Laos to select kick-boxers for SEA Games

Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-01 00:24:58|Editor: yan
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VIENTIANE, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Muaylao Association will be launching a competition in April to select the best kick-boxers for the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to be held in Malaysia in August.

Kick-boxers ranging from the 48kg to 80kg weight divisions are set to test their skills at the selection trial, Lakhonekham Xayakham, an official from the association said on Lao state-run media Vientiane Times on Friday.

"The competition will feature all weight divisions, but we will only select the best male fighters in the 52-54kg, 54-57kg, 60-63.4kg, and 71kg categories which are the events included in the SEA Games," he said, adding that the host Malaysia is not holding a women's muay event at the upcoming SEA Games.

The top kick-boxers will then have the opportunity to prepare at a training camp and live-in accommodation in Lao capital Vientiane.

The Muaylao Association forecasts it will be difficult to win gold medals in Malaysia with tough opposition coming from Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and the host.

Two years ago, Muaylao kick-boxers of Laos did not compete at the 28th SEA Games in Singapore as the sport was not included.

The team won one gold, two silver and six bronze medals at the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar in 2013. At the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane in 2009, the Lao team won four gold medals, three silver and one bronze medal in muay events.

KEY WORDS: Malaysia
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