Lao boxers face uphill battle at Asian Games

VIENTIANE — The Elite Sports Department of the Ministry of Education and Sports says three male boxers and one female boxer are ready to compete at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia from August 18 to September 2.

But it is thought these rookies will struggle to get through the first and second rounds of boxing events at the games, as they lack experience at both the national and international levels.

The boxing team is training at the Lao National Sports Training Center in Vientiane after returning from a training camp in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, from July 15 to August 6.

During their time in Thailand, the boxers tested their skills against young Thai boxers.

Next week the Lao boxing team, their Lao trainer Mr Souksavanh Sengthavisouk and Russian trainer Mr Dmitrii Mozorov will travel to Indonesia to take part in the Asian Games.

The male boxers are Khamphouvanh Khamsathone in the men’s 49kg category, Viengxay Ekasith in the men’s 52kg division, and Chansamone Vilaysak in the men’s 56kg, while female boxer Daomayouly Chanthalath will compete in the women’s 51kg category.

Trainer Mr Vanto Vilayphone said that this year they wanted to give new boxers a shot at success at the games, adding that the more experienced boxers were not fit enough.

From June 27 to July 7, the Lao boxing team trained in Bangkok, when they also took part in the King’s Cup but were unsuccessful in their medal attempts.

Ms Daomayouly competed at the ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in November last year.

After returning from the Asian Games, both the new and more experienced boxers will be looking to compete at the 11th National Games in Xieng Khuang province in November.

In April, two young Lao lads competed in the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships as the qualifying round for the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina in October but they failed to progress.

Lao boxers also competed in the 17th Asian Games in the Republic of Korea in 2014 but their medal hopes were dashed.

In a historic moment for Lao boxing, Mr Vongkoth Chinda from Champassak province won a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Beijing back in 1990.