SEAG ’07 calendar favors RP

BANGKOK — The Philippines scored twin victories of sort over the weekend here as it successfully batted for the inclusion of sports where it is traditionally strong in the next Southeast Asian Games even as taekwondo gold medalist Esther Marie Singson escaped suspension after being tested positive for prohibitive substance during the 23rd SEA Games in Manila last year.

In the first meeting of the Southeast Asian Games Federation Council’s Sports and Rules Committee, it was initially decided that the 24th SEA Games in Thailand will have 40 sports in calendar, including those which the Philippines dominated in the last SEAG staging that anchored its first ever overall championship win.

At the same time, the SEAGFC decided to only strip Singson and two other athletes of the medals they’ve won in the 23rd SEAG. All three were found positive of prohibitive substance.

But the council opted not to impose a two-year ban on Singson, Malaysia’s Rayner Kionsiong, a karatedo silver medalist, and bowling silver medalist Happy Ari Dewanti of Indonesia. Thus, the three are qualified to see action in 2007.

The only hindrance that could prevent them from bidding for SEAG spots is their respective international federation, which might slap them with sanctions.

"Most probably, there will be no other sanction from the Council. But it’s a different matter with its IF," said Philippine Center for Sports Medicine (PCSM) head Dr. Raul Canlas.

"The Committee already gave its nod to impose a lesser sanction to Singson and the two other athletes. We will present it again to the SEA Games Federation Council for the final approval. Most likely it will be okay but it’s still up to their IFs which have the final say if they can join the Thailand SEA Games," he added.

Meantime, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) special assistant to the president and national athletics chief Go Teng Kok, who represented the country in the meet, said that the committee approved an initial draft of its calendared sports which consisted of two mandatory sports — athletics and aquatics, 30 other Olympic sports and six category 3 disciplines.

"We still have time to talk to them. It’s a good thing for us na naipasok yung traditional boat race because we have a good chance in that, considering our good campaign in the last SEA Games," said Go.

In the 23rd SEAG last year, the Philippines swept all the six gold medals staked in the traditional boat race.

The SEAG Federation Council will further evaluate the sports disciplines to be played the regional biennial meet.

POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr. is representing the country in the SEAGFC meeting along with POC first vice-president Monico Puentevella and secretary-general Steve Hontiveros and national fencing head Celso Dayrit, who is an honorary member of the council.

"But we still have to continue pushing for traditional boat and other sports where we are strong. We will start bargaining in the succeeding meetings, marami

pang pwedeng mangyari. There could be more sports, there could be less," Go added.

Also in the gathering Thai official expressed their country’s readiness to stage the 11-nation sports conclave, saying they have the full backing of their government.

"It’s all systems go for the SEA Games. Our government promised to give full support to us to make sure of a successful SEA games hosting," said National Olympic Council of Thailand vice-president Chaiyapak Siriwat.

It will be the fifth time Thailand will play host to the biennial meet although this time it will be staged in the province of Nakorn Rachasima, which is 200 kilometer outside of the capital.