Friday, October 19, 2007

Asian indoor games: Five gold possible

Ahmad Fadzil  Musa will be the  flag bearer for Malaysia at the  2nd Asian Indoor Games in Macau.
Ahmad Fadzil Musa will be the flag bearer for Malaysia at the 2nd Asian Indoor Games in Macau.

THE 187-member Malaysian contingent for the 2nd Asian Indoor Games in Macau on Oct 26-Nov 3 will be looking to better the one gold and one silver medal haul in Bangkok two years ago.

Chef-de-Mission Datuk Roy Rajasingham said although no official target is set, the athletes should be able to deliver better results.

"Compared to the 2005 Games where we only competed in two sports, we are competing in 10 sports in Macau, so we should be able to do better.

"I am hoping that we win five gold medals, and we are especially hopeful that our bowling team deliver," he said.

Malaysia will be competing in bowling, chess, Xiangqi (Chinese chess), dance sport, dragon & lion dance, extreme sports, futsal, indoor cycling, indoor hockey, kabaddi and 3 on 3 basketball.
"The Indoor Games are a prelude to the Sea Games in December.

"Some sports associations are taking this as a selection or qualifying event while for those who have qualified, this is a good place for them as preparation."

Rajasingham is however disappointed the Malaysia Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) refused to send a team to Macau.

"This is a very good opportunity for young athletes to gain exposure, and I am sure if we compete in the indoor athletics events, we will at least add another few medals.

"The associations here are sending teams to the Games with development the main objective and promotion of their sport, so I don't know why MAAU does not want to send a team."

Skateboarder Ahmad Fadzil Musa, the sole gold medalist in 2005, will be the flag bearer while chess player Siti Zulaikha Muhd Foudzi will serve as torch bearer in Macau.

With two medals -- both won in the extreme sports -- Malaysia finished 16th out of 37 countries in Bangkok.

New Straits Times

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