BANGKOK, Thailand – Cambodia has withdrawn from eight sports, including men’s and women’s football, at the upcoming 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand, citing safety concerns.
The unexpected move, confirmed in an urgent letter from the Cambodian Olympic Committee (COC) to the SEA Games Federation on Wednesday, drastically alters the competition just weeks before the event begins on December 9.
The COC is pulling its teams from Judo, Karate, Pencak Silat, Petanque, Wrestling, Wushu, Football, and Sepak Takraw, stating the decision was made to reduce risks during the competition. Most of the withdrawn events are team-based sports.
Head of the Thai Athletes Delegation, Thana Chaiprasit, described the announcement as coming with “virtually no prior warning.” The withdrawal is expected to slash Cambodia’s delegation from nearly 300 athletes to fewer than 100.
The withdrawal forces immediate changes to the tournament schedule, particularly in football, where the Cambodian teams were set to face host nation Thailand. Organizers are working to re-evaluate the tournament draws ahead of the opening ceremony. (TNA)
