Embarrassing losses by Sepak Takraw squad expected
Bernama
Disember 13, 2013 23:30 MYT
Disember 13, 2013 23:30 MYT
Sports and Youth Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar poses with winners of women's 100m breast stroke at the 27th SEA Games. Malaysian Christina Loh bagged gold in the event. --fotoBERNAMA
The disappointing losses of the national sepak takraw squad in the men's team event at the 27th SEA Games were expected, said Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Khairy said he was not shocked at all when the squad under Jamaluddin Hassan performed badly and failed to win any matches.
"I could see it coming...," he told reporters after presenting the gold medal to national karate exponent Lim Chee Wei at Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium here Friday.
After losing 0-3 to Thailand and 1-2 to Myanmar yesterday, the national squad suffered a 1-2 defeat in the hands of the Indonesians today putting the Malaysian team at the bottom of the table.
Khairy said he did not wish to worsen the situation or point fingers at anyone over the fiasco and on the other hand was prepared to assist the association to develop the sports.
"I will meet the association in January to discuss the future direction of sepak takraw.
"The defeat here is bad enough but when we are hosts in 2017, such a defeat will be even more shameful. So we have to ensure in 2017, our sepak takraw squad will be the champion," he said.