Between them, they account seven of the 114 gold medals won by the Filipinos two years ago at home.

Geisler and Malalad retired following their failed bids in the Asian Games last year in Doha, Qatar.

Ramirez, Catalan and Pagulayan did not make the team for various reasons.

Ramirez, who won two gold medals, quit the national team over differences with the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP).

Catalan, on the other hand, failed to qualify during tryouts for the Games.

Pagulayan, a former world pool champion, won’t be able to defend two titles due to previous international commitments.

Among Asian Games gold medalists, only pool star Antonio Gabica will see action.

Boxers Violito Payla and Joan Tipon, and Catalan — the other Asiad gold winners — are not included in the 593-strong RP contingent.

Even before they plunge into action, Filipino athletes have virtually lost 39 gold medals due to non-inclusion of some events and the absence of several gold medalists.

Hardest hit is wushu which has only five returning champions. Six of the 11 events won by the country had been scrapped.

Billiards won eight golds two years ago, but three of these have been stricken out of the calendar, including the 15-ball rotation won by Ronnie Alcano.

Boxing, which accounted for eight golds, had no defending champions in its men’s lineup, but all of its four women gold medalists will be back to defend their crowns.

They are Annie Albania, Alice Kate Aparri, Jouvilet Chilem and Mitchelle Martinez. The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) has opted to send some of its best boxers to Olympic qualifying events, including Payla, Tipon and Olympian Harry Tañamor.

All nine gold medalists in athletics are returning and so does judoka John Baylon who is gunning for an unprecedented seventh gold medal in as many Games appearances.

The nine defending athletics champions are Henry Dagmil, Arniel Ferrera, Danilo Fresnido, Rene Herrera, Aing Jimar, Mercedita Manipol, Christabel Martes, Marestella Torres and members of the men’s 4 x 400-meter relay squad.

Swimmer Miguel Molina will be back to improve on his three-gold showing, but teammate Miguel Mendoza, the only other winner at the pool two years ago, has retired.

Diver Sheila Mae Perez, another three-gold winner, will also see action, but is concentrating on individual events following the retirement of partner Cesiel Demenios.