Philippines to skip three events in SEA Games

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

DESPITE its sizable delegation, the Philippines will have to forego its chances in three sports in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia -- vovinam (Vietnamese martial art), kempo, and roller skating.

Instead, deputy chief of mission Julian Camacho said the country will pin its hopes on a better showing of athletes in medal-rich events such as athletics, swimming, wushu, taekwondo, pencak silat, gymnastics, karate, judo, wrestling, canoeing, and boxing.

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Athletics alone offers 46, swimming 38, taekwondo 21, pencak silat 18, gymnastics and karate 17, and 16 gold medals are available for the taking in the sophomore event of fin swimming.

Judo has 16 divisions for as many gold medals, canoeing has 15, boxing 14, the same number staked in sailing and in weightlifting, where the Philippines has only four entries.

There are also sports that offer a sizeable number of gold medals such as archery, new event sport climbing, billiards and bowling -- 10 each -- and water ski 11, along with rowing.

“We also have good chances in team sports but the disadvantage of that is we can only win one gold medal in team sports where we have strength. We have to score heavily on the individual events to raise our output and hopefully our overall standing,” Camacho, who is assigned to Jakarta, said.

The Philippines has the fifth largest delegation at 747, athletes and officials included, behind Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.

“The equal distribution of power in various disciplines will make it difficult for one nation to dominate so the size of the delegation will be a critical factor. For example, countries with the maximum number of entries in a particular event will have better chances. In most sports, we only have one entry,” observed deputy chef de mission Romeo Magat, who is in charge of the Palembang side.

The country placed fifth in the event held in Laos, a far cry from its champion position in 2005 when Manila hosted the 23rd edition.

Meanwhile, Filipina entertainer KC Concepcion will take part in the three-hour long opening program on November 11 when she gives a rendition of “Together We Will Shine” along with Indonesia’s Agnes Monica and Malaysian Jacklyn Victor.

The next SEA Games will be staged for the first time in Myanmar on 2013. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)