By Rey Bancod
A Malaysian sports leader has predicted that host Philippines will corner most of the gold medals in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, adding that the 2017 host country should be satisfied taking fourth place.
Philippines Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee chief opening officer Ramon Suzara poses with the Southeast Asian Games torch and lantern during the Flame Handover Ceremony for the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia recently. (AP)
“The Philippines will naturally be champion with Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore fighting for 2nd to 6th positions,” said Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, former long-time secretary of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) in his Facebook account. Two years ago, Malaysia won 145 of the 404 gold medals at stake at home.
“Being the host, Malaysia had certain advantages which were maximized by the Organizing Committee,” said Kok Chi, citing the increase in events of sports where they were strong and reduction by half in boxing, fencing, judo and weightlifting, among others.
Kok Chi said the Malaysian example did not go unnoticed and was picked up by the Philippines SEAG Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).
The non-inclusion of some sports and events in the coming Games has cost Malaysia 50 gold medals, according to Kok Chi.
The Games, set to kick off Nov. 30 with the opening ceremonies at the Philippine Arena, will be the largest ever with 56 sports, 12 disciplines and 531 events.
These include 20 new sports, disciplines and 130 events which are new to Malaysians, Kok Chi said.
The new sports are e-sports, jujitsu, kickboxing, kurash, modern pentathlon, obstacle course race, sambo, skateboarding, surfing and underwater hockey.
The three new disciplines are basketball 3×3, beach handball and duathlon.
As a result, Kok Chi said their target is to win 80 gold medals.
Kok Chi cited Malaysia’s history of poor ranking immediately after hosting the Games.
After topping the Games at home in 2001, Malaysia finished fifth the following edition. From runner-up in 1989, Malaysia dropped to fourth in 1991.
After serving as OCM official for many years, Kok Chi stepped down last year.
Last April 23, Kok Chi bagged the National Sports Council leadership from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at the National Sports Award ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, the Philippines, sixth place in Kuala Lumpur, is gunning for the overall title and hopes to flex its muscles in 13 subjective combat sports of arnis, boxing, jujitsu, judo, karate, kickboxing, kurash, muay, pencak silat, sambo, taekwondo, wrestling and wushu.
The last time the country hosted the Games in 2005, the Filipinos captured 112 of the 444 gold medals at stake to emerge overall champion.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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