SEA Games offer moments to savor

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)