Indonesia hosts the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) University Games that began in East Java on Sunday with host nation Indonesia and defending champion Thailand expected to be battling it out for the championship.

Indonesia hopes to win 61 of the 114 gold medals on offer, a count, according to the hosts deputy chief Eman Sumusi, that would be enough to earn the hosts the trophy.

"We expect our athletes to win many medals in pencak silat, table tennis, tennis and badminton," he was quoted Monday by The Jakarta Post newspaper as saying.

He said defending champion Thailand would pose a serious threat to Indonesia's bid.

In a separate occasion, Thailand contingent chief Prasert Sarnvivad said that his contingent was keen to retain the crown they won in Philippines two years ago.

"We hope to win 50 golds or more to retain our title," he said.

Thailand is bringing 194 athletes and officials. Half of the athletes, according to Sarnvivad, are national athletes who are being prepared for the 2005 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, ASEAN's new member Timor Leste is participating in the event for the first time.

"We have come here thanks to the invitation in the spirit of solidarity. We are here taking part only in two sports: soccer and athletics. We have to learn from others and give our best performance," Timor Leste contingent chief Gil Da Conceicao said.

Around 900 athletes and officials are taking part in the event.

Indonesia is the biggest team, comprising a total of 267 athletes and officials, followed by Thailand with 194 athletes and officials, Malaysia, 191, Singapore, 103, Brunei, 47, Vietnam, 36,

Timor Leste, 24, the Philippines, 10, Cambodia, 4 and Laos, 2.

ASEAN groups 10 nations. Myanmar is not participating in the event.

The athletes compete in 10 sports with 114 gold, 114 silver and 114 bronze medals up for grabs.

The 10 sports are athletics, basketball, volleyball, swimming, badminton, table tennis, pencak silat, sepak takraw, soccer and tennis.

Athletics, swimming and pencak silat are three sports that provide the most gold medals with 33, 31, and 23 medals respectively.

Source: Xinhua