KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia were handed a favourable draw for the Philippines Sea Games today.
Malaysia, champions in 2009 (Laos) and 2011 (Indonesia) were drawn with hosts Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia and Timor Leste in Group A.
Defending champions Thailand were pooled in Group B with regional heavyweights Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei and Laos.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.
The football competition is an age-group tournament comprising Under-22 teams, which can field two overage players.
It starts on Nov 26, four days before the opening ceremony of the Sea Games in the Philippines. The biennial Games ends on Dec 11.
In the 2017 KL edition, Malaysia were edged 1-0 by Thailand in the final.
It will also be Ong Kim Swee’s fifth Sea Games as the national youth coach.
Commenting on the results of the draw, held in Manila today, Kim Swee said: “On paper, we have a good chance of reaching the semi-finals.
“However, we cannot take the other teams in our group lightly considering that each team can include two overage players. This new ruling will give the Philippines and others the advantage.
“We will take each game at a time and focus on reaching the semi-finals. I am not thinking about winning the gold medal yet.
“Of course, winning a medal is our target but we want to concentrate on our group matches first,” said Kim Swee.
In the women’s competition, Malaysia are in Group A with the Philippines and Myanmar while Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia make up Group B.
Draws
Football
Men
Group A — Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Timor Leste
Group B — Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Singapore, Brunei.
Women
Group A — Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia
Group B — Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia
Waterpolo
Men
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand
Badminton
Men
1. Indonesia
2. Malaysia
3. Thailand
4. Singapore
5 Philippines
6. Myanmar
7. Cambodia
Q-Finals
Indonesia — bye
W2 — Thailand v Cambodia
W3 — Myanmar v Singapore
W4 — Philippines v Malaysia
S-Finals
Indonesia v W2
W3 v W4
Women
Seeding
1. Thailand
2. Indonesia
3. Malaysia,
4. Singapore
5. Vietnam
6 Philippines
7. Cambodia
Q-Finals
Thailand — bye
W2 — Malaysia v Cambodia
W3 — Philippines v Singapore
W4 — Vietnam v Indonesia
S-Finals
THA v W2
W3 v W4
Underwater hockey (men and women)
Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia