The National Karate-do Championship Tournament 2011

By Sok Lak

About 200 Karate-do athletes from 8 Karate-do clubs across Cambodia have participated in the National Karate-do Championship Tournament 2011 over five days from 02 to 06 June 2011 at National Stadium in Phnom Penh to compete to become the Karate-do champions for 2011 in Cambodia.

The National Karate-do Championship Tournament 2011 is organized by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in collaboration with Cambodian Karate-do Federations.

The national competition is aiming to select best players for national tournament and international tournament. It is also to promote and develop the sport in Cambodia.

Lach Chansovann, President of Cambodian Karate-do Federation, said that sixteen Karate-do athletes selected as national athletes from the National Karate-do Championship Tournament 2011.

Bun Sok, Secretary of State for Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, said that Karate-do is a kind of sport which can protect themselves, protect nation as well as to be healthy. Nowadays many people do exercise for their health, also play it till become professional athletes as well. “I hope they can achieve high technical and have a ability to participate international tournament as well as get medal for nation”

Lach Chansovann said that there are 192 Karate-do athletes including 38 female athletes come from 8 clubs across Cambodia have participate in National Karate-do Championship Tournament 2011. Comparing to last year, even though the number of club is decreasing, but the number of athletes is increasing. Last year, there are only 126 athletes including 24 female athletes from 14 clubs participated in the 2010 tournament.

He added that competition has 16 competition subjects and divided into two categories subject including fighting competition and Kata competition. For fighting subject, there are seven categories for men (55 kg, 60 kg, 65 kg, 70kg, 75 kg, 75 kg up and free weight) and five categories for women (48 kg, 53 kg, 60 kg, 60 kg up and free weight). For Kata subject, there are four categories: two categories for men (under-17 age and 17 up ages) and two other categories for women (under-17 age and 17 up ages).

As the result, three of Karate-do athletes receive Karate-do flag as rewards for their best achievements. Sovan Kiry is the best player in Karate-do sport, who can win the champion three year consequence. “Training regularly is important for Karate-do players, but we need to think about our weight as well. Keep it balances is also a key to win every time in competition.”

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, June 12-18, 2011, Vol. 5, Issue 24, Page 12