MANILA, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) executive committee has approved 30 sports in the Southeast Asian Games in 2019. 

The Philippines will host the regional tournament for the first time in 14 years as the nation hopes to see the Gilas Cadets clinch the country’s 19th men’s basketball gold medal. 

With the hometown support, Philippine boxing also looks forward to an even  better showing after John Marvin and Eumir Marcial brought home two gold medals in the 2017 SEA Games. (WATCH: Rappler Talk Sports: SEA Games boxers John Marvin, Eumir Marcial and Mario Fernandez)

According to Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas, the committee had divided the sports into 3 categories.

The first category included the compulsory sports – athletics and aquatics –  the second category listed the Olympic and Asian sports composed of 44 sports, and the last category included the “other sports.” 

The host country will only be allowed to include a maximum of 12 sports from the 3rd category, and will be required to include at least 16 sports from the second category. 

According to a letter from SEAGF executive committee chairman Celso Dayrit, additional sports will be included only after the the recommendation of the National Olympic Committees of the 11 participating countries before June 13, 2018. – Rappler.com