By Ek Madra
PHNOM PENH, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Cambodia is pinning its hopes on either a wrestler, a snooker player or a taekwondo fighter to win the country's first Asian Games medal in 36 years.
Vath Chamroeun, the team's chef de mission, insisted that despite fierce competition and a serious lack of cash, the war-scarred nation was confident of ending its drought in Doha next month.
"We won silver and bronze medals at the last Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam and the Philippines, so we hope to get some in Doha too," he told Reuters.
"But it was hard for us to get those medals, so it will be even harder to get many next month."
Cambodia has not won a medal since the 1970 Games in Bangkok, where it took two silvers in boxing, and bronzes in women's volleyball and swimming.
Five years later, its hopes of winning more were dashed when it was banned from the Olympic movement for 20 years because of its brutal civil war, which claimed an estimated 1.7 million lives in four years.
Chamroeun said Cambodia's athletes had improved since the last Games, especially its taekwondo fighters, snooker players and wrestlers.
"We have foreign coaches to train us in these sports," he said. "In others sports, our chances of medals are slim."
However, he said a medal would show Cambodia was a country at peace and would help encourage its youngsters to become athletes.
"We do not expect to get many medals... but this is a new era for us and it will be our reward if we are able to win one," he said.
"It will not only encourage our athletes, but also improve the country's image."
Cambodia will send 17 athletes and 17 officials to Doha, with Games organisers and the Olympic Council of Asia picking up the team's bill.
Rampant corruption and a shortage of funds has hampered Cambodia's sporting success, while its Prime Minister, Hun Sen, has accused the country's Olympic committee members of squandering almost $1 million on their personal expenses.
The team of 14 men and three women will take part in beach volleyball, swimming, athletics, judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling and snooker.
The Asian Games get underway on Dec. 1.
Vath Chamroeun, the team's chef de mission, insisted that despite fierce competition and a serious lack of cash, the war-scarred nation was confident of ending its drought in Doha next month.
"We won silver and bronze medals at the last Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam and the Philippines, so we hope to get some in Doha too," he told Reuters.
"But it was hard for us to get those medals, so it will be even harder to get many next month."
Cambodia has not won a medal since the 1970 Games in Bangkok, where it took two silvers in boxing, and bronzes in women's volleyball and swimming.
Five years later, its hopes of winning more were dashed when it was banned from the Olympic movement for 20 years because of its brutal civil war, which claimed an estimated 1.7 million lives in four years.
Chamroeun said Cambodia's athletes had improved since the last Games, especially its taekwondo fighters, snooker players and wrestlers.
"We have foreign coaches to train us in these sports," he said. "In others sports, our chances of medals are slim."
However, he said a medal would show Cambodia was a country at peace and would help encourage its youngsters to become athletes.
"We do not expect to get many medals... but this is a new era for us and it will be our reward if we are able to win one," he said.
"It will not only encourage our athletes, but also improve the country's image."
Cambodia will send 17 athletes and 17 officials to Doha, with Games organisers and the Olympic Council of Asia picking up the team's bill.
Rampant corruption and a shortage of funds has hampered Cambodia's sporting success, while its Prime Minister, Hun Sen, has accused the country's Olympic committee members of squandering almost $1 million on their personal expenses.
The team of 14 men and three women will take part in beach volleyball, swimming, athletics, judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling and snooker.
The Asian Games get underway on Dec. 1.
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