AIMAG, Asian Beach Games postponed

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines can now focus fully on the Tokyo Olympics in July and the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games in November following the postponement of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) and Asian Beach Games.

Richard Lim, who was appointed chef de mission of the AIMAG, said participants in the 62-nation conclave in Thailand have agreed to move the event from May 21-30 to January or June next year.

“Organizers have actually wanted to push through with it but participating countries, including us, have decided to move it next year due health concerns,” said Lim, who heads Karate Pilipinas.

“It’s a blessing in disguise for us since we could now concentrate on preparing for the Olympics and SEAG while giving us more time to prepare for the AIMAG,” he added.

The AIMAG would have staged for the first time non-martial arts events like badminton, BMX, cycling, cheerleading, floor ball, indoor rowing, netball, shooting and volleyball.

The Asian Beach Games was initially slated April 2-10 in Sanya, China but was called off as well.

It was the second postponement for the sixth edition of the biennial event after it was also scratched last year due to the global pandemic.

The Philippines is bent on winning its first Olympic gold in Tokyo, slated July 23 to Aug. 8, and is hoping to defend its overall title or finish in the top three in the Hanoi SEA Games, set Nov. 21 to Dec. 2.

Having the AIMAG and Asian Beach Games out of the way should help Filipino athletes focus more on the bigger tasks at hand.