POC rethinks Asiad 2031 strategy

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is already plotting its next moves as the next Asian Games in Doha will be moved to 2031.

POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said they will have to make some key adjustments as the 21st Asiad will coincide with the 36th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos as well as qualifying events for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, Australia.

“There won’t be that many delegates for the Asian Games compared to the SEA Games, so it will be a different preparation. Definitely, it will be in a different month,” Tolentino said.

“We will adjust. The SEA Games will adjust and the OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) will adjust,” Tolentino said.

As of this writing, the OCA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have yet to release further details on the move.

Tolentino said the athletes competing in the Asian Games are also expected to compete in the SEA Games as well.

“There will be events where the same athletes will compete in both. Like in tennis, definitely the same athletes will be there,” Tolentino said.

The 19th Asiad in Hangzhou, China in 2023 became qualifiers for the Paris Olympics in sports like archery, boxing and tennis.

Boxer Eumir Marcial earned a ticket to the Summer Games after he made it to the final of the men’s 80-kilogram division.