OCM To Send 150-Member Contingent For Asian Indoor Games

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- A 150 Malaysian contingent will participate in eight sports at the third edition of the Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam from Oct 30 to Nov 8.

The contingent, comprising 90 athletes and 60 officials, will be participating in the games that features 39 other countries.

The eight sports hosted are Dance sports, Indoor Petanque, Hoop Sepaktakraw, Indoor Kabaddi, Pencak Silat, Futsal (men and women), Dragon and Lion Dance (Dragon, Southern Lion, Northern Lion) and bowling.

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja'afar said the contingent no specific gold medal target was set for the games as they were non-Olympic sports.

"Nevertheless, I hope the athletes competing in their respective sports will bring home some medals as it is an honour to represent Malaysia at an international event," said Tunku at the flag handing ceremony here on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Chef-de-Mission N Shanmugarajah said though there was no specific medal target, he believed the athletes would excel in the games.

The games will be staged at three cities in Vietnam, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and Hai Duong.

Historically, the games came about when the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) raised the idea of an Asian Indoor Games in 2001, aimed at further promoting and arousing interest in sports activities among Asian people.

The first Asian Indoor Games was held in Thailand in 2005 and the second was hosted by Macao in 2007.

-- BERNAMA