The Lao national karatedo team is training in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi to boost its medal chances at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane in December.
The squad departed from Vientiane on April 26 and will return in June before competing in the Phuket Thailand Open from June 4-9 and attending an international competition in Bangkok , Thailand , in July.
Senior Consultant with the Lao Karatedo Federation and Director of the Shotokan Karatedo Club, Mr Sonesak Nhansana, said the team will win medals in both upcoming events.
Eleven male and five female karatedo fighters and two coaches are training in Vietnam and they all have previous experience at the SEA Games level.
The federation plans to select 10 of its best fighters to compete in both the singles and team dancing and fighting events at the open.
At last year's Thailand Open the Lao team won a silver and a bronze medal.
Inkhatheb Saythansavanh won a bronze medal in the men's 70kg division at the 24th SEA Games and hopes to compete at the open.
Mr Inkhatheb won a gold medal in the fighting (kumite) event of the men's 70kg category and a silver medal in the open event at the eighth National Games, held in Champassak province last December where he represented Borikhamxay province.
Ms Chansouda is another promising prospect after winning gold medals in the fighting and open events and a silver in the dancing (kata) event at the national games.
The karatedo event at the SEA Games will consist of seven categories for men (55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg and 80kg) and four weight divisions for female fighters (48kg, 53kg, 60kg and over 60kg).
By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes
