THE COUNTRY’S wrestlers and wushu fighters will be the first to leave for Burma (Myanmar) for the 27th Southeast Asian Games on Dec. 3 followed by the biggest wave of Filipino athletes the next day.
A total of 56 athletes from men’s and women’s basketball, boxing, women’s football and canoeing will leave on Dec. 4 along with 20 coaches and team officials.
Six sailing and windsurfing bets and four from pencak silat will follow the next day while the swimming (4) and badminton (2) entries leave on Dec. 6.
Philippine chef de mission Jeff Tamayo said they’ve already booked 203 athletes, 79 coaches and officials and 34 secretariat members for the Dec. 11 to 22 Games in the cities of Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay.
Wushu, a perennial medal contender, has seven athletes while wrestling will bring five of its best grapplers led by flag-bearer Jason Balabal and Margarito Angana Jr.
Some members of the secretariat will fly to Nay Pyi Taw, the hub of the 11-nation meet, as early as Nov. 30 to facilitate the arrival and accommodation of the athletes.
The second largest group will come in on Dec. 10 with athletics, led by delegation head and former Philippine Sports Commission chair Philip Juico, arriving with 24 athletes and eight coaches and team officials.
Road cyclists Mark Galedo, Ronald Oranza, Rustom Lim, Jun Rey Navarra and Boots Ryan Cayabit are due on the same day while equestrian (3) and taekwondo (18) athletes have been scheduled on Dec. 12 or a day before the opening ceremony at Wunna Theikdi Stadium.
Here’s the complete schedule of arrival of other sports: Dec. 7—cross-country cycling (9), mountain bike (1), billiards (8), shooting (3); Dec. 8—karatedo (12); Dec. 9—chess (12), golf (6), archery (5), weightlifting (3); Dec. 14—judo (11), cycling BMX (2); Dec. 16—table tennis (3); and Dec. 17—sepak takraw (4).