SPORTCHECK: Games without a high

NATIONAL Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong has warned the public not to set high hopes for the national contingent at the Sea Games this year.

Faced with the task of navigating a worrying selection of largely traditional sports chosen by hosts Myanmar, Zolkples said he would be happy if Malaysia could breach the top five at the biennial games in December.

Myanmar have come under fire for selecting sports which will give them an advantage with an unfair medal distribution at the Games this year.

"I am sure the critics will have their own views but I feel it is important that the public understands the situation that we will be facing at the Sea Games this year," said Zolkples.

"We have already (potentially) lost 30 gold medals before the Games have even started as a number of sports we are good at have been left out.

"For example, we will lose 10 gold medals from track cycling and five each from bowling, synchronised swimming and waterski, among others, as they are not part of the Games this time.

"Instead sports like chinlone offers eight gold while sepak takraw now offers 10 gold.

"We will definitely lose to the hosts Myanmar. Thailand will also remain strong as they are also strong in sports such as muay thai. The same goes for Vietnam and Indonesia.

"I will be very happy if we can finish fifth (overall)."

Malaysia finished fourth behind Vietnam (third), Thailand (second) and hosts Indonesia who emerged overall winners at the 2011 edition in Jakarta and Palembang.

Zolkples added that hosting sports that are part of the Olympic, Commonwealth and Asian Games will be a priority should Malaysia host the Sea Games in 2017.

"The Sea Games have become a circus as hosts are allowed to choose whatever sports they want. I do not want us to be champions because we won in sports such as vovinam, kempo, chess and fins swimming if we are host of the Sea Games.

"We should insist that Olympic sports are compulsory and non-Olympic events such as squash, bowling as well as lawn bowls are included as they are important sports for the Asian and Commonwealth Games." By Fadhli Ishak

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/08/06/sportcheck-games-without-a-high/