Handball still has chance at SEAG inclusion

Handball is still in the running as far as inclusion in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Manila is concerned.

Steve Hontiveros, the handball association chief, reported a “successful meeting” with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas on Monday where the POC head agreed to endorse the sport for inclusion.

Hontiveros said the final decision will be made when the SEA Games Federation holds its meeting here in November.

Hontiveros said he feels optimistic because “normally, when the NOC president endorses a sport [for inclusion], it is approved.”

Philippine Handball Federation is pushing for inclusion of beach events where the Filipinos hold a fighting chance following modest successes in the past few international meets.

But POC spokesperson Ed Picson said that while Hontiveros and Vargas met, the POC boss didn’t make a commitment.

“They did request for inclusion but there is a process involved so Vargas did not commit,” said Picson.

Netball also made a last-minute plea for inclusion in the Games that the country will be hosting.

The SEA Games Office, made up of representatives of 11 member nations, approved 56 sports for the Philippines’ fourth hosting of the Games.

With that number of sports approved, the 2019 edition will be the biggest in terms of number of sports to be played.  It also poses challenge to the host country to stage each of them in terms of logistics.