By WANG MENG MENG
Page: H14
But some, including athletics coach Loh, question the polo team’s inclusion.
WHEN polo got the nod for December’s South-east Asia Games, it marked a return for the sport after 24 years.
After its debut in the biennial Games in 1983, it was dropped.
Then, Malaysia took the gold medal in the meet held in Singapore.
Now, Team Singapore, comprising captain Satinder Garcha, Lawrence Khong, Asad Jumabhoy, Peter Abisheganaden, Misrub Faizullah and Ang Ban Tong, are confident of bagging some precious metal in Chonburi, Thailand, this time round.
“We are aiming to reach the final,’’ declared team manager Ali Namazie. “Malaysia, on paper, are our strongest opponents.
The SNOC had made the decisions with one eye on the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympics, which Singapore is bidding to host, and the 2013 SEA Games, which the Republic will stage.
The relay team have an average age of 20, but the polo team boast only one player in that same age bracket, Misrub, 19.
Their oldest player is in his 50s, while the rest are in their 30s and 40s.
Said relay team coach Loh Chan Pew: “On what criteria were the 4x100m girls not selected and the polo team picked?
“I was told that the girls’ timing did not meet the bronze-medal mark for the last Games.
“Also, my girls are all around the age of 20. And let’s not forget that they have worked extremely hard to combine training and studies.
“Personally, I’ve got nothing against the polo team. But I cannot see the logic in them going.’’
Loh also said that it would cost just $8,000 to send his relay team to the Games.
Another athlete, who was bypassed in the SEA Games selection process, said: “I am not bitter against polo. It’s just that I have trained hard for six months and I believe I will hit top form during the Games.’’
But SNOC secretary-general Chris Chan defended polo’s selection, saying: “Why shouldn’t polo be selected?
“They have verification from the Federation of International Polo of their handicaps, recent results and their ranking as a top-three country in South-east Asia.’’
