Judo women hope to keep top ranking at SEA Games
The best women judo fighters in Laos, Mayyouly Phanouvong and Phonevane Si-amphone, are aiming to keep their top ranking in the women's juno kata event at the 25th SEA Games in December.
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Mayyouly Phanouvong (second left) and Phonevane Si-amphone (left) at a demonstration in Vientiane last month. |
Both of them won gold medals in the women's juno kata event at the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007.
Mayouly, 23, graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at the National University of Laos as an engineer.
She competes in the women's 45kg fighting style category and lives in Donkoy village, Xaysettha district.
Despite being a hot favourite, Mayouly who is a two dan black belt, was unable to compete at the National Games last December because she was recovering from a leg injury she suffered during the 24th SEA Games.
Instead Mayouly refereed and judged at the games.
She won a bronze medal in the Thailand International Judo College Championships at North Bangkok College in June in 2007 and a silver medal in the International Judo Championships in Hanoi , Vietnam , in May 2006.
Mayouly said she is hoping to compete in many events at the international level since holding the top Lao ranking.
After the SEA Games she will take a test for her third black belt dan.
She said some time in the future she would be a good referee and a judo trainer for the younger generation.
Mayouly has a younger brother, Phoutthasin Phanouvong, 21, who represented Borikhamxay province and won a gold medal in the men's 73kg category at last year's National Games.
As a new member of the international team, Phouthasin will have the chance to compete at the SEA Games.
Ms Phonevane, 18, graduated from Xaysettha Secondary School and lives in Saphanthong village in Sisattanak district. She is a member of the juno kata team.
She won a silver medal at the National Games, while her younger sister, Ms Phonevane Si-amphone, a judo fighter, won a gold medal in the women's 48kg category.
Ms Phonevane said her sister would attend the selection competition for the SEA Games national team.
Both Phonevane and Mayouly will continue their work and education after the SEA Games. Currently, they are training hard at the national camp but will travel to Japan in April for training.
Judo events in the 25th SEA Games will include eight men's categories (55kg, 60kg, 66kg, 73kg, 81kg, 90kg, 100kg and over 100kg), while the eight women's categories are in the 45, 48, 52, 57, 63, 70, 78 and over 78kg weight divisions.
Karatedo events will consist of male combatants in seven categories (55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg) and women fighters in four (48, 53, 60 and over 60kg).
At the 24th SEA Games in Thailand last year, the Lao judo team won two gold, one silver and three bronze medals, while the karatedo team won a bronze medal.
By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
March 19, 2009
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