Cambodian Karateka Van Charya Secures Bronze at Asian Games, Bringing National Pride

Cambodian karate athlete Van Charya returned to her homeland on September 24, 2026, after winning a bronze medal in the women's kumite under 61kg category at the 20th Asian Games held in Nagoya, Japan. Charya, who belongs to the Hanuman Karate Club, secured a historic achievement for Cambodia with her medal win at the continental event. Upon her arrival at Techo International Airport in Kandal province, she was warmly welcomed by officials including H.E. Samidy Sivutha, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, and Mr. Yan Kisivath, President of the National Sports Training Center, along with other ministry officials and representatives from the Cambodia Karate Federation and the Hanuman Karate Club. Expressing her national pride, Charya stated, "I am extremely happy and excited to have won a bronze medal for the nation." She attributed her success to consistent, rigorous training, the support of her coaches, and encouragement from leaders at all levels. Charya added that the bronze medal serves as significant motivation to continue her training diligently in preparation for future international competitions, aiming to win more medals for Cambodia. She recalled that in her previous Asian Games appearance four years ago, she had won some matches but narrowly missed out on a medal. This year's bronze, in her second participation, marks a historic success for both the nation and the Hanuman Karate Club. Meanwhile, Mr. Heng Peng, head coach of the Cambodian national karate team, assessed Charya's bronze medal performance as an indicator of technical progress compared to her participation four years prior. However, he acknowledged that Cambodian athletes still have areas for improvement, particularly in speed, where they lag behind some competitors in other Asian countries. He emphasized the need for intensified training and comprehensive skill development. Information Source: AKP Khmer