Eki Erawati Cancels Flying To Vietnam, Women's Bullet Reject Sport At SEA Games Cancels

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - The organizing committee for the SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, was forced to cancel three events/matches. Because the number of participants is less than the provisions.

Two numbers came from athletics, namely the women's shot put and the men's hammer throw, which only two countries participated in. This decision was conveyed by the Delegation Registration Meeting in Hanoi, Tuesday (3/5) as reported by Vietnam News, Wednesday, May 4.

The women's shot put number was only followed by participants from Thailand and Indonesia. Meanwhile, only Thailand and Malaysia have registered for the men's hammer throwing.

Based on the regulations, the event will run at least if there are three countries participating.

Previously, a similar condition also occurred in the sport of handball, specifically women's beach handball because only Vietnam and Thailand took part.

As a result, the 31st edition of the biggest sporting event in Southeast Asia will feature competing athletes from 40 sports with 523 events from the planned 526.

The cancellation has an impact on the plan to send Indonesian athletes, especially athletics. Of the 23 athletes sent, one of them was a female athlete, Eki Erawati Febri.

He is an athlete who has the potential to contribute medals. Eki is also the holder of the women's shot put national record (record) which was created at the 2017 National Championships with 15.60 meters.

He once contributed a gold medal at the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At that time, he became the best after recording a throw as far as 15.39 meters. Eki defeated two Thai representatives who each took home silver and bronze, namely Areerat Intadis (15.33 meters) and Sawitri Thongchao (14.26 meters).

Then at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, Eki won silver after posting a throw of 15.08 meters. Eki lost to Areerat Intadis who won gold with 15.80 meters. Meanwhile, the representative of the State of the White Elephant, Athima Saowaphaiboon, won the bronze with 13.36 meters.