A gold medal in the last Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos does not mean an automatic inclusion in the national team to the Asian Games in November, said Joey Romasanta, the country’s chief of mission to the athletic meet.

Romasanta made the clarification following the persistent lobbying of several sports association officials to include athletes who won gold medals in the SEA Games despite being aware that their performance did not meet the standard previously set by the Philippine Olympic Committee

“I had told them (NSA leaders) as early as January about the criteria for the selection of athletes,” said Romasanta.

He said only athletes who have the best chance of winning at least a bronze medal in the Asian Games will be allowed to compete in the November 12 to 27.

He, however, said that the door is open to young athletes who have the potential to perform at a high level in the future.

“We know that these young athletes will not win a medal but we are giving them a chance because they show a lot of promise,” said Romasanta.

Romasanta is also appealing to national sports leaders not to interfere in the selection process such as complaining why other associations appear to enjoy bigger delegations.

“Some of these NSAs have been asking why certain NSAs have been favored by the inclusion of more athletes and I have told them to mind their own business,” said Romasanta.

Citing athletics and shooting as examples, he said officials of these two associations have been asking him to include more athletes in the RP team delegation.

He said athletics have only two people who met the qualifying standard while shooting also failed to show proof that others were qualified.

So far, 160 athletes have been approved for the Asian Games.