Back in the Lao history, many Lao athletes had shown their excellent performances in many international events: Ms. Soukpavanh Piathep, the first heroin from Laos won the gold medal from the World Table Tenis Championship in Mexico, Mr. Vongkot Jinda, the Lao boxer who won the bronze medal in Asian Games, Beijing, and other athletes who won many madals in the SEA Games and other international sport events.
Ms. Soukpavan Piathep revealed that in 1976, she was 16, and she was selected to be the representative from Laos to join the Table tennis championship in Mexico. There were 50 countries participated in this event, and she beat the player from Egypt to win the gold medal for Laos for the first time.
After coming back to Laos, she was warmly welcomed from all Lao and was awarded the medal from the late Lao president Soupanouvong.
Soukpavan is now 49, but she looks very healthy, due to her continuous playing sport, especially table tennis. Up to now, no table tennis player from Laos who yet stand out in the international events.
Ms. Soupavan encourages all Lao table tennis players to try their best in practicing, in order to win some medals for Laos during the upcoming 25th SEA Games that will be held in our own soils the end of this year.
Translated from Vientianemai newspaper
