Malaysia's Prospects to be overall champion of the XXI SEA Games

Malaysia has a strong sporting culture and performing on home turf improves our chances, but we need to be realistic and face some facts. In the previous SEA Games in Brunei Darussalam, Thailand finished first with 64 gold followed by Malaysia with 57 gold and Indonesia with 44 gold. In the XIX SEA in Jakarta in 1997, Indonesia emerged on top with a tally of 194 gold medals, Thailand was second with 83 gold and Malaysia third with 55 gold

To predict the number of gold medals to be won by the various SEA Games member countries, the results of the sports in the previous SEA Games are studied. The more recent XX SEA Games in Brunei Darussalam did not have 10of the sports that will be included in the XXI SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. Consequently the results from the XIX SEA Games in Jakarta are examined here. These sports are Archery, Women's Basketball, Track Cycling, Fencing, Gymnastics, Judo, Rowing, Sailing, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Wushu. A comparison of the gold medals won by Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, in 1997 in the above sports are as shown:

Based on the results of the XIX SEA Games it would appear that Malaysia's chances for winning many gold medals in the above sports will be very slim. Due to various reasons, the XXI SEA Games Organising Committee has reduced the number of events in 3 of the above sports. In fencing there are only 5 events in the XXI SEA Games compared to 10 in 1997. Similarly the events in Rowing, Volleyball and Weightlifting has also been reduced. The reduction in the events in the above sports will be an advantage to Malaysia, as we are quite weak in these sports.

To be the overall champion of the XXI SEA Games, Malaysia will have to improve its performances in all the above 11 sports, especially in Cycling, Gymnastics, Sailing and Wushu. The target from the above sports (excluding Women's Basketball) should be at least 25 gold medals, an increase of 14 gold medals over the 1997 results. Of the 3 new sports, which will be in the XXI SEA Games, but not in the previous two SEA Games, Malaysia is strong in Equestrian & Netball with an outside chance of causing some upsets in Petanque.

Retaining the 57 gold positions won from the XX SEA Games in Brunei Darussalam would not be easy. To be overall champion Malaysia will need to increase the number from 57 to 70 gold medals. The additional 13 gold can be expected from Swimming, Diving and Synchronised Swimming, Badminton, Billiards and Snooker, Golf, Shooting and Pencak Silat. With 70 gold medals from the sports in the XX SEA Games, 25 gold medals from the sports which were in XIX SEA Gamres, Jakarta, but not in the XX SEA Games in Brunei Darussalam, and another 5 gold from Equestrian Netball and Petanque, 100 gold medals could be won by the Malaysian contingent in September 2001. To be overall champion of the XXI SEA Games, a tally of 100 to 110 will be sufficient. Therefore Malaysia has a very realistic chance of finishing first in the gold medal tally for the XXI.SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.