President of the Cambodia Boules and Petanque Federation Sok Sokan is increasingly confident that the national players will be able to uphold their enviable reputation by claiming gold medals at the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games hosted by Cambodia in 2023.
Sokan expressed his confidemce after the team won three gold, two silver and two bronze medals for the nation at the 4th Asian Boules Sport Confederation Petanque Championship 2022.
He considered the Thailand results a huge victory, as the Cambodian team was the highest-ranked side at the tournament. Of the 15 participating countries, none was able to equal Cambodia’s gold standard performance, with hosts Thailand claiming two of the six available golds and Vietnam collecting the last one.
The seven medals from the Asian Championships take the federation’s total international medal haul to 394 – 116 gold, 138 silver and 140 bronze – since its establishment in 1992. This means that 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the federation under the initiative of the late Sok An, the father of Sokan and formerly deputy prime minister.
“To date, the federation has claimed 394 medals in international competition. The sense of pride that we feel comes from knowing that every member of our federation family has played their part in earning them,” he added.
At the Asian Champs, which ran from November 11-14, the Cambodian team stunned the other participating countries as they opened the competition in all three shooting events with two gold and one silver. Cambodian players made all of the finals, with Thong Chhoeun and Uth Duong Khe claiming gold and Un Sreyya taking silver.
In the men’s triple event, Chhoeun teamed up with Yim Sophoan, Sao Sophearan and reserve Tip Bonra to a second medal to his own tally, and a third to the Kingdom’s. They defeated Thailand 13-6 in the final match, while the Cambodian B team – consisting of Heng Soumean, Sin Vong, Nhem Bora and Puth Yon Chandara – were able to win their play-off to take the bronze.
In the women’s triples, Ouk Srey Mom, Un Sreyya, Khuon Yary and Oum Davin (Reserve) had a clean sweep of their group B matches, beating Malaysia 10-8, Thailand A 13-3, the Philippines 13-1 and Japan 13-3. They defeated Vietnam 13-0 in the semi-finals, but were held to 13-1 by Thailand A in the final, meaning they will return to Cambodia bearing silver.
In the men’s U18 triples, Cambodia was looking to defend its 2019 gold medal-winning performance.
Alas, it was not to be with Duong Khe, Mong Virakbot, Non Ravin and Chea Hengudom Reaksmey being eliminated in the group stages.
The Cambodian B team – Pheap Parkin, Uth Sokchea, Nouch Sokhemarak and Hak Srey Nuth – restored some honour, taking bronze after losing 13-9 to Malaysia in the semi-finals.
Sokan said the huge success of the adult teams was down to the federation’s commitment to transparency.
“In our federation, there is a strong focus on transparency measures. We are open in our dealings, our selections and expectations, and results in Thailand reflect that,” he said.
He is confident that his athletes will be able to repeat their winning feats at the SEA Games next year.
“Our players are all highly skilled, ethical and disciplined, so I am confident they will be able to maintain their performance edge. They will continue to train hard to prepare for the upcoming games.
“We still have the National Games that will be held in November, and in December we will have another competition, so we will compete regularly. Through the efforts of the federation as well as our coaches and athletes, I believe we will see some gold medal-winning performances at the 2023 games,” he added.
