CDM prefers only medal contenders for Hanoi Games

MANILA, Philippines — Hanoi Southeast Asian Games chef-de-mission Ramon Fernandez wants only athletes with strong medal chances to represent the country in next year’s competition.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) board member issued the statement while awaiting the entry by numbers from the national sports associations (NSAs) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

”Bahala na ang mga NSAs magpadala but dapat maganda ang chances mag-medal,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez’s statement came a day after the SEA Games council set the chef-de-missions meeting among 11 participating nations in December, the submission of entry by numbers in January and submission of accreditations by February.

Initially, the country listed 626 athletes from 39 sports before the SEA Games was rescheduled from December this year to next year due to the pandemic.

POC president Abraham Tolentino has yet to indicate if the initial list of entries will be maintained, increased or decreased.

The present number is almost half of the 1,115 fielded in the last SEAG in Manila two years ago when the country ran away with the overall title with a historic haul of 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals.

Tolentino has stressed they will do their best to defend the title.