Like iThethao.vn Having reported, besides 43 preliminary subjects, Thailand also considered adding a few martial arts to the competition program. Among them, MMA is one of the most likely subjects. Sports people in Thailand also offer a roadmap for MMA to appear in the next 2 years of SEA Games.
Before the 32nd SEA Games, the Southeast Asian Sports Federation once announced the “Olympicization” plan for the SEA Games. Accordingly, from the 33rd SEA Games held in Thailand, the competition program will have no less than 41 sports held. These subjects are divided in groups, specifically as follows:
– 12 sports group 1: The subjects often appear at Olympic and Asian Games.
– At least 25 sports group 2: The subjects appearing in the Olympic Games, Asian Games and are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a sport.
– Maximum 4 sports group 3: are local subjects, which are included to increase the competitiveness of gold medals for the host country.
Within the MMA, this martial art was included in the program of Internal Games and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) 2023, held in Thailand later this year. With the appearance of AIMAG 2023, and it may be the next world games, MMA will be counted as a sport group 2 Olympic, thereby not limiting the number of medals.
If MMA is included in the SEA Games 33 program, there are 4 countries that benefit the most Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. These are 4 countries that have a professional MMA award in the country, and they are also the foundation for developing MMA in the direction of high -performance sports, aiming at tournaments like SEA Games and AIMAG.
With the regulations of most competitions at the SEA Games, the 4 countries that certainly attend also ensure the possibility of MMA can appear in the next congress. It may be a significant opportunity to help MMA Vietnamese boxers play in the regional arena, besides a number of professional tournaments that have taken place.