Four members of Cambodia’s London Olympics squad will undergo a two-week training stint at the famed Beijing University of Sports as part of their pre-Games preparations.

The Chinese Olympic Committee facilitated this program, which the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia reckons will help the Olympic hopefuls to be in their best possible shape.

London-bound swimmers Hem Thon Ponleu and Hem Thon Vitiny, along with athletes Chan Seiha and Kieng Samorn, were part of the 10-member delegation that left Phnom Penh yesterday for the Chinese capital.

The group will return home on July 7.

Keeping an eye on the future, the NOCC decided to use this opportunity to give four other Cambodian probables a chance to train with the Olympians.

Swimmers Nay Saravey and Tang Hav, and taekwondo trainees Sorn Seamvey and Chey Rithy are also making the trip alongside NOCC Deputy Secretary General Hem Samnang and NOCC Games co-ordinator Nhan Sokvisal.

“The training camp in China will give our athletes the much needed exposure to high-tech facilities and will help their build up and conditioning before the London Games,” NOCC Secretary General Vath Chamroeun told the Post yesterday.

“During my visit to China last year, I saw the excellent facilities in Beijing. We cannot afford pre-Games preparations in London. So, thanks to the Chinese Olympic Committee, we could get this break,” he added.

While the COC will take care of the Cambodian delegation’s accommodation and training, the NOCC will foot the travel costs.

Taekwondo star Sorn Davin, meanwhile, has been training in London for the past two weeks.

Judoka Khom Ratanakmony, who received a late invitation from the IOC to compete in the Under-60kg category, is currently training in Brest near Paris and will join the rest of the squad in London on July 23.

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