PATTAYA, Thailand – Some of the biggest names in Philippine sports will be in action in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games which formally begins competitions on Wednesday.
World-ranked tennis sensation Alex Eala and Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Hidilyn Diaz lead the Philippine sports stars that will fly the flag in the biennial multisports competition among Southeast Asian nations.
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Eala and Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball player Bryan Bagunas carried the Philippine flag on Tuesday during the opening rites at the Rajamangala National Stadium.
Two-time Paris Olympic gold medallist and multiple world champion Carlos Yulo will not be around due an injury. The organizers’ rule limiting gymnasts to only two events also weighed in his decision.
But pole vaulter EJ Obiena is back for an attempt to make it four straight gold medals in athletics, and Olympic medalists boxers Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, and Eumir Marcial are also looking to shine once again in the SEA Games.
Other notable athletes in the SEA Games are Olympians Joanie Delgaco and Cris Nievares of rowing, Hergie Bacyadan of boxing, Samantha Catantan of fencing, Aleah Finnegan of gymnastics, and Kayla Sanchez of swimming.
Amid issues in relation to the player eligibility rules, the Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team coached by Norman Black and led by Thirdy Ravena, Ray Parks, and Robert Bolick will take the floor with a goal to reassert its supremacy in the region.
Philippine officials are targeting to equal the fifth-place finish in the 2023 SEA Games. But with 50 sports and a delegation of more than 1,600 athletes and coaches, it is certain to surpass the 58 gold medals it won in Cambodia two years ago.
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