OCM Must Act Against Host For Dropping Sports, Events

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- A number of National Sports Association who are not happy with 2011 SEA Games host for dropping a number of sports and events, urged the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) to act quickly.

National Shooting Association of Malaysia (NSAM) secretary Major (Rtd) Jasni Shaari said the host nation's decision to drop a number of sports and events that Malaysia were favoured to win medals was unsportsmanlike.

"We (NSAM) have informed the OCM and hope OCM will act quickly and firmly to reinstate the events. I believe not only Malaysia but Thailand and the Philippines are also facing the same predicament," he told Bernama when contacted here Tuesday.

Indonesia not only dropped women's football, Billiards and Snooker from the SEA Games programme in November, they have also drastically reduced events in shooting, cycling and sailing. The current number of sports stands at 43 comprising 542 events.

Among 'recreational' sports included were bridge, paragliding, roller skating, shorinji kempo, vovinam and wall climbing.

At the Laos SEA Games in 2009, shooting had 36 events, featuring individual and team events in pistol, rifle and shotgun but Indonesia has decided to stage only nine events in pistol and rifle and omitted shotgun.

Malaysian Snooker & Billiards Federation (MSBF) honorary secretary Melvin Chia said snooker & billiards had been featured in almost every SEA Games but Indonesia had decided to drop snooker & billiards and included pool competition.

He added that MSBF were waiting for the OCM and the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports to take the necessary action.

Indonesia who are hosting the SEA Games for the fourth time will stage the games in Jakarta and Palembang from Nov 11 to 25.

-- BERNAMA

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