KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia are expected to send a 141-member contingent for the 10-day Asian Indoor Games in Hanoi, Vietnam starting Oct 30.
Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) Honorary Secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said the contingent would be made up of 73 men and 33 women athletes while the rest are officials.
"We will compete in eight of the 22 sports competed, namely petanque, sepak takraw hoop, kabbadi, silat, futsal, tenpin bowling, lion dance and dragon dance," he told Bernama when contacted on Wednesday.
The OCM has not set any target for the Games because sports competed in the Games were basically recreational sports while OCM's focus is on sports like SEA Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, said Kok Chi, adding that the expenses would be borne by the respective associations or in some cases, the National Sports Council (NSC).
"Sports associations that can effort may participate, but even then some sports will have their own focus and an idea of what games to participate.
"Like for example, the Malaysian National Cycling Federation's focus may be on the Olympics and different from the National Kabbadi Association's focus because the sport does not feature in many major games.
"So these types of sports will be eager to participate in such games. And for OCM, since there are more than 50 types of sports, some are recreational sports and we cannot focus on all the sports because the Olympics has only 26 sports," he said.
Meanwhile, commenting on news reports that venues for the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be hosted by New Delhi, India, Kok Chi said it was normal for host countries to face such situations due to various reasons, including financial.
"But I am confident India will be ready and the games will go on as scheduled," he said.
Indian media reports claimed that 13 of the 19 venues to be used for the Games were facing serious delays although the Games is just 14 months away.
-- BERNAMA
