Lao Wrestling Federation is redoubling efforts to train young athletes in different categories for future international competitions despite the unsuccessful medal hunt at the recent 5th Asian Beach Games in Vietnam.
The federation plans to ready its most talented young athletes to compete at ASEAN Wrestling Championship in Cambodia in December.
Secretary of the Lao Wrestling Federation Mr. Manolom Phinith said they were waiting for an official invitation to the championship from hosts Cambodia.
Currently, Lao wrestlers across various categories are preparing at the Lao National Sports Training Centre in Sikeuth village in Naxaithong district and the Eastern Star training camp.
We would also like to hold national selection trials in Vientiane ahead of the international event but the federation doesn’t have enough money to organise that. Mr. Manolom said.
Nevertheless, we will continue to develop our best wrestlers for the Cambodian event and the ASEAN championships in Indonesia next year, he said.
Unfortunately, there would not be a wrestling event at the SEA Games in Malaysia in 2017, he added.
The federation also plans to support the wrestling event at 2018’s 11th National Games in Xieng Khuang province having helped with the event at the 10th National Games in Oudomxay province in 2014.
At the 22nd SEA Games in Vietnam in 2013, the Lao wrestling team won a bronze medal. At the 23rd SEA Games in the Philippines in 2005, the team achieved the same result.
At the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007, the team won two bronze medals while at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane in 2009, the team won two gold and five bronze medals on home soil.
At the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia in 2011 the team won three bronze medals. At the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar in 2013, the team won a gold, two silver and five bronze medals.
Source: Vientiane Times
