Double gold for Lao muay fighters

Laos won yesterday in the men’s light fly weight 45kg to 48kg category, beating Philippines exponent Roland Claro at the Lao-Thai Gymnasium, Beung Kha Ngong Sport Centre.

The Lao Muay Federation netted a further two silver medals and a second gold later in the day when Noukhit won the men’s bantam weight 51kg to 54kg category, beating Anuchut Sachit of Thailand.

Soukan said he dedicated the medal to Laos, his parents and the federation.

“At first I just thought that I could not beat him because he is bigger and more experienced than me, but I finally got in the ring and paid all my attention to receiving the willpower and support from spectators and then my dream came true.”

Lao Muay Federation Coach, Captain Patthana Fongsamouth, said after the fight that this was Soukan’s first appearance at a SEA Games afterbeing selected to enter the Lao Muay Federation last year before the National Games in Champassak province.

“He is a talented player; he trained hard for seven months before the SEA Games to ensure that he’s ready, really he entered this event to investigate, not necessarily to win as he has,” he said.

“I think he has a long future, he’s still young, only 18 years old and just finished secondary school this year.

He recently received a gold medal at the Indoor Games in Vietnam, but he performs like an experienced boxer and I hope he will be a powerful fighter in our nation’s sporting future,” he said.

Five countries have entered the Muay competition; Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam, in men’s and women’s pin weight to welter weight categories.

Source: KPL Lao News Agency
December 15, 2009