Few Olympic medals to show from ASEAN's half-billion people

SINGAPORE -- The ASEAN bloc of nations might comprise 10 countries with a combined population of more than half-a-billion people, yet they could only manage 12 medals between them at the last Olympics in Athens. Few are banking on any dramatic improvement at Beijing. Of those 12 medals, Thailand won eight, including three gold, while Indonesia claimed the remaining four, including one gold. Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Myanmar came away empty-handed and are desperate to do better this time round. Thailand again has the best chance for glory. Its forte is boxing and women's weightlifting. Manus Boonjumnong is back to defend his light welterweight title while Athens bantamweight silver medallist Worapoj Petchkoom is also on their team. The kingdom has a knack of producing promising... [read full story]