25th SEA Games, Laos

An international standard archery field located in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, is now ready for use during the 25th SEA Games to be held in Vientiane this December.

Manager of the Construction Project for the 25th SEA Games, Mr Khiengkham Phoutchanhthavongsa, said the government had spent 200 million kip on laying grass and purchasing equipment for the field.

The Lao Archery Federation will install targets and other equipment at the field.

Mr Khienkham said the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee will not install any electronic equipment because it is not needed for archery events.

The committee began laying grass at the 100m wide and 150m long field in July.

The Lao national archery team has been training at the National Sport Training Centre in Sikeut village, Naxaithong district, since April.

The team trained at the Physical Education Teacher Training School before relocating to the centre last December.

The squad will train at the field to be used for the games in the lead-up to the event.

The federation will organise training courses for the committee responsible for organising archery events at the games, as well as for some archery trainers this month.

The federation will send eight male and female archers to compete in the Asian Indoor Games in Hanoi , Vietnam , in November.

The archers will use this international event to prepare for success at the SEA Games.

The Lao National Sports Committee has ordered 12 new high standard archery bows from Thailand .

Lao archers trained at the Asean Archery Training Centre in Bangkok , Thailand , from January to February this year.

Training at the centre were Mr Khampho Inthavong, Mr Phouvieng Mounthinthay, Mr Thanonglith Siliphon, Mr Phanlakhone Inthavong, Mr Phoutlamphay Thiemphasone, Ms Kietvongphin Bounmany, Ms Somsamay Mounthinthay, Ms Phonesouly Duangmala and Ms Viengkeo Sihalath.

Archery events at this year's SEA Games will consist of men's and women's singles in the recurve and compound divisions, and men's and women's teams (four archers) in the recurve and compound divisions.

The Lao archery team was unsuccessful in their bid for medals at the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007.



By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong