25th SEA Games, Laos

(KPL) The HK Group Company Limited has provided 20 million kip for The National Tennis Federation to support the preparation of Lao tennis players for the 25th SEA Games, to be held in Laos next month.

The handover ceremony was held last Friday at the new National Stadium (km 16) in Vientiane Capital.

The donation was presented by Chairman of the HK Group Company Limited, Mr. Hongkham Souvannavong, and received by President of the Lao National Tennis Federation, Mr. Houmphone Bouliyaphon.

The ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Kasem Inthala, SEA Games Organising and Technique Committee, and officials concerned.

The tennis events during the 25th SEA Games will be from 10 to 18 December and will draw players from nine countries.

(KPL) The Lao National Tennis Federation organised a tennis tournament on Monday in preparation for its athletes and judges for the 25th SEA Games, to be held next month in the capital of Vientiane.

Mr Hongkham Souvannavong, Chairman of the SEA Games Tennis Tournament Organising Committee, said ?We organise this tournament to test our judges and athletes and personnel concerned for their readiness for the Vientiane Games?.The Lao national teams had trained in Thailand and now they are training with Chinese coach. ?We hope to win one medal from the 25th SEA Games,? said Mr. Hongkham.

Ten tennis players have been selected as national athletes by the Federation for competing at the Vientiane Games. These players include Dala Nilasay, Dalavanh Singthin, Kethsiny Shaety, Phonnida Meksavanh, Vithaya Lasavady, Dondy Keodalasouk, Somchay Phaphithak, Sayalath Singthin, Ananda Khamphoumy and Bounthavong Silisack.

The Lao Tennis Federation is testing its players at a tournament being held at the Vientiane Tennis Club from November 16-20 in the lead-up to the 25th SEA Games next month.

Taking part in the event are six male and four female national level players who have been training with experienced players and former national team players at the club.

The federation has held two national level events this year to help boost the skills of tennis players around the nation.

There are a number of talented young tennis players ready to compete at the SEA Games, but they still lack international exposure.

The national team trained in Bangkok , Thailand , in September and October this year under the guidance of Chinese and Thai trainers.

The Chinese trainer has being working with the team since April, while his Thai colleague only joined the team last month.

The players improved their physical fitness and tactical skills during training in Thailand .

Director of the SEA Games Tennis Tournament Organising Committee, Mr Hongkham Souvannavong, said Thailand organised more than 10 tournaments to test their players, but unfortunately Lao players did not participate in the events.

Since ending their training in Bangkok , the team has been practising on tennis courts in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district.

Mr Hongkham said the Lao players are all the better for their training programme and expressed confidence they could pick up some medals at their home games.

Ms Dala Nilaxay, 18, competed in the 24th SEA Games in Thailand but was unable to claim a medal.

She began playing tennis eight years ago and is currently in her first year of study at the National University of Laos' Faculty of Law.

She said the Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese tennis players are very skilful and were the best performers at the 2007 SEA Games.

Ms Dala said all members of the national team are determined to do their best when Laos hosts the games and called on people to cheer on all Lao athletes during the event.

At this week's tournament, the federation will also try out 80 ball boys and girls and 50 assistant referees, who will participate in the SEA Games if they are up to standard.

The federation lacks an umpire with the required international certification, but 14 umpires from India , Malaysia , the Philippines , Thailand and Indonesia will adjudicate at the games.

The Lao tennis team consists of Mr Vithaya Laxavady, Mr Donedy Keodalasouk, Mr Somchay Phaphithak, Mr Xayalath Singthin, Mr Ananda Khamphoumy, Mr Bounthavong Silisack, Ms Dala Nilaxay, Ms Dalavanh Singthin, Ms Ketxiny Xaety and Ms Phonenida Meksavanh.

Vientianetimes

Lao national tennis players need the Lao Tennis Federation to support them to attend international tournaments, claimed some players recently.

A member of the national men's tennis team said the players need to compete in international level events to gain experience before the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane later this year.

“Just training and not competing isn't so good. We would like the federation to address this problem because we are hosting the games and want to perform well in front of our home crowd,” the player said.

Many players agree that if the federation cannot arrange for the squad to compete in international tournaments they will continue to struggle to perform.

A committee member of the federation, Mr Sitthisay Sackpaseuth said yesterday the federation would like to send its players to compete in international tournaments but faces a shortage of funding.

“We plan to send them to a competition in Thailand soon. All sporting federations want their athletes to gain experience in the international arena, but many face funding problems like us,” he said.

Mr Sitthisay said Lao tennis players are still amateurs, which means it is hard to attract sponsorship.

“We hope to send them to international tournaments soon and we will also arrange local competitions for them to identify their weaknesses, so they can continue to improve their skills in the future,” he said.

The federation plans to invite tennis players from two or three countries in the region to participate in a competition at the tennis courts to be used during the SEA Games prior to the games commencing.

“The competition would provide a good test for our athletes, as well as referees and other technical staff before the real event in December,” Mr Sitthisay said.

The federation now has four female and seven male tennis players preparing for the games. The squad trains six hours a day, six days a week.

Federation Secretary, Mr Sisomphet Xayarath said the federation selected the squad in March, following on from the Eighth National Games in Champassak province last year.

“I believe all the players will do their best for their nation because they have demonstrated their dedication and willingness to practise hard,” Mr Sisomphet said.

The federation has vowed to do its best to raise more funds to allow the players to get international experience.

“The federation is currently discussing possibilities and will announce future plans next month,” Mr Sitthisay said.


By Souknilundon Southivongnorath

According to the news from Siamsport newspaper, the Tennis association of Thailand are willing to help Laos in organizing tennis competition in the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane the end of this year. The support costs 5000,000 Baht, and the tennis athletes from Laos will be invited to have intensive training in Thailand.

Half Thai-French, Richart Kasakorn, new tennis super star from Chiang Mai province, Thailand, trouced the number # 1 tennis player from Laos, Vithaya Lasadee, who will play in 25th SEA Games, with the score, 6-4,6-4, in the Professional PPT Championship, Northeastern part of Thailand last June 15, 2009.

Item end.

(KPL) The attempt by Laos to recruit Anne Keothavong, a top notch British tennis player of Lao descent to play for Laos at the 25th SEA Games is not true and it is based on rumor.

This “rumour” was published in the local newspapers and websites.

Mr Daovone Phachanthavong, Vice President of the Lao National Tennis Association confirmed yesterday that Laos would not recruit anyone who holds a foreign passport to play tennis for Laos in the coming SEA Games.“If Anne Keothavong is a Lao national she could join the SEA Games tennis squad but as she is a British national, it is impossible for her to play for Lao” said Mr Daovon Phachanthavong. Anne was born on 16 September 1983, in Hackney, located in the north of London.

Her parents are Lao and they migrated to England from Laos some time back.
She started to play tennis from the age of seven.

(KPL) Laos is planning to recruit Anne Keothavong, a Lao-British tennis player, whose ranking is the top of the pole in England and ranked 48th in the world to play for Lao during the coming 25th SEA Games, but the Lao National Sports Committee is mulling over the problem of transferring her nationality so that her legal status is Lao.

Laos is already in touch with Anne and has already invited her to join the Lao women?s tennis team but she has not revealed any information on the offer to the press.
Anne was born on 16 September 1983, in Hackney, located in the north of London.

Her parents are Lao and they migrated to England from Laos some time back.
She started to play tennis from the age of seven.

Thailand is ready to send 19 coaches for 8 sports to help Laos in preparation for 25th SEA Games this year and to finalize all plans to help Laos before June 10.

Thailand refused to send coaches of all sports to Laos due to coaches from some ASEAN countries have already proposed to help Laos for training. This was revealed by Jaluek Ariratskaran, deputy director of Thai olympic committee. Laos requested to have coaches from thailand to help Lao athletes in 14 sports namely: Swimming, Thai boxing, International boxing, Snooker, Taekwondo, Sepak Takraw, Athletics, Cycling, Badminton, Table Tenis, Weightlifting, Shooting and Tennis. Thailand has agreed to help Laos in 3 forms: to send coaches to Laos, to train Lao staff to organize the competition, and to accept lao athletes to train and practice in Thailand, totally worth of 3.6 million Baht.

The countries that are now helping Laos for SEA Games, including boxing coach from cuba, Taewondo coach from South Korea.

Thai coach that will be sent to Laos include 3 coaches for Thai boxing, 2 for cycling, 2 for weightlifting, 1 for table tennis, 2 for shooting, 2 for snookers, 4 for Athletics and 3 for Sepak Takraw.

Lao athletes will be sent to Thailand to train in Swiming, Sepak Takraw, Cycling and other sports will be finalized on June 10 before sending the official agreement to Laos on 15 June 2009.

Laos expects to win at least 20 gold medals from the SEA games. Laos may also invite Anne Keothavong, half Lao-English tennis player, to join the 25th SEA Games.

The newest jewel in the crown of Vientiane 's sporting facilities has been set in place, with construction of the city's indoor stadium declared complete by the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC).

The indoor stadium will host tennis, volleyball and badminton events at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane from December 9-18.

It is located in Dongsanghin village in Xaythany district (Km16).

Construction Project Manager for the SEA Games, Mr Khiengkham Phoutchanhthavongsa, said turf would be laid in the grounds outside the indoor stadium, and inside the national football stadium in the wet season.

Construction of the National Football Stadium is 90 percent complete and will be used in the opening and closing ceremonies.

Installation of sporting equipment at the swimming pool, shooting stadium and archery stadium continues apace.

He said athletes in all 25 sports would be able to use the sports complex in October in preparation for games.

LAOSOC began the sports complex construction project on October 28, 2007.

Meanwhile both the new indoor stadium and old indoor stadium in Beungkhayong village, Sisattanak district, are under development.

The Thai government is funding the construction of the new stadium and is also helping to improve the old stadium, at a cost of more than 20 billion kip (85 million baht).

Construction began last February and is expected to be finished in October.

The new indoor stadium has 1,500 seats, and will host the kick-boxing events.

The old stadium will be used to host competitions in shuttlecock.

More than 60 Lao workers have been joined by 70 Thai labourers to work on the stadium projects.

The old indoor stadium at the Vientiane Sports Department has long held competitions in muay lao, in addition to Lao Volleyball Federation fixtures.

Meanwhile, the Lao-Japan Budo Centre in Anou village, Chanthabouly district, is being built with grant aid from the Japanese government, valued at 56 billion kip.

Construction began last December, and is set for completion in October.

The Budo Centre will host competitions in the martial arts such as karatedo and judo.

Competition venues for the SEA Games are the National Football Stadium, Don Chan Palace , Olympasia indoor stadium at the National University of Laos, Patuxay monument and surrounding streets, Chao Anouvong football stadium, Lao-ITECC, Km 18 golf course, and Beungkhayong village's indoor stadium.

The National University 's football stadium, assembly hall, Phonesavanh School and the Taekwondo Training Centre will also host events.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong

Tennis players test their power at Theun-Hinboun tournament

Lao tennis players are putting their skills to the test at the eighth Theun-Hinboun Tournament at the Vientiane Tennis Club from April 29 to May 28.

More than 100 tennis players from Vientiane and Savannakhet and Champassak provinces are competing in the tournament.

The Lao Tennis Federation (LTF) has entered seven male and four female players in the tournament.

The tournament's opening ceremony took place on Wednesday and was attended by Vice President of the Lao National Sports Committee, Mr Somphou Phongsa, senior officials from the committee and tournament sponsors.

The tournament consists of events for U-12s, 15s and 17s, an open category in A, B and C grades, an open doubles event and over 55s' doubles.

General Manager of Theun-Hinboun Power Company, Mr Robert Allen, presented US$4,000 to LTF President, Mr Houmphone Bouliyaphon, at the ceremony.

Mr Houmphone said the tournament is a friendly event which aims to promote participation and fitness and was organised to coincide with the 123rd anniversary of International Labour Day on May 1.

He said the tournament will also help national players in their preparations for the 25th SEA Games, to be held in Vientiane from December 9-18.

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

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

(KPL) Technical Official of Asia Sport Development to Asia Region, Mr Suresh Mcnon and his delegations visited Laos and paid courtesy visit Vice President of Lao National sport-Gymnastic Committee, Mr Somphou Phongsa last weekend at Lao National sport-Gymnastic Committee Office.

This visit was aimed at giving an advice about Tennis Development Project for young tennis players, especially a five-year tennis development project of Lao National Tennis Federation.

During the visit, Mr Mcnon visited and inspected the construction of Chao Anou Tennis court and tennis court of National University of Laos which will be used for competition for the 25th South East Asian Games at the end of this year.