25th SEA Games, Laos

Lao sepak takraw team manager Khamvanh Nanthavong said the main goal of his team was to be good hosts and they were not expecting any major triumphs at the SEA Games.


Mr Khamvanh was speaking after his team lost to Thailand in the final of the men's regu event in Vientiane yesterday.

“Our goal is to be a good host. We're not hoping for anything else so we got the silver medal today. But I was proud because our team still lacks experience. We can't compete with the Thai players because they have so much more experience,” he said.

In the final match of the men's regu event, Thailand took the gold medal 2-0 with scores of 21-16 and 21-12.

Mr Khamvanh said his team had only two years of experience but the Thai team had been in the sport for 10 years, so their levels were very different.

At the start of the game, Laos and Thailand were level and there was almost no difference in score. But the Thai team started to pull away and Laos lagged behind to finish in second place and take the silver medal.

“Before the next SEA Games in Indonesia , Lao sepak takraw players will get as much as experience as possible,” Mr Khamvanh promised.

The Lao sepak takraw team is now running fourth in the sport's medal tally with one silver and two bronze medals. Thailand has five gold medals, Myanmar has one gold, one silver and one bronze medal, and in third place is Vietnam with three silver medals.

In the women's regu event which took place on the same day between Thailand and Vietnam , Thailand beat Vietnam 2-1 with a score of 19-21, 21-8 and 15-9.

In today's events, the Lao women's and men's doubles teams will face Malaysia , Indonesia and Thailand at the Lao International Trade and Exhibition Convention Centre starting at 9am.


By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

The indoor stadium at Lao-ITECC will host the sepak takraw, wushu and pencak silat events during the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane next month.

The stadium comprises two floors on which the SEA Games Organising Committee has modified two rings especially for the wushu and pencak silat events.

Each arena has seating for 400 spectators and offices for event officials.

The sepak takraw and wushu events will take place on the first floor of the stadium, while pencak silat contests will be held on the upper floor which is still undergoing renovations.

SEA Games Construction Project Manager Khiengkham Phouthchanhthavong said 750 million kip was spent on improving the indoor stadium and arenas.

Mr Khiengkham said the three arenas will be of international standard and have excellent facilities for athletes, officials and spectators.

The national pencak silat and wushu teams are currently training at the National Sports Training Centre in Sikeut village, Naxaithong district.

The wushu team won one silver and two bronze medals at the last SEA Games in Thailand in 2007, while the pencak silat team won a bronze medal.

Pencak silat events will consist of weight divisions ranging from 45 to 80kg for males and 45 to 65kg for females. The Lao Pencak Silat Federation has sent the national team to train in Hanoi , Vietnam , until the end of this month.

The 21 male and four female fighters are training in Vietnam under the guidance of Indonesian and Vietnamese trainers.

Eleven male and five female wushu fighters in various weight divisions are currently training at the National Sports Training Centre under the guidance of Mr Cui Jian Gong from China .

The Lao Judo Federation hosted the East Asia Judo Championships at the indoor stadium in August to test judo athletes and event organisers in the lead-up to the games.



By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong

Lao teams emerged victorious from a four nations Sepak Takraw tournament held on October 16-17 in Vientiane .

The Lao Sepak Takraw Federation organised the tournament to test their athletes and officials before the SEA Games in December.

The event involved athletes from Malaysia , Thailand and Vietnam and was held at the Lao International Trade and Exhibition Convention Centre.

The Lao women's singles team defeated Malaysia 2-1, Thailand 2-0 and Vietnam 2-1 to be crowned champions, while the women's doubles team beat Malaysia 2-0, Thailand 2-1 and Vietnam 2-1 to finish in top place.

The Lao men's doubles team finished in second place after defeating Malaysia and Vietnam but falling to Thailand . The men's singles team took third place after a 2-0 loss to Malaysia , a 2-1 loss to Thailand and a 2-1 win over Vietnam .

Federation official Lamphone Souvanvong said the tournament attracted top athletes who are likely to compete at the SEA Games.

“We need further practice on our defence skills. Many of our players lack experience but we are proud to see their skills have improved a lot since they first started training for the games.”

The tournament allowed athletes, officials and organisers an opportunity to assess their readiness for the SEA Games as well as test the facilities to be used at the games.“The first day of the tournament was very busy, but things improved and the organisers managed to run a successful event,” Mr Lamphone said.

He said organisers received assistance from Thai officials to ensure the tournament went smoothly.

The federation has selected a final squad of 30 for the SEA Games. They were previously training in Savannakhet province, but have now moved to Vientiane in the lead-up to the games. Mr Lamphone said the federation is confident the team will perform their best in front of their home crowd and urged everyone to attend the games and support Lao athletes.



By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

Check out video clip of Sepaktakraw match between Laos and Vietnam.
4 countries from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos joined this competition.

The Lao Sepak Takraw Federation and SEA Games committees have arranged a four-nations Sepak Takraw Test Tournament to give players a trial run and test their preparations for the games.

The federation held a press conference on Monday, urging the public to cheer on the players and give encouragement to all Lao participants in the event, scheduled for October 16 and 17.

Federation President Adsaphangthong Siphandone said the competing countries would be Malaysia , Thailand , Vietnam and Laos .

“Our objective is to test our players as well as the preparations of all the SEA Games committees involved. This will be another opportunity for our players to get more experience and the committees can also test out their arrangements and get some experience before the main event in December,” he said.

The tournament will comprise more than 80 people, including players and delegations from the participating countries. Events will consist of men's and women's doubles and men's and women's singles.

“We will follow the standard rules set by the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation. We'll also broadcast the tournament on Lao National Television and I hope everyone will cheer on our players,” Mr Ardsaphangthong said.

The Lao sepak takraw team recently competed in an international sepak takraw event held earlier this month in Vientiane , attended by teams from China , Japan , Malaysia , Laos , Thailand and Vietnam . Laos won two bronze medals in the men's doubles and singles events.

The Lao team also took part in the 24th King's Cup Sepak Takraw World Championships 2009 in Bangkok , Thailand , in July, in which 21 countries competed.

Laos won one gold medal in the women's singles, two silver medals in the men's and women's doubles, and a bronze medal in the men's doubles. At last year's King's Cup, Laos won three medals - one gold and two bronze.

More than 40 sepak takraw players, 21 men and 21 women, have been training at the Savannakhet Sepak Takraw Centre since April in preparation for the SEA Games.

SEA Games Technical Committee Chairman Phouvanh Vongsouthi said this week's tournament was important because it would allow all committees involved in the games to check the progress of their preparations. If any problems arose they would be able to address them and smooth out any glitches before the games in December.

Journalists at the press conference asked the federation whether the players taking part in this week's tournament would be those selected to compete in the SEA Games.

Federation Secretary Somsavath Phongsa said Laos would certainly be entering its SEA Games team and believed that Vietnam and Malaysia would do the same, but could not speak for Thailand .

“We actually invited eight countries to attend the tournament but we received only three positive responses,” he said.


By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

Women sepak takraw players preparing for the 25th SEA Games later this year in Vientiane won a friendship tournament on Saturday in Savannakhet province against a Thai team.

The Lao National Sepak Takraw Federation had invited the women's team from Mahasarakarm province in Thailand for a friendly tournament, contested by three teams from each province.

The first Lao team to play won its match with a score of 21-12 and 21-17. But the second team lost with a score of 18-21, 21-16 and 9-15. But after the third game when Laos achieved a score of 21-15, 21-14, Laos was declared the winner.

Because the event was very closely contested, the women decided to play a further match, which Laos again won with a score of 21-18.

Coach Lamphone Souvanvong said the event had been useful because it had allowed him to see his players' weak points. They would work on these together so the women could perfect their skills ahead of the SEA Games in December.

The federation is seeking more matches with local players and teams from neighbouring countries to get in plenty of match practice before the big event.

Coach Lamphone reported that 42 sepak takraw players, including 21 men and 21 women, had been taking part in practice matches in Savannakhet province since April.

They train at the Savannakhet Sepak Takraw Centre, which is fully equipped and has large grounds where players can train.

“They have been able to improve their tactics and skills. What we want to do now is test them out against various sepak takraw players from neighbouring countries so we can take note of their weak points and improve things before the games,” Mr Lamphone said.

He said almost 80 percent of the athletes were ready to compete in Thailand , in events such as the King's Cup.

“There are still a few small problems that need ironing out. Some of the players were only chosen last month for training at the centre and still not familiar with our rules so we have to bring them up the same standard at the other players.”

A member of the men's team, Sampien Somsamaivong, said they needed to strengthen their leg muscles a lot more as well as improve their general fitness before taking part in tournaments in Thailand .

“Since we've been training at the centre we've improved a lot. Both men and women are following the rules, which govern training, meals and other aspects,” he said.



By Souknilundon in Savannakhet
Vientianetimes

Lao-ITECC has become one of the venues to be used for 25th Seagames, the first grandiose regional event ever to take place in Laotian soil, after the 25 Seagames Organising Committee has selected this Shopping Center as one of the main venues to be used for competition of 3 sports such as: Sepak Katraw, Panjak Silat and Wushu (Martial Art) during the 25th Seagame to be held in Laos in December 2009.

Mr. Souliyong Youivanivong, General Manager of the Lao World Co.LTD stated that: ITECC started its construction in 2003 and completed in 2004 with an aim to be used as main venue for hosting the ASEAN-related Meetings in February 2004, 10th ASEAN Summit in Nov 2004 and other international meetings that Laos has gained privilege as a host country. Beside, the trade exhibition has also been held here displaying agricultural, industrial and handicraft products, consumer goods, as well as holding reception, wedding reception. ITECC could accomodate up to 2000 guests. The ITECC also has 32 laned-Bowling Center, 2 Cineplexes and Snooker Courses. Due to is its easy access and convenience, particularly its large parking lot, the ITECC holds trade exhibition 2 times monthly showcasing local product as well as products from neighboring country such as vietnam and Thailand.

During the 25th Seagames, the ITECC has been designates as venue for the competition of the 3 sports mentioned aboved in which the Sepak Takraw and Wushu will take place at its main hall inside ITTECC and Panjak silat will take place at reception hall on second floor. During the end of November ahead of the Games, the Seagame Organising Committee will conduct improvement works such as lighting, audience seats improvement for accommodating 1000 audiences.

In order to contribute to the success in hosting the game, ITECC will charge no rent fee and kindly help pay for electricity, cleaning fee. During the game, ITECC will allow exhibition only on its parking lot in order to let the audiences be able to buy things back home. Moreover, Lao world Company has simultaneouly gained privilege to provide foods including breakfast, lunch and dinner for approximately 3000 to 4000 Laotian and foreign athletes at Athletes Residences located in National University.

Mr. Souliyong has futher stated that: the Subcomittee for Public Security will be responsible for security-related matters during the game and will conduct in-place security commands to ensure 100% of security, same standard that Laos previously provided in hosting international events.

Source: Vientianemai
Translated by: Boy in VT