RI promises fight to the finish for SEAG medals

RI promises fight to the finish for SEAG medals

By Novan Iman Santoso

KUALA LUMPUR (JP): Although host Malaysia is expected to win
the first gold on offer at the 21st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games
on Saturday, Indonesia vows to put up a fight for the rest of the
medals.

The maiden gold will be up for grabs in the equestrian event,
where Malaysia looks to become the dominant force.

"Malaysian riders know the field very well and there are four
of them competing. Other countries, including Indonesia, only
have two riders competing for the medals," Indonesian chef de
mission Putera Astaman told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

"This may psychologically affect our athletes, who will see
them trailing after the first day."

The event will take place at Sungai Labu Estate in Sepang,
near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, some 70 kilometers
south of here.

Putera said Malaysia had insisted on winning the first gold
medal as part of its strategy.

"That's just natural and Indonesia may also adopt the strategy
of taking the morale-boosting first gold medal. It may mean
nothing, but the psychological impact on the winner is very
important."

He said Indonesian athletes would put the foreseen first-day
loss behind them and look ahead to the multitude of opportunities
for winning gold medals.

Most Indonesian athletes will start playing on Monday.

Other gold medals at stake on Saturday are in shooting, which
will kick off with men's and women's 75-target trap events.

Putera was speaking on the sidelines of the flag-raising
ceremony held at Dataran Kris in front of the main entrance of
the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil Sports Complex.

"All of our athletes have maintained a high level of
discipline which we set during our final preparation back home.
We asked the hotel management to give us a wakeup call at 5:30
a.m. and to shut off the televisions at 10 p.m. so the athletes
can get to sleep," said Putera.

"We believe that a regulated way of life will have a good
impact on our athletes' performance. Six or seven hours of sleep
will keep them fit and sound," he added.

ASEAN spirit

Present at the flag-raising ceremony were all chefs de
mission, Malaysian youth and sport minister Hishammuddin Tun
Hussein and president of the Malaysian Olympic Council (OCM),
Tunku Imran Jaafar.

Hishammuddin said the flag-raising ceremony was an important
part of the Games.

"The ceremony symbolizes and signifies the spirit of SEA
Games, which are sportsmanship and friendship. It is also a sign
that all contingents are welcomed by the Malaysian people," he
said in a prepared speech.

"SEA Games is a legacy inherited from our countries' founding
fathers who believed sports could bridge our cultural diversity,
making it an opportunity instead an obstacle," he added.

The ceremony was held in the Dataran Kris because Malaysia
does not provide an athletes' village like other multisport
hosts. It instead houses the contingents in hotels.

Each flag of the 10 participating countries was raised by
sailors from the Malaysian Navy (TLDM), during which the
country's national anthem was played. The SEA Games Federation
flag was the last to be hoisted.

Filipino chef de mission Freddie Jalasco said his country
would try to reap as many gold medals as possible from the 21st
Games' martial arts events.

"Conservatively, we are trying to grab 40 gold medals. The
Philippines has many good fighters in boxing, karate, wushu and
pencak silat. We are also eying the gold medals from sepaktakraw
and the ever-popular sports basketball," he told the Post.

Sepaktakraw is a traditional Southeast Asian ball game.

The Philippines withdrew from soccer and men's volleyball
considering its poor performance in the two sports, Jalasco said.

"We set the guidelines and minimum standard of achievement as
each athlete or team should win the bronze medal at least," he
said.

The country is sending some 350 athletes and 160 officials.

The 2003 host, Vietnam, is also set to grab some 40 gold
medals in the first Games of the third millennium, with the 427
athletes and 150 officials it has sent.

"Vietnam will take gold medals from judo, karate, pencak
silat, judo, wushu, tae kwon do, swimming, shooting, athletics
and women's soccer. We also have several hopes for gymnastics,"
said Bui Quang Ngoc of the Vietnamese contingent.

Meanwhile, host Malaysia is prepared and determined to reap no
less than 80 gold medals.

"We will take the gold medals mainly from the aquatics, track
and field, gymnastics, martial arts, shooting, equestrian and
squash events."

Malaysian chef de mission Wira Mazlan Ahmad said his team also
hoped to win one or two golds in badminton.

Fielding 558 athletes and 230 officials, the Malaysian
contingent started its preparation right away after the Bandar
Seri Begawan SEA Games.

"We had part-time preparation until mid-2000 and then we
started into full-time preparation."