Sports bodies against sending second-liners to Laos

SEVERAL sports bodies are at odds with the proposal of Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to send second-liners to December's Laos Sea Games.
Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) deputy president Karim Ibrahim said sending the second-liners to Laos does not make sense as they would not be able to compete at that level.

As such, senior athletes should be sent to represent the country to gauge their performance.

Moreover, senior athletes have long been preparing for the Games and a decision not to send them to Laos would only upset them.

"We can send the second-liners to other championships like the Thai Open, Philippines Open and Indonesian Open since they are not that competitive," Karim said yesterday.
Karim, however, said the MAAU will not prevent second-liners with good prospects from going to the Asian or Olympic Games.

Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) secretary Edwin Chong said it was still undecided whether to send second-liners to Laos.

He said it was not a problem for ASUM as the swimmers were a young group between 15 and 25 years.

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) general secretary Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad said the ministry had given positive feedback to its decision to send the under-23 squad to Laos.

"It all depends on the Sea Games contingent committee meeting in June. We will make adjustments if necessary," he said.

The hosts' decision to drop several Olympic events from the Sea Games had prompted Ismail Sabri to propose sending only second-liners to the Games.

The events dropped included gold medal prospects for Malaysia like bowling, cycling and squash.

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi was against the proposal saying senior athletes should compete in the Sea Games as many lacked exposure.