Cambodia is known regionally for many things, but the country’s prowess in the French game petanque does not often make the list.
That may change soon if Cambodia’s petanque team is as good as the director of Cabinet for the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia says it is.
The “first-class” team of six trained athletes will represent Cambodia in an annual international petanque tournament in Osaka, Japan late next month, Prum Bunyi said.
“It is a great opportunity for Cambodia to join this competition,” Prum Bunyi said. He also said he is “hopeful” Cambodia will fare well in the competition, claiming that the team is one of the best in Southeast Asia.
Petanque, a game similar to the British game bowls, is becoming popular in Cambodia, and the public can watch teams play in Olympic Stadium.
The Second Asia Petanque Competition 1998 is scheduled to kick off Oct 22 and finish Oct 25. Twenty-two Asian countries are expected to send teams.
The International Petanque Federation is now considering Cambodia as host of the fourth competition in the year 2000, according to Prum Bunyi.
Cambodia also will send two officials to Japan with the team including Meas Sarin, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia.
The first competition was held in Bangkok last year. The third international match will be organized in Israel and will be held next year.
