Chiang Mai Games to stage 28 sports

Chiang Mai Games to stage 28 sports

JAKARTA (JP): The 18th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games organizing
committee has turned down Indonesia's request to see three events
make a comeback at the regional sports meet in Chiang Mai in
December.

President of the National Sports Council Surono told reporters
on Tuesday that host Thailand has excluded karate, wushu and
wrestling from among the 28 full-fledged medal events.

"It is a big upset for us since we have better chances in
these events, particularly wrestling and karate," said Surono.

Wrestling, Indonesia's gold mine sport, made its last
appearance in 1987, in Jakarta. The two martial arts, karate and
wushu, were last competed in the 1993 Games in Singapore. The
last SEA Games staged a total of 32 sports.

However, Surono strongly believes that Indonesia will retain
the overall title for a record ninth time. Thailand spoiled
Indonesia's long-time reign when it hosted the 1985 sporting
extravaganza in Bangkok.

The Chiang Mai Games, slated for Dec. 9-17, will have a total
of 334 gold medals up for grabs, of which 117 are offered in
track and field, swimming and shooting. Track and field provides
45 golds, swimming, including diving and water polo, 38, and 34
in shooting.

"We have to battle it out in those three sports. We must be
aware that the host country is eying a golden scoop in these
competitions," Surono said.

The other 24 sports to be contested are archery, badminton,
basketball, billiard, bowling, boxing, cycling, equestrian,
fencing, golf, gymnastics, hockey, judo, pencak silat, rowing,
rugby, sepak takraw, soccer, squash, table tennis, taekwondo,
tennis, volleyball, weight lifting and yachting.

Another sports council official, Timbul Thomas Lubis, said
that Thailand failed to approve Indonesia's request after its bid
to include its own traditional martial art kick boxing was
expelled by the SEA Game Federation.

"The Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore are other staunch
backers of wushu for the upcoming Games," Timbul said. "However,
the host has the right to veto," he added.

Indonesia has yet to set out its preparations for the Games.
Surono said the centralized training center for the SEA Games
would be under the responsibility of the new sports council
leadership board, to be elected in a national congress at the end
of this month.

Chiang Mai, a hilly tourist resort in northern Thailand, is
working on the sports facility projects, as well as its traffic
and security system, for both the Games participants and
spectators.

The organizing committee's Information Center said that the
province is building a four-lane highway to connect the downtown
area with all the sports venues, Antara reported.

A total of 3,000 policemen and volunteers will be deployed to
help the organizers run the sports meet smoothly, the information
center said. (amd)