SEA Games gold, silver medalists to be 'strongly considered' for Asian Games, says POC chief

Philippine Olympic Committee president and Mayor Abraham Tolentino said gold and silver medalists from the recently concluded Southeast Asian Games are potential shoo-ins for the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

“That’s a parameter, gold and silver medalists in Cambodia will be strongly considered for the national team to Hangzhou,” Tolentino said on Friday.

In addition, Asian and world rankings will also be considered as the Asiad also serves as a qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics and the results in Hangzhou fall under the Olympic Qualification window which will start June 1.

Tolentino added that the gold and silver medalists from the biennial meet will be funded by the Philippine Sports Commission.

“They’ll be funded under Group A classification. The rest will be in Group B, but they need to be evaluated.”

Group B for those who will participate will be funded by their respective national sports associations.

However, not all gold and silver medalists are eligible in the Hangzhou Games as not all sports will be played in the said meet.

The Philippines finished fifth overall in the recent Cambodia games with 58 golds, 85 silvers, and 117 bronze medals.

Back in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, the Philippines had four gold medals from Hidilyn Diaz, Margielyn Didal, Yuka Saso, and the team of Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan, and Lois Go. The country also had two silver medals and 15 bronze medals.

The upcoming Asian Games will be played from September 23 to October 8.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News