SEA Games Medalist Aims High for Asian Athletic Championships
Cambodia athletes Noeb Chanyurong, Pok Reaksmey and Chhun Bunthorn leave for Thailand. Photo provided by Chhun Bunthorn
- By Heak Chhork
- July 12, 2023 12:31 PM
PHNOM PENH – Chhun Bunthorn, the first Cambodian athlete to win a gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games, will compete in the 2023 Asian Athletic Championships.
“To me, this is a hard competition because it’s a new experience, and more than 40 members are participating,” he said. “I am the gold medalist in the SEA Games but this competition is not easy.”
He would do his best to show the world that Cambodian runners are developing and can compete on an international stage.
Bunthorn is training hard after the SEA Games to prepare for the competition in Thailand, which runs from July 12 to 16.
“I am training as hard as I trained in China,” he said.
The Cambodia Athletic Federation is sending two officials and three athletes to the event, including chief delegate Pen Vuthy, trainer Bo Puth Reatrey and athletes Chhun Bunthorn, Pok Reaksmey and Noeb Chanyourong.
Bunthorn will compete in 800m and 1500m race.
The Philippines hosted the first Asian Athletic Championship in 1973. It is held every two years.
Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Te Chhaysinh for Cambodianess.
