Smooth operator: Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club’s Muhammad Amerullah Abdul Aziz celebrates with team-mate Kelvinder Singh (right) after scoring a goal against Nur Insafi during their MHL Premier Division match at the Jalan Duta Hockey Stadium, January 8, 2010. KLHC won 6-0. GLENN GUAN/The Star

All smiles: Russia’s Elena Dementieva and Maria Kirilenko (front) celebrate after beating Asia’s Zheng Jie and Sania Mirza 6-5, 5-7, 10-8 at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam last night. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Taking a tumble: TNB’s Muhamad Amin Rahim (right) falls while tussling for the ball with Maybank’s Suhaimi Ibrahim during their MHL League match yesterday. Maybank won 1-0. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Going After: Maybank’s Nor Ikhram Sulaiman (center) and Nur Insafi’s Kul Bhushan Vashist (right) chasing after the ball during their MHL Premier Division match at the Tun Razak Stadium in Jalan Duta, December 5, 2009. Maybank won 5-2. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Maybank’s Shaheeb Shah (left) tussles for the ball with Nur Insafi’s Mubeen Ur Rehman during their MHL Premier Division match at the Tun Razak Stadium in Jalan Duta, December 5, 2009. Maybank won 5-2. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Cobra’s Timoci Nakcula is being tackled by Borneo Eagles players during the HSBC-Cobra Rugby 10s match finals at Padang Utara in Petaling Jaya, November 15, 2009. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Malaysia’s Melinder Kaur competes in the womens’ 3000m steeplechase final at the MAAU Open championship in Bukit Jalil Stadium, October 11, 2009. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Not good enough: Mohd Faiz en route to victory in the men’s 110m hurdles event in the Malaysian Open athletics championship at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, October 10,2009. His winning time was way off the SEA Games qualifying mark. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Malaysia’s Pee Yann Yann taking control of the ball during the match against Singapore Home United at the Malaysia International Basketball Championship in Kuala Lumpur, October 10, 2009. GLENN GUAN/The Star

A handful: Malaysia’s Pee Yann Yann tries to get past two Singapore Home United players during the Malaysian International Basketball Championship in Kuala Lumpur, October 11, 2009. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Johor FC’s Mohd Hazani Omar slides while My Team’s Depan Sakwati Kandasamy goes for the ball during their Malaysia Cup match in Petaling Jaya, October 10, 2009. Johor FC won 4-2. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Go away: Johor FC’s Mohd Anis Faron pushes My Team’s Depan Sakwati Kandasamy during their Malaysia Cup match in Petaling Jaya, October 11, 2009 . Johor FC won 4-2. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Russian Revelation: Rusia’s Nikolay Davydenko celebrating after defeating Sweden’s Robin Sonderling in their Proton Malaysia Open semi-final match at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, October 3, 2009. Davydenko won 1-6, 7-6(1), 6-2.  He will meet  Spain’s Fernando Verdasco in the final. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Spain’s Fernando Verdasco returning a shot against Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez during their semi-final match at the Proton Malaysia Open at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, October 3, 2009. Verdesco won 6-4, 7-5. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez smashing his racquet on the court during his semi-final match against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco at the Proton Malaysia Open at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, October 3, 2009. GLENN GUAN/The Star