SEA GAMES: Slow Start For Malaysia

BAD DAY: Food poisoning adds to contingent’s woes

Melinder Kaur battles a heavy downpour in the 3,000m steeplechase final at the Jakabaring Athletics Stadium in Palembang yesterday. She finished fourth.

 In what is turning out to be a problem-plagued Sea Games for Malaysia, only two gold medals were won on the first full day of competition in Palembang and Jakarta yesterday.

Malaysia started the day brightly enough when taekwondo exponents Ahmady Radi and Morren Urai Lian delivered a surprise bronze in the mixed poomsae (pattern), which was officially the nation's first medal of the Games.


That was soon followed by shooter Nur Suryani Taibi, who battled food poisoning and having to use ammunition purchased in Palembang, to win Malaysia's first gold through the 50-metre rifle three-position.

Malaysia also took the bronze through Nur Ayuni Farhana Abdul Halim and looked set for a bumper day.

Unfortunately, Mohd Hadafi Jaafar paid a heavy price for fiddling with his trigger in the 10m air rifle and was reprimanded by a jury.

This saw him losing his focus and the gold by a mere 0.1 point. A second silver followed through Khalel Abdullah in the 25m standard pistol and it was a great start for the shooters, considering all their problems.

Women's hammer thrower Tan Song Hwa also showed great spirit as she risked her health by competing despite a slipped disc and her sacrifice paid off when she retained the gold won in Laos two years ago.

That was, however, to be the second and final gold medal of the day as Malaysia's challenge in karate and swimming fell by the wayside.

Ricky Leong had to settle for bronze despite his status of Asian champion while Jamalliah Jamaludin, chasing a hat-trick of gold medals, also finished third as karate ended the day with one silver and four bronze.

In swimming, Malaysia had to settle for two silver through Marellyn Liew (100m butterfly) and women's 4x100m medley.

There was also gloom at the Athletes Village as, already saddened by the death of National Sports Council official Harun Osman and the hospitalisation of pole vault coach Manshahar Abdul Jalil, the food poisoning that hit Nur Suryani also affected athletes from swimming, shooting and tennis.

This prompted officials to warn the Malaysians to be mindful of what they eat and hopefully, they do and the gold medals start pouring in today.


Results:

Gold
Athletics Tang Song Hwa (women’s hammer throw); Shooting Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi (women’s 50m three po sitions).

Silver
Karate Thor Chee Yee, Khaw Yee Voon, Celine Lee Xin Yi (women’s team kata); Shooting Khalel Abdullah ( men’s 25m Standard Pistol), Mohd Hadafi Jaafar (men’s 10m Air Rifle); Swimming Marellyn Liew (women’s 100m butterfly), Chan Kah Yan, Christina Loh, Khoo Cai Lin, Siow Yi Ting (women’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay).


Bronze
Karate Ricky Leong Tze Wai (men’s individual kata), Thor Chee Yee (women’s individual kata), Kam Kah Sam, Leong Tze Wai, Lim Chee Wei (men’s team kata), Jamalliah Jamaludin (women’s kumite 68kg and above); Shooting Nur Ayuni Farhana Abdul Halim (women’s 50m three positions); Taekwondo Ahmady Radi, Morren Urai Lian (mixed poom sae); Wall climbing Hafzanizam Bakhori (boulder); Water polo Malaysia (women’s event).