Over a few morning teas at a Phnom Penh coffee shop lately, the table next to mine was buzzing about sports. Word is, the very first Kun Khmer Asian Championship in Vietnam just wrapped up, and it was a massive hit. With hard-hitting action in the ring and fired-up crowds in the seats, the traditional Cambodian martial art really made a name for itself across the border.
As soon as the dust settled, the news started spreading. Meun Sokha, Vice President of the Kun Khmer Federation, shared that two different countries have already stepped up, both eager to host the next tournament. Everyone’s seeing the potential in the brand and wants to bring the competition onto their home turf.
With the roar of Phnom Penh’s motorbike traffic rolling by outside, locals are pretty pleased to see our traditional sport making waves abroad. No matter which country ends up taking the baton, the fact that the ring has made it overseas—and that people are fighting to host it—is a serious point of pride back home.
