Host Malaysia and Indonesia, which will stage the next Asian Games, are going to be tough to beat for the top two spots during the 29th Southeast Asian Games that will be staged in Kuala Lumpur this August, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) said yesterday.
PSC chairman Butch Ramirez said the agency is throwing its full support to the national athletes in their bid to improve on a sixth-place finish in the biennial sportsfest.
“From what I gathered from recent travels in China, Malaysia is hard to beat for the overall crown while same can be said about Indonesia, which will host the Asian Games,” said Ramirez.
“The Malaysians are everywhere, training even in Europe,” said Ramirez.
While the Philippines doesn’t have the wherewithal to do the same, Ramirez insists that the request for financial help for training and overseas exposure has been approved.
“Tuloy-tuloy ang suporta namin sa kanila. We don’t turn down a proposal as long as it is in line with the preparations not only for the SEA Games but for the Asian Games and the Olympics,” said Ramirez.
Aside from Malaysia and Indonesia, Thailand, the most successful nation in the 11-nation SEAG, has also what it takes to reign.
Vietnam, which has never dropped from third since 2003, is also in there with Singapore expected to slug it out with the Philippines for sixth.