STORY: Cambodian athletes to train in China for Hangzhou Asian Games
DATELINE: Aug. 24, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:22
LOCATION: Phnom Penh
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE (Khmer): PEN SOKONG, Cambodia's national sprinter
2. various of Cambodian athletes gathering at Phnom Penh International Airport

STORYLINE:

Cambodia on Wednesday sent 136 athletes to train in China in preparation for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, a senior sports official said.

Vath Chamroeun, secretary general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, said the athletes across 11 sports including swimming, basketball, volleyball, badminton, wrestling, judo, table tennis, athletics and gymnastics will train in China for three months.

"The adult athletes will train in preparation for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8," Chamroeun told Xinhua. "For the under-18 athletes, they will train for other games in the future, especially the 2029 Asian Youth Games, to which Cambodia will play host."

"This high-level technical training is essential to help increase the capacity and technical levels of our Cambodian athletes," he added.

It is the second time that Cambodia has dispatched a large number of athletes to train in China, Chamroeun said, adding that last year the Southeast Asian country sent 161 athletes to train in China for seven months.

30-year-old sprinter Pen Sokong said he was excited to be given a chance to train in China ahead of the Hangzhou Asian Games.

SOUNDBITE (Khmer): PEN SOKONG, Cambodia's national sprinter
"For me, I'm very happy and excited that our sports leaders have trusted me and other athletes, and provided us an opportunity to train in China. For the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, I will be one of the participating athletes at the games, and I hope I will achieve a good result, as I will try all my best."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Phnom Penh.
(XHTV)