Guangzhou Asian Games come to a close [-No medal for Cambodia]

Monday, November 29, 2010
By Michael McElroy
Bettor.com

Guangzhou Asian Games come to a close

Goodbye Guangzhou, see you Incheon.

The 2010 Asian Games concluded on Saturday with host China showcasing another extravagant display of colours and fireworks in Haixinsha Island, site of the opening ceremonies two weeks ago.

Among the highlights of the gala was the performance of the People's Liberation Army and a song and dance number from Korean pop star Rain, who entertained the audience during the official handover ceremony.

"This edition of the Games has been, without a doubt, one of the most outstanding in the history of the event," Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said in his closing speech.

"10,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions in Asia have competed against each other in 53 first-class venues. These sportsmen and women are at the top of their sport and are fitting ambassadors of the Olympic Movement in Asia."

Despite encountering various problems such as doping and outside threats such as North Korea's artillery attack on a South Korean island recently, Al-Sabah said the Games are still extraordinary.

"Guangzhou looked to challenge Beijing (Olympics) and I think they did it successfully," he said.

"Some Olympic committees and OCA colleagues say there is the same level compared to Beijing or even better. Athletes in the village say facilities were even better than Beijing."

China emerged as the runaway leader in the overall medal standings with 199 golds, 119 silvers and 98 bronze medals for a total harvest of 416. South Korea finished second with a 76-65-91 production while Japan placed third with a 48-74-94 output.

Rounding out the top ten were Iran (20-14-25), Kazakhstan (18-23-38), India (14-17-33), Chinese Taipei (13-16-38), Uzbekistan (11-22-23), Thailand (11-9-32) and Malaysia (9-18-14).

Of the 45 countries and territories that participated in the Games, only nine failed to win a single medal. They are Timor-Leste, Maldives, Turkmenistan, Brunei, Cambodia, Yemen, Bhutan, Palestine and Sri Lanka.

The 2014 Asian Games will be held in Incheon, South Korea.

Kingdom's women in fast lane on the sporting front

Thursday, 26 August 2010
The Phnom Penh Post Staff

CAMBODIAN women are breaking free of social stigmas and disproving myths to succeed in the world of sports.

Vath Chamroeurn, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, says that over the past several years women have accounted for 30 percent of the total population of athletes representing Cambodia in international contests.

In 2009, Cambodian female athletes won one gold medal, four silver, and 13 bronze at the 25th Southeast Asian Games. Events included pétanque, tae kwon do, volleyball, weight lifting, and wrestling.

Lack Som Ath, general director of the General Department of Sports at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, said that Cambodian female athletes participated in as many as 20 sports. One shining example is Duch Sophorn – Cambodia’s finest player of pétanque (a form of boules), who has won gold, silver, and bronze medals in international competitions over the past decade.

Her success has inspired many young girls to pursue athletics but she admits it has come at a price in a society that she says views athletic-looking women as sterile and unattractive.

Cambodia women see future in sports and big muscles [... and in fighting Hun Xen?]

Cambodia women are rising fast in the wide world of sports. Pétanque player Duch Sophorn has alone won gold, silver, and bronze medals in international competitions over the past decade.

July 16, 2010
By Kounila Keo, Contributor
The Christian Science Monitor
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

“I have developed muscles and [I am] very strong. [If] men don’t like me, I don’t care, as long as I love myself” - Duch Sophorn, Cambodia’s finest player of pétanque (a form of boules), who has won gold, silver, and bronze medals in international competitions over the past 10 years

Cambodia women are breaking free of social stigmas and disproving myths to succeed in the world of sports.

Vath Chamroeurn, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, says that over the past several years women have accounted for 30 percent of the total population of athletes representing Cambodia in international contests. In 2009 alone, Cambodian female athletes won one gold medal, four silvers, and 13 bronzes in the 25th Southeast Asian Games held in Laos. Events included pétanque, tae kwon do, volleyball, weight lifting, and wrestling.

Lack Som Ath, general director of the General Department of Sports at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, says that Cambodian female athletes participate in as many as 20 sports.

One shining example is Duch Sophorn – Cambodia’s finest player of pétanque (a form of boules), who has won gold, silver, and bronze medals in international competitions over the past 10 years. Her success has inspired many young girls to pursue athletics. But she admits it has come at a price in a society that views athletic-looking women as sterile and unattractive.

“I have developed muscles and [I am] very strong. [If] men don’t like me, I don’t care, as long as I love myself,” says Ms. Sophorn.

Cambodia to host 16th SEA table tennis championship

May 27 2010
Source: Xinhua

Phnom Penh's National Sports Center will host the 16th SEA Table Tennis Championship on June 3- 7, local media reported on Thursday.

This will be the first time Cambodia has hosted the annual event which was held last year in neighboring Thailand, the Phnom Penh Post reported.

Eight countries are expected to take part in the competition, including Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the philippines and Cambodia, with a total of around 120 players competing, it said.

Sun Sothearith, secretary general of the Cambodian Table Tennis Federation, expressed their excitement at the opportunity to hold the regional championship in the Kingdom, and hoped the home advantage would help them gain success after returning last year without a single medal.

According to the secretary, the tournament will feature men's and women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles for U18s and U15s. The Cambodian team will field 13 males and 2 females.

"Our athletes have been training in Hanoi for the past month and are now in good shape," the secretary was quoted as saying.

Cambodia, Thai Troops to Play Sports, Reduce Tension

2010-05-11
Xinhua

Cambodian and Thai troops are planned to play sports together later this month to reduce tension and improve more understanding to avoid further clashes, a military official said Tuesday.

Chhum Socheat, spokesman of Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense said the military commanders from both sides are to discuss more details later Tuesday the facilitation of the sports activities.

He said, as planned, three kinds of sports: volley ball, bowling and Sipatakraw (shuttle cock) to be on bout for soldiers from both sides who are deployed along the two countries' border area near Preah Vihear Temple, the center land of border conflict.

He said, if the schedule is not changed, then the bout will take place from May 17 through 21 at three border points not far from Preah Vihear Temple.

He said the initiative is designed to create friendlier atmosphere and understanding between the two armies, saying the border conflict shall be resolved by leaders and specialized border commissions of the two countries, not by the armed forces or military confrontation.

Cambodia and Thailand has faced off with border dispute since 2008 and since then there have been three rounds of military clashes, and there remains military presences from both sides along the border until today.

It remains unclear when the border dispute will be resolved.

Bilateral cooperation with VN on culture must start with Vietnam's respect of Khmer Krom rights

VN, Cambodia to closely cooperate in tourism, culture

25/03/2008
VNA (Hanoi)

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese and Cambodian officials have met to discuss concrete measures to boost the bilateral cooperation in tourism, culture and sports.

In a meeting between the visiting Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh and Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon, the two sides expressed their satisfaction of the bilateral cooperation in tourism, and agreed in principle on measures some work to be done in the coming years to attract tourists and encourage their citizens to visit the other country.

They also agreed to set up a committee in charge for developing tourism cooperation between Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. The Cambodian side pledged to look into Vietnam’s suggestion of simplifying exit and entry procedures to facilitate the cross-border tourism.

Working with the Cambodian Ministries of Culture and Fine Arts, and Education, Youth and Sports, Minister Anh and his Cambodian counterparts stressed the need to intensify the exchange of delegations in order to boost cooperation in culture and sports.

The Vietnamese side agreed to help train Cambodian workers in music, archeology and cinematography at Vietnam’s art schools. Vietnam will also share experiences with Cambodia in hosting the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) and training athletics in preparations for the latter’s hosting the 27th SEA Games.

The Vietnamese Minister is on a working visit to Cambodia from March 23-26.

VN to invest $12.5 mln annually for elite athletes; in Cambodia, Gov't officials would pocket that $12.5 mln for themselves

Vietnam to invest $12.5 mln annually for elite athletes

Thanh Nien Daily

Vietnam’s central sports department said it is planning to spend up to VND200 billion (US$12.5 million) a year over 12 consecutive years to train elite athletes for future Olympic Games.

The investment, to be carried out from 2007 to 2018 is aimed at improving skills of a young generation of athletes and winning medals at the Southeast Asian Games 2007 in Thailand, 2008 Olympic Games in China, to the 2018 Asian Games, which Vietnam is bidding to host.

The ambitious project will be completed by Vietnam Olympic Committee, which will then petition the central government for financial assistance.

The committee clarified that it is setting a target that Vietnam will gain 70 gold medals to stand in top three nations at the SEA Games 2007.

For the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Vietnam is hoping to secure two medals in weightlifting, shooting, or taekwondo. At the event, Vietnam will have 30 athletes to go through from qualifiers, the committee plans.

Source: Tuoi Tre – Translated by Minh Phat