Twelve Countries Set for Kun Khmer Championship in Siem Reap
National Olympic Committee of Cambodia secretary Vath Chamroeun. Photo: NOCC
- By Kim Makara
- November 8, 2023 6:00 PM
PHNOM PENH – Boxers from 12 countries will join the Kun Khmer World Championship at Angkor Wat during the Water Festival celebration from Nov. 26 to 28.
The decision was at the request of nearly 60 kun Khmer members for Cambodia to build strong relationships with other member countries, National Olympic Committee of Cambodia secretary Vath Chamroeun said.
Chamroeun said the national committee for organizing the Water Festival will also organize sport competitions and Kun Khmer is one of them. Countries taking part will include Australia, Russia, Japan and Malaysia.
“In Phnom Penh, the committee will organize boxing matches and other sport activities,” he said.
“However, participants and tourists requested to hold the kun Khmer Championship in Siem Reap province.
“Visitors can see both kun Khmer and Angkor Wat. Besides, it is the historical place of kun Khmer.”
Chamroeun said kun Khmer during the Water Festival is not a professional competition for profit but a sport.
“We compete at the scoring level as a sport that is regulated in the SEA Games and the official format of Khmer martial arts. We do not compete professionally or for profit.,” he said.
Cambodia will also plan a global kun Khmer conference in early 2024, Chamroeun said.
Members encouraged Cambodia to go for the second stage: getting Kun Khmer into the Asian level with 45 countries. Chamroeun said that Cambodia had been successful in getting kun Khmer included in the SEA Games.
The next goal is to put the martial art in the Asian Games and then the Olympics.
Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this article was translated by Nhor Sokhoeurn for Cambodianess.
