Snooker squad left in limbo as SEA Games organisers go silent
Since 2007, veterans Thor Chuan Leong, Lim Kok Leong, and Moh Keen Hoo have delivered 11 gold medals for Malaysia, missing out only at the 2009 Vientiane and 2017 Kuala Lumpur Games.
But the team's preparation for this year's edition has been thrown into disarray.
Malaysian Snooker and Billiards Federation (MSBF) president Melvin Chia said their medal hopes could go up in smoke due to radio silence from the hosts.
"It's quite frustrating for us. We're not getting any official updates from the organisers," said Melvin.
"We're now hearing that snooker and billiards, which were initially set to take place in Chonburi, have been moved to Songkhla.
"We wrote to them last October, but there's still no response. They've yet to provide the SEA Games technical handbook, and that's seriously affecting our planning."
The handbook outlines crucial details such as rules, equipment regulations, and scheduling, all vital for organising squad selections and logistics.
"If the events clash, we may need to bring more players. That's why we need the full details to plan accordingly," he said.
Melvin also voiced concern over the limited range of events, saying the decision to include only snooker and billiards goes against the spirit of the Games.
"There are eight snooker events and two in English billiards, but no pool or carrom," he said.
"We understand the host nation has the right to choose events, but it should be done fairly.
"What happens if the Philippines decide to offer only pool in the future, or Vietnam just carrom? We need to think of the sport's long-term development, not just winning medals."
In total, 10 medals will be on offer in Thailand — four in snooker (singles and team), four in six-red snooker (singles and team) and two in English billiards (singles and team)
Melvin warned that continued silence from the organisers could derail Malaysia's preparations, as training, budgeting, and athlete logistics all hang in the balance.
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