Thai Beverage have put up Bt1.5 million for the Asian Games kitchen programme.

The CP group has also chipped in with some of its food products that will be sent directly by freight from here. Chaiyapak Siriwat, who is in charge of the project, said a team of seven will fly to Qatar along with over 100 kilos of food stuffs and equipment a week before the Games.

"Buffet will be served from noon until 9pm at the Thai Embassy in Qatar where we have set up a temporary kitchen. A delivery service is also available to distribute the food in case some cannot make it to the embassy,'' said Chaiyapak.

The service is expected to be ready from November 27, three days before the Games starts on December 1.

The Thai government has spent Bt220.54 million to prepare and send about 480 athletes and officials to the Games.

Thai chef de mission Thana Chaiprasit warned Thais not to take any kind of products containing pork and alcohol into the Middle East sheikhdom. Athletes were also told not to take photos of local women without their veils.

Meanwhile, Malaysia has shaken up its badminton squad for the Asian Games after it was heavily criticised for a dismal performance at the World Championships in Spain.

With barely a month to go before the Games open in Doha, the Badminton Association of Malaysia has decided to gamble on four new doubles' partnerships.

Most surprising is the dissolution of the world championship bronze-medal-winning mixed doubles' partnership of Koo Kien Keat and Woon Pei Tty.

The changes come after Malaysia performed poorly at the World Championships in September, managing only a mixed doubles bronze.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation