National
• 2 hours ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
Cambodia Builds Toward 2031 Asian Youth Games With Youth Athlete Strategy
Phnom Penh — Sept. 18, 2026: With Cambodia set to host the 2031 Asian Youth Games in Phnom Penh, the Cambodia Canoeing and Rowing Federation has laid out a five-year strategy centred on developing young athletes capable of competing on home soil.
Cambodia will officially host the Games in 2031. Originally planned for 2029, the event was postponed following a scheduling adjustment by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). Cambodian and OCA officials formally signed the host city contract on Jan. 26, 2026, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha, Minister of Interior and President of the federation, set out the strategy during a meeting at the Ministry of Interior on Sept. 16, 2026, to review first-half results and chart directions for the second half of the year.
H. E Sar Sokha said leaders and working groups must give priority to planning the recruitment and training of young athletes ahead of the Games. He called for greater outreach to youth through schools and provinces to cultivate interest in the sport and broaden the talent pool.
He directed recruitment efforts toward the Royal Cambodian Navy and Naval Gendarmerie, urging those units to identify athletes aged 13 to 14 for intensive training so Cambodia will have athletes of competing age by 2030 and 2031.
The federation's four main plans include aligning competitions with international rowing standards, equipping officials with digital systems for national and international coordination, expanding grassroots management to evaluate athlete performance, and conducting daily assessments of training outcomes.
H.E Sar Sokha also called for periodic internal quality reviews, annual development plans leading up to 2031, and the compilation of a digital archive covering the federation's history, competitions and leadership. He reaffirmed his commitment to accelerating development and resolving challenges, including shortages in athlete training.
Second Vice-President Sor Sethi presented the first-half work report, while Treasurer Meas Toeun presented the financial report.
The meeting aimed to assess first-half progress and set the second-half direction, focusing on human resources, training, international-standard event organisation and overseas competitions.
Source: Ministry of Information
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
Cambodia will officially host the Games in 2031. Originally planned for 2029, the event was postponed following a scheduling adjustment by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). Cambodian and OCA officials formally signed the host city contract on Jan. 26, 2026, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha, Minister of Interior and President of the federation, set out the strategy during a meeting at the Ministry of Interior on Sept. 16, 2026, to review first-half results and chart directions for the second half of the year.
H. E Sar Sokha said leaders and working groups must give priority to planning the recruitment and training of young athletes ahead of the Games. He called for greater outreach to youth through schools and provinces to cultivate interest in the sport and broaden the talent pool.
He directed recruitment efforts toward the Royal Cambodian Navy and Naval Gendarmerie, urging those units to identify athletes aged 13 to 14 for intensive training so Cambodia will have athletes of competing age by 2030 and 2031.
The federation's four main plans include aligning competitions with international rowing standards, equipping officials with digital systems for national and international coordination, expanding grassroots management to evaluate athlete performance, and conducting daily assessments of training outcomes.
H.E Sar Sokha also called for periodic internal quality reviews, annual development plans leading up to 2031, and the compilation of a digital archive covering the federation's history, competitions and leadership. He reaffirmed his commitment to accelerating development and resolving challenges, including shortages in athlete training.
Second Vice-President Sor Sethi presented the first-half work report, while Treasurer Meas Toeun presented the financial report.
The meeting aimed to assess first-half progress and set the second-half direction, focusing on human resources, training, international-standard event organisation and overseas competitions.
Source: Ministry of Information
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network