Six Cambodian fighters will take on Chinese opponents in tonight’s international “Krud Kun Khmer to China 2” event, held in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China, starting at 6pm. The bouts will be broadcast live.
The Cambodian team includes Pich Sambath, Lao Chitra, Moeun Sokhuch, Pich Athitep, and female fighters Eh Yanut and Rithy Vannich. The six athletes will each face Chinese opponents, having already met at the weigh-in ceremony on Monday.
Khov Chhay, president of the Khmer Boxing Federation, is leading the Cambodian delegation.
Ahead of their Sunday departure, he told the media that the trip aims to promote the identity of Kun Khmer and Cambodian culture, allowing Chinese audiences to better understand and appreciate Cambodia — and hopefully attract more Chinese visitors in the future.
“This trip to China has many benefits. First, we are presenting our national identity — Kun Khmer — which belongs to the Khmer people. Second, we are showcasing our country’s rich cultural heritage, showing that Cambodia has a distinctive and vibrant culture within ASEAN,” he explained.
He noted that the six fighters selected for the event are evenly matched with their Chinese counterparts, ensuring that the matches will be intense and exciting.
“Our goal isn’t purely about victory,” he said.
“Winning is good, of course, but our focus is on building long-term partnerships and promoting the art of Kun Khmer. We want the matches to be engaging and leave spectators impressed, so that one day, they might be inspired to train in Kun Khmer themselves,” he added.
Chhay shared how the Kun Khmer Federation is expanding its international network, with China seen as a major future market, given its population of over 1.4 billion people.
“I believe the number of Cambodian fighters competing in China will continue to increase,” he said.
“According to our federation’s plan, in the future we may send 20 to 30 athletes per month to participate in Chinese events — helping to spread Kun Khmer throughout Chinese society,” he added.
He explained that the federation aims to establish more Kun Khmer clubs in China, enabling Cambodian trainers to teach there and fighters to compete more frequently.
“China is huge — with over 1.4 billion people — and hundreds of sporting events every month,” he continued.
“It’s a vast and promising market for us to showcase and expand Cambodian Kun Khmer,” he added.
