Hem Kiry, secretary-general of the Khmer Swimming Federation, has announced the success of the “Hem Thon Age Group Swimming and Finswimming Championship”. He explained that the competition – now in its seventh year – has become an important part of developing youth athletes, especially as the federation prepares to select the national team for the 2029 Asian Youth Games, which Cambodia will host. He noted that this year’s March 15 racing saw 228 people (108 boys, 82 girls, and 38 coaches), from 35 institutions take part, a twofold increase compared to the previous year’s competition, which had fewer than 100…
Author: Chhorn Norn
The shock loss by Cambodian fighter Bird Songkherm in his 59kg title defence at the “XTreme Cambodia Kun Khmer Fight of the Year” remains a hot topic. Some fans have claimed that the loss has tarnished the international reputation of Kun Khmer, while foreign fight promoters argue that the event elevated the sport. Songkherm was the only Cambodian fighters to lose in the three title bouts that took place at the March 15 event, when he was knocked out in the third round by Russian Aslanbek Zikreev. Pich Sambath won the WBC belt by defeating Australian Josh McCulloch on points,…
Some of Cambodia’s strongest Kun Khmer exponents, including Bird Songkherm and Pich Sambath, along with rising stars Pich Singhak and Han Pi, will challenge for or defend their belts at this Saturday’s “XTreme Cambodia Kun Khmer Fight of the Year”. The matches will get underway 3pm in the VIP Air Conditioned Hall of Heng Meas TV Station. Heng Meas Boxing head Kry Pilot, who took charge of organising the spectacular bouts, explained that XTreme Cambodia Kun Khmer Fight of the Year is a major annual event. It will bring together some of the toughest fighters in the sport, with matches…
Svay Rieng FC appeared to take their foot off the gas in the second away leg of their AFC Challenge League qualifier against Myanmar national champion side Shan United FC. The aggregate result was rarely in doubt, thanks to a 6-2 home victory in the first leg of the competition. Despite a poor start to the match, the reigning Cambodian Premier League champions established themselves in the later stages of the game, but were unable to convert the opportunities that followed a raft of changes by coach Pep Munoz, eventually going down 2-1 to the local team. Regardless of the…
The Chinese government has accepted two major sport-related proposals from Cambodia. The first will see the Kingdom’s elite athletes take part in high-level training in China, while the second will see China provide technical support for the maintenance of the Morodok Techo National Stadium. The 60,000 seat stadium was built with Chinese grant assistance prior to the Kingdom’s hosting of the 32nd SEA Games in 2023. Zeng Huacheng, deputy director-general of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, met with Vath Chamroeun, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) on March 12. Chamroeun informed the media that the Chinese government…
Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC have reiterated their determination to get the better of Myanmar club Shan United in tonight’s away leg of the AFC Challenge League 2024-2025. Success in the 5.30pm match will guarantee the club’s advance to the league semifinals, following a comfortable 6-2 score line in the two teams’ previous encounter, at home on March 6. The Cambodian side is looking to improve their quality when they take on their Burmese rivals at the Thuwunna Stadium, in Yangon. Despite the home win, coach Pep Munoz warned that the two legs are different games. He emphasised that…
As the “father” of the Kingdom’s ancient martial art of Kun Lbokator, Grandmaster San Kim Sean doesn’t want to see this vital part of Khmer national identity lose its significance again. After dedicating almost his entire life to researching, documenting and then revising the culture of Kun Lbokator, he now encourages the next generation of Cambodians to unite as one and ensure that the ancient techniques of their ancestors live on for eternity. As vice-president of the Cambodian Kun Bokator Federation (CKBF), he expressed these sentiments as he addressed the closing ceremony of the 2024 National Kun Lbokator Championship, in…
A 4-0 home defeat at the hands – or feet – of Phnom Penh Crown in the first leg of their Hun Sen Cup showdown looked likely to scupper NagaWorld’s campaign. Despite many pundits declaring a four goal aggregate too much of a challenge to overcome, NagaWorld head coach Khim Borey remains upbeat, however. He acknowledged that his squad have a tough fight ahead of them, but warned punters against writing the side off. “We realised our chances were very slim after the 4-0 loss in the first leg, but as we all know, this is football – and anything…
Five foreign-born players who recently received Cambodian citizenship have been called up to join the Cambodian national football team for training, alongside 18 local players, in preparation for this month’s two international friendly matches. The Kouprey will travel to Vietnam to take on their neighbours at Go Dau Stadium on March 19, and return to meet South America’s Aruba at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh on March 25. The 23-strong squad named by the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) on Tuesday, March 11 includes five returning foreign players. Thanks to their impressive performances in the 2024 ASEAN Championship…
The Cambodian Premier League (CPL) saw a long-standing record shattered on Sunday, when Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC were forced to accept a loss on home soil for the first time since December 2023. The 2-1 result to Visakha FC also gave the third-placed Visakha an outside shot at claiming this year’s CPL title from current holders Svay Rieng. Following the loss, Svay Rieng head coach Pep Munoz, offered no excuses for the defeat, praising the visitors for their superior performance on the day. “First, I would like to congratulate Visakha. They really played well. We have no excuses…