BANGKOK (21 May 2011) – Thailand, the former champions of the South East Asian Games, have decided to focus their attention on the SEA Games 2011 which will be hosted by Indonesia at the end of the year.
The Thais, who have won the gold medal at the biennial championship for a record 13 times, were dumped out of the group stage of the SEA Games in Laos last year.
TheThais were chasing their ninth straight SEA Games title when they were denied by eventual champions Malaysia.
And following their ‘unfortunate exit’ from the 2012 Olympic qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player, Thailand’s Under23 team manager Kasem Jaliyawatwong said this week that the focus of the team now will be on regaining the regional crown.
“We need to wait for confirmation that we’re out of the Olympic qualifiers. If we are eliminated, I want the team to continue their training programme with the SEA Games in mind,” said Kasem.
“These days, the SEA Games is no longer an easy competition. We need to prepare the team as best as we can. We paid a high price with our Olympic disqualification. However, it’s no use to moaning about it, as we have the SEA Games to look forward to.”
The SEA Games XXVI will be held in Indonesia on 11-25 November 2011.
