Sports Bodies Against Sending Second-liners To Sea Games

Monday, January 05, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 (Bernama) -- Several sports bodies do not agree with the proposal by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob to send second-liner athletes to the Vientiane SEA Games this Dec.

Ismail Sabri (kiri) dan Kok Chi.
Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) deputy president Karim Ibrahim said sending the second-liners to the championship was unsuitable as they would not be able to compete at that level.

As such, senior athletes should be sent to represent the country at the SEA Games to gauge their performance.

Moreover, senior athletes had made long preparation for the games and that a decision not to send them to Laos would lead to dissatisfaction.

"We can send the second-liners to other championships like the Thai Open, Phillipines Open dan Indonesian Open since they are not that competitive and good for exposure," he told Bernama here, Sunday.

Karim however said MAAU would not prevent second-liners with good prospects from going to the Asian and Olympic Games.

Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) secretary Edwin Chong said it was still undecided on whether to send second-liners to Laos but was inclined to them based on their best times.

He said it was not a problem for ASUM as the swimmers were a young group from 15-25 years.

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) general secretary Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad said the ministry had given positive feedback to its decision to send the Under 23 squad to Laos.

"It all depends on the SEA Games contingent committee meeting in June. We will make adjustments if necessary," he said.

Laos' decision to drop several Olympic events from the Sea Games prompted Ismail Sabri to propose second-liners to Vientiane.

The events dropped include gold medal prospects for Malaysia like bowling, cycling and squash.

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi was against the proposal saying senior athletes should compete at the SEA Games as many lacked exposure as they failed to compete at world and Asian events on merit.

-- BERNAMA