A DAY after a stunning and spectacular opening ceremony, the SEA Games competition proper gets underway with contingents gunning for the 21 gold medals in 10 sports on day one of the competition.
The first competition of the day began early as 5am at Terengganu International Endurance Park in Setiu, where Malaysia’s prospect for gold looks good as Terengganu Sultan, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, the first Sultan to take part in the SEA Games, lead his team in the 80km Team and Individual Endurance events.
The biggest number of gold in contention for the day will be in Wushu at MITEC ,where five gold medals are up for grabs in the men’s optional jianshu, women’s optional jianshu, women’s optional gunshu, men’s optional taijijian and women’s optional nanquan.
Apart from endurance and wushu, the other sports which open their competition on Sunday (Aug 20) are tenpin bowling, table tennis and gymnastic (artistic).
The men’s team polo winner will be decided today while synchronised swimming offers two gold at the National Aquatic centre in the free routine duet and team free routine.
Hosts Malaysia are also in contention for two gold medals in archery where the finals of the men’s and women’s individual recurve will be contested at the NSC Synthetic Turf Field.
Bowling starts its programme with two gold at stake at Sunway Megalanes in the women’s singles and men’s singles, while the table tennis competition gets underway with three gold medal up for grabs in the mixed doubles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles.
Explosive action is on the cards at Bukit Kiara Juara Stadium where Malaysia square off against arch rival Singapore in what could be a pulsating fight for the netball gold medal. The final action is scheduled at 3pm (Malaysian time).
Gymnastics (artistic) commences today at MITEC’s Hall 9 and 10, with one gold on offer in the Team event while the rugby 7s competition ends on Sunday (20 Aug) with the two gold medals at stake in the finals of the men’s and women’s team.
Basketball starts its first day of competition at MABA Stadium while preliminary rounds of six categories in boxing takes place at Hall 8 at MITEC.
Cricket resumes competition in the men’s team 50 overs at Kinrara Oval while football enters its sixth day of competition where another explosive match between hosts Malaysia and Myanmar awaits in Group A.
The Malaysian men and women futsal team will see action at the Panasonic Stadium in Shah Alam while in sepaktakraw, the Malaysian women’s regu team will be in action at Titiwangsa Stadium.
On Monday (21 Aug), the hunt for gold continues with 25 gold medals are up for grabs in 10 sports.
