News

Men’s basketball team aims to win at least one medal at home

Cambodia’s men’s para basketball team has more confidence to win medals as they could not bring home one last year at the 11th ASEAN Para Games in Indonesia.

The Cambodian men’s basketball team, the host, are determined to win at least one medal at home. Players from different provinces were called up to attend the training camp in Phnom Penh from January 2022 until now.

In the 11th ASEAN Para Games in Indonesia last year, the Cambodian men’s basketball team did not win any medals in both the 3×3 men’s event and 5×5 team game. Whereas the women’s team had more success as they won gold in the women’s 3×3 team and silver in the 5×5.

“The team has been training hard to prepare for the competition. Otherwise, we cannot take on strong teams,” Lim Leang, 31, a national para basketball player, told Khmer Times.

In the men’s basketball, he said, Thailand is the toughest opponent to play against. Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia are at similar level compared to Cambodia, he said.

“However, we need to keep on working to get a good result,” Leang said.

Leang said this is his second time to participate in the ASEAN Para Games, and that makes him even more proud to represent Cambodia at home.

“I am so excited as the tournament will be held in Cambodia for the first time. I want to show my ability to all Cambodians, especially my family who will come to support me during the competition,” he said.

The 31-year-old basketball player is originally from Siem Reap. He is the only one among the twenty players from an organisation in his home province who has been selected to play for the national team.

“It is difficult to be able to play for the national team. We need to work hard, sacrificing time and effort for training,” he said.

“But it paid off when we competed for the nation and when our hard work was appreciated by many.”

Besides being a national basketball athlete, Leang is a barber shop owner in his home province Siem Reap.

Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com