SEA Games prep starts January; PH eyes 4th

Eyeing at least a fourth place finish overall in the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar next December, the Philippine Sports Commission will form a secretariat in January to address all concerns for the 27th staging of the Games.

There will be a total of 32 events in Naydipaw. The main thrust of the secretariat is to draw up the criteria for the selection of athletes.

The creation of the secretariat will formally jump-start the country’s preparations for the Games as it aims to climb out of its worst-ever finish in the biennial meet.

In Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia, almost a year ago, the Philippines went home with just 36 gold, 56 silver and 77 bronze medals—the worst-ever haul in its participation in what used to be known as the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and PSC chair Richie Garcia are aiming to double the gold-medal output in Indonesia.

“The target is to finish fourth or third,” said Garcia.

Former Games medalists numbering at least 150 will get training stints here and abroad.