned his the death of Ali who “lived and breathed” hockey and cared deeply for his players.Farouk leaves behind his wife 68-year-old wife Jacinta Arriola, and daughter Shaeen Marican, 42.His family, however, did not reveal the cause of death, according to a report by The Straits Times.Farouk, a hard-hitting penalty corner specialist, was a defender in the late 1960s and 70s and played for the national team from 1968 to 1971. He later managed Singapore men team squads from 1982 to 2000s.Former journalist Hakikat Rai, who covered local sports for Straits Times in the 80s to 90s, said Farouk was always generous with the people he knew, and that he “cared deeply” for his players.“Farouk was well versed in the game, having played at club and national level. He had a deep understanding of the sport and the latest training methods, constantly keeping in touch with the likes of German-born master hockey coach Horst Wein, a respected international expert in hockey and football,” said Rai.“Farouk, in a sense, was way ahead of his peers during that era in terms of the sport’s administration â?” a time when local hockey was undergoing changes.” Krishnan Vijayan Naidu, who was a key part of the national team in the 80s and 90s, recounted how Farouk would pay to get jerseys printed for them ahead of training trips, and how he would go out of his way to help those who were not well-off. (PTI)
No.1 Thitikul struggles in first round of LPGA Singapore
SINGAPORE, Feb 26: Top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul struggled during the first round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship on Thursday, shooting a 1-over 73 to trail the leader by seven strokes.Thitikul won last week’s tournament in her native Thailand and is among nine out of the top 10 players entered in the Singapore LPGA stop on the Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong course.American Auston Kim birdied two of her final three holes for a 66 and a one-stroke lead over China’s Yan Liu. Five players were tied for third with 68s, including No. 12-ranked Haeran Ryu. Defending champion Lydia Ko had a 70, as did Brooke Henderson.Kim said she opened with a 78 at the Singapore tournament last year.“When I think about my game and myself as a golfer since last year … I mean it obviously feels great to score well. But I just I feel like I can handle things a lot better and I’ve been talking with my mental coach, as well,” Kim said.“There are a lot of things that I’ve changed and a lot of things I feel like I’m doing better. Today was a testament to what we’ve been working on, and I’m working hard on what I can control.” Joining Thitikul among the top-ranked players well out of the lead were third-ranked Charley Hull and fourth-ranked Minjee Lee, who each shot 72.No. 2-ranked Nelly Korda is the only player from the top 10 not in Singapore. The tournament is the second of three stops on the LPGA’s early year Asian swing, with the final one next week at Hainan Island, China. (AP)
