Indonesia humbled as Games ends
By Primastuti Handayani and Ivy Susanti
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (JP): Thailand reigned supreme as the 20th Southeast Asian Games closed on Sunday, with former regional sports powerhouse Indonesia left to lick its wounds after its humiliating performance.
For the first time ever, mighty Indonesia, which topped the medal standings a record nine times since 1977, was shutout to finish behind longtime rival Malaysia in third.
A huge reduction in the number of sports contested in the nine-day festival -- down to 21 from 33 in 1997 -- could be cited among reasons for the failure. Indonesian chef de mission Mochamad Hindarto admitted that the outcome could have not been that worst if the country excelled in the most popular Olympic events: track and field and swimming.
Thailand showed its class in those two sports, in which it hauled 33 of 65 golds it won at the conclusion of the Games. It also grabbed 48 silvers and 56 bronzes.
Malaysia, the host of 2001 Games, was second with 57 golds, 45 silvers and 42 bronzes.
A distant third was defending overall champion Indonesia with 44 golds, 43 silvers and 58 bronzes. The result was far below its target of winning 70 golds. It was a bitter present for the country which will celebrate its 54th anniversary of independence on Aug. 17.
"If our athletes can compete against Thailand in both sports, I believe we can retain the region's sports supremacy," Hindarto said.
Indonesia's last gold medal winning hopeful Anton Suseno failed to shine in the final of the men's table tennis singles after losing to Singaporean Duan Yong Jun 21-16, 14-21, 15-21, 12-21. Another Indonesian competitor in the final day, the men's basketball team, took the consolation bronze with a win over Malaysia.
A total of 52 meet records fell during nine days of grueling competition, 10 of them in track and field, 20 in swimming and 22 in tenpin bowling. The new tenpin bowling marks include four new Asian Games records.
The two Asian Games record holders, swimmers Ratapong Sirisanont of Thailand and Malaysia's Alex Lim, set new SEA Games marks in the 200m men's individual medley and 100m breaststroke respectively. However both were off their times set at last year's Bangkok Asian Games.
The gap with the rest of the world was particularly apparent in the track and field.
Indonesian Nunung Jayadi took the Games pole vault standard past the five-meter barrier with a 5.05m effort. The six-year-old Asian mark is 5.90m and Ukraine's Sergey Bubka's world record is 6.14m.
Ceremony
Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah closed the SEA Games in a formal but uncelestial ceremony at the 28,000-seated Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium. He was accompanied by the President of Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council Prince Sufri Bolkiah, and his brothers and sisters.
Sufri, who is also Billah's uncle, declared in his speech that Brunei had staged the event successfully despite the country's small population and the lack of experience in hosting a multi- sport regional events.
"Brunei Darussalam, one of the smallest ASEAN nations can now proudly claim that we have finally fulfilled our obligations in hosting the 20th Southeast Asian Games as repeatedly requested by the member countries of the Southeast Asian Games Federation," he said.
In terms of achievement, host Brunei gained a success in its appearance since 1977 with a new record gold medals won of four.
The short speech was followed by a series of firework display. When the display was over, the SEA Games flame was put out and six officials lowered the SEA Games flag.
The brief part was immediately cheered by the spectators, which had queued in front of the stadium since midday, and also athletes, who lined up on the sports basis.
Prince Sufri later handed over the SEA Games flag to the President of Malaysian Sports Council, Tan Sri Imran ibni Tuanku Ja'afar, who is also the son of Sultan of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Malaysia has prepared itself to host the first game in the next millennium. The country will host the biennial event in three cities of Kuala Lumpur, Pinang and Johor Baru.
The 100,000-seated National Stadium will serve as the opening, closing and final rounds of soccer matches.
The Shah Alam Sports Complex has a 4,000-seated Aquatic Center and 16,000-seated Putra Indoor Stadium.