25th SEA Games, Laos

Hundreds of fans packed the Budo Centre yesterday to cheer on 22-year-old Lao fighter Ms Phonenaly Sayarath who rewarded them with Laos ' first gold medal in judo.

As her supporters' shouts rose to a crescendo, Ms Phonenaly defeated her Thai opponent Sureerat Sadmaroeng in the final round of the women's under 52kg weight division.

Three Lao fighters competed in yesterday's final rounds at the Budo Centre.

The fans' enthusiasm was rewarded by Ms Phonenaly's gold medal and the efforts of two other Lao fighters, Ms Syamphone Phetnida in the women's under 48kg and Ms Chitchinda Bounphaaksone in the under 75kg, who both won silver medals.

Ms Syamphone and Ms Chitchinda were outmanoeuvred in their final rounds by their Vietnamese rivals Van Ngoc Tu and Nguyen Thi Kieu.

Ms Phonenaly's gold medal was her first and also the first for the Lao Judo Federation at this SEA Games c ompetition.

“I am really happy to have won gold at the SEA Games, especially since the event is taking place in my motherland. Thanks to all of my fans for cheering for me,” she said.

Ms Phonenaly has competed in the SEA Games on three occasions. The first was at the 23rd SEA Games in 2005 in the Philippines , and her second medal attempt was at the last SEA Games in Thailand in 2007.

“I finally have the top prize after winning bronze at the last SEA Games and getting nothing in the Philippines ,” she said.

She believes her success at this year's games is the result of two years of hard training in Japan , where she is studying.

Judo fighters competed for seven gold medals yesterday. Vietnam won three gold medals, while Myanmar , the Philippines and Thailand received one each.

Today, seven more gold medals are up for grabs in judo.

Laos has high hopes for two in the men's over 100kg and under 90kg categories, according to Lao judo trainer Chittiveth Nouankhaising.

Local practitioners and teachers of aikido, judo and karate-do sports will have a second venue in which to practise their discipline next year.

A practice and performance hall (dojo) is being built at the Physical Education Teacher Training School (PETTS) at Thongpong village in Sikhottabong district.

The first venue for such sports was the Lao-Japan Budo Centre at Anou village, Chanthabouly district, currently in the second phase of construction.

The PETTS construction project begins from this month and will conclude in May, at a cost of about 758 million kip (US$88,495), which has been granted as aid from the Japanese government.

This school is the only one in the country focused solely on training physical education teachers, and has suffered from a shortage of proper facilities and equipment.

It is hoped that this project will help to rectify the situation.

A signing ceremony for the construction project was held in Vientiane on Wednesday, attended by PETTS Director, Mr Intong Leusinsay, and Japanese Ambassador to Laos , Mr Masaaki Miyashita.

Mr Miyashita said when it was built the facility would prove an important tool for trainee teachers' education.

He said that many Lao people were gaining more interest in a wide range of sports as a direct result of the upcoming 25th SEA Games to be held in Vientiane in December.

However, while an increasing number of Lao people were interested in physical pursuits, there was a general lack of trained educators in the field of physical education and training in the country, he said.

Mr Intong thanked the Japanese government and others cooperating and assisting PETTS development.

He said the indoor dojo at the teacher training school would be suitable for training and competition events in judo, karate-do and aikido and provide another alternative for martial artists.

The Japanese government provided about 19 billion kip (201,600,000 million yen) for the second phase of construction of the Lao-Japan Budo Centre.

The Lao SEA Games Organising Committee will hold the judo and karate-do events at the Vientiane-based centre.

The funds were used to build the Budo Centre, install electricity, water and air conditioning and provide equipment and clothing for judo and karatedo players.

In the first phase of construction, the Japanese government provided grant aid of about 37 billion kip (400 million yen) last December.

Construction of the Budo Centre began on December 10 last year, and is due for completion in October this year. It is being built by a consortium of the Japan-based Kanto Construction Co. Ltd and Sanpo International Corporation.

Judo events in the 25th SEA Games will comprise eight men's categories (55kg, 60kg, 66kg, 73kg, 81kg, 90kg, 100kg and over 100kg), while women are competing in the 45, 48, 52, 57, 63, 70, 78 and over 78kg categories.

Karatedo events will consist of male combatants in seven categories (55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg) and women fighters in four (48, 53, 60 and over 60kg).

At the 24th SEA Games in Thailand last year, the Lao judo team took home two gold, one silver and three bronze medals, while the karate-do team won a bronze.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

More than 100 martial artists gave a demonstration to a curious crowd at the Faculty of Economics and Business at the National University of Laos on Saturday.

The demonstrators, from the junior and senior categories of various martial arts, comprised 50 judo fighters, and 40 male and 21 female practitioners of aikido. They came from Vietnam , Cambodia , Singapore , Thailand and Laos and performed alongside karatedo teams. They received training for this event from Japanese experts.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Phongsavat Boupha, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Bouangeun Xaphouvong, Japanese Ambassador to Laos Masaaki Miyashita, presidents of the judo aikido and karatedo federations and senior officials watched the performance along with students.

“It is my great pleasure that the Embassy of Japan is hosting this martial arts demonstration here today. I would like to welcome all guests and thank them for coming to this event,” Mr Miyashita said.

Judo is a traditional Japanese martial art dating back to ancient times along with sumo wrestling. It is renowned for its solid manual movements, without the use of any protective gear or equipment. After the Second World War, it gained an international reputation and was practised by millions of people all over the world. For some time it was included in the Olympic Games.

Karatedo is believed to have its origins in Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan . Again, it doesn't involve the use of any instruments, but there is more emphasis on striking and kicking.

The birth of aikido is relatively recent, dating back to around the 1920s. This martial art is primarily used for self-defence, rather than for attack. It also attaches great importance to harmony between the body and the mind. These martial arts are not simply physical sports, but also emphasise the importance of discipline and self-control.

Some of the players who demonstrated their skills and expertise on Saturday had won SEA Games' medals.

“I am confident that many more of them will obtain medals in the coming SEA Games in Vientiane later this year,” Mr Miyashita said.

He said the Japanese government was continuously contributing to the development of martial arts in Laos by organising annual events and building the Lao-Japan Budo Centre in Vientiane .

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Lao judo and karatedo federations and the Lao Aikido Club for their valuable collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in organising today's event,” he added.

“It's particularly important to mark this event as part of the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009 programme. I hope you enjoy beautiful and powerful performances by Lao martial artists.”

The national judo team will compete at a judo competition to be held in Thailand on April 4. Teams will also take part in the first Asean Martial Arts competition to be held in Thailand at the end of April.

Judo events in the 25th SEA Games will include eight men's categories (55kg, 60kg, 66kg, 73kg, 81kg, 90kg, 100kg and over 100kg), while the eight women's categories are in the 45, 48, 52, 57, 63, 70, 78 and over 78kg weight divisions.

Karatedo events will consist of male combatants in seven categories (55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg) and women fighters in four (48, 53, 60 and over 60kg).

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

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

The Lao national judo team will be able to maintain its third position in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games to be held Vientiane at the end of next year, according to the Lao Judo Federation President.


Speaking a press conference yesterday, Mr Khemsath Philaphandeth said the judo team won third place at the last SEA Games in Thailand , and he would do his best to ensure the team secured the same position in the Vientiane event in 2009.

The Lao judo team won two gold medals in those games.

Mr Khemsath said the federation would hold the first all Lao judo championships in Vientiane on July 26 and 27. The best Lao judo competitors will be selected at this event to compete in the 2009 SEA Games.

The event will be held at the Phonesavanh School , Dongdok village, Xaythany district, Vientiane .

Mr Khemsath said the federation would invite competitors from the provinces of Khammuan, Savannakhet and Vientiane . About 80 competitors are expected to take part .

The 12 best judo competitors will train in Vietnam for three months to prepare for the SEA Games. The federation has already sent three competitors to train in Mongolia for this purpose.

Mr Khemsath said the first all Lao judo championship aimed to promote the sport among Lao people and to raise judo to an international standard in Laos .

He said the federation would spend about US$15,000 to host the championship. The main sponsors of the event are the KP Company and Lao Toyota Company.

The federation will host a similar competition next year, one month before the official opening ceremony of the SEA Games in Vientiane . The competition will be a trial for competitors and venues, to ensure readiness for the games.

He said Laos had sent three Lao judo trainers to Nepal to attend an international federation referee examination, so they can perform these duties at the games.

Mr Khemsath said the Lao judo team had made satisfactory achievements over the past years with six bronze medals in the Southeast Asia Championships in Vietnam this year. The Lao judo team also won a bronze medal at an international tournament in Vietnam .

By Vientiane Times

The Lao Judo fighter who won the 24th SEA Games-cold medal in Thailand is confident that he will be able to protect his champion in the 25th SEA Games to be held in his respected country next year.

The 25-year old Lao national judo fighter, Mr Viengvilay Chansy said that he will do his best to protect his last year endeavour victory in the 25th SEA Games over the strong rivals of Thailand and Vietnam.

“Thailand and Vietnam are the strongest opponents because they were the runners up at the last 24th SEA Games and I will always care about them,”

He said that his daily training with Mongolian and Japanese coach would support him to win the medal. Moreover, the Lao Judo Federation plans to separate their fighters into two groups, a group of eight fighters will be sent to get train in Japan and another three fighters will be in Mongolia.

Mr Viengvilay and his colleagues will travel to Japan for a two-month training course in August this year, while other tree of his colleagues will be in Mongolia for a six-month course.

He said that the lesson of Japan who is the origin of Judo will play an important role for him to defeat his rivals.

Mr Viengvilay joined the national team last six years ago and took part in the SEA Games three times, Asian Games one time and he also took part in the international tournament level held in Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and Cambodia. He has won two coppers, one golden medal in a competition at district level in Japan and one gold medal in the last 24th SEA Games.

Photo: Miss Champa, one of the mascot for 25th Sea Games in Laos

The 25 sports that will be competed in the 25th Southeast Asian Games 2009 in Laos include:

1. Aquatics
2. Archery
3. Athletics
4. Badminton
5. Bowling
6. Boxing
7. Football/futsal
8. Golf
9. Handball
10. Judo
11. Karate-do
12. Muay
13. Petanque
14. Pencak silat
15. sepak takraw
16. Shooting
17. Shuttle cock
18. Snooker and billiards
19. Table tennis
20. Taekwondo
21. Tennis
22. Traditional boat race
23. Volleyball/beach volleyball
24. Wrestling
25. Wushu.

The 25th SEA Games is tentatively to be fallen on December 13 to 21, 2009 in Vientiane, Luang prabang and Savannakhet.