25th SEA Games, Laos

The main Lao-Japan Budo Centre is complete and ready to host the judo and karatedo events at the 25th SEA Games from December 9-18.


The karatedo team gives a demonstration at the Budo Centre.

The Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) staged a budo exhibition at the centre after its construction was completed on November 6.

Construction took part in two phases at a cost of more than 600 million yen, funded by the Japanese government and people.

The contract for construction of the centre was awarded to Azusa Sekkei Co., Ltd. as the consultant and the Consortium of Kanto Construction Co., Ltd. in cooperation with Sanpo International Corporation as contractor.

The first Budo Centre in Laos is located in Anou village in Chanthabouly district, Vientiane .

The handover ceremony was attended by Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the SEA Games Organising Committee, Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, LNSC President Dr Phouthong Seng-Akhom, Japanese Ambassador to Laos Masaaki Miyashita, and senior officials from Laos and Japan .

Mr Somsavat said the centre was an important contribution to the success of the SEA Games. The Lao government considered it is as a special project of bilateral cooperation.

He expressed his gratitude to the government and people of Japan , specially the consultant company on behalf of JICA, and the Consortium of Kanto Construction and Sanpo International Corporation for their professionalism in ensuring the centre was finished on time and was of the highest standard

The centre has been fitted out to hold the judo and karatedo events at the SEA Games.

The Lao judo and karatedo teams will live and train at the centre in preparation for the games.

Until now, the karatedo fighters have been training at the National Sports Training Centre in Sikeut village, Naxaithong district.

Judo and karatedo are both Japanese martial arts. They were introduced to Laos in the 1960s and have seen gradual development through the assistance of Japanese volunteers.

The Budo Centre will be the main venue for aikido, judo and karatedo events and will also be used for other sports such as table tennis, badminton, and sepak takraw.

Seminars, conference and concerts can also be staged there to make money for administration and maintenance purposes.

The Lao government's contribution to the project was to demolish the existing building on the site, relocate a primary school, clean the site, erect fencing, hook up electricity and water to the site and do the landscaping, at a cost of 2 billion and 42 million kip.

The construction project is the largest the Japanese government has provided to Laos under its cultural grant assistance scheme. The Budo Centre is the first of its kind for the promotion of Japanese martial arts in the region.

The Budo Centre comprises a three-storey main building and two single-storey buildings with a total construction area of 1,796.2 square metres.

The main building comprises a practice and competition venue, the director's room, administration room, and aikido, judo and karatedo offices.

It has fixed seats for 436 spectators and 275 removable seats for activities such as concerts. After the handover ceremony, hundreds of aikio, karatedo and judo fighters at the junior and senior levels from Japan and Laos took part in demonstrations at the centre.

At the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007, the Lao karatedo team won a bronze medal and the judo team two gold, one silver and three bronze medals.



By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Photo: Khotsaya, Lao football player is now training in Vietnam

Eleven Lao sports squads are currently training for the 25th SEA Games in foreign countries.

These training camps are expected to provide additional coaching techniques and competition experience to help build confidence and bring Lao sporting teams up to international standard.

Lao athletes training in other countries say the camps improve their motivation as well as their skills and they are pleased they will be stronger competitors for their country when it hosts the games.

At the last SEA Games in Thailand in 2007, many of the Lao teams that had trained overseas were more successful than those that had not.

Vietnam has been an important supporter of Laos in providing advisors and training facilities. Sixteen Lao wrestlers and their trainers have been training in Vietnam since April, while 20 pencak silat fighters are also currently training there.

Other Lao teams to train in Vietnam include seven divers, who are there from June to August, as well as 14 swimmers training from April to August.

Thirty-four male footballers are training in Vietnam from July to November, while some wushu san shou fighters are there from May to November. Another group of wushu san shou and wushu tao lu teams are training in China from August to October.

Five Lao female cyclists trained in Malaysia from July to August and participated in international competitions before returning to Vientiane . Five male cyclists also trained in Malaysia for one month recently.

Fourteen Lao taekwondo fighters have been training in South Korea since June and are expected back in November, while six wrestlers are training in Mongolia from April to September.

Eighteen karatedo fighters and their trainers have arrived back in Vientiane after training in Vietnam recently.

Sixteen judo fighters and trainers are training in Vietnam from August until November.

Some members of the Lao boxing team are in Milan , Italy from August to September. The boxers will fight in the World Championships in Milan before returning to Laos .

Twenty Lao shuttle cock players are training in Vietnam from August to October.

Currently, four Thai trainers are training the Lao athletics team for the track and field events at the games.

The men's football squad is under the guidance of an Austrian coach.

After returning from the training camps in other countries, the athletes will continue their training in camps in Vientiane .

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Lao International Challenge 2009, a badminton competition, ended successfully last week, with 111 competitors from eight countries including Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia and Laos.

The five categories was played by knock-out system using rally point scoring system in accordance to Badminton World Federation level 4 rules and regulations.

The final results are as follow:

Men's singles final: Wong Beryno Jiann Tze (Malaysia) won Nguyen Hoang Nam (Vietnam) with the scores: 21:17, 21:16

Women's singles final: Umezu Chie (Japan) won Kametani Nozomi (Japan) with the scores: 19-21, 21-15, 21-12

Men's doubles final: Angriawan Berry, Ulinnuha Muhammad (Indonesia) won Vanhvilay Chanhda, Latsavong Yothin (Laos) with the scores: 21-16, 21-15

Women's doubles final: Akao Aki, Imabeppu Yasuyo (Japan) won Yamada Seiko, Hayashi Yuka(Japan) with the scores: 15-21, 21-11, 21-14

Mixed's doubles final: Duong Bao Duc, Thai Thi Hong Gam (Vietnam) won Ulinnuha Muhammad, Gozali Jenna, with the scores: 21-17, 21-23, 21-18

(KPL) The Lao National Badminton Federation organised the ?Lao International Challenge 2009?, which a competition was officially opened on 28 July till 1 August, at the new National Stadium in Saythany district at the KM 16.

This competition was joined by 111 competitors from eight countries including Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia and Laos.

The Championship consisted with five categories of individual events such as Men?s Singles -Main Draw ? 64, Women?s Singles-Main Draw ? 32, Men?s Doubles-Main Draw ? 32, Women?s Doubles-Main Draw ? 32 and Mixed Doubles-Main Draw ? 32.

The five categories will be played by knock-out system using rally point scoring system in accordance to Badminton World Federation level 4 rules and regulations.
The main target of the competition was aimed to test the skills and techniques of the Lao national team and referees preparing for the 25th SEA Games 2009 in Vientiane, and the federation has sent all badminton players to join this event for learning a new lesson and techniques with experienced players in the region level especially learning from women players from Japan.

The result for the Quarter final is as follow:
http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1218852

Another International Badminton Championship under the title: "Laos International challenge 2009" will be held in the capital city of Laos, Vientiane, from 28th July to 1st August 2009. In this event, 8 countries will take part in the Lao Future Series, none of the players participating there are ranked among the top 20 in the world.


photo: Mr Bounleua Sinxayvoravong, Lao BF Secretary General and Mr Ben, Referee

It should be noted that the Laos Badminton Federation is using this championship as a preparatory event for the more prestigious South East Asia Games which it hosts next year. The SEA Games will attract some of the best players of the sport, among them the highly ranked stars from Indonesia and Malaysia. The LAO badminton federation hopes to use this Future Series to help familiarize and train technical officials who would be assisting to officiate during the SEA Games.

With a follow-up event called the Challenger set for 2009, there is hope that badminton can continue to flourish in the area and that the event is even bigger next year. With a prize fund of US $15,000 on offer, there is every chance that a better class of player will be looking to take part in the event.

Source: Badmintoasia

Lao judo fighters will have a clearer idea of their gold medal chances at the 25th SEA Games in December after they compete in several upcoming international and national events.


The Lao Judo Federation plans to send judo fighters from different divisions to compete in six tournaments.

First, a team will compete at the 18th Vietnam International Judo Tournament in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam , from July 2-5.

Trainer assistant Mr Chittivet Nuankhaisy said he thought the team had a chance of winning a medal at this event.

A team will also compete in the Thailand International Judo Bangkok Championship from July 23-26 and the Asian Martial Art Games in Bangkok in early August.

Next, they will take part in the South East Asian Judo Championships, to be held at Lao-ITECC in Vientiane from August 6-7.

The team's next stop is the U-18 Asian Judo Championships in Japan from August 23-30. Next on the list is a national judo event at the Lao-Japan Budo Centre in Vientiane .

The federation will select the top fighters in various categories after witnessing their performance at these tournaments. Those selected will compete at the SEA Games.

Six males and five females will compete at the 18th Vietnam International Judo Tournament this week. Senior trainer Mashatoshi Kikuchi and the team travel to Vietnam today.

The six men are Varisa Sinthouboua (55kg), Olot Sasengboung (60kg), Santisouk Oupaxay (66kg), Chittakon Xayasan (73kg), Khanty Sithivong (100kg) and Sengsouly Manivong (over 100kg).

The five women are Mayouly Phanouvong (45kg), Kesone Ouanvilay (48kg), Phetnida Syamphone (52kg), Chipchinda Bounhphaaksone (57kg) and Chidavone Bouttavong (63kg).

The top two fighters in Laos this year are Varisa, 17, and Chittakon, 18. The made the national team for the SEA Games after winning medals at the eighth National Games in Champassak province.

This will be their first time at the tournament in Vietnam . They estimate their chances of success at 50 percent because they have never competed at the international level.

Vasira won a gold medal in the men's U-17 55kg category at the 13th Thai Championships in Khon Kaen province in April and a gold medal at last year's National Games.

He lives in Phonthan village, Xaysettha district, Vientiane , and is a first-year student at the Faculty of Engineering, National University of Laos.

Chittakon won a silver medal in the men's 73kg division at the Thai Championships and a bronze medal at the National Games. He lives in Phonthan village and is a graduate of Xaysettha district Secondary School.

After competing at the SEA Games, the two will probably go on to compete at the international level because they are still both young.

At last year's tournament in Vietnam , the Lao team won silver and bronze medals.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

(KPL) Twenty two Lao delegates, who visited Fukushima, Japan from 1-6 June under the JENESYS programme as a part of Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009 event, together with the same numbers of Japan and Mekong counterparts, finished their training and friendly tournament among six nations, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan.

A three-day round robin friendly tournament along with intensive training courses were held at J-village, a national football training center in Fukushima prefecture built in 1997.

Twenty two delegation members consisting of 18 football players aged around 15 years old, team manager, head coach, assistant coach and team doctor, who belong to Lao Football Federation, fought bravely against other teams; they beat Myanmar team by a score of 2-1 and lost to Vietnam by 0-1 on 3 June and won Cambodia by 3-0 and lost to Japan by 2-0 on 4 June.

The last day痴 match saw another victory of Lao players over Thailand by 2-1. according to former J-league player, Lao team is very much unified. They call to each other loudest and the coaches were always with the players.

Another big programme was given to the 100 youths in Tokyo, a JFA Kokoro project programme. It was a special programme targeted teenagers, in which former Japan internationals, Mr. Tsuyoshi Kitazawa, Mr. Yasuyuki Moroyama and former Japan Under-17 international, Mr. Jun Ideguchi served as lecturers to talk about life and dreams.The youth players also attended a J-League Nabisco Cup match between Omiya Ardija and Yokohama F.Marinos in Omiya on 7 June and paid a courtesy visit on Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 8 June before leaving for Vientiane on 9 June.

It is highly expected that Lao team members take full advantage of the intensive training so as to not only prepare for the upcoming first preliminary Asia Zone, but also be a part of building a stringer friendship among the Mekong region countries and Japan.

Photo: Lao children practice Karate inside the Budo center in Vientiane, Laos.

(KPL) Lao-Japan Budo Centre to be used for Karatedo and Judo competitions in the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane will be complete by this year’s end.

The centre is located on the land of former Chao Anou Secondary School near the old National Stadium, Chanthaboury district, Vientiane.This centre will comprise with one building of indoor stadium, which could receive up to 600 seats.

Head of International Sports Department and National Sports Committee Mr Soulasith Oupravanh last week said, “The Lao-Japan Budo Centre Construction Project is implemented with a financial grant from the Japanese Government, which is worth more than 600 million Japanese Yen. The construction started from October 2008 and 20 per cent of the work have been implemented so far.”

The centre is scheduled to complete September this year three months before the 25th SEA Games opening.

This sporting facilities will be used for not only karatedo and judo competitions but also for badminton, table tennis and trakaw competitions.

Yuuwakai Association helps Lao Karatedo Federation to build new training center



(KPL) The Yuuwakai Association of Japan will provide its grant aid worth about 10 million yen to build the Karatedo training center in Laos.
This was a part of contribution from Yuuwakai Association to improve the standards of Lao Karatedo fighters.

The statement was released during the courtesy visit to Mr. Vilayvong Boudakham, Vice Secretary General of Lao Central Youth Union of Yuuwakai Association delegation led by its president Watanabe Shinichi.

The Yuuwakai association delegation arrived Vientiane on 4 August for a two day working visit to Laos.

The delegation was warmly welcomed by Mr. Phongsavat Bouphan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs who is also honorary president of Lao Karatedo federation.
20% of grant aid will be used to construct the first phase of office and training center, which will begin in September, while the remainder will be use to fund the second and third phases of construction.

Source: kpl

New karatedo committee takes office

More than 100 people watched as the Lao Karatedo Federation announced the formation of a new committee last Sunday at the International Cooperation and Training Centre in Vientiane.



Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and President of the Lao National Sports Committee Dr Phouthong Seng-akhon adopted the measure aimed at improving the organisational structure of the karatedo executive board in April this year.

The new committee conprises five consultants of whom two hold honorary positions. There are also 11 administrators.

“The announcement of this new structure is part of the federation's development plans as required by the Lao National Sports Committee in preparation for the 25 th SEA Games, which Laos will host next year,” federation president Vilayvong Bouddakham said.

At the same time, members of the outgoing executive committee and donors to the federation received certificates of honour and congratulations.

Attendees then watched a karatedo demonstration led by federation advisor Phongsavath Boupha, in which more than 60 fighters took part.

Mr Vilayvong and President of the Yuuwakai Association of Japan, Mr Watanabe Shinichi, signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of a karatedo practice centre and office.

Mr Vilayvong said the US$100,000 grant aid from the Yuuwakai Association would provide the federation with better training facilities and encourage more people to take part in the sport.

The association has been providing Japanese karatedo coaches for long term training programmes to help strengthen Lao players' skills.

According to a press release from the federation, the government has set a target for athletes to win 25 gold medals in 25 th SEA Games, including two in karatedo.

The federation plans to expand training for karatedo fighters nationwide in a bid to increase the number of players.

“The Eighth National Games is taking place in Champassak province in December. This is good preparation for Lao athletes taking part in the SEA Games,” Vice President of the Lao National Sports Committee Somphou Vongsa said.

According to 2007 federation figures, Laos has only about 100 karatedo fighters. This is much less than the estimated 25,000 in Vietnam, 10,000 in Myanmar, 3,000 in Cambodia and 100,000 in Thailand.

The federation was first established in 1998 when it was called the Karatedo Association. The Lao National Sports Committee later changed the name to the Lao Karatedo Federation.

Lao karatedo fighters have taken part in many international competitions, including the 22 nd SEA Games in Vietnam (no medal), 23 rd SEA Games in the Philippines (one bronze), the World Karatedo Championships in Germany in 2004 (one bronze) and a meet in Australia in 2006 (no medal).

Karatedo fighters also attended the 13 th Asian universities competition in Vietnam in 2006 (two silver and 10 bronze medals) and the 24 th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007 (one bronze).

By Vientiane Times

A taekwondo training centre and the new "Olympasia" indoor stadium at the National University of Laos will house the wrestling and sepak takraw events at the 25 th SEA Games in Vientiane in 2009.

The Booyoung Company from the Republic of Korea donated US$300,000 (about 2.7 billion kip) in July last year to the Lao National Sports Committee to finance the construction of the taekwondo training centre.

The Lao National Sports Committee is overseeing the building of the training centre, which is scheduled for completion in April this year.

The Lao taekwondo team will train there in preparation for the 25 th SEA Games.

However, work on the Olympasia indoor stadium has come to a halt due to budget constraints.

Its construction was planned in two phases, with the first from January to June, 2006, at a cost of US$140,000 (about 1.2 billion kip).

When more funding is secured, it is planned that the stadium will seat 700. It will be 36 metres wide and 42 metres in length, with a height of 18 metres.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes