By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.

Local sports officials reacted to reports that organizers of the 2017 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Kuala Lumpur decided to scrap women’s boxing and weightlifting, along with a host of other events.
National women’s boxing team head coach Roel Velasco indicated his disappointment over Josie Gabuco not getting the opportunity to defend her title and potentially win her fifth gold medal.
“She could have earned her fifth gold medal in the SEA Games, that’s why I’m saddened with the event’s exclusion,” he said.
Meanwhile, Philippine Weightlifting Association (PWA) President Monico Puentevella said he would appeal to organizers for reconsideration.
“We will meet, in the first week of April, with the whole group and try to reverse it,” he said. “It might be too late but I’ll try.”
“The Philippine Olympic Committee should have fought for it with the SEA Games organizers,” he added.
According to reports, other sports that were axed include bodybuilding, canoeing, fencing, women’s soccer, wrestling, and judo. A series of athletics events were also nixed including the marathon, 10,000M, 3,000M steeplechase, men’s decathlon, and women’s heptathlon./WDJ