The Road to the 27th SEA Games Continues with Objectives

It must be known that SEA Games (according to Myanmar's Ministry of Sports website) has its objectives: (1) To improve the friendship among SEAP Countries (SEA nations); and  (2) To compete with higher level in Asian and Olympic Games using their skills and performance to youth in the region. So let's see if these objectives are met with the sports included in 2013 SEA Games.

Based on the meeting held on the 28th-29th of January, the 27th SEA Games will have 459 events in 33 sports. The sports which were discussed are Aquatics (Diving, Swimming and Men's Water Polo), Athletics, Archery, Badminton, Basketball, Billiards & Snooker, Boxing, Canoe, Cycling (no track events), Equestrian, Football including Futsal, Golf, Hockey, Judo, Karate, Rowing, Sailing, Sepaktakraw including Tradional Chinelone, Shooting, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Volleyball (Indoor), Weightlifting, Wrestling, Wushu, Bodybuilding, Chess, Kempo, Muay, Pencak Silat, Petanque, Traditional Boat Race, Vovinam. 

Looking at the lists of sports included in the biennial meet this coming December, 21 are Olympic sports and the remaining 12 are regular SEA Games and traditional sports.

But before these sports were finalized for the 27th SEA Games, there were speculations regarding the sport events Myanmar has set. In the initial lists, five Olympic sports were excluded - Badminton, Hockey, Table tennis, Tennis and Gymnastics. Myanmar also included Bodybuilding (a sport-like beauty pageant) and Chinlone (a traditional Burmese game that mixes dancelike acrobatic movements). Both sports will contribute a total of 13 gold medals (5 for bodybuilding & 8 for Chinlone). Myanmar excels in these two sports. Note that in these sports, competitors are scored in a manner like gymnastics or diving. 

For the information of all, badminton and table tennis which were planned to scrap by the SEA organizers are the sports that gave Southeast Asian nations medals in the 2012 London Olympics.

But after the meeting last 29th of January, badminton, table tennis, water polo (men) and hockey are reinstated and now official sports to be contested in the 27th SEA Games. The inclusion of badminton is good news for Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. These countries always find themselves in the finals in badminton. While Singapore may continue its supremacy in table tennis and water polo. 

Tennis, gymnastics and beach volleyball. Why still not included?

According to reports, tennis is not included because of lack of tennis courts. Gymnastics on the other hand requires a lot of apparatus and equipment which Myanmar lacks. Beach volleyball is not allowed due to athletes dress not being suitable for Myanmar women. This same reason goes to dance sports too. (Not good reasons)

So who is affected with these exclusions?

Thailand and the Philippines are teams who dominate tennis and dance sports. Indonesia also in tennis. And the biggest loser is Vietnam because of the omission of gymnastics. Vietnam will lost more than 10 gold medals. 

Myanmar being the host in this edition has the right to select a certain number of sports which they determine to be in the national interest and also an advantage for them, however certain sports such as athletics and aquatics are compulsory.

This is just the start and we are counting 10 more months to begin the 27th SEA Games that will be held on the 11th - 22nd of December. The remaining days will include the preparation of athletes for the games.

Now, do you think the objectives were met? Or is it Myanmar's objective that is met?

Pre-SEA Games event this month

Source: The Myanmar Times

A southeast Asian Games warm-up event will be held from February 19 to 26 to evaluate the progress of Myanmar’s athletes, Minister for Sports U Tint San said last week.

Twenty-nine events are to be held in the Union Government Cup, he said at a press conference.

“We have planned it so athletes can gain some experience [of what the SEA games will be like]. They will have the same food and accommodation as during the [SEA] Games,” the minister said.

The events will also help athletes familiarise with the weather conditions and venues. The opening and closing ceremonies of the pre-SEA Games will be held at the Wunnatheikdi stadium, but the sporting events will be held at a range of sporting facilities, a Ministry of Sports official said.

“Around 5000 athletes will take part in the events. … They will be accommodated at the games village,” he said.

Developer sets SEA Games deadline

Source: The Myanmar Times

Construction workers at the Mingalar Mandalay project on January 21. (Phyo Wai Kyaw/The Myanmar Times)

The first phase of a US$140 million hotel, retail and residential project in Mandalay will be completed in time for the Southeast Asian Games in December, one of its developers says.

The K120 billion Mingalar Mandalay project was launched in September 2012 and is a joint venture between Mandalay City Development Committee, CAD Construction and New Star Light Construction.

Situated on a 47-acre, MCDC-owned site on 73rd Street in Chan Mya Thar Si township’s Myothit, or new city, district, the first phase of the project will include a four-storey apartment block with 127 units and four-storey shopping centre with parking for 1000 cars. The precinct will also contain a three-storey, MCDC-run hotel and a four-star hotel run by international chain Novotel, which is owned by Accor Group.

A second phase, which is scheduled for completion in 2014, will include 48 condominium units owned by MCDC, 96 units owned by Novotel and 69 housing plots.

“We have finished about 35 percent of the first phase of the project and hope to begin selling space in the complex soon. We expect to finish the rest of the project in 2014,” CAD chairman U Zin Min Swe said on January 21.

He said the project could have a transformative effect on the Myothit area, which for now mostly comprises detached houses, with little large-scale development.

“I hope this area becomes a kind of economic zone. When selling space in the development I will give priority to those who want to run shops selling branded items and those who really want to come and run shops and do business here,” U Zin Min Swe said.

He said the development will also include a street market that will open at night. The precinct will have a dedicated 10 megawatt power supply and four 8-inch tube wells.

A freelance broker based in the myothit district said property owners are expecting the Mingalar Mandalay development to boost land prices in the surrounding area.

“Some property owners on 73rd Street near the project don’t want to sell their plots, they just want to hold on to them. Some others are asking about K450 million to K500 million for a 2400-square-foot plot but it is so rare to find buyers at the moment,” broker U Kyaw Myint said on January 21.

“Some residents wait and watch to see how much condominiums in the project will be sold for as they could be cheaper than existing stock on 73rd Street,” he said.

The project is situated between the city’s downtown and the developed parts of the Myothit area. It is close to the Mandalay football academy and a new football stadium that is under construction.

In Myanmar, Sports Choices Raise Concerns

Source: The New York Times

BANGKOK — It has been promoted as a showcase for the new Myanmar, a regional sporting event in December that will celebrate the country’s embrace of democracy and the end of a hermetic and oppressive era. 

But the Southeast Asian Games, which will be held in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, and other sites throughout the country, is causing acrimony long before a single athlete has competed. 

Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, which all intend to participate in what are known as the SEA Games, have sent separate letters to Myanmar protesting the way the event is being organized, according to Gen. Yuthasak Sasiprapha, the president of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand. 

“These games are supposed to bring unity, but they are causing divisions instead,” General Yuthasak told the Thai news media last week. 

The main complaint is that Myanmar, formerly Burma, has stacked the competition with obscure sports that Myanmar’s athletes have a good chance of winning. 

Charoen Wattanasin, the vice president of the Thai National Olympic Committee, said in an interview that the SEA Game regulations allowed for 8 traditional sports but that Myanmar had put 14 on the roster.

“Nine out of the 14 are martial arts,” he said, struggling to describe them. “They are — well, I can’t even remember their names.”

One is called chinlone, a traditional Burmese game that mixes dancelike acrobatic movements with what might be described as soccer juggling skills. There is no opposing team, and competitors are scored in a manner similar to those in gymnastics. 

Myanmar has dropped tennis and table tennis from the games, even though both have been played in all SEA Games since the competition began in 1959. Gymnastics is out, as is badminton, Thai and Philippine officials said. 

The Singaporeans are lamenting the loss of water polo, in which they do well, and the Philippine Olympic Committee has threatened to send a threadbare delegation if the roster is not changed. Malaysia and Indonesia, which have strong badminton traditions, are urging that the sport be reinstated. 

The Nation, a Thai daily newspaper, reported Sunday that Myanmar had also dropped beach volleyball because “the sport’s outfits were not suitable for Myanmar culture.” 

Myanmar circulated the roster of events to representatives of participating countries last week and for now is defending its selection. 

“Every host country has the authority to decide which competitions should be included and excluded,” U Htay Aung, a director in Myanmar’s ministry of sports, said in an interview on Sunday. 

Mr. Htay Aung said he recalled previous games in which Myanmar’s requests “were ignored.” 

“There are always complaints at these games,” he said. “Myanmar will make the final decision.” 

Myanmar will hear from the 11 countries competing in the games at meetings in Naypyidaw on Monday and Tuesday to discuss preparations. 

“If they continue to push through this proposal, it’s worthless to hold the games,” Mr. Charoen, the Thai official, said. 

Myanmar’s ability to organize the games smoothly will be closely watched by officials in the region, because in some ways it will be a test run for a much more ambitious project. Next year, Myanmar will hold the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a responsibility that involves playing host to countless regional meetings and dealing with thousands of visiting diplomats and journalists. 

It is a challenging task for a government that is only now breaking from its inward-looking, military past and its history of antagonistic relations with the outside world. 

Myanmar appears eager to reassure its neighbors that it is ready to host the games. U Naw Tawng, a Burmese official quoted on Myanmar’s official SEA Games Web site, predicted that the games would be better than those held in 2011 in Indonesia. 

Myanmar has played host to the games twice — in 1961 and 1969 — but this is the first time the games are to be held there since the brutal suppression of the democracy movement, including a bloody crackdown in 1988.

The country is in the middle of a wrenching transition from military rule to democracy led by President Thein Sein, who heads the country’s first civilian government in five decades. 

Poypiti Amatatham contributed reporting from Bangkok, and Wai Moe from Yangon, Myanmar.

17 Athletes to Form National Archery Squad

Source: VietNamNet Bridge

According to Decision 1789/QĐ-TCTDTT issued by the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, as many as 17 outstanding male and female athletes will team up for the national archery squad in 2013. 

 

There are four coaches on the list, including two from Hanoi (Bui Van Cuong – head coach, and Cap Manh Tan); Dinh Chi Dung (from Ho Chi Minh City) and Pham Van Duong (from Hai Phong City).

Hanoi demonstrates its power, having nine archers, including Nguyen Tien Cuong, Vu Viet Anh, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Nguyen Thanh Tuan (in the men’s compound event); Nguyen Hong Anh, Pham Thi Kieu (in the women’s compound event); Nguyen Huu Cung (in the men’s recurve event); and Loc Thi Dao and Duong Thi Kim Lien (in the women’s recurve event).

The remaining athletes come from Hai Phong City (three), Ho Chi Minh City (two), Vinh Long province (one), Soc Trang province (one) and Phu Tho province (one).

Coaches and archers will practice in Hanoi at the National Sports and Physical Training Centre through June 30.

Earlier, the 5th ASEAN Archery Championships (a pre-cursor for SEA Games 27) wrapped up on January 14 at the Wunna Theikdi shooting range in Myanmar. Vietnam placed second out of six countries, pocketing four gold, five silver and six bronze medals.

It was a good chance for Vietnamese archers to exchange and practice their skills against rivals from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar and Thailand, as well as inspect the accommodations at Wunna Theikdi shooting range – the venue for archery competitions at SEA Games 27.

Pencak Silat IPSI Optimist to be Champion in 2013 Games

Source: Kompas

JAKARTA - Pencak Silat Indonesia is optimistic to achieve the overall champion of the SEA Games 2013 in Myanmar. The athletes who will compete later through rigorous screening by Tim PB IPSI on 15-16 March.

Approximately 100 percent (56 athletes) have been in Jakarta since November 2012 in the following training and screening process. Of that amount, 75 percent (42 athletes) will compete in Myanmar will participate.

Secretary-General PB IPSI Erizal Chaniago met in Jakarta, Friday (01/25/2013), explains, athletes who are following a rigorous screening process since in their respective areas, have to go through qualifying set PB IPSI board.

"Qualifying set among others have gained at least a gold medal in the regional championship and league students," he said. The athletes who totaled 56 people, is still continuing to follow additional training in order to improve the quality of physical as well as in style.

PB IPSI programmed training and KONI is divided into four stages, namely general practice, special training, pre-competition training, and practice before the competition. Erizal explained that currently the athletes are still guided by the general exercise program.

"Because later on after passing the screening process on March 15-16, new athletes will receive special training," he added.

 

Expected Events at the 27th SEA Games 2013 in Myanmar

The 27th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games which will be hosted by Myanmar centers its attention on sport events which will be contested in December biennial meet. Many SEA nations will be affected on the proposed sports and number of events/categories by host Myanmar. But this big issue will be discussed at the meeting which will be held on the last days of January. The meeting will also discuss which sports to include in the biennial meet.

Countries that most likely be affected by the proposed sport events are Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia.

There are Olympic sports excluded from the 27th SEA Games, which will be held in the capital Nay Pyi Taw from December 11 to 20. These are tennis, table tennis, badminton, gymnastics and field hockey. 

Here are the proposed/expected sports events for the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar.

Athletics (36 events)  - 8 events were dropped (x) 
(1) 100 m (Men & Women)
(2) 200 m (Men & Women)
(3) 400 m (Men & Women)
(4) 800 m (Men & Women)
(5) 1500 m (Men & Women)
(6) 5000 m (Men & Women)
(7) 10000 m (Men & Women)
(8) 3000 m – steeplechase (Men & Women)
(9) 110 m – Hurdles (Men & Women)
(10) 400 m – Hurdles (x) (Men & Women)
(11) 4 x 100 m – Relay (Men & Women)
(12) 4 x 400 m – Relay (Men & Women)
(13) Marathon (Men & Women)
(14) High – Jump (Men & Women)
(15) Long Jump (Men & Women)
(16) Triple Jump (x) (Men & Women)
(17) Pole vault (Men & Women)
(18) Shotput (Men & Women)
(19) Discus (Men & Women)
(20) Hammer Throw (x) (Men & Women)
(21) Javelin Throw (Men & Women)
(22) Decathlon (x) / Heptathlon (x)
(23) 20 km – walk (Men & Women)


Aquatics - 7 events were dropped (x)

(a) Water Polo - Not to be played (x)
(b) Diving
(1) 10m Platform (Sync) (Men & Women)
(2) 3m Springboard (Sync) (Men & Women)
(3) 10m Platform (Men & Women)
(4) 3m Springboard (Men & Women)
(c) Swimming Events
(1) 50 m Free Style (Men & Women)
(2) 100 m Free Style (Men & Women)
(3) 200 m Free Style (Men & Women)
(4) 400 m Free Style (Men & Women)
(5) 1500 m Free Style (x) (Men & Women)
(6) 100 m Back Stroke (Men & Women)
(7) 200 m Back Stroke (Men & Women)
(8) 100 m Breast Stroke (Men & Women)
(9) 200 m Breast Stroke (Men & Women)
(10) 100 m Butterfly (Men & Women)
(11) 200 m Butterfly (Men & Women)
(12) 200 m Individual Medley (Men & Women)
(13) 400 m Individual Medley (x) (Men & Women)
(14) 4x100 m Freestyle Relay (Men & Women)
(15) 4x200 m Freestyle Relay (x) (Men & Women)
(16) 4x100 m Medley Relay (Men & Women)


Archery (10 events)
(a) Compound (Men & Women)
     (1) Individual
     (2) Mix – Team
     (3) Team
(b) Recurve (Men & Women)
     (1) Individual
     (2) Team


Bodybuilding (5 events)
(1) 55 kg Men's category
(2) 60 kg Men's category
(3) 70 kg Men's category
(4) 80 kg Men's category
(5) 90 kg Men's category


Basketball (2 events)
(1) Men's Team
(2) Women's Team


Billiards and Snookers (12 events)
(a) Billiards
     (1) Single (Men)
     (2) Double (Men)
     (3) Team (Men)
     (4) Scotch Double (Men)
(b) Snooker
     (1) Single (15 Balls Red) (Men)
     (2) Double (15 Balls Red) (Men)
     (3) Single (6 Balls Red) (Men)
(c) Carom
     (1) One Cushion Single (Men)
(d) Pool
     (1) 9 Balls Pool (Single) (Men & Women)
     (2) 10 Balls Pool (Single) (Men & Women)


Boxing (14 events)
(a) Men's Categories
     (1) 49 kg
     (2) 52 kg
     (3) 56 kg
     (4) 60 kg
     (5) 64 kg
     (6) 69 kg
     (7) 75 kg
     (8) 81 kg
(b) Women's Categories
     (1) 46 kg
     (2) 48 kg
     (3) 51 kg
     (4) 54 kg
     (5) 57 kg
     (6) 60 kg


Canoe/Kayak (16 events)
(a) Men's Events
     (1) MK 1 200m
     (2) C1 200m
     (3) C2 200m
     (4) MK 1 500 m
     (5) C1 500 m
     (6) C2 500 m
     (7) MK 4 1000m
     (8) C 1 1000m
     (9) C 2 1000m
(b) Women's Events
     (1) K1 200 m
     (2) K2 200 m
     (3) K4 200 m
     (4) K1 500 m
     (5) K2 500 m
     (6) K4 500 m
     (7) K4 1000 m


Cycling (13 events)
(a) Men's Events
     (1) Cross Country(Single/Relay)
     (2) Down Hill
     (3) BMX (Single)
     (4) 100 km (Single)
     (5) 160 km (Single/Team)
     (6) 40 km (Single)
(b) Women's Events
     (1) Cross Country(Single)
     (2) Down Hill
     (3) BMX (Single)
     (4) 100 km (Single)
     (5) 20 km (Single)



Equestrian (6 Events)
     (1) Endurance (Single)
     (2) Endurance (Team)
     (3) Show Jumping (Team)
     (4) Show Jumping (Single)
     (5) Dressage Country (Single)
     (6) Dressage Country (Team)

Football (2 Events)

     (1) Men's Team
     (2) Women's Team

Futsal (2 Events)

     (1) Men's Team
     (2) Women's Team
  
Golf (4 Events)
     (1) Single (Men & Women)
     (2) Team (Men & Women)
 
Judo (18 Events)
(a) Men's Categories
     (1) Nange No Kata
     (2) -55 kg
     (3) -60 kg
     (4) -66 kg
     (5) -73 kg
     (6) -81 kg
     (7) -90 kg
     (8) -100 kg
      (9)+100 kg
(b) Women's Categories
     (1) Ju-No Kata
     (2) -45 kg
     (3) -48 kg
     (4) -52 kg
     (5) -57 kg
     (6) -63 kg
     (7) -70 kg
     (8) -78 kg
     (9) +78 kg


Karatedo (17 Events)
(a) Men's Categories)
     (1) Individual Kata
     (2) Team Kata
     (3) Ind: Kumite (-55) kg
     (4) Ind:Kumite (-60) kg
     (5) Ind:Kumite(-67) kg
     (6) Ind: Kumite(-75) kg
     (7) Ind: Kumite(-84) kg
     (8) Ind: Kumite(+84)kg
     (9) Team Kumite
(b) Women's Categories
     (1) Individual Kata
     (2) Team Kata
     (3) Kumite (-50) kg
     (4) Kumite(-55) kg
     (5) Kumite(-61) kg
     (6) Kumite (-68) kg
     (7) Kumite (+68) kg
     (8) Team-Kumite

 Rowing (9 Events)
(a) Men's Events
     (1) M1x
     (2) LM 2x
     (3) LM2 –
     (4) LM4 –
     (5) M 8 +
(b) Women's Events
     (1) LW1x
     (2) LW 2x
     (3) LW2 –
     (4) LW4 -

Sailing (13 Events)
(a) Men's Events
     (1) Optimist
     (2) In’t (420)
     (3) In’t (470)
     (4) Laser Standard
     (5) RS one (wind surfing)
     (6) RS one(wind surfing)(Boys)
     (7) Half Rater
(b) Women's Events
     (1) Optimist
     (2) In’t (420)
     (3) In’t (470)
     (4) Laser Standard
     (5) RS one(wind surfing)
     (6) RS one(wind surfing)(Girls)

Sepaktakraw (10 Events)

     (1) Double (Men & Women)
     (2) Double (Team) (Men & Women)
     (3) Regu (Men & Women)
     (4) Regu (Team) (Men & Women)
     (5) Hooptakraw (Men & Women)

Chinlone (8 Events)
     (1) Primary Level (1) (Men & Women)
     (2) Primary Level (2) (Men & Women)
     (3) Primary Level (3) (Men & Women)
     (4) Secondary Level (1) (Men & Women)

Shooting (10 Events)
(a) Men's Events
     (1) 10m Air Pistol (Ind;)
     (2) 10m Air Pistol (Team)
     (3) 50m- Free Pistol(Ind;)
     (4) 50m-Free Pistol(Team)
     (5) 50m- Rifle Prone (Ind;)
     (6) 50m-Rifle Prone(Team)  
(b) Women's Events
     (1) 10m Air Pistol (Ind;)
     (2) 10m Air Pistol (Team)
     (3) 50m RifleProne(Ind;)
     (4) 50m RifleProne(Team)

Taekwondo (21 Events)
(a) Men's Events
     (1) 54 kg
     (2) 58 kg
     (3) 63 kg
     (4) 68 kg
     (5) 74 kg
     (6) 80 kg
     (7) 87 kg
     (8) +87 kg
     (9) Poomsae(Single)
     (10) Poomsae(Team)
     (11) Pair
(b) Women's Events
     (1) 46 kg
     (2) 49 kg
     (3) 53 kg
     (4) 57 kg
     (5) 62 kg
     (6) 67 kg
     (7) 73 kg
     (8) +73 kg
     (9) Poomsae(Single)
     (10) Poomsae(Team)

Volleyball (2 Events)
     (a) Men's Team
     (b) Women's Team

Weightlifting (11 Events)
(a) Men's Events
     (1) 56 kg
     (2) 62 kg
     (3) 69 kg
     (4) 77 kg
     (5) 85 kg
     (6) 94 kg
(b) Women's Events
     (1) 48 kg
     (2) 53 kg
     (3) 58 kg
     (4) 63 kg
     (5) 69 kg

Wrestling (21 Eevents)
(a) Men's Greco Events
     (1) Up to 55kg
     (2) 55kg – 60 kg
     (3) 60kg – 66kg
     (4) 66kg – 74kg
     (5) 74kg – 84kg
     (6) 84kg – 96kg
     (7) 96kg – 120kg
(b) Men's Freestyle Events
     (1) Up to 55kg
     (2) 55kg – 60 kg
     (3) 60kg – 66kg
     (4) 66kg – 74kg
     (5) 74kg – 84kg
     (6) 84kg – 96kg
     (7) 96kg – 120kg
(c) Women's Free Style Events
     (1) Up to 48kg
     (2) 48kg – 51 kg
     (3) 51kg – 55kg
     (4) 55kg – 59kg
     (5) 59kg – 63kg
     (6) 63kg – 67kg
     (7) 67kg – 72kg

Wushu (23 Events)
(a) Men's Events
     (1) 48 kg(SANSHOU)
     (2) 52 kg(SANSHOU)
     (3) 56 kg(SANSHOU)
     (4) CHANGQUAN
     (5) NANQUAN
     (6) NANDAO
     (7) NANGUN
     (8) DAOSHU
     (9) GUNSHU
     (10) TAIGIQUAN/ TAIJIJAN
     (11) DUILIAN(1)
     (12) DUILIAN(2)
(b) Women's Events
     (1) 48 kg
     (2) 52 kg
     (3) CHANQUAN
     (4) NANQUAN
     (5) NANDAO
     (6) NAN GUN
     (7) JIAN SHU
     (8) QUIANGSHU
     (9) TAIGIQUAN/TAIJIJAN
     (10) DUILIAN(1)
     (11) DUILIAN(2)

Chess (18 Events)
(a) Men's Events
   INTERNATIONAL
      (1) Individual Rapid
      (2) Individual Blitz
   RANDOM
      (1) Individual Rapid
   ASEAN
      (1) Individual Rapid
      (2) Individual Blitz
      (3) Individual Standard
      (4) Team Rapid
   TRADITIONAL
      (1) Individual Rapid
      (2) Individual Blitz
      (3) Individual Standard
      (4) Team Rapid
      (5) Team Blitz
(b) Women's Events
   INTERNATIONAL
      (1) Individual Rapid
      (2) Individual Blitz
   TRANSFER CHESS
      (1) (Women&Men)
            Mix Team Blitz
   ASEAN
      (1) Team Rapid
   TRADITIONAL
      (1) Team Rapid
      (2) Team Blitz

Muay (14 Events)
(a) Men's Events
     (1) 45 kg
     (2) 48 kg
     (3) 51 kg
     (4) 54 kg
     (5) 57 kg
     (6) 60 kg
     (7) 63.5 kg
     (8) 67 kg
     (9) 71 kg
(b) Women's Events
     (1) 48 kg
     (2) 51 kg
     (3) 54 kg
     (4) 57 kg
     (5) 60 kg

Pencak Silat (15 Events)
(a) Men's Events
     (1) 45-50 kg
     (2) 50-55 kg
     (3) 55-60 kg
     (4) 60-65 kg
     (5) 65-70 kg
     (6) 80-85 kg
     (7) 85-90 kg
     (8) Tunggal (Single)
     (9) Ganda (Double)
     (10)Regu
(b) Women's Events
     (1) 60-65 kg
     (2) 65-70 kg
     (3) 70-75 kg
     (4) Tunggal(Single)
     (5) Ganda(Double)

Traditional Boat Race (17 Events)
(a) Men's Events
     (1) 10 Crew 500 m

     (2) 20 Crew 500 m

     (3) 5 Crew 500 m

     (4) 10 Crew 1000 m

     (5) 20 Crew 1000 m

     (6) 20 Crew 2000 m
(b) Mixed Events

     (7) Mix Double 20 Crew 1000m

     (8) Mix Double 20 Crew 2000m

     (9) Mix Double 20 Crew 500m

     (10) Mix Double 10 Crew 1000m

     (11) Mix Double10 Crew 500 m
(c) Women's Events
     (1) 10 Crew 500 m

     (2) 20 Crew 500 m

     (3) 5 Crew 500 m

     (4) 10 Crew 1000 m

     (5) 20 Crew 1000 m

     (6) 20 Crew 2000 m

Pentanque (9 Events)
(a) Men's Events
     (1) Single
     (2) Doubles
     (3) Triple
Mix Events
     (1) Doubles(M-1 & W- 1)
     (2) Triple (M-1 & W-2)
     (3) Triple (M-2 & W-1)
(b) Women's Events
     (1) Single
     (2) Doubles
     (3) Triple

Vovinam (18 Events)
(a) Men's Events
     (1) 50-55 kg
     (2) 55-60 kg
     (3) 60-65 kg
     (4) Single (Hand)
     (5) Single (Leg)
     (6) Double (Sword)
     (7) Leg Attack (4 male)
     (8) Multi Welpon (4 male)
(b)Women's Events
     (1) 45 - 50 kg
     (2) 50- 55 kg
     (3) 55- 60 kg
     (4) Single (Hand)
     (5) Single (Sword)
     (6) Double (Hand)
     (7) Double (Sword)
(c) Mixed Events
    (1) Mix Double (1 male + 1 female)
    (2) With Welpon (3 male + 1 female)
    (3) Without Welpon (3 male+1female)


TARUNGDERAGAT (14) Events
 (a) Men's Events
     (1) 49-52 kg
     (2) 52-55 kg
     (3) 55-58 kg
     (4) 58-61 kg
     (5) 61-64 kg
     (6) 64-67 kg
     (7) 67-70 kg
     (8) Double (Semi)
(b) Women's Events
     (1) 45-50 kg
     (2) 50-54 kg
     (3) 54-58 kg
     (4) 58-62 kg
     (5) 62-66 kg
     (6) Regu (Semi)


Kempo (18) Events
(a) Men's Events
     Embu (Technical Hamony)Pair
     Embu (Technical Hamony)Team
     Randori (Free Fight) 45-50 kg
     Randori (Free Fight) 50-55 kg
     Randori (Free Fight) 55-60 kg
     Randori (Free Fight) 60-65 kg
     Randori (Free Fight) 65-70 kg
     Randori (Free Fight) 70-75 kg
(b) Mix (Men & Women)
     Embu (Technical Hamony)Pair
     Embu (Technical Hamony)Team
1 Men + 2 Women
     Embu (Technical Hamony)Team
2 Men + 1 Women
     Embu (Technical Hamony)Pair
(c) Women's Events
     Embu (Technical Hamony)Team
     Randori (Free Fight) 45-50 kg
     Randori (Free Fight) 50-55 kg
     Randori (Free Fight) 55-60 kg
     Randori (Free Fight) 60-65 kg
     Randori (Free Fight) 65-70 kg

Myanmar drop five sports

Source: The Nation

Host nation Myanmar's controversial decision to drop five Olympic sports from this year's Southeast Asian Games will meet opposition from member nations at the SEA Games Federation Council Assembly on Sunday.

Myanmar plans to exclude tennis, table tennis, badminton, gymnastics and field hockey from the 27th SEA Games, which will be held in the capital Nay Pyi Taw from December 11 to 20.

"At Sunday's meeting we will firm up our disagreement with the decision Myanmar has made," said Olympic Committee of Thailand (OCT) president Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapa.

Charoen Wattanasin, OCT vice president and a member of the SEA Games Federation Council, said Sunday's meeting was being held to decide which sports disciplines would be contested at this year's SEA Games and how many gold medals would be on offer. He said opposition to the host's plan to drop such high-profile sports from the Games was increasing.

"Singapore has also sent a letter urging Myanmar to change the decision. But instead, Myanmar has decided to add some 17 domestic events and non-Olympic sports to the Games." Charoen said.

In related news, Yuthasak yesterday reported on talks with Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president Ahmad Fahad al-Sabah on Thailand's plan to apply as a candidate nation for the 19th Asian Games in 2023. Yuthasak said the OCA president would visit Thailand in March to inspect the country's preparations as host for the 4th Asian Beach Games in Phuket next year. He said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, chairwoman of the Games Administration Committee, would be invited to the meeting with the OCA president during his visit.

KOI Hopeful of Reinstatement After SEA Games Ditches Badminton

Source: Jakarta Globe

Despite the popularity of the sport, badminton is likely to lose its place in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar, scheduled for December.

Rita Subowo, the chairwoman of the Indonesia Olympic Committee (KOI), said badminton was not on the list for the upcoming SEA Games.

“I just received the list today and badminton is not registered as the SEA Games’ sports,” she said on Friday.

Dropping badminton is a surprising move by the Games organizer, given Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are each badminton powerhouses.

Though Indonesia previously dominated the sport, the power balance has shifted to its neighbors. Rita said there was still some chance to revisit the decision if the sport is able to secure support from at least four SEA Games countries.

“I hope we can make the best of our time to persuade our neighbor countries to push badminton back into the Games as most [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] countries send shuttlers for the SEA Games and Asian Games,” she said.

But it may take more than persuasion to put badminton back into the Games; KOI official Ade Lukman said the organizer decided to drop the sport from the list as host Myanmar had yet to build a facility for badminton.

“Badminton should be a priority of the Games as it’s an Olympic sport,” Ade said.

The Games organizer has given the green light to 31 sports in the December event, including two new contests backed by Indonesia: martial arts kempo, from China and Japan, and tarung derajat, from Indonesia.

In the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia, the host country dominated the sport by taking five gold medals, four silvers and two bronzes, while Thailand is in second place with one gold, two silver and six bronze medals.

The Games are scheduled to start on Dec. 11, with events in three cities.

8 Azkals to make up PH team to SEA Games

Source: Manila Standard Today

Eight members of the Philippine Azkals national football team will make up the core of the national under-23 squad which will see action in the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar this December.

The coaching staff will tap the services of the Angeles brothers, Marvin and Marwin, along with Jeffrey Christiaens, Matthew Uy, Jason de Jong, Fil-Germans Manny and Mike Ott, and Fil-British goalie Neil Etheridge.

The rest of the squad will be selected during a three-day tryout for various national teams, which the Philippine Football Federation will conduct at the end of the month.

The national under-23 squad finished last in their bracket in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Laos.

But, this time around, team manager Dan Palami said a medal finish and at any position will be their target.

“With early preparations, we will have a good chance of making a medal finish,” added Palami.

The core of the national SEA Games team is expected to see action in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup group stage this March in Manila.

Turkmenistan, which is the runner-up two years ago, will be around.

But the presence of Brunei and Cambodia will give the Philippines a chance to have glimpse of the strength and weaknesses of their SEA Games rivals.

Tutong SEA Games trials kick off

Source: The Brunei Times

DO you have what it takes to don the Brunei jersey?

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports through the Department of Youth and Sports with the cooperation of the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) is searching for the best out there.

They will be holding trials to select footballers born from 1990 till 1996 to represent the Sultanate at the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar later this year.

Mark your calendars as three trials will be held next weekend in three districts.

It will start off at the Tutong Sports Complex next Friday at 3pm.

The second session will be next Saturday at the Balapan Track & Field in Berakas at 7pm.

Interested parties from the Temburong district are encouraged to turn up for this session.

Last but not least, those residing in the Belait district can head down to the Brunei Shell Recreation Club the following day at 3pm.

The trials open to local (yellow Identity Card) and permanent residents (red IC).

Those attending are also required to bring along their IC.

The final stage of the trials will be held at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas on February 4.

Third time the charm for Wushu squad?

Source: The Brunei Times

WILL third time be the charm for the national wushu team?

Brunei's wushu warriors are undergoing intensive training with the best to ensure that they are fully prepared for the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to be held in Myanmar in December.

The team of Faustina Woo Wai Sii, Lee YingShi, Ang Guat Lian, brothers Mohd Adi Syarani and Mohd Sufi Shayiran Roslan are currently in the Fujian Province of China to prepare themselves for a better chance at gold.

They departed the Sultanate last Friday and are expected to return home at the end of February.

The team fell short with silver medals in the previous two editions of the biennial multisport competition in the duilian (duo sparring with broadsword and spear) event.

The duo of Woo and Lee were second best in at the 2009 SEA Games in Laos, their score of 9.45 points just 0.01 points off gold medal winners Singapore.

It was the same story at the 2011 SEA Games in Jakarta where they scored 9.70 points, just 0.01 points off Singapore which claimed gold with 9.71.

According to national assistant coach, Ang Lu Guan, the team are undergoing two training sessions daily. The first from 8.30 - 11.30am followed by the second from 2.30 - 5.30pm.

"They have been training with the elite athletes from China. This is to prepare the Bruneian athletes for the SEA Games in Myanmar," Ang told The Brunei Times yesterday

"But there are also other competitions later in the year such as the Islamic Solidarity Games in Indonesia, Asian Junior Wushu Championship in the Philippines and the World Wushu Championships in Malaysia," he added.

Wushu is one of the sports that can potentially deliver gold for Brunei at the SEA Games after they managed their best achievement to date just last year.

Woo and Lee teamed up and they hit gold in the duilian event at the 8th Asian Wushu Championships in Vietnam in August.

The pair finished the event with 9.59 points narrowly defeating Hong Kong, which had 9.58 points, at the Phu Tho Indoor Sports Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City.

With a total of 21 countries participating in the tournament, Brunei finished in eighth place at the August 21-25 event.

2013 Korea Open Super Series Premier

Location: Seoul, South Korea

Date: 8th - 13th January 2013



Winners/Results



Men's Singles
1st - Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia)
2nd - Du Pengyu (China)
3rd/4th - Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Indonesia)
3rd/4th - Wong Wing Ki (Hong Kong)


Women's Singles
1st - Sung Ji-hyun (South Korea)
2nd - Wang Shixian (China)
3rd/4th - Minatsu Mitani (Japan)
3rd/4th - Han Li (China)


Men's Doubles
1st - Ko Sung-hyun &  Lee Yong-dae (South Korea)
2nd - Mathias Boe &  Carsten Mogensen (Denmark)
3rd/4th - Koo Kien Keat &  Tan Boon Heong (Malaysia)
3rd/4th - Hong Wei &  Shen Ye (China)


Women's Doubles
1st - Wang Xiaoli &  Yu Yang (China)
2nd - Ma Jin &  Tang Jinhua
3rd/4th - Jung Kyung-eun &  Kim Ha-na (South Korea)
3rd/4th - Christinna Pedersen &  Kamilla Rytter Juhl (Denmark)


Mixed Doubles
1st - Zhang Nan &  Zhao Yunlei (China)
2nd - Xu Chen &  Ma Jin (China)
3rd/4th - Sudket Prapakamol &  Saralee Thoungthongkam (Thailand)
3rd/4th - Joachim Fischer Nielsen &   Christinna Pedersen (Denmark)

Two-time Olympian Diaz, four others to train in China

Source: Business Mirror

TWO-time Olympian Hidilyn Diaz will lead a five-member national weightlifting team that will train for three months in China’s Guang Xi province as part of their preparation for the 27th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, from December 11 to 22.

Diaz, a veteran of the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Summer Games, is a member of the Philippine Sports Commission’s priority athlete program, along with Christopher Bureros and Richard Agosto.

They will be joined by national pool members Nestor Colonia and Jeffrey Garcia. The team, to be accompanied by national coach Ramon Solis, will leave on February 15.

“They are our best bets and, hopefully, the training and new techniques they can learn in China would translate to medals in the SEA Games,” said national coach Alfonso Aldanete.

Diaz clinched a silver medal in the women’s 58-kg class, while Bureros and Agosto bagged bronze medals in the 94-kg  and +105-kg divisions in the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia. Garcia, 20, clinched two gold medals in last year’s Asian Youth Weightlifting Championships in Yangon, Myanmar. 

OCBC Team roll out Dutch star

Source: By Chan U-gene/The Straits Times/Thursday, Jan 24, 2013

All ready to ride are the 11 members of the 2013 OCBC Singapore Pro Cycling Team: (from left) Ryan Chan, 18; Ahmad Haidar Anuawar, 26; Lemuel Lee, 21; Marcus Leong, 23; Thomas Rabou, 29; Loh Sea Keong, 26; Phuchong Sai-Udomsin, 24; Timothy Lim, 26; Ho Jun Rong, 22; Low Ji Wen, 23; and Goh Choon Huat, 22.

AS THE world of two wheels reels in the aftermath of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal and teams in the United States struggle to retain sponsors, Singapore cycling has found a silver lining.

Enter Thomas Rabou, OCBC Singapore Pro Cycling Team's latest and brightest star.

The 29-year-old Dutchman, known for his climbing ability, is a Tour of Siam winner in 2006. He was also a domestique rider (working for the benefit of his team and leader) for Francisco Mancebo, who was fourth in the 2005 Tour de France.

Rabou has also pitched his riding skills against Armstrong and his Team RadioShack in the 2010 Tour of California.

Said Rabou, who was awarded the King of Mountains jersey for that race: "My team were among those that folded because of the Usada (United States Anti-Doping Agency) reports. Fortunately for me, another door opens.

"In America, it's not a good situation now. I'm lucky to be in a Singapore team."

His former employers, Competitive Cyclist Racing Team, disbanded amid the doping saga as sponsors pulled out.

Rabou was unveiled yesterday as one of two new riders in the OCBC team's 2013 roster. The other is Ryan Chan, 18, a final-year hotel management diploma student at Shatec Institutes.

In a bid to develop local talent, seven of the 11-rider squad are Singaporeans, including the promising Goh Choon Huat and Ho Jun Rong, both 22.

Rabou is among four key foreign riders for OCBC Singapore. The others are Malaysians Loh Sea Keong and Ahmad Haidar, and Thailand's 2011 SEA Games team time-trial gold medallist Phuchong Sai-Udomsin.

Yesterday, the team signed a new three-year deal with sponsors OCBC for $160,000 a year. The money will go towards training and racing expenses.

They have two objectives in their second season as a licensed Union Cycliste International (UCI) Continental outfit.

The first is to have a Singaporean rider on the UCI podium, and the second to improve on the team's results.

Last year, Loh finished overall second in the General Classification of the Tour de Filipinas, and the team clinched third spot.

Said Rabou: "The team mission is to help Singaporean riders make it to the pro level. That's where I come in. I have experience at international level. Hopefully, they can learn from me. But if I have a chance to be on the podium for OCBC, then I will try my best."

As for Ho, who had just completed a two-week training stint with the team in Perth, he will focus on making his mark after a tumultuous year which saw him deal with injury, suffer dengue fever and also cope with the death of his grandmother.

Said the Singaporean, who has trained full time since 2009 and is aiming for a SEA Games medal this year: "Last year was a bad one for me, but that's the way the sport is. People fall but you have to get back on your feet."

While the team have not finalised their racing calendar for the year, they will start with next month's Tour de Langkawi.

They will likely feature in the Tour de Thailand and Tour de Filipinas and could also compete in the Tour of Taihu Lake, China, for the first time.

Sepak Takraw Expect Drought To Go On

Source: New Straits Times

SORRY STATE: Winning gold at major competitions still long way off

MALAYSIA'S gold medal drought in major competitions does not look like it will end any time soon.

Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (STAM) president Datuk Ahmad Ismail did not mince his words when addressing reporters about the nation's medal hopes at the upcoming Myanmar Sea Games at the Keramat National Sports Complex yesterday.

Ahmad said the national elite squad are currently nowhere near capable of challenging for titles in international competitions, but he is hoping they will be able to at least win one silver medal in the four categories they will be competing in Myanmar.

"We should forget about winning gold at the Sea Games. Really, we should not place any hope at all on winning it," Ahmad told reporters after attending a Chinlone exhibition game by the Myanmar national team at the Keramat NSC.

"I watched our boys in a number of tournaments in Hat Yai and Pattaya in the past few months, and I am quite disappointed with what I saw.

"They have the skills, however, being young players, their attitude and mental outlook of the game is still lacking.

"Our real goal is to do well at the Asian Games next year but we are hoping they will be able to win at least one silver medal at the Sea Games this year.

"This, however, will not be as easy. Hosts Myanmar are very eager to do well and will also pose a major threat at the Games in certain categories."

Ahmad added that the association will not hesitate to drop players who do not perform in the elite squad.

STAM had last month set up a new 18-man 'B' team who live and train at the Keramat NSC. The current elite team are based at the Bukit Jalil NSC.

"Some of our 'A' team players have been under-performing and we will not be in two minds about moving them to our 'B' team.

"We will look to make changes as some of our 'B' players have shone and have shown the determination we are looking for."

Ahmad said Malaysia would be selecting former national sepak takraw players to represent the country in the Chinlone event at the Sea Games.

A traditional sport of Myanmar, Chinlone is a team sport played in a circle. It shares roots with sepak takraw but also has similarity to freestyle football.

The Myanmar national team giving a demonstration of ‘chinlone’ which will be part of the Sea Games this year. Pic by Hasriyasyah Sabudin

‘Heard of kempo or tarung derajat?

Source:  Business Mirror

MYANMAR, like all other previous hosts of the Southeast Asian Games, would want to make the most out of the biennial meet’s 27th edition when it is staged from December 11 to 22 in its cities of Naypyidaw, Yangon and Mandalay.

And to guarantee that Myanmar athletes would be the toast of their countrymen, the Myanmar SEA Games Organizing Committee (MYASOC) intended to include combat sports of kempo, tarung derajat and vovinam and a traditional game called chinlone on its program.

The additional sports translate to 58 more gold medals—all of which look to be leaning toward the hosts’ advantage—with with kempo and vovinam offering 18 each and tarung derajat and chinlone 14 and eight gold medals, respectively.

Dragon boat or traditional boat race, a forte of Myanmar athletes, offers 17 gold medals.

The MYASOC, however, dropped the Olympic sports of badminton, table tennis, lawn tennis, gymnastics and water polo, sports that are obviously unpopular in Myanmar and therefore offer no medal potential for the hosts.

The addition of the strange sports on the program puts at risk the Philippines’s bid to at least keep its sixth-place finish two years ago in Indonesia, where Myanmar placed seventh.

A Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) group headed by its chief of mission, Jeff Tamayo of soft tennis, however, would try to lobby against the non-Olympic sports the MYASOC wants to include in its program during the Sea Games Federation meeting in Yangon from January 28 to 31.

POC First Vice President Joey Romasanta of karatedo, Secretary-General Steve Hontiveros of handball and Treasurer Julian Camacho of wushu will also attend the meeting.

Myanmar already hosted the Games in 1961 and 1969 when they were still called the Far East Asian Games.

OCM Must Be Firm In Deciding Type Of Sports To Avoid Sea Games Turning Into A Circus

Source: Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 -- The National Sports Council (NSC) wants the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) to be firm in deciding the type of sports so that the 2013 Myanmar SEA Games does not become a circus.

NSC director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong said as the governing body for sports in the country, the OCM need to ensure that the objective of hosting the games does not end at the SEA Games level.

"We should not blame the host countries but rather be firm in making sure the objective and direction of sports in the country is headed in the right direction," he told reporters here today.

Zolkples said he had always emphasized to those in the OCM that the SEA Games remains the lowest competitive international multi-sport event to expose athletes and prepare them for higher level competition.

"Therefore, the selection of sports at SEA Games level must be on par with Asian Games and Olympic Games so as to carry out effective development programmes right from the lowest level," he said.

Zolkples said the NSC had no objection to allow elite players to compete in the SEA Games, provided it does not hamper their preparations for bigger competitions.

"Even if world number one shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei wants to compete, we have no objection, provided the coach and the association give the green light," he said.

"In my personal opinion, the SEA Games is more suited for young athletes as part of their exposure and preparation for bigger competitions. But at the same time we do not want to send a contingent that returns empty handed. Therefore we must send athletes with potential to win medals."

Speaking of the predicament faced by track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang to obtain his Australian visa to resume training in Melbourne with the rest of the track cycling squad, Zolkples said the NSC had already contacted the Australian High Commissioner for help.

The Terengganu-born cyclist's application for a visa to return to Melbourne was turned down.

Zolkples said he had already contacted Azizulhasni to assure him that the problem would be solved soon.
-- BERNAMA

Snooker and billiards’ appearance at Games depends on ad hoc committee

Source: The Star

A big contributor: Sam Chong (right) and Thor Chuan Leong showing off their gold medals after winning the men’s doubles event in the 2011 Indonesia SEA Games.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s ability to deliver medals in snooker and billiards at this year’s Myanmar SEA Games will now depend on the recently-appointed ad hoc committee.

The committee, spearheaded by chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Noor Abdul Rahim, has been given the mandate by the Youth and Sports Ministry to put the Malaysian Snooker and Billiards Federation (MSBF) back on track. The MSBF were suspended by the Sports Commissioner on July 19 last year.

The committee, formed on Oct 15, 2012, has been given a 12-month time frame to turn things around for the MSBF.

With a little over nine months left and the Games looming in December, the main objective of the committee will be to help and oversee the finalisation of the new MSBF constitution, the registration of newly-registered stat­es as affiliates as well as the association’s biennial general meeting to elect new office bearers.

“We have almost completed the draft constitution. Hopefully after the Chinese New Year, we will get the affiliates to come in and give their comments. After that, if everything is agreed upon, we will be able to call for an AGM (annual general meeting) and a recommendation will be forwarded to the minister (Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek) to take the next course of action,” said Mohammad Noor at a press conference in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Apart from the SEA Games, MSBF are also looking to send representatives to the Fourth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Incheon, South Korea, from June 29-July 6.

At the 2011 Indonesia SEA Games, Malaysia won a gold and a bronze. Sam Cheong and Thor Chuan Leong were victorious in the men’s doubles and Chuan Leong finished third in the men’s singles.

In all, Malaysia have won 54 medals – 14 golds, 19 silvers and 21 bronzes – since snooker and billiards were first included in the Jakarta Games in 1987.

Capital opens door to tourists ahead of SEA Games

Source: ELEVEN

Uppatasanti Pagoda, a replica of Shwedagon Pagoda, seen in Nay Pyi Taw (Photo - EMG)

Once off-limits to tourists, the administrative capital Nay Pyi Taw is now being marketed as a destination for international travelers, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said.

Nay Pyi Taw, located about 320 kilometres north of Yangon, is preparing for an influx of visitors as Myanmar hosts the SEA Games later this year and moves to the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next year. New package tours offer sightseeing in the capital and surrounding areas, a ministry official said.

Travel agents say most foreign nationals who visit the capital do so for business. Both houses of Parliament and the head offices of all ministries are located in Nay Pyi Taw, which is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Many buildings in the capital remain under construction. Its landmarks include a replica of Shwedagon Pagoda, Uppatasanti Pagoda, which includes a Buddha tooth relic from China. The capital’s name means “Royal Palace”.

Myanmar sparing no effort in SEA Games preparations

Source: Channel News Asia

NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar is on course to stage the region's biggest sporting event in December.

Construction of new arenas for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games are on schedule - some even ahead of time. But the Myanmar government is not telling how much it costs.

Construction of the main stadium in the capital Naypyidaw started three years ago - even before Myanmar was officially announced as host of the 2013 Games.

They are now ahead of schedule, with thousands of workers putting in 18 hours of work a day.

U Khin Maung Kywe, director of construction at Max Myanmar said: "A lot of workers are from Myanmar. Some workers came from foreign countries, for example, the Chinese workers - they are (working on) the roofing structure."

As with other mega-projects in Myanmar - the engineering and design are from China.

The stadium has a seating capacity of 30,000. It will be the main arena for Myanmar to showcase its progress to the world during the coming SEA Games.

The stadium sits amidst an 80-hectare sports hub that accommodates two other arenas.

There is an aquatic centre that will host all the swimming and diving events. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of April.

Across the road is the Indoor Stadium. It has three separate halls and is able to stage three different events at a time. It has a capacity for 11,000 spectators.

Myanmar seems to be not leaving anything to chance.

U Hla Min from Max Myanmar said: "We have the main power supplied by the 8000 kvh transformer and then 50 per cent by back-up generators here for continuous power supply here if anything breaks down."

Two other similar stadiums are being built - one about 20 km away and the other in Mandalay.

Yangon is another city that will host the 27th SEA Games.

The Myanmar government has remained silent about the cost of hosting the Games and constructing the arenas.

The closest estimate would be the last Games hosted, by Indonesia, that cost over US$300 million.

Observers believe it is too sensitive to reveal the real figure, given the level of poverty in the country.

Myanmar last hosted the Games in 1969.

It is now sparing no effort to put up the best sporting extravaganza in Southeast Asia.

The opening of the SEA Games is on 11 December 2013.

Vietnamese Volleyball 2013: Number one goal is SEA Games

Since the 2013 season, the Volleyball Federation of Viet Nam does not allow the use of foreign soldiers in the league to encourage the youth club focused. Photo: Quang Nhut

Vietnam aims to focus on both Men and Women's volleyball teams at the coming Southeast Asian Games that will be held in Myanmar this December.

Vietnam has also plan to hire professionals to train their athletes.

Team Vietnam recently tried to even the level of other countries in Southeast Asia but failed to level the number one rival Thailand in SEA Games. The highest achievement Vietnam reached was silver medal at SEA Games in women's event. That is why their determination to win the gold in Myanmar is reachable. 

Meanwhile, the Vietnam Volleyball Federation has two options. One is to win SEA Games silver medal or better than that. Two is to focus on long-term preparation for Vietnam's volleyball team in the future.

Aside from preparing the two national teams for 27th SEA Games in Myanmar , they will also attend international tournaments this 2013.