Second-liners For Laos SEA Games Not Confirmed

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- The plan to send second echelon athletes to the Laos SEA Games is only a proposal and no firm decision had been made on it yet, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Monday.

"The proposal was discussed at a National Sports Council (NSC) board meeting which was also attended by representatives from the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) recently.

"The NSC will discuss the matter further with all national sports associations (NSAs) involved beginning with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) tomorrow to get their feedback," he told reporters here.

"It is not right for sports associations to give their views and comments to the media criticizing NSC's proposal when they have already been informed about it earlier and will be called to reach an agreement," he said.

He said this when asked to comment on the reaction of sports associations which did not agree with the proposal.

OCM honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi also had previously made it clear that the council preferred senior squads to Laos because most second liners stood little chance at the international level as they would not be able to qualify on merit.

The issue came up when Laos, as hosts of the 25th SEA Games from Dec 9 to 13, will be holding only 25 events including two which would be an advantage to them namely fin swimming and shuttlecock kicking.

-- BERNAMA