Indonesia says 'selamat datang' to 2011 meet

LAOS bid farewell to the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in a glittering ceremony at the 20,000-capacity National Stadium of the National Sports Complex, here, last night.

Aiming to promote Laos' tradition and culture, the closing ceremony kicked off at 6pm (local time) with a parade of athletes and officials from the 10 Asean member nations and Timor Leste who have represented their counties at the biennial meet.

Laos Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavant and his deputy Somsavat Lengsa, who is also the chairman of organising committee, presided over the closing ceremony before officially declaring the 25th SEA Games closed amidst a magnificent fireworks display.

After the lowering of the SEA Games flag, Bouphavant handed over the Games' flag to Indonesia's National Olympic Council president, Rita Subowo, marking the country's acceptance as the host for the 26th SEA Games in 2011, to be held in Bandung and Semarang.

Malaysian swimmer Daniel Bego, winner of five gold medals and a bronze, and Singapore's swimmer Quah Ting Wen, who also won five gold, two silvers and a bronze medal in the women's category, were named Best Male and Female Athletes of the Games, respectively.

Brunei, led by Chef de mission Hj Muhd Zamri Dato Paduka Hj Hamdani, sent a 52-member contingent to the Laos Games. The Sultanate competed in cue sports, karate-do, pencak silat, athletics, sepak takraw, taekwando and wushu.

One of the representatives was His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, who competed in the nine-ball singles and doubles events.

Brunei closed the Laos Games with 10 medals one gold, one silver and eight bronze medals. Pencak silat exponent Hj Md Khairul Bahrin Hj Duraman delivered the Sultanate's only gold when he topped the men's tunggal event.

Thailand finished atop the medals table at the Laos Games, narrowly holding off Vietnam to retain their crown as the region's sporting powerhouse.

Thailand, who topped the charts when they hosted the Games in 2007, won 86 gold medals, three more than Vietnam and double the 43 scooped by Indonesia.

On the final day of events at the 25th SEA Games in Laos capital Vientiane, Thailand and Vietnam won two gold apiece. Thailand won a tennis gold and one in petanque. Vietnam won two gold in shooting.

The Thais came out on top in athletics, while Malaysia took the Under-23 football title for the first time in 20 years, beating Vietnam 1-0 in the final on Thursday.

Courtesy from Brunei Times