Cambodia’s only competitive interest at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat was in paso doble and rhumba dancing. In both events the Kingdom’s pairing of Chan Viktor and Preap Daniella made it to the final round before being pushed out of the medal zone on Tuesday afternoon.

Taking to the dance floor in an event of this calibre for the first time, the Cambodian duo put up a sterling show to make the six-pair final cut among 16 competing countries but fell out of step in the drive for the medals when international experience counted.

China’s Yan Bangbang and Zhu Jing took paso doble gold ahead of Hong Kong and Kazakhstan. Cambodia finisished sixth behind Japan and Uzbekistan.

In the rhumba, Viktor and Daniella ended up a notch higher in fifth place after South Korea’s Kang Munseong and Park Ji-soo won the event. Hong Kong and Thailand made the podium, with the Philippines pushing Cambodia into fifth place.

“We are happy that we made it to the final round. We could not win medals this time. With more higher level training and experience we hope to do well in the next SEA Games,” Viktor said.

More than 4,000 athletes from 63 countries including a refugee Olympic team took part in this pan-continental event involving 21 indoor and martial arts disciplines.

The 11-day Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games was attended by all 45 national Olympic committees recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia and 18 recognised by those of Oceania.