Athletes from Laos have brought home 24 medals from the 1st Kun Bokator SEA Championship 2023 in Cambodia, held earlier this month.
Lao athletes received 5 gold medals, 7 silver medals, and 12 bronze medals in the warm-up competition of the Kun Bokator SEA Championship 2023 before the 32nd Southeast Asian Games that will be held in May.
A total of 28 athletes, including 2 coaches from Laos, participated in the competition which also saw contestants from Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Cambodian athletes won 33 medals including 11 gold medals, 10 silver medals, and 12 bronze medals, while Laotian athletes won 24 medals in total, including 5 gold medals, 7 silver medals, and 12 bronze medals.
Vietnam came in third place with 3 gold medals, 3 silver medals, and 3 bronze medals while the Philippines received 2 gold medals, 1 silver, and 3 bronze medals.
Mr. Vilaiphone Vongphachan, an athlete from Laos who won one gold medal in the competition, told the Lao X Media that representing her country and winning the gold medal was a proud moment for her.
As this Khmer sport was new to her, she said she would use the knowledge acquired from participating in this competition to improve her strategies and techniques for the upcoming SEA Games and strive for a medal.
Kun Lbokator or Kun Bokator is a martial art dating back to the Angkorian period (9th to 15th century) that uses self-defense techniques and a philosophy of nonviolence to improve the strength and discipline of athletes and practitioners, according to UNESCO.
