Minister of Commerce and TFC President Cham Prasidh (left) presents the championship winners plate to Bun Kenny yesterday. Photo by: SRENG MENG SRUN

Lionel Lajous of France hits a returns to Cambodia’s Bun Kenny during their Men’s A class final of the 2011 Cham Prasidh Cup yesterday at the National Training Centre. Lajous lost 6-2, 6-0. Photo by: SRENG MENG SRUN

In the end it turned out to be a perfect mismatch as 21-year-old Bun Kenny outclassed 41-year-old Phnom Penh based Frenchman Lionel Lajous 6-2, 6-0 to win the Men’s A class singles title in the 2011 Cham Prasidh Cup national tanking tennis tournament at the National Training Centre yesterday.

The power and precision of the Cambodian No 1 ensured this youth versus experience contest fell in favour of the former, who at no stage in the hour-long match came under any sort of pressure.

In fact, the heat of the contest and the blazing sun forced Lajous to change his T-shirt no less than three times, only serving to highlight his struggle.

At the prize distribution ceremony, Minister of Commerce and Tennis Federation of Cambodia President Cham Prasidh had words of praise for Bun Kenny, who won the inaugural championship last year.

“Kenny is the pride of Cambodia and we want him to keep winning. His improvement in ranking from 1,500th six months ago to 1,100th odd is truly amazing,” said the Minister said after handing over the trophies to the winner and the runners-up.

Beaten finalist Lajous has still a chance to grab a singles title in the men’s B category, the final of which against Thun Thola has been postponed.

On the way to the final, Kenny easily got past national team colleague Orn Sambath 6-2, 6-0 while Lajous gave 14-year-old Ek Chamroeun and a sound 7-5, 6-2 thrashing.

Kan Sophon wins U18 final

In the boys U18 final, Kan Sophon put his loss of the first set against Ek Chamroeun behind him to wind up a 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 winner.

The men’s doubles event expectedly went to the Asian Games pairing of Bun Kenny and Orn Sambath, who quickly shut out Chhay Panavuth and Rin Sophanarong 6-1, 6-3 in the final.

Belying his young age and diminutive build, Doeum Sambath energetically beat Regis Martin 7-5, 7-5 in the men’s C category final. When it came to his own U14 age group final, Doeum Sambath was equally at home, getting past a fighting Sokha Ratanak  5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in the last game of the four player league.

Tep Timothy’s grand run in the U12 boys category extended to four titles when he easily got the measure of Leng Sambath 4-2, 4-0 in the final. In the semifinals, Timothy beat Sothy Vinit 4-0, 4-0 while Leng Sambath got past Chheang Vannaseth 4-0, 2-4, 4-0.

Winner of three previous U12 girls events, Tie Heng May was finally brought down by her archrival Kim Dara.  Raising her game a notch or two, Kim Dara ran out a 4-2, 4-2 winner. In the semifinals, Kim Dara beat Seoun Sovanary  5-3, 4-2, while Tie Heng May beat Sary Sodaney 4-2, 4-1.