Long-distance runner Nary Ly could become the first Cambodian women to compete in an Olympic marathon if the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia succeeds in getting her a universality placement that has been sought for the Rio de Janeiro Games in August.

Secretary-general of the NOCC Vath Chamroeun confirmed yesterday that the 43-year’s name had gone forward as she held the best credentials for distance running among women in the country.

Cambodia is among scores of countries in the world whose athletes generally fail to meet Olympic qualifying standards but are offered a few places as a gesture of “universality” by the International Olympic Committee.

In December, Ly recorded a personal best of 2 hours 59 minutes and 12 seconds in the Valencia Marathon.

Though this falls well behind the world’s best, the sub-three hour mark was better than Thailand’s Natthaya Thanaronnawat (3:03.25) in winning gold at the 2015 Sea Games in June.