Cambodia Successfully Concludes Sports for Tourism Event, Promoting Culture and Exchange

PHNOM PENH, July 29, 2026 -- The "Sports for Tourism, Tourism for All" event, designed to promote tourism, successfully concluded on July 28, 2026, after a five-day competition featuring four types of sports. Samuth Sotharith, Deputy Governor of Sihanoukville Province, representing Governor Mang Sineth, praised and highly commended the provincial Department of Tourism, the organizing committee, and all related parties for their dedication and hard work in organizing the event, which achieved its planned success. The deputy governor also considered the participation of all athletes in the event as a significant contribution to promoting Kun Khmer (Khmer martial arts), Cambodia's ancient culture and civilization, and especially the tourism sector in Cambodia and Sihanoukville Province to the world. Tang Socheath Kresna, Director of the Sihanoukville Provincial Department of Tourism, informed that the event was organized to enhance the promotion and attraction of Sihanoukville Province as a tourist destination, promote local products, and create jobs for the people in the local communities. It specifically aims to boost the tourism campaign during the green season, in line with the guidelines of the Ministry of Tourism and the Provincial Administration. As the staff of the Ministry of Tourism and the Provincial Administration, in cooperation with the Federations of Kun Khmer Boxing, Table Tennis, Wrestling, and Volleyball, organized these four sports competitions: Kun Khmer boxing, beach volleyball, table tennis, and arm wrestling. Kong Sopheap, Secretary-General of the Cambodian Arm Wrestling Federation, told the Cambodian AKP news agency on the morning of July 29 that the arm wrestling competition was organized from July 26-28, 2026, at the Techo Stadium in Sihanoukville City, Sihanoukville Province, as part of the "Sports for Tourism, Tourism for All" event. He highlighted the strong enthusiasm and high participation of many athletes, which is a positive sign for the further development of this sport. Kong Sopheap added that the arm wrestling competition was organized into three weight categories, with 40 participants in each category, totaling 120 athletes. The winners included: in the 65kg category, first place was awarded to athlete Phan Sophaphei from the Ream Naval Base Unit. In the 70kg category, the gold medal went to athlete Met Chanrasmey from Svay Rieng Province. In the 95kg category, the gold medal was awarded to athlete Mao Phirou from Sihanoukville Province. Besides the gold medalists, second to fourth place winners were also awarded in all three categories. Source: AKP Khmer