Sathaphone Simmalavong competes in the final of the men’s singles against Vithaya Laxavady at the Anothai Sporting Club in Vientiane on April 5.

Sathaphone returns to training for SEA Games

Top Lao tennis player Sathaphone Simmalavong has improved his fitness and has resumed training for the 31st South-East Asian Games taking place in Vietnam next month.
On April 5, Sathaphone pulled a muscle during the final of the men’s singles in the Anothai Open Tennis Tournament in Vientiane and was unable to continue playing. He also had to pull out of the men’s doubles.
He attributed the injury in part to inadequate training in the run up to the tournament.
Tennis trainer Mr Donedy Keodalasouk said that although Sathaphone has resumed training he was unable to put in a lot of hard work because he was not strong enough.
It is feared that Sathaphone’s fitness level will be insufficient for the rigours of the SEA Games next month, which does not give him long to recover fully and put in the necessary hours of practice.
Sathaphone has years of experience in the sport, having competed at the 28th SEA Games in Singapore in 2015, the 29th SEA Games in Malaysia in 2017, and the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines in 2019.
In Laos, he won a medal in the National Games.
The Lao Tennis Federation is preparing three men and two women to compete at the SEA Games next month.
One of the men was born in France where is currently training and will join the Lao team in the next few days.
Several of Laos’ top tennis players put their skills to the test at the Anothai Open Tennis Tournament earlier this month.
The Lao tennis team and other SEA Games competitors will travel to Vietnam in early May.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
(Latest Update April 27, 2022)