Indonesian VP Boediono predicts runaway win for host

JAKARTA—Ten days before the 26th Southeast Asian Games officially opens, Indonesian Vice President Boediono is predicting, understandably so, an overall championship romp by the hosts.

“I am very certain that with the excellent preparation that our athletes have been through, they will achieve their best,” Boediono was quoted in a report by the Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

“As hosts, we have to prove that we will be the overall champions.”

The VP made the statement after visiting Indon national athletes from several disciplines during training Monday afternoon in several venues in this vehicle-congested Indonesian capital.

Overall championship competition in the Southeast Asian Games has gone in favor of the host nations in the past several years except for the 2009 Games in Laos.

The Philippines, enjoying enormous crowd support, triumphed in 2005 in Manila before Thailand ruled the 2007 edition ruthlessly in Nakhorn Ratchasima province and then two years ago in Vientienne.

Boediono visited and talked with cycling, tennis, karate, taekwondo, and track and field athletes during training and left them some encouraging words, according to the same report.

“If possible, please avoid injuries and prepare your fighting morale,” the report said. “Because it is an important aspect of the competition.”

But while Boediono’s aim was high for most of the events that Indonesia will see action in—including a 12-of-24 gold medal harvest in cycling—the country’s national basketball official, Agus Mauro, has a realistic way of approaching things in his event.

“We have collected two silver medals in the last two Games,” Mauro said. “So now Indonesia is right behind the Philippines.”

It may be foolhardy betting against the Indonesians in the overall race, but no one will be betting against the Philippines winning the cage gold.