Sepak takraw: OCM to review PSM's part in future competitions

THE Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) face exclusion from Malaysian contingents in future multi-sports events for its insistence on pulling out of the Sea Games. Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar in stating not only that PSM's decision was against the Olympic spirit, pointed out that the association had acted on its own, without consultation.

PSM had last week withdrawn the national team from the Sea Games in Korat due to the organisers' decision to use the new-age rubber coated Marathon Gen II, as the official ball.

"We will be reviewing this after the Sea Games and I must say that we have to really consider PSM's future as part of our contingent," said Tunku Imran yesterday.

"This was a decision made by the association, without consulting us (OCM). Associations cannot act in this way, particularly when it concerns something this serious," said Tunku Imran.
Myanmar had yesterday also decided to pull out due to the use of the ball, which PSM had previously deemed as dangerous, apart from it not being approved by the International Sepak Takraw Federation (Istaf).

"There are other means to be used, rather than pulling out. They should have protested with their international federation or try other means of negotiations. Pulling out of the competition was the last thing they should have done," Tunku Imran added.

"It is their athletes who suffer because of this and they not only lose their chance to deliver medals, but also lose their chance to be heard. This is unfortunate."

He was speaking after the signing ceremony between Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Abdul Hakim Burhan and the Beijing Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (BOCOG) for the city to be part of the torch relay for that Games on April 21 next year.

Kuala Lumpur will be one of 22 cities outside of China and Olympia, the spiritual home of the Olympics in Greece, to host a leg of the torch relay.

NST