Indonesia humbled as Games ends

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.