Cambodia Breaks Its Own Records
Chhun Bunthorn (L) and Kaing Muynin (R). Photo: Te Chhaysinh and Lay Long
- By Te Chhaysinh
- May 13, 2023 2:18 PM
PHNOM PENH — Cambodia has broken its own historical records by winning its first gold medal in the 400-meter bi-fin mixed relay discipline of fin swimming and the men’s 800-meter discipline of athletics in the 32nd SEA Games currently held in Cambodia.
Cambodia's Kaing Muynin won the swimming competition at the SEA Games at the Morodok Techo National Aquatic Centre, becoming the country's first-ever gold medalist. She finished with a time of 3:59.01, while the Indonesian Az Zahra Raqiel came in second with a time of 4:05.97. The Cambodian Kheun Bunpichmorakat finished in third place with a time of 4:09.62.
After the competition, Muynin said she couldn’t find the words to describe how overjoyed she felt, especially since she did not expect to win. She added that she was very proud to have won this medal in front of her family.
Chhun Bunthorn became the first Cambodian athlete to win the first gold medal in the men’s 800-meter running discipline of athletics, finishing with a time of 1:52.170 at the Morodok Techo National Stadium.
Bunthorn, overcome with emotion, broke down in tears of happiness. This is his first SEA Games gold medal, and he couldn't have been happier, though he said he regretted that his parents were no longer here to celebrate with him. “I trained very hard in China for eight months,” he said.
The Vietnamese athlete Duc Phuoc Luong finished in second place, and Fazri Wan Zahari of Malaysia came in third.
By obtaining these gold medals, Kaing Muynin and Chhun Bunthorn made SEA Games history as Cambodia had never before accomplished this.
As of press time, Cambodia ranks third on SEA Games 2023 medal table, winning 58 gold, 47 silver and 63 bronze medals. Vietnam tops the table with 71 gold while Thailand is the second with 60 gold medals.
