Vietnam to downsize delegation to SE Asian Games over funding cut
The nation originally planned to dispatch a contingent of 1,018 athletes, coaches, and staff members to Cambodia to compete in 31 out of 37 sports at the biennial event, targeting a top-three finish with 90-120 gold medals. Cambodia announced plans to organize the SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap Province, Preah Sihanouk Province, Kampot Province, and Kep Province from May 5 to 17. However, many Vietnamese athletes and coaches told Tuoi Tre (Youth) on Sunday that they are likely to watch the biggest regional sports festival from their home TVs this year. The sudden news came after the Vietnam Sports Administration held an urgent meeting last week to review the Cambodia-bound delegation for a cutback. “As per an urgent instruction, the list of the Vietnamese sports delegation will have to be shortened to about 900 people from 1,018 members because of insufficient funding,” an official told Tuoi Tre . The downsizing will force athletes with inferior performanc...