Cambodia sets sights on gold at upcoming Asian Games

Jessa Khan wins the gold medal in the women’s Ju-Jitsu ne-waza no gi under 52kg at the 32rd SEA Games in Phnom Penh on May 7. Hong Menea

Cambodia is primed for the Asian Games in China, preparing to train in twelve potential sports, as per an announcement made by Vath Chamroeun, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC).

Chamroeun announced that the Olympic Council of Asia extended an invitation to the NOCC to participate in the Asian Games, originally scheduled for September 2022 but postponed to run from September 23 to 8 October 8 this year in Hangzhou, China.

Collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the National Training Sport Centre, will help actualise their plans and encourage the National Sports Federation to train persistently following the recently-concluded SEA Games.

“With 120 days for training to go, we will send our athletes, representing 12 sports, to China for training and competition in the Asian Games this coming August. We will send totally from 160 to 250 athletes for these tournaments,” he explained.

Chamroeun refrained from revealing the specific twelve sports, but he assured they would be high-potential events in which Cambodia excelled during the 32nd SEA Games.

“Our selection is based on each sport’s potential and their medal tally from the SEA Games. Sports with less potential and fewer medals are not our focus, as we aim to ensure effective participation and uphold national pride,” he said.

He went on to mention that Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism and president of the NOCC, has established principles to thoroughly examine techniques and uphold the technical proficiency of Cambodian athletes.

“We’ve prioritised working with the National Sports Federation, the Ministry of Education and the National Training Sport Centre to ensure this Asian Games yield better results than the competition in Indonesia in 2018,” he emphasised.

Chamroeun remarked that during the 18th SEA Games in Indonesia in 2018, Cambodia set a new record by securing two gold medals and one bronze. Despite jet ski, one of Cambodia’s medal-winning sports in 2018, being excluded from the Asian Games, Chamroeun remains hopeful about the Kingdom’s chances.

“We have hope for winning gold medals in jet ski and other sports, regardless of it not being included in the Asian Games by China. We have faith in our athletes, especially jujitsu medallist Jessa Khan,” he affirmed.

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