YOUTH OLYMPICS 2010 Final Medal Tally

The inaugural Youth Olympics held in Singapore has ended. Ninety-seven countries (out of 203) won at least 1 of the 623 medals to be won during the games.

How did our young athletes fared? But first, lets have a look at the Top 3 which looked like an Asian powerhouse:

1. CHINA: Gold 30, Silver 16, Bronze 5, Total 51

2. RUSSIA: Gold 18, Silver 14, Bronze 11, Total 43

3. SOUTH KOREA: Gold 11, Silver 4, Bronze 4, Total 19

Here's what our young athletes was able to accomplish:

 14. THAILAND: Gold 4, Silver 3, Bronze 0, Total 7
 41. VIETNAM: Gold 1, Silver 1, Bronze 2, Total 4
 62. SINGAPORE: Gold 0, Silver 2, Bronze 4, Total 6
 65. MALAYSIA: Gold 0, Silver 2, Bronze 0, Total 2
 84. CAMBODIA: Gold 0, Silver 0, Bronze 1, Total 1
 84. INDONESIA: Gold 0, Silver 0, Bronze 1, Total 0

No medals for the Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei and Timor Leste.

ขอบคุณครับ | Terima kasih | Cám ơn | Thanks to our young Olympians!


See y'all in Nanjing!

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CHINLONE: Burma's National Sport

BISEAN previously featured our region's National Sports. It was a round up of our neighboring village's cool games.

We mentioned that Chinlone was the most beautiful game -- non-competitive, graceful and everything nice. See for yourselves...

Cool! See what we mean? =)

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NATIONAL SPORTS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA

The 11 villages in Southeast Asia have their own national sports. Some are official as recognized by the government and some are not. Other villages pick their national sport by cultural tradition and others opt with popularity.


Silat is the official national sport of Brunei. It is traditional martial arts form that uses blades and stuff but mainly bare hand. This sport spans the whole Malay Archipelago.

The official national sport of Burma is Chinlone. It requires a ball that’s kicked around with your team mates. There is no opposing team meaning, this is a non-competitive game. The object of the game is how beautiful and skillfully pass the ball to your team mate. I have seen this once and I could strongly say; it is one of the world’s most beautiful games.


Cambodia’s Sey dates back to the 11th century. It is the official national sport of the Khmer Kingdom. It is played with a special kind of ball thingy that’s kicked back and forth like volleyball. Here’s the kicker – historians believe that ancient Sey of Cambodia is where the Sipa (Philippines) and Sepak Takraw (Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei) came from.

Indonesia seems not to have an official national sport although their Cultural Attaché in Bangkok told us that Pencak Silat is considered for cultural and traditional importance. Pencak Silat is the collective term of the countrywide game called Silat. I asked around and all I got is – Badminton and Football. Obviously noted by popularity.

Here’s a surprise: the official national sport of Laos is *drumroll* Rugby. The game was recently recognized by the Lao government as their national sport although Laos is a football playing nation. Go figure.

Sepak Takraw is one of the most popular sports in the whole of Southeast Asia and it is considered as the national sport of Malaysia although it is not official. It is called Kick Volleyball in English and played by opposing teams making sure the ball doesn’t hit the ground on their side.

The Philippines’ official national sport is Sipa which means kick in Filipino. It is played with a special shuttlecock-like ball (street) or rattan ball (court) and played like the Cambodian Sey and the Malaysian Sepak Takraw.

While writing this, I was with a Singaporean friend and asked her the country’s national sport. Guess what I got? – Shopping! Then it occurred to me why I asked a lady. I turned to a dude and he said Online Gaming like Killing Orc and others. Whoah! Hi-techie-techie!

Football is the national sport of Timor Leste and Vietnam, although it’s not officially recognized by both countries. The Timorese attaché in Bangkok didn’t have any idea and my Vietnamese friends say it’s football (but I seriously doubt it).

The official national sport of Thailand is Muay Thai. “Muay" means boxing and “Thai” means... isn't it obvious? It is our version of Muay Boran (ancient boxing). It is amorously called “The Art of 8 Limbs” and considered one of the deadliest martial arts in the world.

Our National Sports -- Our icons.

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*If this post needs correction, it is always welcome.

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STANDINGS AT FIFA WORLD RANKINGS 2008

Football is the world’s most famous sport. Those who don’t agree either don’t have TV or just plain dumb. This is one sport I would be willing to give my life to *cough cough* and pretty much the indirect reason why I am divorced thrice. Ha!

FIFA, the world’s governing body of this beautiful sport has updated the World Ranking last September. Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil and the Netherlands are the Top 5. And for those who HAS TO know; England is at the 14th spot.


Let’s get on with it: Here’s the current Southeast Asian placings in the 200-nation ranking.

SE Asian Ranking / Village (Country) / World Ranking

1. Thailand shares the 112th ranking with Jordan.

2. Singapore at 132nd.

3. Indonesia at 139th.

4. Burma at 157th.

5. Malaysia at 160th.

6. Vietnam and the Philippines at 165th, shared with Sri Lanka.

7. Cambodia shares the 182nd ranking with Afghanistan.

8. Brunei at 184th with Andorra.

9. Laos at 190th.

10. Timor Leste at the 200th place (last) and shares with 7 other nations including Papua New Guinea.

World Cup 2010 -- here we come!

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Source: FIFA

OUR 2008 OLYMPIC CONTINGENTS: How Many Did We Send?

WHOA! It’s the eve of the Olympics of all Olympics! The highly anticipated AND “overly” publicised event of the century – Discovery Channel just won’t stop bombarding us with features and specials in the past 5 years.

The Opening is in a few hours so I won’t be ranting [just yet]. See my previous rant about our Olympic standings here if you want some entertainment.

So, THIS IS IT! How many did we send to the 2008 Beijing Olympics?

Since the venue is practically OUR neighbour, I was hoping that we’d send a lot. As we all know, the more athletes we send – the more chances of getting medals, isn’t it? Yeah, yeah… here’s official tally:

Brunei Darussalam
2 Athletes in 2 Sports


Burma
1 Athlete in 1 Sport


Cambodia
3 Athletes in 2 Sports


Indonesia
23 Athletes in 6 Sports


Laos
4 Athletes in 2 Sports


Malaysia
33 Athletes in 9 Sports


Philippines
15 Athletes in 8 Sports


Singapore
26 Athletes in 5 Sports


THAILAND
51 Athletes in many, many sports (13)


Timor Leste
2 Athletes in 1 Sport


Vietnam
13 Athletes in 8 Sports

And here’s THE complete list of our hopeful athletes
– exclusively sent to BISEAN Blog:

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

Koh, Maria Grace, Swimming
Yusof, Mohd Yazid Yatimi, Track and Field

BURMA

Nay, Myo Aung, Archery

CAMBODIA

Hem, Bunting, Track and Field
Hemthon, Vitiny, Swimming
Sou, Titlinda, Track and Field

INDONESIA

Chandra, Alvent Yulianto, Badminton
Erawati, Dedeh, Track and Field
Hadiyanto, Luluk, Badminton
Hidayat, Taufik, Badminton
Irawan, Eko Yuli, Weightlifting
Kido, Markis, Badminton
Kuncoro, Sony Dwi, Badminton
Kurniawan, Edi, Weightlifting
Limpele, Flandy, Badminton
Marissa, Vita, Badminton
Marita, Fibriani Ratna, Swimming
Nasution, Sandow Weldemar, Weightlifting
Prasasti, Yosheefin S, Shooting
Puspitasari, Rina Dewi, Archery
Rochmawati, Ika Yuliana, Archery
Rumbewas, Raema Lisa, Weightlifting
Setiawan, Hendra, Badminton
Sulaksana, I Gusti Made Oka, Sailing
Utomo, Donny Budiarto, Swimming
Wibowo, Suryo Agung, Track and Field
Widianto, Nova, Badminton
Yulianti, Maria Kristin, Badminton

LAOS

Chindavong, Thepphithak, Swimming
Sackpaseuth, Philaylack, Track and Field
Tonsacktheva, Souksavanh, Track and Field
Vongphachanh, Vilayphone, Swimming

MALAYSIA

Amir Hasan, Hasli Izwan, Shooting
Awang, Mohd Azizulhasni, Cycling
Bego, Daniel, Swimming
Che, Chew Chan, Taekwondo
Cheng, Chu Sian, Archery
Chin, Eei Hui, Badminton
Choong, Tan Fook, Badminton
Elaine, Teo, Taekwondo
Heong, Tan Boon, Badminton
Ibrahim, Amirul Hamizan, Weightlifting
Jimie, Elizabeth, Diving
Keat, Koo Kien, Badminton
Khalmizam, Wan, Archery
Khoo, Cai Lin, Swimming
Lee, Chong Wei, Badminton
Lee, Hup Wei, Track and Field
Lee, Wan Wah, Badminton
Leong, Mun Yee, Diving
Leung, Chii Lin, Swimming
Lew, Yih Wey, Swimming
Lim, Leong Keat Kevin, Sailing
Lomas, Bryan Nickson, Diving
Marbawi, Muhammad, Archery
Md Yunos, Muhammad Edrus, Cycling
Ng, Josiah, Cycling
Pamg, Pandelela Rinong, Diving
Samsu, Roslinda, Track and Field
Siow, Yi Ting, Swimming
Tisin, Mohd Rizal, Cycling
Wong, Choong Hann, Badminton
Wong, Mew Choo, Badminton
Wong, Pei Tty, Badminton
Yuan, Yu Fang, Track and Field

PHILIPPINES

Ang, Eric, Shooting
Arabejo, Ryan Paolo, Swimming
Coakley, Daniel, Swimming
Dagmil, Henry, Track and Field
Diaz, Hidilyn, Weightlifting
Fabriga, Rexel Ryan, Diving
Go, Tshomlee, Taekwondo
Javier, Mark, Archery
Molina, Miguel, Swimming
Perez, Sheila Mae, Diving
Rivero, Mary Antoinette, Taekwondo
Simms, Christel, Swimming
Tannamor, Harry, Boxing
Torres, Marestella, Track and Field
Walsh, Jb, Swimming

SINGAPORE

Cai, Xiao Li, Table Tennis
Feng, Tianwei, Table Tennis
Gao, Ning, Table Tennis
Jiang, Yanmei, Badminton
Kang, Calvin, Track and Field
Koh, Seng Leong, Sailing
Koh, Terence, Sailing
Lee, Wung Yew, Shooting
Li, Jia Wei, Table Tennis
Li, Yujia, Badminton
Lim, Lynette, Swimming
Lo, Man Yi, Sailing
Ong, Deborah Huimin, Sailing
Quah, Ting Wen, Swimming
Saputra, Hendri Kurniawan, Badminton
Sun, Bei Bei, Table Tennis
Susilo, Ronald, Badminton
Tao, Li, Swimming
Tay, Bryan, Swimming
Teo, Nicolette, Swimming
Toh, Liying, Sailing
Wang, Yue Gu, Table Tennis
Xing, Aiying, Badminton
Xu, Yuan Zhen, Sailing
Yang, Zi, Table Tennis
Zhang, Guirong, Track and Field

THAILAND

Adi, Sailom, Boxing
Boonjumnong, Manus, Boxing
Boonjumnong, Non, Boxing
Boonsawad, Ek, Sailing
Bunphithak, Pramsiri, Weightlifting
Chaipech, Noeng-Ruthai, Track and Field
Chomphuphuang, Angkhan, Boxing
Chotphibunsin, Thanyalak, Shooting
Darasuriyong, Siriroj, Track and Field
Hansawong, Phaisan, Weightlifting
Hongprasert, Sasithorn, Shooting
Jaksunin, Sangwan, Track and Field
Jandang, Pacharin, Track and Field
Jaroenrattanatarakoon, Prapawadee, Weightlifting
Jiewchaloemmit, Sutiya, Shooting
Jongjohor, Somjit, Boxing
Junkrajang, Natthanan, Swimming
Kameaim, Wandee, Weightlifting
Khawlaor, Chutchawal, Taekwondo
Klomdee, Orranut, Track and Field
Komwong, Nanthana, Table Tennis
Kothny, Wiradech, Fencing
Laosirikul, Pensiri, Weightlifting
Maneetong, Pongsak, Weightlifting
Nontasin, Chanpeng, Cycling
Pamang, Buoban, Track and Field
Panchan, Nontapat, Fencing
Panichpatikum, Jakkrit, Shooting
Petchkoom, Worapoj, Boxing
Ponsana, Boonsak, Badminton
Ponsana, Salakjit, Badminton
Pooltong, Taweesak, Track and Field
Prapakamol, Sudket, Badminton
Premwaew, Chonnapas, Taekwondo
Prucksakorn, Tanyaporn, Shooting
Puedpong, Buttree, Taekwondo
Ruenroeng, Amnat, Boxing
Sanrat, Nongnuch, Track and Field
Sayota, Pichai, Boxing
Seangdee, Jintara, Track and Field
Sondee, Wachara, Track and Field
Sukaphai, Apinan, Track and Field
Suphalak, Sitthisak, Weightlifting
Suwannarangsri, Sompote, Track and Field
Suwonprateep, Sittichai, Track and Field
Tanasugarn, Tamarine, Tennis
Tansai, Napalai, Sailing
Tawoncharoen, Jutamass, Track and Field
Thaveesupsoonthorn, Nimitta, Swimming
Thoungthongkam, Saralee, Badminton
Winatho, Wassana, Track and Field

TIMOR LESTE

Dias Ximenes, Mariana, Track and Field
Ramos Soares, Augusto, Track and Field

VIETNAM

Do, Thi Ngan Thuong, Gymnastics
Doan, Kien Quoc, Table Tennis
Hoang, Anh Tuan, Weightlifting
Le, Ngoc Nguyen Nhung, Badminton
Nguyen, Dinh Cuong, Track and Field
Nguyen, Huu Viet, Swimming
Nguyen, Manh Tuong, Shooting
Nguyen, Thi Hoai Thu, Taekwondo
Nguyen, Thi Thiet, Weightlifting
Nguyen, Tien Minh, Badminton
Nguyen, van Hung, Taekwondo
Tran, Thi Ngoc Truc, Taekwondo
Vu, Thi Huong, Track and Field

All the best to our athletes!

GO FOR GOLD!

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SURFING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Southeast Asia has a total coastline of more than 106,000 km. We are continually battered by beautiful waves from the Andaman and the Indian Ocean in the West, the mighty Pacific Ocean in the East and the unforgiving Arctic Ocean in the South – all beautiful gifts for surfers! *Sweet!*

The world has already recognized Indonesia as a surfing mecca with more than 150 known surf sites. Thailand and Malaysia has their share of attractions. Vietnam and Timor Leste are being noticed lately and the Philippines has the potential to be the next surfing mecca.

Padang Padang, Uluwatu, Koh Kradan, Mentawai or Pururan may not mean anything to those who are not familiar. But these surf sites are “sacred” in the surfing world.

With the help of some of BISEAN’s friends in the circuit, we will feature the greatest surfing sites of Southeast Asia in our coming blog posts. This means mobilizing more than 20 seasoned surfers to visit, rate and of course, ENJOY these gifts from the gods of the ocean.

SEE YA'LL SOON!

Update: TOP 10 SURF SITES

Indonesia


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