A Look At Games Forgotten And Games To Come

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My, my, how time flies! It has been two years since the last SEA Games, which means come 19^th of August, it’s time to put your game face on, wear your favourite sports jersey, and ready your lungs to cheer!

While the games feature mainstays such as archery, badminton, and football (or soccer if you hail from the US of A), there are also games that either haven’t been staged in a while or is being staged for the first time this year…

Arnis (last staged in 2005 in Manila)

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Also known as Kali or Eskrima, Arnis originates from the Philippines, and is a form of martial art involving hand-to-hand combat, joint locks, grappling, and weapon combat. 

Cricket (to be staged in 2017)

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Cricket hardly needs any introduction, but what’s really cool to know is that cricket is being staged for the very first time!

We’re not talking about it being staged for the first time in our country. Rather, it is being staged for the very first time ever!

Floorball (last staged in 2015 in Singapore)

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This game is a bit of a head-scratcher. In many ways, it is similar to the field hockey we’re used to seeing but is played indoors using special lightweight sticks and balls.

Unlike field hockey, floorball goalies do not use a stick and is on his/her knees throughout the game.

Figure skating (to be staged in 2017)

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It’s about time we got this graceful sport in the roster! The event is to be held at Empire City, Damansara, and our very own skating prodigy, Chew Kai Xiang is set to represent our country in the men’s category.

Vovinam (last staged in 2013 in Myanmar)

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Yet another martial art event that we haven’t seen in the SEA Games in a while. Vovinam is a Vietnamese martial art practiced with and without weapons. In addition to punches, kick, and escape and levering techniques, the martial art also has techniques involving folding fans. How cool is that!?

Polo (to be staged in 2017)

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While not exactly the first time this sport is being staged in the SEA Games, we haven’t seen it since the 2007 games in Thailand. Polo is the on land, on horseback game of… hockey. That’s a poor description of the sport but hopefully you get the idea.

What makes this year’s polo event interesting is the fact that our very own Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was shorlisted for the national polo team. The list was just an initial list, and so far there hasn’t been any confirmation on whether he will be competing. It would be interesting if he did though.

We’re really hyped for all the new events this year, and to show support for all the athletes that will be representing our country this year, we’ll be showing off our “SEMANGATKU” car sticker loud and proud. You guys should really do the same.

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Remember how we told you that it’s time to put your favourite sports jersey on? Well, if you don’t have one yet, then, good news! Here’s your chance to win one!

In conjunction with the 29^th SEA Games, Team Malaysia Squad and the Hitz Cruisers will be travelling around Malaysia to celebrate the spirit of sportsmenship, and if you are among the first 20 people with the “SEMANGATKU” car sticker displayed on your vehicle to find them, you stand a chance to win an exclusive Team Malaysia jersey along with tickets to the SEA Games Kuala Lumpur 2017.

To get your “SEMANGATKU” car sticker, visit any TM Point nationwide or at selected reload lanes on the PLUS Highway. To find out the location of Team Malaysia Squad and the Hitz Cruisers, simply tune-in to Hitz! Pretty easy isn’t it?

Also, for more info on Team Malaysia, visit http://www.teammalaysia.my/KL2017.

#KamiTeamMalaysia #BangkitBersama #SemangatNegaraku #Negaraku