SEA Games offer moments to savor

KUALA LUMPUR (JP): The 21st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur came to a close on Monday to the jubilation of the home team after its unprecedented win in the region's biennial sporting meet.

Over 4,500 sportsmen and women from the 10 nations located in the region came up against each other to fight for glory.

The athletes did their utmost on the field, the coaches worked hard on strategy and the officials were busy counting up the medals.

This year's Games, probably the biggest sporting gala ever in the region, saw the best athletes show their skills, some running away with new meet records. However, the region still appears to be performing far below the Asian benchmark.

The playing fields, courts, pitches and pools are now quiet again, with no more supporters shouting raucously from the stands.

The participants have already returned home, each with their own memories.

The Malaysians are still basking in their historic victory at home with Saturday having been declared a holiday. Thailand may now be beginning to consider how and why it lost the crown it won in Brunei back in 1999.

As for Indonesia, the past champion failed to match the power of Malaysia and Thailand and is now beginning to soul-search in order to find a reason as to why it ended up with a mediocre placing for the second time in a row since Brunei.

They country's athletes as a whole may have performed uninspiringly, but for veterans Richard Sam Bera in swimming and Supriati Sutono in middle-distance running, the KL Games will surely be remembered fondly after they left the arena with record tucked into their belts.

The nations will resume battle and seek moments of truth again in another two years when Vietnam hosts the 22nd SEA Games. (01)