The Cambodian Petanque and Sport Boules Federation will send a team of eight to Hanoi for the 16th Asian Petanque Championship, scheduled for December 12 to 16.

The athletes will compete in seven events including men’s, women’s and mixed doubles and triples and individual shooting for both genders.

The Kingdom’s squad is favourite to retain its titles in the men’s triples and women’s shooting.

Last year’s triumphant triples team, who ended Thailand’s streak of seven successive gold medals in the discipline on their home turf in Nonthaburi, retains half its members for Hanoi following the death of Or Chandaren in a motorbike accident and Heng Tha missing the cut.

Champions Yim Sophoan and Sieng Vamna will be joined by Toep Nora and Heng Soumean.

Ke Leng, meanwhile, will aim to win her third straight women’s shooting event.  

“Cambodia has participated in the competition since its inaugural edition in 1997, and we have a history of successful tournaments, where we brought home medals almost every year.

“We cannot guarantee gold medals, but I sincerely hope we can win at this year’s championships,” Em Heang, deputy general secretary of the Cambodian Petanque and Sport Boules Federation, said.

Fifteen countries are expected to participate, although it is unlikely medals will be awarded to competitors from outside the big four petanque-playing nations: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

To contact the reporters on this story: Chhorn Norn at [email protected]

Chris Derbuc at [email protected]