‘Bring issue of biased judging to SEAG Fed’

The Philippine Olympic Committee should formally air its grievances on supposed biased judging in combat sports to the Southeast Asian Games Federation.

Olympic Council of Asia head Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Sabah made this suggestion yesterday to POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., who had sought the advice of the OCA chief on complaints of one-sided officiating in the Southeast Asian Games.

Al-Sabah is in the country for a two-day vacation before heading back to the OCA headquarters in Kuwait today. The OCA is the organizer of the Asian Games and the umbrella body of the 45 national Olympic committees in the continent, which includes the POC.

“The sheikh has advised us to write a formal position letter on the officiating in the SEA Games,” said Cojuangco after his meeting with Al-Sabah at Hotel Sofitel in Manila.

Cojuangco said other countries in the 11-nation SEA Games Federation felt their athletes also robbed of victories in the SEA Games and in other continental tournaments such as the Asian Games and Asian Beach Games.

Cojuangco said the clamor against biased judging would also be taken up by the OCA.

“We will formally present it during the [SEA Games] federation meeting next month,” added Cojuangco.

Filipino sports officials in the 4th Asian Beach Games in Phuket, Thailand, almost two months ago vigorously complained after muay fighter Philip Delarmino lost to Thai Parin Luangpon in their 54-kilogram final.

Delarmino, 24, scored on kicks to the head and was clearly the more dominant fighter but the five judges declared Luangpon the winner with a 4-1 verdict.

“Sometimes, the decisions are too much,” said Cojuangco. “I’ll take up the problem of officiating with the fellow federation members.”

He added biased judging defeats the purpose of sportsmanship and fair play.