benny teo reports on the region’s sports news

HIGH SEA JINKS

After 20 years of sailing around Thailand’s coastal waters, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta finally gets the recognition it deserves on the international stage. This year’s event from 2-9 December will see the usual excitement as top yachtsmen compete – but with a different man at the helm. The Regatta has garnered the services of internationally renowned ISAF sailing official Bryan Willis as Chairman of the Jury. Replacing regular cup official Mark Pryke (who will be involved in this year’s Asian Games in Doha), Willis comes with the experience of five Olympic Games. He has also been involved in six America’s Cups as a Rules Advisor, Chief Umpire and will be the Jury Chairman at next year’s America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain. www.kingscup.com

MEN OF STEEL

Held at the upscale Laguna Phuket Resort annually, this year’s Phuket Triathlon on 3 December will offer 25 of the toughest challengers direct entry into the 2007 Ironman Australia – possibly the most gruelling endurance test in sports! There’s a catch though – these slots are only open to amateur competitors in each age group; professional athletes are not allowed to compete. Ironically, last year’s event was won by an Australian. With adrenaline pumping all day, the race promises to add some extra action to the beachfront resort. www.lagunaphuket.com/triathlon

GEE UP

The Hong Kong International Races, which will be held on 10 December at the Sha Tin racecourse is the biggest horse-racing event in Asia – and also one of the richest in the world. With four championship events on turf worth a combined HK$62 million (nearly US$8 million), the highlight of the occasion is the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup – the final leg of the Emirates World Series Racing Championship, to find the leading thoroughbred, jockey trainer and owner of the year. www.cxhkir.com

ON THE RUN

A marquee event in the sporting calendar of Singapore, the annual Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (www.singaporemarathon.com) attracts some of the world’s most seasoned athletes, as well as a large number of amateur runners and spectators who come to soak up the carnival atmosphere. This year’s event on 3 December is expected to reach a record participation of about 28,000 runners, beating last year’s record by 7,000. Now in its fifth year, the race has adopted the Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF) as its official charity and intends to garner about S$150,000 for the cause.

SUMO STANDARD

Sumo is a sport that has reached almost a divine status in the Land of the Rising Sun. On 12-26 November, Japan’s greatest Sumo wrestlers will gather at the Fukuoka Kokusai Centre in Kyushu for November Basho, one of six Grand Tournaments to be held in 2006. More than a battle of strength, Sumo is a sport with over 70 different throws, trips, forms and tricks. Only when these are mastered will the wrestler stand a chance of becoming a Yokuzuna (the title for a grand champion). Last year’s event was won by Yokozuna Asashoryu, an accomplished Mongolian wrestler who cemented his place in Sumo lore with his “Triple Crown” feat of seven straight tournaments entered and won, 84 victories out of 90 in a year, and the Grand Slam of winning all six tournaments in a calendar year. Find out more about Sumo wrestling and the annual competitions in Japan at www.sumo.or.jp/eng/index.html

golf news

NICK OF TIME

Multiple Masters and British Open champion Nick Faldo is set to stamp his mark on Cambodia with the introduction of the country’s fourth 18-hole golf course, due to open in Siem Reap. At Angkor Golf Resort (www.angkor-golf.com), this latest addition is set to offer a luxurious golfing experience that carries the hallmark of Faldo’s design expertise, alongside a stylish country club boasting state-of-the-art conference facilities. Individual and corporate memberships are available. Those who sign up early even get an opportunity to play in an opening tournament, as well as personally receive their memberships from the man himself.

LOST AND FOUND

Ever been utterly frustrated by losing your golf balls to the rough? Now there’s no need to break your concentration or worse, suffer the embarrassment of being left without any to finish the round. Introducing the Ballfinder Scout by Sanderson Golf, an excellent device that lets a player pinpoint the location of golf balls that have gone awry. Effective up to 35 feet, it can locate any ball that has at least three dimples showing – that’s a 1% visibility to you! Sounds too good to be true? This product has the endorsement of Nick Faldo. Goes to show that even a multiple major winner loses his balls once in a while! The only drawback is the rather hefty price tag. Available online at www.sandersongolf.com

NEW LOOK

Six months and US$5 million was all it took for Singapore’s Sentosa Golf Club (www.sentosagolf.com) to transform its ageing Tanjong Course into a case study of tropical golf maintenance in Asia. Infusing a special Sub-Air jet system that propels water out via an underground filter and replenishes it with cool, oxygenated air, this highly advanced technology has been adopted in such lauded grounds as the USA’s Augusta National Golf Club, Pebble Beach Golf Links and Colonial Golf Club in Fort Myers. The rejuvenated greens were tested recently when the course hosted the qualifiers to the Singapore Open and has held firm ever since. Apart from Sub-Air, the club has also renovated the course, adding and reshaping its bunkering and contours, as well as relaying its greens with state-of-the-art TifEagle grass.

GOLF TIP: NAIL THAT PIN

Open Green (no perils in front such as bunkers, waters, large rough, etc), and about 20 to 70 yards out? Use an eight iron! Choke down, place the golf ball two inches in front of your back heel, take a backswing like a putt, and simply swing. Do not break your wrists. Keep your head down. The strength of your backswing will determine the length the ball goes. As accurate as a putt, and much safer than lofting the ball, this is guaranteed to save you three strokes a round. For more golfing advice, log onto www.free-golf-tip.com

MERIT MAKERS

One of Asia’s oldest and most prestigious golf tournaments, the UBS Hong Kong Golf Open (www.asiantour.com) will tee off again this 16-19 November at the Hong Kong Golf Club. With the big prize of US$2 million on the line, the event guarantees fun and excitement as the best players in Europe and Asia make a final push towards earning points to become Merit Winners on their respective tours. Can the defending champion and eight-time European Merit Winner, Colin Montgomerie repeat his feat and prevail against his peers? Swing by Hong Kong and find out!