Thailand likely to take overall title at SEAG<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Host Thailand is more likely than Indonesia to
\ngrab the overall title at the 18th Southeast Asian Games in
\nChiang Mai, a Thai senior sports official claims.<\/p>\n
Chairat Kamnuan, deputy chairman of Thailand Olympic
\nCommittee, said in Chiang Mai yesterday that Thailand would get
\n113 gold medals while Indonesia would take 105 at the Dec. 9 to
\nDec. 17 games.<\/p>\n
He obtained the figures after asking his national sports
\nassociations to predict how many gold medals Thailand would win
\nat the games compared to Indonesia's sports associations.<\/p>\n
Thailand's estimation does not differ much from the one made
\nby Indonesia's noted sports observer, Mangombar Ferdinand
\nSiregar, last week.<\/p>\n
Siregar said Indonesia stood little chance of defending its
\ntitle. He said it was realistic for Thailand to scoop around 110
\nto 120 gold medals while Indonesia might win 90 to 95.<\/p>\n
The 18th SEA Games offers a total of 334 gold medals, 334
\nsilver medals and 421 bronze medals in 28 sports. Indonesia will
\nnot participate in rugby and hockey.<\/p>\n
Thailand beat Indonesia in the 1985 meet in Bangkok by 27 gold
\nmedals. Host Thailand hauled 91 golds, 65 silvers and 58 bronzes.
\nIndonesia finished second with 64 golds, 75 silvers and 72
\nbronzes.<\/p>\n
King Bhumibol Adulyadej is scheduled on Dec. 9 to open the
\ngames in the main 20,000-seat stadium. The opening ceremony, also
\nintended to mark the 700th anniversary of Chiang Mai, will start
\nat 5.20 p.m. with a performance of the Chiang Mai Wind Orchestra
\nand end at 7.30 p.m.<\/p>\n
At 6 p.m. the 18th SEA Games will be opened, with a
\nperformance five minutes later by hundreds of dancers entitled
\n\"To Play and To Fight.\" The dancers will form the Thai word for
\nwelcome \"Sawasdee.\"<\/p>\n
As for security, an official with Thailand police, Kovid
\nBhakdiphumi, told Antara yesterday that 4,000 police personnel
\nwill stand on guard during the games. Police dogs will also be
\ninstalled around the main stadium and in the athlete's village,
\nwhose gates will be equipped with detectors and guarded by 20
\npolicewomen.<\/p>\n
First day<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Indonesia dominated the seeding list at the
\nbadminton competition due to start on the first day of the
\nbiennial event on Dec. 9. Badminton, basketball, sepak takraw,
\ntennis and volleyball will serve as the Games openers.<\/p>\n
The badminton draw received by the National Sports Council
\nyesterday put both Indonesian men's and women's teams at the top
\nof the list. In the individual events, which begin after the team
\nevents, all Indonesian representatives were seeded first and
\nsecond, except in the men's doubles.<\/p>\n
A Joko Suprianto-led Indonesian men's team received a bye in
\nthe first round and will set off its campaign on Dec. 10 against
\neither Myanmar or Singapore. Joko and company are drawn to meet
\nMalaysia in the final.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian women's team also got a first-round bye, before
\ntaking on the winner of the Malaysia-Philippines match.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, head of the
\nprovince's sports council Suwarna said 12 SEA Games-bound
\nathletes from the province would be given an allowance of US$500
\neach.<\/p>\n
Suwarna, who is also the province's deputy governor, said the
\nreward was a sign of attention and moral support from the people
\nof the province. The money will be given by Governor H.M. Ardans
\ntoday.<\/p>\n
Suwarna declined to say whether additional money would be
\ngiven to his athletes who succeed in bringing home gold medals.
\n(arf\/amd)<\/p>",
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