Tuesday, May 17, 2005

MALAYSIAA: Run-up to Manila SEA Games: 'Stay hopeful'

By RIZAL HASHIM
May 17:



MALAYSIA’S chef-de-mission to the Manila SEA Games, Low Beng Choo, remains hopeful the taekwondo exponents would be able to make the trip to the Philippines.

Although the sport's governing body, the Malaysian Taekwondo Association (MTA), have been de-registered by the Sports Commissioner, Beng Choo has advised the exponents to remain focused on their training programme.

“We will do what we can to make sure taekwondo will be represented in the Games, including writing to the SEA Games Federation (SGF) explaining the situation and for them to be registered under the banner of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) if the issue is not resolved by then.

“As far as we are concerned, they are part of the team and remain in the programme.

“The exponents have been encouraged to continue training and not to worry about anything else,” said Beng Choo, who is also an OCM vice-president.

Beng Choo was speaking to the Press after chairing a team managers' meeting at Bukit Jalil yesterday.

MTA have instituted legal action against Sports Commissioner Tan Sri Elyas Omar following the de-registration on May 6, which threw the immediate future of national exponents into doubt.

On athletes who have met the SEA Games qualifying mark, Beng Choo said their place in the contingent is not assured.

“In order to justify their berths, they have to demonstrate their consistency and not take their places for granted.

“Track and field athletes who have met the requirements, for instance, will still have to prove themselves in the MAAU Open in August.

“This is to make sure we will not have any passengers in the contingent.”

Source from http://mmail.com.my

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