Indonesia off to winning start in Kuala Lumpur
By Novan Iman Santosa
KUALA LUMPUR (JP): The 21st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games began on Saturday, with Indonesia setting the early pace in the 10-day medals race.
Indonesia won two gold medals through its women shooters and left host Malaysia trailing by a bronze medal when the opening gala wrapped up the day at the National Stadium in the Bukit Jalil Sports Complex.
Hours before, former Malaysian cyclist Daud Ibrahim lighted the cauldron to mark the start to the biennial event, the first in the third millennium since its inception 42 years ago, Indonesia picked up its first gold from its women's trap shooting trio of Sarmunah, Sylvia Silimang and Supadmi who collected 188 points to edge out rivals from Singapore and Vietnam.
Then Sarmunah, a 33-year-old army lieutenant, led compatriot Sylvia to a one-two finish in the individual women's trap event to collect her and Indonesia's second gold for the day.
The other two golds at stake were won by host Malaysia, with victories in gymnastics thanks to its men's team and equestrian through Kamaruddin Abdul Ghani.
The Malaysian men's artistic gymnastics team scored 208.35 points to upset favorite Thailand and win the host its first gold medal. Thailand, which complained about the standard of refereeing, had to be content with the silver by scoring 208.1 points, while Indonesia came third with 197 points.
Kamaruddin, who is ranked fifth in the International Equestrian Federation for the equestrian endurance race, lived up to his billing by winning the event and handed his country its second gold medal.
Countryman Nik Isahak Wan Abdullah contributed the silver.
The Philippines, Brunei, Laos and Cambodia were all left empty handed after the first day, but there are 387 golds up for grabs in the rest of the multi-sports event.
Ibrahim lighted the cauldron from one side of the stadium through a mechanism that runs halfway through the 100,000-seat main stadium to the other end.
Daud won the 1970 Asian Games 1,600 meter gold medal and took five gold medals at the Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games, the old version of the SEA Games.
Malaysian King Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah officially opened the SEA Games, which was attended by Queen Tuanku Siti Aishah, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his VIP guests, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines. Thaksin's attendance also reflected Thailand's close association with a Games that Bangkok was the first to host in 1959.
Mahathir in a message said he hoped the games would help further enhance ties among the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
"Harmonious diplomatic ties among nations cannot be sustained purely by close rapport among the leaders. Without roots, the growth of trees cannot be sustained," Mahathir said.
"Indeed, it was with the aim of fostering closer friendship among the peoples of Southeast Asia that the SEA Games were inaugurated in Bangkok in 1959."
The crowd packed the stadium for the colorful opening rites that featured, fireworks, parachutists, a 2,001-member choir and the traditional parade of the contingents.
Flags of the participating countries were dropped in a parachute show together with the SEA Games flag and three Games mascots, locally named Si Tumas (squirrel).
All contingents started to march led by the Malaysian Armed Forces marching band followed by the Brunei Darussalam contingent in alphabetical order with host Malaysia at the rear.
Volleyball player Samsul Jais carried the Indonesian red-and- white flag leading his team mates, who were clad in red jackets and white skirts or trousers, waving their hands to greet the spectators.
Chairman of the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games Organizing Committee (KULSOC) Imran Jaafar said it was a moment of pride for Malaysia to host the first SEA Games in the new millennium as well as the fifth Games being hosted here.
He, however, said that SEA Games certainly needed more improvements.
"The SEA Games is 42 years old and is one of the oldest running regional Games in the world. In fact, in Asia we were the first region to organize such an event," he said in a prepared speech to welcome all participants.
"However, I am not convinced that the standard of sport in this region is any higher compared to the rest of the world than it was in 1959," he added.