SEA Games 2027 cuts: eight sports dropped, Malaysian fencing loses three events

The final programme for the 2027 SEA Games in Malaysia is smaller than the last edition, and the cuts are now drawing reaction around the region and at home. Eight sports have been left out completely, several others have lost events, and Malaysian fencing is under scrutiny after three of its six individual weapon events were dropped. The Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) approved the list on 30 October.

473 events, 100 fewer than Thailand 2025

The SEAGF Executive Committee confirmed 473 medal events in 43 sports for the 34th SEA Games, which runs from 18 to 29 September 2027 across Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Penang and Johor. Vietnam's state broadcaster VOV and Singapore's Straits Times both reported that this is 100 fewer medal events than at the 2025 Games in Thailand, with seven fewer sports.

The eight sports dropped entirely are wrestling, rowing, canoeing, traditional boat racing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, chess and handball. VOV also listed event cuts in other sports, including women's futsal, the mixed 4x400m relay in athletics, wushu sanda and four shooting team events. VOV reported that padel, dancesport, teqball, ice hockey and kabaddi were added after appeals.

According to VOV, Olympic Council of Malaysia deputy president Dr Nur Azmi Ahmad said the final list had been agreed by the participating national Olympic committees and that no further additions are planned.

Fencing loses three weapon events

Fencing will go ahead, but only men's foil, men's sabre and women's foil remain. Men's épée, women's épée and women's sabre have been omitted.

Malaysian news site Scoop reported on 3 November that the decision has raised questions about the Malaysian Fencing Federation (MFF). Unnamed sources in the sport argued that a home Games should give as many Malaysian fencers as possible a chance to compete. They also questioned the national team's lack of exposure, saying Malaysia did not compete at the Asian Games or the Asian Under-23 Championships this season. Scoop noted that Malaysia won eight medals but no gold at the 2026 Southeast Asian Fencing Championships.

The report also raised governance concerns. Sources said some executive committee members were not told about the decision and that the committee had not met since February 2026. Scoop said nine of the 12 leading fencers in the events that were kept come from three clubs, while about three-quarters of the leading fencers in the dropped events represent other clubs and states. Scoop said overlapping roles do not by themselves prove wrongdoing. It added that MFF president Rusni Abu Hassan and National Sports Council director-general Datuk Arrifin Mohd Ghani had not responded to requests for comment by the time it published.

How the region is reacting

The cuts hit some neighbours hard. Singapore won a record eight fencing golds in Thailand, four of them in events now removed, so champions including Juliet Heng and Elle Koh cannot defend their titles. Fencing Singapore president David Chen said the association is talking to the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and called programme adjustments a routine part of planning a multi-sport games.

Singapore Ju-jitsu Association president Henry Kothagoda said his athletes were very disappointed to lose their sport, though Singapore will accept the decision and prepare for the 2029 Games it will host. An SNOC spokesperson said a programme depends partly on the host country's ability to support and deliver each competition.

VOV calculated that the eight dropped sports accounted for 24 of Vietnam's 87 gold medals in 2025, with wrestling alone worth 10. Counting event cuts as well, Vietnam could lose the chance to defend around 30 titles.

Key takeaways

• The 2027 SEA Games will have 473 events in 43 sports, 100 fewer events than Thailand 2025.
• Wrestling, rowing, canoeing, traditional boat racing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, chess and handball are out.
• Fencing keeps only men's foil, men's sabre and women's foil.
• The Malaysian Fencing Federation faces questions over the decision; its president had not commented when Scoop published.
• OCM says no further additions to the programme are planned.

FAQ

Which sports were dropped from the 2027 SEA Games? Wrestling, rowing, canoeing, traditional boat racing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, chess and handball are not on the approved programme.

Which fencing events remain? Men's foil, men's sabre and women's foil. Men's and women's épée and women's sabre were omitted.

Could more sports be added? OCM deputy president Dr Nur Azmi Ahmad was reported as saying no further additions are planned, because the list was agreed by the participating national Olympic committees.

Sources: Scoop, VOV, The Straits Times (via Red Hot Singapore), BJJ Doc, Olympic Council of Asia