Qualifying Doesn't Mean Automatic Ticket To Laos, Warns MAAU

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Athletes who make the cut for the Laos SEA Games by meeting the qualifying mark have been reminded that it will not be an automatic ticket to the games.

Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) deputy president Karim Ibrahim said 11 athletes have so far qualified for Laos on merit under Category A but their selection would be based on the ranking system introduced recently.

"The ranking system will be implemented during the MAAU Open to be held during the weekend at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium," Karim told reporters here Tuesday.

Karim said through the ranking system, even if an athlete had qualified, selection would be based on the current form, to ensure only the best potential athlete was included in the contingent to the SEA Games.

Apart from the 11 who have qualified under Category A, the MAAU would also consider sending athletes to Laos under Category B, he said.

Athletes who have qualified for Laos under Category A are S. Mathialagan (800m), Yuan Yu Fang, Lo Choon Sieng, Teoh Boon Lim (20km jalan kaki), Lee Hup Wei (high jump), Mohd Hafizuddin Shahadan (pole vault), M. Vadivellan (800m, 5000m, 1,500m), Chan Woo Yew (marathon), Noraseela Mohd Khalid (400m hurdles), Roslinda Samsu (pole vault), Tan Song Hwa (hammer throw).

Among athletes expected to be considered for inclusion under Category B are Mohd Jironi Riduan (1,500m), Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian (110m hurdles), Mohd Hasrolnizam Yaakob (discus), Adi Aliffuddin Hussin (shot put) and Noor Amira Mohamad Nafiah (triple jump).

Expenses for athletes who qualified under Category A would be borne by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) while the expenses for those under Category B would have to be borne by their respective associations, but the OCM would reimburse their expenses if they won medals.

Karim said the final list for Laos would only be known after the MAAU Open as the OCM has given the MAAU until next Tuesday to submit their recommended list.

"The MAAU Open will be the final platform for about 200 athletes to earn a ticket to Laos and the Asian Track and Field Championships in Guangzhou, China on Nov 10," he said.

Laos host the SEA Games for the first time, from Dec 9-18 and features 25 sports.

Karim said the MAAU Open would also see participation from 160 foreign athletes from 12 countries.

Among countries sending their athletes for the competition are Bangladesh, Brunei, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, South Korea, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

-- BERNAMA