OCM Targets 40-50 Gold Medals In Indonesia

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has set a modest target of 40-50 gold medals for the Malaysian contingent for the SEA Games in Indonesia from Nov 11-22.

OCM Honorary Secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said among sports identified to deliver gold medals are aquatics, tenpin bowling, athletics, archery, karate and silat.

"The 40 to 50 gold target is realistic based on the current performances of athletes in the country. Our strength is in sports like aquatics and tenpin bowling," he told Bernama here today.

Sieh said aquatics has the potential to deliver eight to 10 gold medals, tenpin bowling (6-7), athletics, archery, karate (4-5 each) and silat (2-4).

He added that the identified sports should be able to contribute about 30 gold medals while the other sports should deliver the rest, namely boxing, taekwondo, weightlifting and equestrian.

Sieh added that a decision on whether national sports associations should send the elite or back up athletes to the SEA Games must be based on the level of competition in the respective sports.

"If the level of competition is high, especially in badminton due to the participation of Indonesia and Thailand, there is a need to send the elite players," he said.

Indonesia, hosting the games in Palembang and Jakarta, have included 43 ports, offering 542 gold medals.

Since the games will be held at two main venues, the 650-member Malaysian contingent competing in 39 sports will be headed by two Chef-de-Missions - Datuk Naim Mohamad in Jakarta and Datuk Syed Mustaffa Syed Ali in Palembang.

Malaysia will be taking part in all sports except wrestling, traditional boat race, soft tennis and vovinam (self-defence art from Vietnam).

-- BERNAMA

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