AKIPRESS.COM - Floorball, a hockey-like game, will make its debut in the 2015 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games hosted by Singapore, while karate, weightlifting and wrestling are out, New Straits Times reported referring to the Singapore National Olympic Council.

There will be 402 gold in 36 sports, including equestrian events, waterskiing and rowing.

Singapore added six more sports from the initial 30 after appeals from member countries of the SEA Games Federation.

Floorball will be included as a medal event for the first time. It was a demonstration sport when Myanmar hosted the SEA Games in 2013.

The sport was developed in the 1970s in Sweden and is popular in Scandinavia. It is also growing in popularity in some parts of Asia and the U.S.

It is an indoor game and combines elements of hockey and football. There are five field players and one goalkeeper on each team.

Countries hosting the SEA Games tend to pick sports in which they are strong in to ensure a high medals tally for the home country.

The SEA Games is a smorgasbord of different sports ranging from the popular football, swimming and athletics to Sepak Takraw and Wushu.

The Games will be held on June 5-16. Singapore last hosted the event in 1993.