Nationwide Undergraduate Sports Competition


BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA

Around 100 undergraduates from universities and faculties from five regions have taken part in the Nationwide Undergraduate Sports Competition from June 25 to the 9th July 2009 at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.

The competition was organized by the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport to promote student health, according to Kem Sy Huoth, Chief of the Administrative Office in the Ministry.

“The main purpose of the competition is to increase student participation in sports. These competitions will promote good physical health and draw attention away from undesirable behavior such as drug abuse,” he told The Southeast Asia Weekly during an interview.

Sy Huoth said that this year’s undergraduate sports competition would be divided into categories for both male and female contenders. There will be a football tournament, a volleyball competition, basketball and an athletics meet. In all cases, two competitions will be arranged for male and female teams. He added that the athletics meet would include the shot put, javelin, discuss, the long jump and running.

There will be gold, silver and bronze medals for the winners and runners-up as well as other attractive prizes. These have been provided by the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport.

Touch Sothearith of the Human Resources University’s Basket Ball team took part in the competition. He said that it marked the fourth time since 2006 that his team had been in action at the annual event. On each occasion, his team came second.

“Second is a respectable position for us. However, after all our hard work and training, we would like to come first once or twice. Maybe next year will be our lucky year and we will take home the first prize,” he told The Southeast Asia Weekly on July 2.

Keo Tharorth, a Football player representing Steung Treng Regional Teacher Training Center, said his team was competing for the first time in the competition. He said that he and his team members have also been training hard for many months in preparation.

“I enjoy the competition and I am sure we will all do our best. If we are not successful this year, well, it is not the winning; it is the taking part that counts. We will learn from the experience and train all the harder next year,” he said. ///

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Laotian gets life for drug trafficking

Sorn Elit, the Tallest Cambodian Taekwando Champion

Chan Tra: Life of a Cambodian Traditional Tattoo Artist