Buses ferrying SEA Games players involved in accident

The squash events at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, which was supposed to have started today, were postponed following an accident involving two buses carrying athletes from Thailand, Myanmar and the Philippines.

Bernama quoted tournament manager P Sivanesan saying they were still waiting for the medical report from the National Sports Institute (NSI) medical team on the condition of the athletes involved. 

"We can consider postponing the competition at least for one day if the medical team gives the confirmation that the athletes involved can play after a day of rest.

"We hope that all of the players can continue to play because we don't want to deny their chances because they have come here to compete in this biennial games," he said, adding that he has yet to hear updates from the Myanmar team as their players are still undergoing medical check ups at the NSI. 

Other team managers have updated Sivanesan accordingly, added the report. 

Once all the teams have given their medical report results, a meeting will be held to decide on the competition schedules, said Sivanesan. 

Bernama also quoted Thai women's squash player Panisa Suwanarat saying her team mates only suffered minor injuries in the incident. 

One of her team mates sustained minor injuries to her ears, and head, and suffered from dizziness, while others suffered sprained necks, she related. Nevertheless, they were fit to compete in the event, she added. 

The incident happened about 7.50am today when the two buses were ferrying the players from their hotel in Putrajaya to the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil. 

The Star Online reported that the Filipino players, with their Thai counterparts, were on the first bus, while Myanmar players were in the bus behind it. 

A motorcyclist swerved in front of the bus at the front, forcing the driver to apply sudden brakes, said the report. The bus travelling behind could not brake in time and rear ended the vehicle. 

Some of the Myanmar players suffered minor injuries, said the report. 

The games had opened on Aug 19 and are to run until its closing ceremony on Aug 30. The smooth-running of the event, however, had been beset with some problems.

Several media outlets had reported that a bus driver who was supposed to ferry the Myanmar SEA Games women's football team back to their hotel on the night of Aug 17 was arrested for alleged theft, causing delays for the players.

The driver was supposedly driving without a license, and allegedly stole a watch belonging to a Malaysian player. The watch was reportedly found on the bus.
At the opening ceremony, it was found that the Indonesian flag printed in the event's souvenir booklet was upside down.

The Malaysian Organising Committee (Masoc) had swiftly apologised over the two earlier incidents.

It had pledged to cooperate with the police investigation into the bus driver and had released replacement souvenir booklets depicting the Sang Saka Merah Putih flag in the correct orientation. - Mkini