Kuala lumpur: The Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) Council today approved the inclusion of five additional sports in the competition programme for the 2027 SEA Games in Malaysia, bringing the total number of sports to 43.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary-general Datuk Mohd Nasir Ali announced that the five sports endorsed by the SEAGF Council are dance sport, ice hockey, kabaddi, padel, and teqball. This decision followed the Olympic Council of Malaysia's receipt of 30 appeals from the National Olympic Committees of member nations, seeking the inclusion of additional sports after the initial 38 sports were approved in April.

Mohd Nasir emphasized that the SEAGF Council has confirmed this proposal and stated that there will be no further appeals or additions to the sports programme for the 2027 SEA Games. "The final number of sports is now 43," he mentioned during a press conference after the SEAGF Council Meeting at Sunway Resort Hotel.

Meanwhile, MASOC chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Rashid Yaakub affirmed that the council's decision officially finalizes the sports programme for the biennial Games. He noted that any further additions would necessitate another SEAGF Council meeting, which is not anticipated. "The main thing is that we have only added five sports and that is final because any further addition would require another council meeting," he explained.

Rashid also highlighted that while venues for the initial 38 sports have been determined, MASOC is still in the process of identifying suitable venues for the five newly approved sports. He mentioned that discussions are ongoing with Sarawak and Penang regarding hosting some of the events, although most are expected to be held in Kuala Lumpur.