Lao runners sprint towards the finishing line at the national sports training centre in Vientiane last month.        --Photo Lao Athletics Federation.

Lao athletes muscle up for SEA Games

Sports teams are putting in some rigorous training at the national sports training centre in Vientiane in preparation for the 31st South-East Asian (SEA) Games, which take place in Vietnam from May 12-23.
Athletes are competing in vovinam, wushu, pencak silat, wrestling, boxing, archery, weightlifting, and track and field events, with more than 50 athletes and 16 trainers taking part in preparations at the training centre.
The teams’ training is supported by the Elite Sports Department of the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Last month, the Lao Athletics Federation held selections to pick the two best male and female runners to compete at the SEA Games.
During trials in the men’s 120 metre event, Sosy topped the list with a record time of 13.36 seconds.  Deuanpheng came second with a personal best time of 13.46 seconds, and Somsanouk came third with a time of 13.15 seconds. 
Following the last SEA Games held in the Philippines in 2019, the government gave cash prizes to athletes who won medals.
Lao runners picked up three bronze medals at the event. 
Other Lao athletes, who competed in 24 sports, won a gold medal in kickboxing, and five silver and 29 bronze medals in other sports.
This year Laos is eyeing more gold medals from the games in Vietnam.
Thirteen teams are training at the Lao-Japan Budo Centre, the National University of Laos and other locations before they travel to Vietnam to put their skills to the test, in what will be a hotly contested series of competitions.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update March 15, 2022)