PH team will face big challenge at SEAG Vietnam, says POC chief

Philippine Olympic Committee President Bambol Tolentino said it would be a difficult mission for Filipino athletes to defend the overall championship at the 31 Southeast Asian Games.

Tolentino cited the number of sports that the host of Vietnam initially proposed for the biennial meeting, which was much less than the previous edition that the country organized in 2019.

Out of 56 sports, Vietnam only ranked 46, including dark sports like kurash, vovinam, and xiangqi, also called Chinese chess.

“Definitely mahihirapan tayo sa in general because of that problem with the number of sports,” Tolentino said at the Philippine Sports Writers Association Forum held online Tuesday.

“Always Vietnam will do what it can to have that overall champion.”

Although the sports lineup has yet to be finalized, Tolentino said he is already preparing a strategy to help athletes retain that overall crown.

“It is too early to reveal that strategy. To end the lang yung sports and events, we can continue planning, ”he said.

The SEAG Federation is expected to meet in November to discuss calls from member countries for the inclusion of various sports.

In addition to awaiting the final list of sports, Tolentino also looks forward to the budget hearing from the Philippine Sports Commission.

“I will ask the PSC if (the budget) will be an important factor for SEAG next year. If your budget request will be enough. Baka kasi for the budget, lumagapak tayo from the general to… huwag naman seventh, sixth or what, ”he said.

The country won the overall SEAG title in 2019 by collecting 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals. Vietnam came second with 98 gold, 85 silver and 105 bronze.