The 2021 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games approved 4 out of 6 sports that the Philippines requested to be included in the 31st staging of the regional biennial meet in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Esports and jiu-jitsu – which debuted in the country’s hosting of the 2019 SEA Games – along with triathlon and bowling were given a thumbs up by the Vietnam SEA Games Organizing Committee.

“I am grateful to the Vietnam Organizing Committee for approving our request for the inclusion of these 4 sports,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

“We have high hopes for them, they did well in the last SEA Games here in Manila.”

Defending overall champion Philippines topped the medal haul in esports, jiu-jitsu and triathlon.

In triathlon, the country took the top spots of the men’s and women’s individual races in the last 3 editions.

The country copped 3 golds in esports and 5 golds in jiu-jitsu led by star Meggie Ochoa.

The POC continues to lobby for sambo and skateboarding – which also debuted in the 30th edition – to be included in the next SEA Games.

Skateboarding saw Tokyo 2020 Olympic hopeful Margielyn Didal pick up two of the 6 golds hauled in by the national team.

Filipino UFC fighter Mark Striegl, meanwhile, won one of the two gold medals in the sambo competition.

Last July, Vietnam laid out the initial 36 sports, which is 20 less than what the Philippines staged in the December hosting of the SEA Games. – Rappler.com