Students from two Phnom Penh schools fight during the women’s individual epee competition at the Fencing Western Cup. SUPPLIED
Te Lorin – president of the Fencing Federation of Cambodia (FFC) and chairman of the board of directors of Western University – says the federation seeks to target its technical weaknesses and improve its standards ahead of hosting the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2023, the first in its history.
Weak points were identified following an assessment by an expert committee on the performance of technical staff at the 2022 Fencing Western Cup, held at Western Stadium on Saturday.
FFC technical director Khuth Sieng said in his report: “The Second Fencing Western Cup 2022 was an official competition and a test of the ability of the federation’s technical staff and referees to ensure the organisation of the 2023 SEA Games, with Cambodia hosting, works well.
“After the championships, we saw a lot of shortcomings that will need to be addressed as soon as possible, because the federation is preparing for two more competitions in the third and the fourth quarters of the year. We will use the national sports event in November to gain experience and strengthen the capacity of our technical officers and the inspection of competition equipment.
The Fencing Western Cup is an official competition of the federation which focuses on school level competitions and aims to inspire fencing activities at all levels of schools in line with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport’s in-depth reform policy. This competition has only two disciplines, Men and Women’s individual epee.
Following Saturday’s full-day of competition for the men’s event – with 38 participants – Sok Chanrithy from Chea Sim Samaki High School took gold, with silver going to Khoeun Tima of Indradevi High School. Bronze was shared between Lan Mose from Chea Sim Samaki High School and Phearak Phearin from Glory Club.
In the women’s event, 18 athletes participated, with Rom Srey Len from Indratevi High School winning the gold medal. Pen Narita from Western International School won the silver medal, and bronze went to Prak Panha Tevy from Western International School and Hay Sreysros of Champou Vorn High School.
The medal ceremony was attended by FFC vice-president Hu Chien Hay.
