PSC chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann attends the PSA Forum. –PSA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann is hopeful for a better finish for the Team Philippines in the upcoming 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
Bachmann, who is supervising his first SEA Games since being appointed chair last December, said that he wants to see the country flourish from its fourth place finish in the last iteration of the SEA Games.
“I just want to support them. If we were fourth place last year, then hopefully we can improve this year,” the chairman said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday.
The Philippines placed fourth in Hanoi last year with 227 total medals built on 52 golds, 70 silvers and 105 bronzes.
Vietnam is the reigning champion of the regional meet with 446 medals from a whopping 205 gold medal count. Thailand and Indonesia followed suit in second and third places, respectively.
FILE–Members of the Philippine contingent led by pole vaulter EJ Obiena hold their national flags during the opening ceremony of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on May 12, 2022. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)
Tokyo Olympians Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam will spearhead the country’s boxing gold aspirations while Carlos Yulo and EJ Obiena will be the names to look for in the gymnastics and athletics events.
The biennial meet is just one of the long list of international events this year, with the Asian Games also slated late in the year.
“I’m not putting down the Southeast Asian Games, I’m just saying that, we should win that all the time. We have many events this year, let’s support our Filipino athletes.”
Bachmann also said the PSC is ensuring that the competing athletes are getting allowances.
“PSC has been focusing on athletes with Cambodia around the corner, we’ve been focusing on the allowance of all athletes,” he said. “There were some delays in the allowances but after all was set and done, we got it done and we got it fixed and all the allowances are paid on time.”