Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation Inc. president Richard Lim (Photo courtesy of PSA)
MANILA – Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation Inc. president Richard Lim said on Tuesday he backs the Olympic Council of Asia's (OCA) decision to postpone the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) this year.
OCA recently moved the AIMAG season to March 2022 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, which took a major twist over the Christmas season upon the discovery of a new variant from the United Kingdom.
"I think it is the best decision for the OCA to postpone it and then move it to a later date where the vaccines are already available for everybody," Lim said in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
Lim was named the chef de mission for the Philippine team in the AIMAG.
For his team's part, he said the AIMAG postponement would now prompt the national athletes to just focus on the two other major sporting events for this year.
"It's also good for us because mas makakapag-concentrate kami doon sa (we can concentrate more in the) Olympic qualifying, and after that we proceed with the SEA (Southeast Asian) Games and then the AIMAG," Lim said.
He believes that playing in the Olympic qualifiers, possibly the Tokyo Olympics itself, and the SEA Games would make the national athletes more ready for the AIMAG.
"It's a good preparation for everybody for the AIMAG because they have to join the SEA Games first. I think it would be advantageous for us," Lim said. (PNA)
