25th SEA Games, Laos

SEA Games Organising Committee Chairman Somsavat Lengsavad said yesterday the games will raise Lao sport to a higher level because of the enthusiasm shown by local people in supporting Lao athletes.

“SEA Games fever has shown that people want to cheer for and support their athletes in popular sports so this leads me to believe Lao sport will improve,” he said.

Mr Somsavat said many foreigners had told him they couldn't believe that Lao people could be so interested in the games. “I don't want to congratulate my own country but many national leaders in this region have congratulated us on our good preparations and infrastructure which has contributed to the success of the games so far.”

He said many delegations had also congratulated him on the standard of the various sports venues including those used for shooting and table tennis, saying they were better than those in other countries in the region.

“They also said we should organise other international sports events in the future.”

Mr Somsavat said he was proud of the way local people welcomed various visitors during the games with warm smiles and hospitality. He also congratulated Lao athletes, saying the SEA Games was an important event in the history of Laos .

“Our athletes have done well, winning many gold, silver and bronze medals even though the games are still not over. Laos has never had such medal success. But this time we are the hosts so our athletes trained hard for this victory.”

Mr Somsavat talked about the Lao footballers, saying they had played very well to be in the semi-finals. In the past, Laos had never reached the semi-finals.

“Today, I can say our footballers have greatly improved because of their dedicated training. They are trying to do their best, especially as we are the hosts of this event.”

He urged people to continue to show their support for Lao athletes until the end of the games, saying cheering was the best source of energy and inspiration as they pursued their medal quest.

“All Lao people should show their support right up until the end of the games. And we should continue to give visitors a warm and polite welcome, as well as taking care of the environment so the country looks its best for all delegations, guests and tourists visiting Laos,” he said.





By Souknilundon Southivongnorath

Vientianetimes

Laos U23 team had their warm up match with HAGL club from Vietnam in preparation for the 25th SEA Games in Chao Anou football stadium, Vientiane.

In the first match which kicked off on Sunday 22nd November, Laos team trounced Vietnam 4:0. However, the match on 24th November, Vietnam hit back and won Laos with the score 3:1.

This will be the final warm up match for Laos U23 team.

In 25th SEA Games, Laos will first meet Myanmar on December 5th.

The Lao Women's Football Federation will organise a final test event for its players on November 18-19 before the SEA Games get underway in December.

After conceding several goals at the International Women's Football Tournament held in Quang Ninh , Vietnam , last month, the team will play against a club from Chonbury province, Thailand , as a final test before the games.

Assistant coach Mr Viengsavanh Sengchanh accepted yesterday that his team was not as strong compared with the Thai and Vietnamese teams because they didn't practise before the tournament.

“We had left early hoping to practise in Vietnam for 10 days, but unfortunately there was a big storm in Vietnam then so for those 10 days we just ate and slept. We returned home for five days but the tournament organisers invited us to participate in the event so we decided to go ahead even though the players weren't fit,” he said.

After coming back from the tournament, the team starting practising hard by using the experience of the loss, and now they are getting better and are ready to take on the Thai team this month.

The squad has been training since April this year, and the federation invited countries in the region to a tournament in Champassak province. The Lao women were runners-up in the event.

“We have 25 players who are strong and ready to play in the SEA Games; I think they will be able to hold their heads high next month,” Mr Viengsavanh said.

The test event on November 18-19 will be another trial run for the Chao Anouvong and Dongdok stadiums to see if they are ready for the SEA Games.

“Fans can go to cheer the team for free during the competition on both days,” he said.

Mr Viengsavanh also explained that after the match the federation will continue with training and will select the final 20 players for the SEA Games.

“We promise we'll get one of the three medals for Laos ,” he said.

The women's football matches will be played in a group comprising Malaysia , Thailand , Myanmar , Vietnam and Laos .

“ Vietnam has the strongest team but we are trying our best,” Mr Viengsavanh said.

The Lao male and female beach volleyball teams are confident of reaching the semi-finals at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane this December.

The teams are currently training at a facility in Nongtha village in Chanthabouly district.

The teams previously trained on Done Chan beach and are now under the instruction of Chinese and Lao trainers.

One trainer, Mr Inthaphone Chengsavang said there is only one field for training, which means the female team trains between 8 and 10am and again from 2 to 4pm, while the male team trains from 6 to 8am and 4 to 6pm.

The teams hope to train at the facility to be used during the games in the coming months.

Mr Inthaphone said the Lao teams will face strong opposition from the Indonesian and Thai teams, who are amongst the best in the region.

The Lao teams will seek to gain international experience in the lead-up to the games.

The Lao Volleyball Federation will host a regional beach volleyball tournament before the games commence.

The women's team consists of players selected from the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of National Defence teams. The team is Phonthava Phetsalath, Thammasin Phongsavath, Nanthaxay Latmany and Somboun Sidavong.

The men's squad is made up of players from the Vientiane and Ministry of National Defence teams. The team is Chan-aloun Vongxaya, Pany Chanthavong, Phimphone Bualapha and Vongphachan Xayamoungkhoun.

Laos has never won a medal in beach volleyball at the SEA Games level.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

(KPL) The members of National Assembly visited the sites of the opening and closing ceremonies of SEA Games in Saythany District (KM 16) to monitor the progress of the construction work, yesterday.

The entourage was led by the Head of National Assembly Office, Mr Thongtern Sayasen and they were welcomed by the Vice-President of National Sports-Gymnastic Committee, Mr Somphou Phongsa and Manager of the SEA Games Construction Project, Mr Khiengkham Phoutchanthavongsa.

Mr Khiengkham showed the guests the sites for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 25th SEA Games, to be held on 9 and 18 December.

The national lawmakers also visited the Games Village, located in the vicinity of the National University of Laos.

He said the sports complex will have a high-quality electrical system in place before the games begin.

Mr Somphou Phongsa, said the football stadium and indoor courts are of high standard and have been surfaced with the finest imported materials.

At the same day, the Lao National Sports Committees and National Assembly members also visited athletes’ accommodation at the National University of Laos.

The committee and national sports federations will inspect the electrical system after work to bring it up to international standards is complete. Work began on the system in April this year.

The sports complex consists of the National Football Stadium, tennis courts, archery fields, swimming pool, shooting fields and indoor courts which will host the volleyball and badminton events.

The construction is almost complete in 100 percent just only some of decorating outside and installing the electricity system then it will be perfect stadium, which the stadium capacity contain 20.000 seats.

Chinese badminton coach Hu Xiaolin says the Lao national badminton team must be improved if they want to win medals at the international level.



Source: vientianetimes
Photo: vientianemai

Lao pencak silat team will test their skills against Vietnamese opponents when they train in Hanoi , Vietnam , from June to November.

The training camp in Vientiane will be the site of a selection process by Vietnamese coach Nguyen Huy Dong and trainer Thongkhoun Khamsysavathdy, who will choose an 11 member squad to compete in the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane in December.

The team will have the opportunity to compete in the 3rd Asian Indoor Games in Hanoi in August.

The training camp and match experience in Vietnam will assist the Lao athletes in their preparations for the SEA Games.

Vice President of the Lao Pencak Silat Federation, Mr Khamphoui Bounyalith, said the team is ready to continue their training in Hanoi after training at the National Sports Training Centre in Sikeuth village, Naxaithong district, since April.

Mr Khamphoui said the squad are all committed to training hard and improving in the hope of winning medals when their home nation hosts the games.

The Lao National Sports Committee is financing the Lao team's travel to the training camp in Vietnam , while the Vietnamese government is providing in-camp support for the squad.

Mr Nguyen arrived in Vientiane last February and has been coaching the national team ever since, initially at the national camp and then the national training centre.

Mr Nguyen led the Vietnamese team to success in the 20th SEA Games in Brunei in 1999, 21st SEA Games in Malaysia in 2001 and the 22nd SEA Games in Vietnam in 2003, as well as other international tournaments.

The Lao team was coached by an Indonesian trainer for the last SEA Games in Thailand where they won a bronze medal.

A bronze medallist in the men's 60kg category of the pencak silat at those games, Mr Olane Sihalath, is hopeful of winning a medal at this year's games.

Pencak silat events at the games will comprise tanding (fighting style) in the men's 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 and over 80kg categories and women's 50, 55, 60 and 65kg categories. There will also be contests in seni (dancing style), tunggan (singles) and ganda (doubles) for men and women with no weight divisions.

The Lao team took bronze at the 18th SEA Games in Thailand in 1995 and at the 19th SEA Games in Indonesia in 1997.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Water Polo Federation referees and members inspected the competition site last week at Km 16 in Xaythany district.

The pool is completed and the site is ready to go.

Lao Swimming Federation President Soutthanome Inthavong said the Singaporean federation would provide some of the budget for the organisation of water polo events including improving the skills of volunteers and referees.

Philippines CAASF TWPC member Mr Luisito Mangahis, VP Water Polo SSA (AASF TWPC member) Mr Tan Hong Teck and FINA-listed referee Mr Nicholas Tan held a training course for 30 Lao volunteers from the Lao Swimming Federation and Kavin College from May 29-30.

The three experts taught the rules and techniques employed in the sport. It is hoped the volunteers will be able to help run the water polo event after completing the training course.

The Lao Swimming Federation said it was unable to prepare a team to compete in the event because water polo was too new a sport for the Lao people.

Laos has never competed in water polo in the SEA Games or at any other international forum.

One team consists of seven players, including a goal keeper. As in football, the goal is to get the ball into the opponent's net.

With legs and feet busy keeping players afloat, it is up to the hands and arms to guide the ball towards its destination, or block opposition attack.

Mr Tan said his organisation was ready to support Lao water polo players if the Swimming Federation were able to organise a team for the SEA Games.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

KOICA present Swimming Supplies for 25th SEA Game

(KPL) Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) donated swimming supplies to National Swimming Federation for the best record in the 25th Southeast Asia Games.

Hand over ceremony was held on April 30, Vientiane, which the aid was handed over by Ms. Hong Hee Soo, Vice Resident Representative of KOICA, to Mr. Phankham Vongkhanty, Vice President of National Swimming Federation.

The swimming equipments include swimming suits, caps and etc for Lao National Swimming Team worth about US$ 1,900.

Mr. Phankham expressed thanks to KOICA and Korea Oversea Volunteer (KOV) for providing assistance to Laos, he also hoped KOV would further support assistance in the future.

Since 2001, KOICA has been running cooperation programs and has dispatched 187 KOVs to 10 provinces of Lao PDR. At present, 49 volunteers including four doctors, five experts are carrying out their mission and working with in 37 governmental organizations. And KOICA allocated approximately 10 million US dollars to Lao PDR in this year for various cooperation programs.