Singapore assured of gold medal before Games officially begin
- From: "Chim" <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: 25 Nov 2005 03:26:55 -0800
Singapore assured of gold medal before Games officially begin
By DENNIS PASSA, AP
MANILA, Philippines (AP) - The opening ceremonies are still at the
rehearsal stage and some of the athletes haven't arrived, but
Singapore's water polo team has already earned a gold medal at the
Southeast Asian Games.
Singapore won its fourth consecutive men's match in the competition,
downing Thailand 12-3 to clinch first place in the round-robin
competition ahead of its Friday game against Vietnam.
The opening ceremonies and many of the 39 sports in the 11-country
regional competition involving more than 5,300 athletes - 900 from the
Philippines - are scheduled to begin Sunday.
The games, held every two years, end on Dec. 5 and are being held in
Manila and its suburbs, the central city of Cebu and Bacolod on the
central island of Negros.
More than 17,000 police and security forces went on alert in Manila
last week to ensure the safety of athletes and officials attending the
Games.
Officials are concerned over recent attacks by the communist New
People's Army rebels that have left at least a dozen soldiers dead in
central and northern Philippines.
Al-Qaida-linked militants, including the homegrown Abu Sayyaf group and
Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiyah, also are active in the country and
may be plotting fresh attacks, officials warned.
Host Philippines, meanwhile, beat Vietnam 13-3 to be assured of a water
polo silver medal and a likely spot in the Asian Games competition next
December at Qatar.
The Philippines and Singapore could finish with 4-1 records based on
Friday's results, but Singapore holds a superior goal differential.
In men's soccer, Phan Van Tai Em's header in the 65th minute gave
Vietnam a 1-0 win over Macau, the team's third straight win at Bacolod.
With nine points and a 3-0 record, it will qualify for the semifinals.
In women's soccer, Pitsamia Sornsai scored in the 77th minute to give
Thailand a 1-0 victory over the Philippines at Marikina Sports Park in
suburban Manila.
The Philippines and Thailand are expected to vie for the medal count
lead, with more than 440 medals on offer. Other countries taking part
are Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and
Malaysia.
Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Robert Aventajado said his
country hoped for gold medals in boxing, equestrian, taekwondo and
other martial arts, as well as in athletics.
"We are targeting some 120 gold medals this year," said Aventajado.
Thailand is expected to dominate boxing, where it won seven golds two
years ago in Vietnam.
The five-time defending champion Philippines lost it chance for a gold
in basketball when a squabble between the international organizing body
and national officials resulted in the cancellation of the men's and
women's competition.
On Sunday, the symbolic Games torch will be ignited at the Luneta
grandstand in downtown Manila at the opening ceremony attended by
Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo - who will officially
declare the games open - and an expected crowd of 300,000.
Other sports include baseball, swimming, billiards, volleyball,
weightlifting, fencing, rowing, muay thai (kickboxing) and the Chinese
martial art of wushu.
11/25/05 04:38 EST
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. The information contained in the
AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise
distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated
Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
.
- Prev by Date: March in Siemreap to Protest Violence Against Women
- Next by Date: Khmer team hopes for inspiration from Ranarridh who will be there by private jet
- Previous by thread: March in Siemreap to Protest Violence Against Women
- Next by thread: Khmer team hopes for inspiration from Ranarridh who will be there by private jet
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
