Cambodia’s team of fighters primed for the English boxing competition at the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar next month have expressed their concern at the standard of the opposition following their return home from a 37-day training camp held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

Six boxers, including 2011 SEA Games bronze medalists Svay Ratha and Choun Sokleng (Vorn Viva), were accompanied in Thailand by coach Ven Sophal. “After the friendly boxing tournament with national boxers from Thailand and Malaysia on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday [last week], we saw that our rivals were better than us, especially at 64kg and 69kg weight classes,” the coach told the Post, adding that Cambodia’s strongest rivals at the SEA Games would be from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

However, Svay Ratha said he was better prepared than two years ago, when he made the podium in Indonesia. “I will get a medal if my opponent in the opening fight is not Thai or Filipino,” he said. The six fighters heading to Myanmar include Svay Ratha (64kg), Choun Sokleng (81kg), Phal Sophon (60kg), Long Lamda (56kg), Srun Pisey (69kg) and Nat Saknin (49kg).