Following the historic silver medal won by Cambodia’s Sok Sopheak in the 67kg competition of the 47th Asian Bodybuilder and Physique Sports Championships earlier this month, as well as five other team members grabbing top-ten placings at the Ho Chi Minh City event, the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia and the Cambodian Body Building and Fitness Federation held a joint press conference at the NOCC headquarters yesterday morning to announce targets for the 27th SEA Games, which are being held in Myanmar in December.

“To obtain medals at the 2013 SEA Games, our men need to get enough food. They must consume at least 4,000 to 6,000 calories [per day], so we need to find donations to respond to their needs,” NOCC general secretary Vath Chamroeun said in his address.

“I’m confident we will win medals at the SEA Games because our men are now so much better conditioned, and the Federation is thinking about sending out five or six athletes,” he added, noting that gold medalists will receive a total of $18,000, silver $9,000 and bronze $4,000 as part of sponsorship deals and government rewards.

Body builder Sok Sopheak told reporters: “We need at least $15 to respond to our daily food requirements. Therefore, anyone who loves this sport and wants to help the national team, please sponsor us as we are not supported the same as other sports.”