Dragon boat has been provisionally dropped from the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, along with bodybuilding, canoeing, fencing, judo, and triathlon. According to Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar, this is because Malaysia lacks the competitiveness in these sports “to give a strong challenge,” he said. “Some of our athletes in these five sports are not even ranked compared to athletes from the other South-East Asia countries.” In addition, he said, “we don’t have any participants in some of the events.”

Malaysian national sports associations (NSAs) not in the list of the current 39 sports included in the games have until the end of February to appeal, while NSAs from the other Southeast Asian countries can appeal until June. According to Jaafar, the final list of events will be confirmed by July 13 or 14.

(EDIT: An earlier version of this post stated that national sports associations not in the list of 39 sports have until the end of February to appeal. We have amended this error.)

SEA Games: Bodybuilding, canoeing, fencing, judo and triathlon in doubt for 2017 KL Games
Five sports provisionally dropped from 2017 SEA Games

Featured Image : Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation Athletes