Tiếng ViệtCambodia reached the target of winning nine gold medals for Vovinam at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), securing top place in the event’s medals table for the seven countries competing in the tournament.
Before the competition, Cambodia Vovinam Federation (CVF) President Ou Ratana said Cambodia is committed to grabbing nine gold medals for Vovinam at the Games hosted by Cambodia for the first time in the event’s 64-year history.
The targeted nine medals are in line with the medal target set by Cambodia SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC). The Vietnamese style of martial arts, Vovinam, was contested at Chroy Changvar Convention Centre (Hall F) in Phnom Penh from May 6-9.
The nine gold medals for Cambodia were earned by athletes in different categories from combat to men and women performance and mixed performance.
The ninth gold medal won by Pov Sokha and Soeur Chanleakhena in women’s “Pair Sword Form” event yesterday brought Cambodia to reach its ambition for the biennial regional sport competition.
Sokha also made headlines by winning a total of five medals including three gold, one silver and one bronze.
Two other gold won by Sokha were “Ying-yang Sword Form 4x” in the women performance discipline and shared another gold medal with his Cambodian team mates – Khorn Chansopheakneath, Meth Sopheaktra, Pal Chhor Raksmy, Prak Sovanny and San Socheat in the mixed performance of “Basic self-defence”.
Eh Virekkaamchhitphouthong gained gold in 65kg men’s combat, winning 4-3 points against Chainarong Yawanophat from Thailand after defeating Vietnamese athlete Viet Ha Nguyen with 4-1 in the semi-final.
Sean Chanhout won gold in the men’s performance of “Four-element Staff Form” event, followed by a silver medal from Myanmar athlete Tin Htoo Zaw. Indonesian athlete Kadek Dwi Dharmadi and Phupakorn Wongthanachet from Thailand shared bronze medals.
Ly Boramy won a total of three gold, including “Five-gate Form” and “Sun-moon Broadsword Form” events for men performance and shared gold with his four other Cambodian athletes – Im Langchhung, Men Sokvichheka, Meth Sary and Ny Tiza in “Ying-yang Sword Form 4x” event.
Raksmy also made her Cambodian fans proud by winning a gold medal in the women’s performance of “Aspect Broadsword Single Form” event. The silver won by Myanmar athletes Eain Dray Phoo and bronze medal were shared by Janah Jaje Ochea Lavadoh from the Philippines and Ni Made Ayu Ratih Daneswari from Indonesia.
The Vietnam team won silver and Indonesia and Myanmar teams shared bronze medals for this mixed performance.
Ratana told the media on Monday that the skill and quality of the Cambodian Vovinam team have rapidly improved with the support from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and CAMSOC.
“The Ministry of Education has hired a contracted- coach who is native martial arts coach [Vietnamese] to train our athletes,” he said, adding that CAMSOC also sent another coach to help train combat techniques.
He said the Cambodian team was strongly committed to the medal race, expressing his pride for hosting the Sea Games.
“Our athletes are fast improving now, earning a historic medal race in the competition,” he said. “We are proud to host the SEA Games under the leadership of Samdech Dech (Prime Minister Hun Sen.”
Cambodia won just three gold, two silver and nine bronze medals for Vovinam at the 31st SEA Games 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
(Source: Ben Sokhean / Khmer Times)