SEA Games 2009

Knowing the current affairs and sports nature in me, I obviously know long ago that this year's SEA Games will be held in Laos.

I remember there were some noises as the lack of equipment in the host country leads to sports like gymnastics being scrapped for this addition.

There goes our Nicole and Tabitha Tay's gold medal hopes, having thrilled us the last time we met them on the telly.

I look forward to the swimmers' performances once again. Singapore has established itself as a strong swimming nation within Southeast Asia, and this Games will show how some of our swimmers are faring as they prepare for a big splash in the 2010 Asian Games, where it is feasibly the biggest competition they can win.

The likes of Tao Li and Quah Ting Wen, coupled with many others, including the rapidly improving Parker Lam, will be something for us to fill our stomachs with, especially since Singapore has always won at least around 8 golds each time this biannual competition comes around.

Table tennis is a seeming walkover, with it probably the biggest beneficiary of the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme. I hope the association sends the youth players instead of our biggest stars. Reserve the likes Feng Tianwei, Li Jiawei for the Asian Games and Olympics. Leave the SEA Games for the likes of Pang Xuejie, Isabelle Li and Clarence Chew.

Whether or not we can deliver a satiating gold medal in soccer... it is another matter. But let us just sit back and enjoy all the action as it arrives for all of Singaporeans, as usual, on Ch 5.