Asian Games organiser’s blunder leaves PSM in a dilemma

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Sepaktakraw Association (PSM) are in a dilemma with the Asian Games only 16 days away.

They have entered the men’s team to compete in the regu and team events for the Asian Games but the Games Organising Committee (INASGOC) made a blunder after registering them for the doubles and team events instead.

PSM assistant secretary Tengku Adnan Tengku Burhanudin said they had brought up the matter with the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).

“The OCM officials met Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Asian Games department manager Haider (Farman), who admitted that INASGOC have made a mistake,” he said at the PSM office here yesterday.

“He has given us the assurance that the Malaysia men’s team will be registered for the regu event. We’re waiting for the official letter from the OCA. But until today we have yet to receive anything in black and white from them. We’ll only be relieved when we get the official letter.

He said each country is allowed to compete in two events in sepaktakraw and PSM decided to feature in the regu and team events.

“We stand a better chance of winning gold

in regu as powerhouse Thailand are not competing in the event,” said Tengku Adnan.

Malaysia won gold in sepaktakraw in the men’s regu event in Hiroshima in 1994 – 24 years ago.

The Malaysian women’s team will compete in the team and quadrant events.

PSM deputy president Datuk Akramuddin Abdul Aziz said that the men’s regu team have been training hard for the Asian Games.

“We’re leaving no stone unturned in the quest to win the gold. And we want all Malaysians to support the men’s and women’s sepaktakraw teams for the Asian Games.

“Our men and women players can expect some insulting chants from the Indonesian fans. And our players are mentally ready to handle that,” said Akramuddin after naming the men’s and women’s squads for the Asian Games.