Swimming: Reduction in aquatic events for 2019 SEA Games hits Singapore's medal chances

SEA Games hosts Philippines axe Republic's 'gold mine' artistic swimming and diving

File photo showing Singapore's water polo team competing with Indonesia during the 2017 SEA Games. PHOTO: ST FILE
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Singapore's artistic swimming team created waves at the 2015 and 2017 SEA Games when they topped the discipline's charts with two gold medals and three titles respectively, with former kingpins Malaysia second in both editions.

But the swimmers' streak will be interrupted at next year's Nov 30-Dec 11 SEA Games in the Philippines, as the hosts have omitted the discipline completely, with diving and water polo also affected, despite offering a record 56 sports in the biennial Asean sporting extravaganza.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on December 23, 2018, with the headline Swimming: Reduction in aquatic events for 2019 SEA Games hits Singapore's medal chances. Subscribe