Lao Judo Federation announces contestants for SEA Games

The Lao Judo Federation has revealed the names of the six people who will take part in judo fighting events and four who will compete in the kata (dance) form of judo at the 31st South-East Asian (SEA) Games, which take place in Vietnam next month.

The judo fighting and kata teams pose at the Lao-Japan Budo Centre in Vientiane on Tuesday. --Photo Lao Judo Federation

A draw to determine the grouping of judo contestants will take place in Vietnam on May 17. The Lao judo fighting team comprises Chomemany Manixay in the women’s -48kg division and Toukky Sengdaky in the women’s -52kg division, while the four male fighters are Chanthaphone Khamphounavong in the men’s -55kg category, Soukphaxay Sitthisane in the men’s 60kg division, Khamsy Khounnivath in the men’s -66kg division, and Soulixay Xayasane in the men’s 90kg weight category.
The kata dance team comprises Viengvilay Chansy and Chindavone Sivanvilay in the men’s doubles, who will compete in the kodokan goshin jutsu event, while Phonevanh Si-amphone and Viengxay Vilayphone will compete in the katame no kata event.
The teams are training at the Lao-Japan Budo Centre in Vientiane, with sessions taking place from 6-7am, 10am to 12 noon, and 4 to 6pm.
In February and March, the judo fighting team trained at the Lao National Sports Training Centre before moving to the Budo Centre.
The martial artists are honing their physique and building their fitness levels to that they are in top notch condition for bouts in the ring next month.
Newcomers to the sport will try to uphold Laos’ reputation on the international stage and build on the successes of former SEA Games contestants.
The most experienced of the bunch is Soukphaxay Sitthisane, who competes in the men’s 60kg weight division and is currently training in Japan. Last year he competed in the Olympic Games in Japan, and is Laos’ biggest medal hope at the games in Vietnam next month.
Japanese trainer Kazuki Kon is coaching the kata team, while Yohei Takimoto, who is a volunteer with JICA, is training the fighting team. Lao judo referee Mr Chittivet Nouankhaisy, who is experienced at the national and international level, will officiate at judo events during the SEA Games.
The government is partly funding the team’s training over a period of 70 days before they head for Vietnam.
The Lao Judo Federation has not planned any national level events or training sessions for trainers and fighters this year because of the Covid-19 outbreak. Normally, the federation holds a national judo championship each year.
In 2019, the Lao judo team won two silver and one bronze medal at the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update April 21, 2022)