Nak Leng Kun Fighters Ready to Rock the Ring
Pich Khamtai fights Vietnamese Hoang Phuc Thuan in the 53kg category. Photo: Teng Yalirozy
- By Teng Yalirozy
- December 14, 2023 5:34 PM
PHNOM PENH – Fourteen martial arts fighters from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia will rock the tournament in Neak Leng Kun, a competition for martial arts enthusiasts, on Dec. 15 at the Olympic National Stadium.
A special pair is Cambodian kun lbokator fighter Chan Rothana and Filipino John McLeary Ornido in the 62kg category.
Cambodian bokator fighter Pich Ponleu will face off against Lao Honggvixay Sivilay in the 54kg category.
Pich Khamtai fights Vietnamese Hoang Phuc Thuan in the 53kg category. Sou Kakada will meet Indonesian Muhammad Yunus Dhae Atu in the 63kg category.
Nang Sovan will face off against Vietnamese Pham Van Giang in the 51kg category. Meas Reacheas will face Indonesian SanJaya Hutagaol in the 60kg category.
Rin Saroth will meet Filipino Jiar Orlando Castillo in the 65kg category.
John McLeary Ornido said he spent six months training for this tournament, in which he was confident of winning against Chan Rothana, who had more than 100 wins.
“I'm very confident because the experience is an advantage, but if you're if you're getting old, you're getting slow,” he said. “If you're young, you're fast, you're strong. You're better on every edge of the fight. I have the strength. I think I have the ace of this game here.”
McLeary said Rothana’s spirit was unbreakable, calling him a lion. “I'm gonna break his spirit. That's the plan,” he said.
For this match, Chan Rothtana said he was a little worried about his strength because his opponent was only 20 years old. But based on technique, Rothana believed in his ability as he had a lot of experience on the battlefield.
Nak Leng Kun is from Khmer words. It was inspired by rice farmers who enjoyed Khmer martial arts in their leisure time. This tournament will show how ancient people fought to protect their village and themselves.
“We think the Olympic Stadium is going to be full. Please, Cambodian people, come watch our fight. Our fight is gonna be a fight of the century,” said John McLeary Ornido.
