Chief of RI contingent resigns after defeat
Chief of RI contingent resigns after defeat
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's failure to keep its overall title at
the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, has
prompted the head of the Indonesian contingent to resign.
Arie Sudewo said his resignation, which was delivered in a
statement yesterday hours before the Games closing ceremony, was
a consequence of Indonesia's inability to retain the overall
title.
Arie said he was ultimately responsible for failure at the
Games. As a consequence, he said he would resign immediately as
Vice Chairman of the National Sports council, the first time
anyone has resigned from the country's highest sports-governing
body.
"I apologize to the Indonesian people for the failure. I have
decided to resign as this is my moral responsibility," said Arie,
who was accompanied by Council spokesman Ishadi SK.
Arie expressed his hope that his decision would give a chance
to someone younger and more capable, adding that his resignation
would not turn affect his love of sports, Antara reported.
"I love sports but I'm not experienced as a sports organizer.
I did my job as part of my duty," he said in a 90-minute media
briefing at the SEA Games Press Center.
Arie said that he has not yet informed the chairman of the
National Sports Council Wismoyo Arismunandar and the council's
other officials of his decision.
Arie said that he was personally disappointed with the results
but satisfied with the efforts made by Indonesia's athletes to do
their best.
"Our athletes tried their best to win. I can't blame anyone
for the failure but I have to respect Thailand's better
performances," he said.
Indonesia still has a chance to win back the title at the 1997
SEA Games in Jakarta, said Arie.
Sepak takraw
In sepak takraw, Thai Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa
joined a roaring crowd of fans in cheering on his country's sepak
takraw players to an easy victory over Singapore on the last day
of the Games yesterday.
Banharn, whose country amassed a record number of gold medals
in the 18th biennial games, was present for the final day of
competition that included the most popular events like sepak
takraw and boxing, Reuters reported.
As the last day of competition got under way, Thailand had a
huge lead in the medals count with 329, including 145 golds --
nearly half of all those awarded so far.
The Thai sepak takraw regu, made up of Supap Rugwongrit,
veteran Kriengkrai Mutalai and Pongsak Taoujua, overpowered the
Singapore regu, or team, from the beginning of the match and won
easily in straight sets 15-1, 15-5.
Kriengkrai, a 31-year-old who had retired but was recalled to
strengthen the Thai side, played a key role in the one-hour
victory over surprise finalists Singapore.
Pongsak also thrilled the drum-banging and flag-waving crowd
with his high, twisting acrobatic moves to kick the rattan ball
over the net for several kills.
Sepak takraw is a fast, acrobatic sport rapidly growing in
popularity that is played on an indoor court with a net and with
the same layout as badminton.
Similar in concept to volleyball, the three players to a side
have only three hits to the ball before it must go over the net.
The game requires agility and acrobatic skill since players
cannot use their hands and can only touch the ball with their
feet or head.
Malaysia and Thailand are traditional rivals in the sport, but
Singapore's regu beat Malaysia 2-1 in the semi-finals on Saturday
(05).