MANILA, Philippines – A total of 22 sports have been approved for the Southeast Asian Games in Laos. Most of them, however, are not the strengths of the Philippines.
In a report made after a two-day meeting Saturday in Laos, Go Teng Kok, head of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) sports and rules committee, revealed that the hosts are planning to stage only 25 sports primarily because of a lack of playing venues.
Of the said events, 22 were already approved which included billiards and snooker, a sport that could pad the country’s gold-medal number in the Games to be held next year. To approve billiards, which will offer 12 gold medals, Laotian officials scrapped dragon-boat rowing, also considered a RP title bailiwick.
Other sports that were approved include (with the tentative number of events): athletics (45), aquatics (41), badminton (seven), boxing (12), football (two), golf (four), judo (16), karate (18), sepak takraw (eight), shooting (42), table tennis (seven), tennis (seven), volleyball and beach volleyball, (four), wrestling (10), wushu (12), taekwondo (25), muay (12), petangue (11), pencak silat (14), fin swimming (16) and shuttle**** (22).
Fencing and rowing, where the Philippines has traditionally finished decently, were scrapped.
Archery, canoeing, cycling, weightlifting and the country’s most well-loved sport basketball are being still being considered for the final list.
Basketball appears to have the inside track after officials in Thailand have expressed their willingness to spend for the sport’s operating expenses, including the board of lodging of participating teams.
“Our rivals, including the host, have the upper hand in this SEA Games since they gave more medals to petanque, fin swimming and shuttle****. From the looks of it, Laos may even fare better than the Philippines in the medal standings," said Go.
POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr. admitted that country is facing a tough situation but this should be taken as a challenge for sports leaders.
“Argabyado tayo and this is the challenge we are facing. The sports associations who will be given the chance to compete in Laos should prove their worth, especially since we have a year to prepare. All our programs that are geared for the Asian Games and London Olympics will be put [down the] drain if we can’t do anything in the Laos SEA Games," said Cojuangco.
The POC leadership will meet with the different national federations during the POC general assembly set on September 24 to get their comments and suggestions especially on the events to be played. The group meets again on November 8 to finalize its participation for the Laos Games. – GMANews.TV
