Mr. Chheung Yav Yen – Our vision is to be amongst the top popular sport in Cambodia
Mr. Chheung Yav Yen is the President of the Cambodian Boxing Federation who attended in the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Bangkok with his General Secretary Mr. Sophoan Buy to negotiate with the neighboring countries and the ASBC officials. Mr. Chheung Yav Yen answered all of our questions about Cambodia’s boxing life and strategic plans.
Cambodian Boxing Federation separated from the traditional Khmer boxing this year which was the first step to develop the Olympic boxing in the Southeast Asian country. Cambodia will be sending three boxers to the upcoming ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships which could be a historical participation for their ladies. Cambodia will be hosting the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh and the country has been preparing to that multisport event with long term projects to develop boxing.
– Could you please introduce your country’s boxing life?
– Boxing was firstly introduced to Cambodia during the French Colonization. It was very popular and became one of the potential sports in the country which brought countless successes and medals in both regional and international sporting competitions. The most remarkable success of Cambodia boxing was the first historic Bronze Medal won by Mr. You Chen Hong (56kg) in the 1962 Asian Games, Indonesia.
Additionally, Chen Hong was the first boxer to participate in the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games that no other boxer has ever taken part in this World Class Multi-Sports Event. Between 1960s-1970s, Cambodia produced many talented boxers that we were one of the tough boxing teams in Southeast Asia and Asia. However, during the Genocide Regime of Khmer Rouge (1975-1979), most educated people in the country, including prominent boxers and coaches were killed with all sporting infrastructures were completely destroyed. After the collapse of Khmer Rouge, boxing was restored in the 1980s by the former boxers and coaches who survived from Genocide regime.
After Boxing was restored, it was governed by Cambodia Boxing Federation which administered both Olympic Boxing and Khmer Traditional Kickboxing “Kun Khmer”. During this period, the CBF Governing Body focused more on developing and promoting Kun Khmer Kickboxing which made Olympic Boxing unpopular among Cambodian fans and practitioners.
There are almost hundreds bouts of “Kun Khmer” kickboxing every week that are live broadcasting on Television Channels, jointly organized by TV Channels and CBF. However, Olympic Boxing has only one or two bouts. In term of international sport events, Cambodian boxers rarely have a chance to participate in the regional and international competitions due to lack of communication between CBF and boxing international governing bodies.
– Would you like to tell us your strategic plans for the future and the key developments in your country?
– After the Olympic Boxing was completed separated from Kun Khmer Kickboxing in February 2017, the newly elected governing body of Cambodian Boxing Federation has developed clear Visions and Missions of its 2017 – 2021 Mandate which can be described as follow:
• Our Vision:
• To develop boxing to be amongst the top popular and well-resourced sports in the Cambodia
• To create hero to inspire the nation
• Our Mission:
• Promoting, marketing and sanctioning quality boxing events and tournaments to increase the sport’s popularity with athletes, supporters and sponsors,
• To provide fair competition.
• To provide equal opportunities at all levels.
• To be committed to the development of all facts of Boxing.
• To further the safety and welfare of all participants.
• To increase the membership base.
• To put structured development programs in place at grass root levels.
• Priorities of the Cambodian Boxing Federation:
• To seek medal at the 2019 & 2021 SEA Games.
• To seek at least one gold medal in 2023 SEA Games.
• To increase association & club membership.
• To stabilize provincial structures.
• To become financially self-sufficient.
• To promote women boxing at all levels.
– What are the main strengths and issues in your boxing life?
– Our main strengths are the followings:
• Numerous Boxing clubs and associations are operating in the country
• Abundance of talented boxers with the potential to achieve at the highest level.
• Boxing competition is being broadcasted in many TV Channels
• Olympic Style boxing is the safest, best medically controlled contact sport in the world. (Johns Hopkins University studies)
• Support from Ministry of Education Youth and Sport & NOC of Cambodia
Cambodian government’s strong vision toward 2023 SEA Games
– Our main issues are the followings in Cambodia:
• Inadequate infrastructure at Regional and Provincial level.
• No permanent office staff.
• Insufficient administration financial support.
• Insufficient media coverage.
• Insufficient fund from government.
• Unqualified national coaches.
• Inadequate management and administration.
• Inadequate training program.
• No talent identification program.
Inadequate systematic process of selecting national team and coach.