The Muay Lao National Federation will send kickboxing athletes to participate in the SEA Games 2023 despite the disputed renaming of the kickboxing sport from Muay Lao/Thai to Kun Khmer.
Lao National TV reports that six kickboxing athletes from Laos, including four male and two female athletes, will represent Laos in the upcoming SEA Games 2023 in Cambodia with the hope of winning some medals.
Mr. Saysamone Sayasone, President of the Muay Lao Federation and the World Muay Federation, stated that the decision to send Lao athletes to compete in the martial arts competition was made to promote unity between Laos, Cambodia, and other neighboring countries.
“The purpose of the SEA Games is to promote traditional sports in the region and the host nation organizes competitions for participation by neighboring nations,” Mr. Saysamone said.
The International Federation of Muay Thai Associations (IFMA) has threatened to boycott the SEA Games 2023 held in Cambodia over the host nation’s decision to rename the kickboxing event.
Mr. Saysamoane noted that the IFMA cannot prohibit other nations from participating in the SEA Games since it doesn’t host the annual sporting event.
According to the Muay Lao Federation, six countries have confirmed their participation, including Cambodia (host), Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
The decision to use “ Kun Khmer” was made after the Cambodian SEA Games Organizing Committee was criticized for not being patriotic enough to endorse its own form of martial arts in 2022.
