Women spikers target SEA Games medal in 2013
Publish date: Apr 19, 2012
[Tag: Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club]
KUALA LUMPUR: The national women's volleyball team are back from the cold with an eye to winning a medal at the Myanmar SEA Games next year. The women spikers were a presence in the region from 1999-2003 and competed in the 2001 and 2003 SEA Games. But they gradually lost their potency and disappeared from the scene, failing to put up a team for the Indonesia SEA Games last year.

All for the spikers: Malaysia Volleyball Association (Mava) deputy president Datuk Chai Kim Sen (third from right) at the flag-handing ceremony for the Asian Women´s Club Volleyball Championships on Monday.

However, the relative success of the Malaysia Volleyball League (MVL) last July, which featured a women´s competition for the first time, has prompted the Malaysia Volleyball Association (Mava) to reform the team.

With five seniors, including three – Teoh Kwan Kee, Nur Haizreen Mohd Husin and Lim Lay Kuan – with SEA Games experience, and several national juniors, the team were put together last October. They will begin their return to competition in the Asian Women´s Club Volleyball Cham­pionships in Thailand from April 21-29.

The team, which will be sponsored by the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, will compete in the meet for the first team as the Malaysia Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club.

"The aim of reforming the team is to prepare for next year´s SEA Games and this tournament is part of that preparation," said Mava deputy president Datuk Chai Kim Sen.

"It's a mixed team of a few senior players and mostly juniors.

"Hopefully, the more experienced players will be able to guide the others to achieve a quarter-final placing at least in their first Asian level tournament."

It will not be easy as Malaysia are drawn in Pool B with China, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka. Pool A consists of Iran, Japan, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand.

"It will certainly be tough because the team are new and largely inexperienced," said coach Mohd Shaili Sukor.



Hallmark Celebrates Forever Friends
Publish date: Nov 23, 2011
[Tag: Hallmark / Forever Friends]

Hallmark is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Forever Friends property, and has signed seven new partners to its program.

Baby clothing and accessory supplier Dennicci will produce a range of Forever Friends clothing with several key retailers for 2012.

Manufacturers Fashion-Lab will make a range of ladies and children's nightwear and daywear.

Textile manufacturer Zap will produce a fun collection of curtains, towels, fleece blankets, pajama cases, duvet covers, cushions and rugs.

Fine Décor will make wall décor including wallpaper, borders and wall stickers.

U.K. nursery and children's interior specialists Izziwotnot have added two ranges to their portfolio: Forever Friends Little Star and Forever Friends Beautiful for boys and girls, respectively.

Beauty Works Ltd have also signed up and will be using the original very cute bear to produce an exciting new range of personal care and bedroom accessories for all ages.

 

Inphase International, a major distributor of premium branded electrical items for over 20 years, has also joined the Forever Friends stable of licensees.

"I am absolutely delighted to see how well the brand has grown this year and am certain that 2012 will be a fabulous year for Forever Friends," says Julie Michell, licensing manager at Hallmark.