Bun Kenny (L) accepts his cash reward from Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh during a ceremony at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport on Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. Photograph: Sandrine Bury/Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia’s triumphant Davis Cup tennis squad was served with a double cash bonanza on Friday. It came from the highest echelons of the Royal Government in an unprecedented show of admiration for the Kingdom’s promotion from Group IV to III in one of the world’s oldest international team competitions.

Understandably proud and very happy with Cambodia’s dream debut in Doha, Qatar, during April this year, Prime Minister Hun Sen made a personal cash contribution of US$12,000 to the six-member squad comprising national coach Braen Aneiros, non-playing captain Tep Rithivit and players Bun Kenny, Mam Panhara, Mam Vetu and Long Samneang.

On behalf of the premier, the cash awards were presented to the team by Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh, who is also the President of the Tennis Federation of Cambodia, at a function held at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

In a related development, the ministry decided to apply the sub-decree on cash incentives regarding the SEA Games and Asian Games to the Davis Cup squad.

Under the decree, the ministry awarded to the team a total of 120 million riels (US$29,993), 24 million riels to each of the four players and captain Tep Rithivit.

The cash packages were handed over by the Minister of Education Im Sethy with Mam Phalkun, who is now featuring in the three Futures events playing in Phnom Penh, collecting the monies on behalf of his US-based younger brother Vetu.

Cham Prasidh said the appreciation shown by Prime Minister Hun Sen was a ringing endorsement of the tennis achievements recorded in the last few years.

Im Sethy also commended the federation for the remarkable progress that has been made and the rise of the country’s international profile.

To contact the reporter on this story: H S Manjunath at [email protected]