For safety reasons, Aimag moved to 2023

Forced to reschedule its hosting due to the rising cases of COVID-19 in the continent, Thailand will stage the postponed Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (Aimag) on Nov. 17 to 26 in 2023.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham Tolentino said the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) confirmed the schedule on Wednesday, ending speculations that the continental Games would be shelved until 2024.

“The postponement would allow our athletes to be better prepared for the Aimag, which ranks as one of the most important multisport competitions in the continent,’’ said Tolentino.

Originally set on March 10-19 next year, Thailand and its national Olympic committee (NOC) sought for the postponement of the Aimag because of the health concerns that the COVID-19 crisis could bring.

“The OCA fully understands and respects the decision of the NOC of Thailand, Thailand Aimag Organizing Committee and the Royal Thai government to postpone [the Games] due to the COVID-19 global pandemic,’’ said OCA acting president Raja Randhir Singh in his letter to Thai NOC president Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon.

Team Philippines brought home two gold medals, 14 silvers and 14 bronzes in the previous edition of the Aimag in 2017 Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

“I’m confident that we can surpass that [gold] output in the next Aimag,’’ said Tolentino.

The Aimag, which will be cohosted by Bangkok and Chonburi, will have 160 Filipino athletes playing in 21 sports of mostly individual events.