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Gold rush set to begin in Manila
Musthofid
The Jakarta Post/Manila
Amid a final push to complete competition venues and
heightened security, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
is set to open the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games on Sunday.
The ceremony for the 10-day Games is scheduled to begin at
5:30 p.m. local time at Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park. The 11
participating teams from the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations plus Timor Leste will march in alphabetical order, with
Indonesia following Brunei Darussalam and Cambodia.
Kusnan Ismukanto, Indonesia's sporting chief designated to
supervise the athletes competing in Metro Manila, said that about
100 athletes from the 779-strong contingent would participate.
"We invited all the athletes to come along but it shouldn't be
allowed to interfere with their training," Djoko said.
Hendrawan, coach of the women's badminton team and a former
world men's singles champion, will be the flag bearer. He was a
last-minute replacement for Olympic and World champion shuttler
Taufik Hidayat, who declined the honor.
"Badminton manager Jacob Rusdianto refused to allow Taufik to
join because he will have to train," chef de mission Djoko
Pramono said.
Members of the region's royal houses and leaders of the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front are expected to attend the opening
ceremony, Agence France-Presse reported. Among the royals are
Prince Norodom Ranariddh of Cambodia; Brunei Prince Sufri
Bolkiah, and Thai Princess Sievannarvari Nariratana as well as
Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Manila's already chaotic traffic was made worse on Saturday
when police closed roads around the grandstand to secure the
area. More than 17,000 police and security forces went on alert
in Manila last week, with officials concerned over recent deadly
attacks by the communist New People's Army rebels in central and
northern Philippines.
Although water polo and soccer have been in competition since
last week, with Singapore retaining its gold in the pool on
Friday, Sunday's opening day will offer 15 golds.
Track and field events held at Rizal Memorial Stadium will
have three golds up for grabs, but no Indonesian athletes are
competing in the long jump, high jump and pole vault.
Muhammad Juniarto and Muhamad Zulkifli are the Indonesian
hopefuls in the 15-ball doubles, although they concede it will be
a struggle to take the top honor.
"Well, their chance is 50-50. We'll have to compete against
Singapore and Malaysia in the group matches. And then either
Thailand or the Philippines would be the next ones to beat," team
manager Ariebinuko Tjiptoadjodjojo told The Jakarta Post.
Other golds are being offered in dancesport (2), chess (2)
diving (3) and karate (4).
Indonesia has not won the overall medal title at the Games
since 1997, finishing third at the 2003 Games in Vietnam behind
the host and Thailand, which is heavily favored this time around.
Djoko said on Saturday all the athletes were expected to do
their utmost to help the country's medal haul.
"We have instructed managers and athletes to give their best
effort for the sake of the country," Djoko said during his tour
of the Rizal Memorial Complex, where he watched the Indonesian
women's tennis team reach the final.