Cambodia plans to send athletes to International competition in Indonesia

Cambodian athletes to the Sea Games met with Hun Xen (Photo: Supplied)

01 Nov 2011
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soch
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

Cambodia plans to send more than 100 athletes to compete in Indonesia next week.

At the same time, Hun Xen promised that he will reward $3,000 to athletes who bring home gold medals, $2,000 for a silver medal and $1,000 for a bronze medal.

On 31 October 2011, Hun Xen reminded the more than 100 Cambodian athletes who will compete at the Sea Games in Indonesia in November and he also asked that these athletes preserve Cambodia’s renown and that they will bring back medals and victory to Cambodia.

Meas Sarin, the undersecretary of state at the ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, and former secretary of the Cambodian Olympic Commission, introduced the athletes to Hun Xen at the Peace building on 31 October.

Chov Sotheara clinches first wrestling gold

Chov Sotheara

Chov Sotheara (red and white) of Cambodia wrestles Sayamone Keovilaysone of Laos in the women’s 45kg wrestling final at the SEA Games in Laos. (AFP VIENTIANE)

Thursday, 17 December 2009
UNG CHANMROEUN
The Phnom Penh Post

The 26-year-old becomes Cambodia’s first-ever wrestler to win a gold medal at the SEA Games

THE Kingdom registered its third Southeast Asian Games gold medal Wednesday, and its first ever in wrestling, when Chov Sotheara won the 45 kilogram women’s category after beating Laotian Saysamon Keovilyson and Filipino Maribel Jambora. “I’m so proud of myself to be a gold medal winner,” said Chov Sotheara. “Thanks for everyone, coaches, family. Now I’ve realised my dream.... [I’m] very happy.”

Meanwhile, Cambodia’s Try Sothavy won silver in women’s 51-55kg, while compatriot Chey Chanreaksmey claimed bronze in women’s 48-51kg. Try Sothavy was despondant after losing her last bout against Thailand’s Darunee Ora-In. “In the final round, I had a great start against Thai opponent,” she said through tears. “But so sad that I lost the chance [to win] in the last minute.”

Coach bemoans officiating

Despite the successes, Cambodian wrestling coach Thin Vichet noted his discontent with the match officials. “When my athletes should get a score, [the referees] didn’t award them,” he said. “Chum Chivinn should win gold on Tuesday, but with wrong decisions by the referees, he got only silver.... We have already lodged complaints about that, but we received negative responses. The athletes came here to compete for the medals, not to collect medals they’ve already prepared for us.”

Golds missed in the triples

Over at the petanque courts Wednesday, Cambodia looked poised to add to their two gold medals, having led the group in the preliminary stages of both mixed triples events. However, the one-man and two-women team, consisting of Khem Sopheak, Puov Chhourath and Un Sreya, lost heavily to Thai opponents 13-0 in their semifinals to take home the bronze.

Super semi but flat final

The one-woman and two-man lineup of Songvat Chakriya, Ya Chandararith and Heng Tha, played out a thrilling semifinal against the Thai team, which saw the Cambodians overturn a 2-10 deficit and emerge 13-12 victors, receiving raucous applause from the crowd.

The elation lasted just a few hours, until the team were upset 13-5 by their Vietnamese final opponents, to end up with the silver. “We were not too bad, but we lost many chances,” said Ya Chandararith. “However, I’m so happy to win more medals for the Kingdom.”

Cambodia SEA Games Medal Tally as of 12 December 2009 - Congratulations to the Athletes!!!

Chhoy Bouthorn - Silver Medal Tae Kwon Do
Chhoeung Puthearim - Bronze Medal Tae Kwon Do
Cheang Bunna - Bronze Medal Tae Kwon Do
Hin Saiheng - Bronze Medal Boxing
E Phou Thang - Bronze Medal Boxing
Heng Rawut - Bronze Medal Shuttle Cock
Chea Sreymeas - Bronze Medal Shuttle Cock

Gold Medals

• Petanque (Boule) – Men Shooting (12 Dec 2009)
• Petanque – Men Singles (11 Dec 2009)

Silver Medals

• Petanque – Women Singles (11 Dec 2009)
• Tea Kwon Do – Fly Weight Over 54kg & Not Exceeding 58 kg - Men - CHHOY BOUTHORN (12 Dec 2009)
• Tea Kwon Do – Heavy Weight Over 87 kg - Men – SORN ELIT (10 Dec 2009)
• Tea Kwon Do – Middle Weight Over 80 kg & Not Exceeding 87 kg - Men – SO NARO (10 Dec 2009)

Bronze Medals

• Petanque – Women Shooting (12 Dec 2009)
• Tea Kwon Do – Feather Weight Over 53 kg & Not Exceeding 57 kg - Women - CHHOEUNG PUTHEARIM (11 Dec 2009)
• Tea Kwon Do – Light Weight Over 57 kg & Not Exceeding 62 kg - Women – CHEANG BUNNA (11 Dec 2009)
• Tea Kwon Do – Middle Weight Over 67 kg & Not Exceeding 73 kg - Women – SORN DAVIN (10 Dec 2009)
• Tea Kwon Do – Poomsae Individual - Men – CHEAT KHEMARA (09 Dec 2009)
• Boxing – 69kg Welter Weight – Men – HIN SAIHENG (13 Dec 2009)
• Boxing – 81kg Light Heavy Weight – Men - E PHOU THANG (13 Dec 2009)
• Shuttle Cock – Men’s Single – Men – HENG RAWUT (13 Dec 2009)
• Shuttle Cock – Women’s Single – Women – CHEA SREYMEAS (12 Dec 2009)

SEA Games medal update: 2 silver and 1 bronze medals in Tae Kwon Do

Sorn Davin: Bronze medal for Women Tae Kwon Do for Middle Weight Over 67 kg & Not Exceeding 73 kg
Sorn Elit: Silver medal for Men Tae Kwon Do Heavy Weight Over 87 kg
So Naro: Silver medal for Men Tae Kwon Do Middle Weight Over 80 kg & Not Exceeding 87 kg

Cambodian athletes suffer one more humiliation to participate in SEA Games: They have to depend on Bangkok's charity

Thailand foots bill for cash-strapped SEA Games teams

Dec 3, 2007
Reuters

BANGKOK - HOSTS Thailand will foot the bill for three cash-strapped countries to send teams to this week's South-east Asian (SEA) Games, an official said on Monday.

Games organisers agreed to cover the expenses of Laos, Cambodia and Timor Leste, which are among the world's poorest countries, after their hard-up Olympic committees asked for help.

'Thailand wants unity at the SEA Games and since we have 11 member countries, we want all of them to be here,' Charoen Wattanasin, secretary of the organising committee, told reporters.

'It's important that everyone gets a chance to compete.'

Timor Leste, whose Olympic committee is beset by administrative and financial problems, will send only seven athletes to Nakhon Ratchasima, with Games organisers picking up the tab.

The teams from Laos and Cambodia will travel for hours along their notoriously potholed roads before being picked up at their borders by a fleet of Thai buses.

Mr Charoen said accommodation and transport for the three countries' athletes will also be provided.

The fiercely-contested SEA Games, which takes place every two years, officially open on Thursday, although the soccer and shooting events are already underway.

Some 5,000 athletes from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, East Timor, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, Myanmar and the Philippines, will compete in 43 sports, with 475 gold medals up for grabs.