ASEAN University Games begins
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Sidoarjo, East Java
The 12th ASEAN University Games began here on Sunday with host nation Indonesia and defending champion Thailand expected to be battling it out for the championship.
Minister of National Education Bambang Sudibyo officially opened the event at the Gelora Delta Sidoarjo Stadium, around 20 kilometers to the south of East Java's provincial capital Surabaya.
"The University Games could be used as a tool to monitor the development of student athletes and find talent," he said.
A meager number of spectators attended the ceremony which was highlighted by a wushu exhibition, marching band and traditional dance Reog Ponorogo.
Indonesia hopes to win 61 of the 114 gold medals on offer, a count, according to the hosts deputy chief Eman Sumusi, that would be enough to earn the hosts the trophy.
"We expect our athletes to win many medals in pencak silat, table tennis, tennis and badminton," he told reporters after the opening ceremony.
He said that Thailand would pose a serious threat to Indonesia's bid.
Interviewed on a separate occasion, Thailand contingent chief Prasert Sarnvivad said that his contingent was keen to retain the crown they won in Philippines two years ago.
"We hope to win 50 golds or more to retain our title," he told the Jakarta Post.
Thailand is bringing 194 athletes and officials. Half of the athletes, according to Sarnvivad, are national athletes who are being prepared for the 2005 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, ASEAN's new member Timor Leste is participating in the event for the first time.
"We have come here thanks to the invitation in the spirit of solidarity. We are here taking part only in two sports: soccer and athletics. We have to learn from others and give our best performance," Timor Leste contingent chief Gil Da Conceicao said.
Around 900 athletes and officials are taking part in the event.
Indonesia is the biggest team, comprising a total of 267 athletes and officials, followed by Thailand with 194 athletes and officials, Malaysia, 191, Singapore, 103, Brunei, 47, Vietnam, 36, Timor Leste, 24, the Philippines, 10, Cambodia, four and Laos, two.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups 11 nations. Myanmar is not participating in the event.
The athletes compete in 10 sports with 114 gold, 114 silver and 114 bronze medals up for grabs.
The 10 sports are athletics, basketball, volleyball, swimming, badminton, table tennis, pencak silat, sepak takraw, soccer and tennis.
Athletics, swimming and pencak silat are three sports that provide the most gold medals with 33, 31, and 23 medals respectively.