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).