KUALA LUMPUR: From the 2025 Sea Games in Bangkok, only four non-Olympic sports will be allowed in the biennial Games.
With the decision, fans will no longer see the host nation trying to boost up their medal count by including traditional sports.
In the Phnom Penh edition in May, for instance, little-known martial art sports such as Kun Khmer, Kun Bokator and Vovinam were included in the programme, and Cambodia went on to win a whopping 32 gold medals from the three sports.
Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria said the change is good news for everyone.
"The Sea Games Federation (SEAGF) has amended the Games charter to limit the number of non-Olympic sports to four in the competition," said Norza after chairing the OCM executive meeting at the Academy Badminton of Malaysia in Bukit Kiara on Saturday.
"In line with this, we have to decide which sports to include in 2027 where we will be the hosts."
