Sea Games: PSM seeking services of Myanmar chinlone expert

KUALA LUMPUR - The Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) will seek the services of an expert from Myanmar in an effort to improve Malaysia's chances of winning a gold medal in chinlone at the Cambodia Sea Games in Phnom Penh this May.

PSM president Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan said due to Myanmar's expertise, at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Sea Games, the national chinlone squad won a gold medal in the sport.

"PSM does not yet have a candidate but is discussing and working towards that. His services will be used in preparation for the Cambodia Sea Games because it (chinlone) is their traditional sport.

"At the 2017 Sea Games, we did use expertise from Myanmar and as a result we managed to get one gold in the linking event," he said when met recently.

On preparations for the 2023 Cambodia Sea Games which will take place from May 5 to 16, Mohd Sumali said 37 male athletes comprising existing athletes in the national camp and new athletes have been shortlisted to attend the national men's sepak takraw squad selection trials from tomorrow till Sunday.

"Through the trials, 25 athletes will be selected to join the national camp in preparation for the Cambodia Sea Games in addition to the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China which will take place this year," he said.

The country's sepak takraw governing body had previously set a target of two golds in chinlone and sepak takraw out of 22 golds on offer in the sepak takraw arena at the biennial Games. - BERNAMA