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SEA Games: No gold targets for S’pore, just win as many as possible, says contingent head Kwee

KUALA LUMPUR – The curtains will come up officially on the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (Aug 19) when the athletes and officials from 11 South-east Asian countries take part in the traditional march past at the opening ceremony at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

Singapore's chef de mission Milan Kwee (in sunglasses) wants Singapore's athletes to win as many gold medals as possible. Photo: Jason Quah/ TODAY

Singapore's chef de mission Milan Kwee (in sunglasses) wants Singapore's athletes to win as many gold medals as possible. Photo: Jason Quah/ TODAY

KUALA LUMPUR – The curtains will come up officially on the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (Aug 19) when the athletes and officials from 11 South-east Asian countries take part in the traditional march past at the opening ceremony at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

For the first time in the Games’ 58-year history, Team Singapore will have the largest-ever away contingent competing in their Causeway rival’s backyard.

A total of 569 athletes will contest 35 sports at the Aug 19-30 Games in a bid to better the Republic’s best-ever away haul of 43 gold medals from Korat in 2007.

Singapore’s best-ever performance at the regional multi-sports event was at home in 2015, when the contingent won 84 gold, 73 silver and 102 bronze medals to finish second behind Thailand in the medal standings.

While the magic number to beat is 43 this time, Mr Milan Kwee, chef de mission (CDM) for the KL SEA Games, was cautious about pinning a specific gold medal target on the athletes.

Mr Kwee, who also serves on the executive committee of the Singapore National Olympic Council, told TODAY: “Spirits are high and everyone is quite happy with arrangements here. To be fair, each Games is different. The sports are different and so many factors are different.

“The Malaysians have a good home advantage, and some sports have cut down the number of events.

“Of course, we would like to win as many gold medals as possible. But the most important thing is that the athletes do their best, and hope that on the day of competition, their form will come on.”

While sports like football had run into some teething organisational issues early on in the Games – for example, head coach Richard Tardy was late for a press conference as he has only been informed about it by the organisers just 30 minutes before – Kwee said the problems have been ironed out.

He added: “For Singapore, we have been quite blessed, and we don’t have problems that others have. Whatever little hiccups and whatever necessary (that needs to be fixed) has been mentioned and attended to promptly.”

With a number of sports such as archery, synchronised swimming, netball and football kicking off ahead of the opening ceremony, Team Singapore’s athletes have had a mixed campaign in Kuala Lumpur so far.

While synchonised swimmer Debbie Soh won Singapore’s first gold at the Games in the solo free routine on Thursday, she was denied a second in the solo technical routine after narrowly losing out to home favourite Gan Hua Wei in the final scoring.

The Young Lions also faltered on the South-east Asian stage, as head coach Richard Tardy’s boys succumbed 0-2 to Myanmar in their first Group stage match at Selayang Stadium. While their semi-final hopes were rejuvenated with as Amiruldin Nodin put the under-22 side 1-0 up in the first 45min, the hosts quickly shut the doors on their arch-rivals with two successful strikes in the second half to claim the 2-1 victory.

Likewise, on the netball courts at the Juara Stadium, defending champions Singapore were upset 50-37 by the Malaysians in their preliminary round match earlier this week. It was the first time in 16 years that they had ever lost to their bitter rivals. A day later, the team bounced back with a 91-22 victory over the Philippines, and they will be gunning for the hosts again if both teams qualify for Sunday’s final.

Kwee and his two assistant CDMs, former athletes Mark Chay (swimming) and Lee Wung Yew (shooting), are confident that Singapore will be able to overcome the challenges here in Kuala Lumpur.

“For football, the boys fought hard,” said Chay. “We know that Malaysia is strong at home, and going to Shah Alam with 40 to 50,000 people cheering, that gave them a good home advantage.

“The boys went all out and maintained their composure in the first half. They knew what happened (in the match), and we will see how they bounce back (subsequently).”

Lee added: “Netball is still in the preliminary stage. I spoke to them (the players) privately (after the loss) and the response is very positive.

Winning and losing is part and parcel of sports… They are going to go again.”

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