Ringgit-wise OCM go only for medal hopes

27/10/1998

THE Olympic Council of Malaysia were not in a benevolent mood as they went
strictly by the book in selecting national athletes for the Asian Games in
Bangkok on Dec 6-20.
While they allowed associations to present their cases, OCM's selection
committee followed intently the qualifying marks that had been set for the
athletes.
For measurable sports, the third placing mark at the last Games or Asian
championships was used as a yardstick while for the others, OCM looked at
their present achievements.
"We cannot be too kind as the standard in the Asian Games is very high.
We also have to look at our current financial standing," said OCM
president Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah.
Hamzah chaired the selection committee yesterday and from the 11 sports
who presented their cases, 84 men, 24 women and 34 officials were
selected.
Athletics, who had initially identified 16 athletes, had to be satisfied
with 11.
Leading the men's charge is Asian Track and Field 100m silver medallist
Watson Nyambek and high jump bronze medallist Loo Kum Zee.
Commonwealth Games 50km walk gold medallist G. Saravanan and Teoh Boon
Lim also made the cut.
G. Shanti, who won the 100m bronze in the ATF, Annastasia Karen Raj and
Yuan Yufang were the women selected.
"We also approved the men's 4x400m team but we'll leave it to the
association to decide on the runners," said Hamzah.
Swimming, which had hoped for at least seven in the national contingent,
had to be satisfied with just two - Commonwealth Games finalists Lim Keng
Liat and Elvin Chia.
"We would have included Anthony Ang and Allan Ong for the medley relay
but they won't be available."
OCM rejected Tay Li Leng, Sia Wai Yen, diver Yeoh Ken Nie and
synchronised swimmer Jacqueline Chan.
"We found that their standard is way off the Asian Games level."
Sepaktakraw, which contributed gold in the 1994 Games, was allowed to
take 18 players.
"Twelve will play in the team and inter-regu events while another six
will compete in sepakraga bulatan."
Yachting, which contributed one gold through Ryan Tan in 1994, had three
sailors getting the OCM nod.
"Nazri Salleh (optimist) and Kevin Lim (laser) are medal favourites
while the third is Malik Sulaiman (supermoth)."
Commonwealth Games 180km road race silver medallist Nor Effendy Rosli
won't be alone in his pursuit for a medal in Bangkok as OCM have included
two others for the event.
"This is a tactical event and cycling alone would be the same as not
going.
"We hope the inclusion of Shahrulneeza Razali and Mahazir Ahmad will
help Nor Effendy."
Shooting, another performing sport in the Commonwealth Games, had to be
satisfied with three men and four women.
Leading the women, who will compete in six events, is KL Games gold
medallist Nurul Huda Baharin.
The others are Noriha Rani, Roslina Bakar and Sariwati Awang.
Mutalib Razak, Imran Zakaria and a third yet to be picked shooter will
carry the men's challenge.
Squash and bowling, two events where Malaysia will be confident of
striking gold, had their wishes granted.
The OCM approved two men and two women for the wall bashers and six men
and six women for the keglers.
Badminton was another which OCM did not hesitate to confirm.
"The women were included based on their performance in the KL Games
where they lost the gold only on countback."
Men's hockey was given the nod while equestrian will have six men and
one woman fighting for medals.
The committee meet again today to decide on the remaining eight sports. THE BANGKOK CONTINGENT
ATHLETICS - Men: Watson Nyambek (100m), Loo Kum Zee (high jump), G.
Saravanan (50km walk), Teo Boon Lim (20km walk), Romzi Bakar, S. Vasu, D.
Nadarajan, Yazid Parlan (4x100m); Women: Yuan Yufang, Annastasia Karen Raj
(walks), G. Shanti (100m).
BADMINTON - Men: Yong Hock Kin, Wong Choon Hann, Roslin Hashim, James
Chua, Cheah Soon Kit, Choong Tan Fook, Jeremy Gan, Chan Chong Ming; Women:
Woon Sze Mei, Law Pei Pei, Ng Mee Fen, Wong Miew Kheng, Lim Pek Siah, Chor
Hooi Yee, Norashikin Amin, Joanne Quay.
BOWLING: Final list to be decided.
CYCLING (road race): Nor Affendy Rosli, Mahazir Ahmad, Shahrulneeza
Razali.
EQUESTRIAN - Men: Quzier Ambak, Qabil Ambak, Tunku Nazroff, Eric Koh,
Quzandir Nur, Syed Omar, Husret Malik, James Ravindra, Ashraff Dewar;
Women: Wan Zaleha Radzi.
HOCKEY: Final list to be decided.
SEPAKTAKRAW: Final list to be decided.
SHOOTING - Men air rifle: Emran Zakaria, Abdul Mutalib, Aziz Brahim or
Willow Kabah; Women air rifle, sport rifle 3-position and prone: Nurul
Huda Baharin, Roslina Bakar, Sarihati Awang.
SQUASH - Men: Ong Beng Hee, Kenneth Low; Women: Nicol David, Leong Siu
Lynn.
SWIMMING: Alvin Chia, Lim Keng Liat.
YACHTING - Optimist: Nazmi Sharif; Laser: Kevin Lim; Super Moth: Malik
Sulaiman.
(END)