MSA likely to select 12 for Asian Games

10/10/1998

MALAYSIA will be hard pressed to win any of the six gold medals at stake
for sepak takraw at the Asian Games.
At the last Games in Hiroshima, Malaysia won the men's regu gold, the
only gold on offer. In Beijing in 1990, Malaysia made a clean sweep of the
team and regu golds.
But those were the glory days for at the Jakarta Sea Games last year
Malaysia had to be satisfied with two silvers while it was Thailand who
made a clean sweep of the gold medals.
In Bangkok, there is also the men's and women's sepakraga bulatan (the
circle game), team and inter-regu events.
The Malaysian Sepaktakraw Association will meet on Tuesday and are
likely to retain the 12 players who lost to Thailand twice and finished
third at the King's Cup last week, unless someone from the Perilly's Grand
Prix impress the selectors.
During a recent exhibition match, the first Malaysian regu of tekong
Ahmad Ezzat Zaki, killer Iskandar Arshad and feeder Suhaimi Yusof were
beaten in three sets by Thai trio Anusak Leong (tekong), Virapong Jadpimai
(killer) and feeder Chart Singrang 10-15, 15-13, 3-6.
The Malaysian second regu of Romi Suhendra Borsal (tekong), Zabidi
Shariff (killer) and Khairulnizam Mohamad Jidin also lost to the trio of
Pongsak Puresup, Surian Peachan and Prin Jedrisate 14-15, 7-15.
Malaysia are not expected to send a women's side and will instead
concentrate on the regu and team events.
(END)