Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino. (PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Philippines may lose eight potential gold medals in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) next year if host Thailand removes weightlifting, wushu, jiu-jitsu, and karate in its 40-sport program.
“We already appealed to the Thai hosts the inclusion of weightlifting, wushu, jiu-jitsu, and karate,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Tuesday.
“And it’s not only the Philippines which appealed, but a majority of the games’ members,” added Tolentino, who attended the SEA Games Federation meeting in Bangkok over the weekend.
The 2025 SEA Games will be held in Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla, Thailand from Dec. 9 to 20.
Jiu-jitsu's Kaila Napolis, Annie Ramirez, and Marc Lim; wushu’s Agatha Wong; karate’s Jamie Lim and Sakura Alforte; and weightlifting’s Erleen Ando and Vanessa Sarno delivered gold medals at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia last year.
“We will lose a lot of gold medals if the appeal won’t be granted,” said Tolentino, who was accompanied in the meeting by POC secretary general Wharton Chan, deputy secretary-general Ali Sulit of judo, Don Caringal of volleyball, Karen Tanchangco-Caballero of sepak takraw, and Carl Sambrano of skateboard.
The Philippines will compete in all 40 medal sports in Thailand but not in demonstration sports tug-of-war and flying disc or frisbee.
The POC has yet to choose the chef de mission of Team Philippines for the 2025 Games. (PNA)
