Sport in Cambodia
Cambodia has a relatively tumultuous past with a lot of fighting with other countries and among themselves. With this in mind, it is not unusual to believe that their traditional sport is a form of martial arts. Bokator is a form of kickboxing and was practiced by the Khmer and is not strictly kickboxing. It is one of the first forms of mixed-martial arts since it includes not just striking but also ground work and wrestling. The form that civilians were allowed to practice was Pradal Serey.
But recently, Cambodians have started adapting western sports and have come to love football. It is currently the most popular sport. The Cambodian national football team has been a member of the FIFA since the early 1950’s and the Asian Football Confederation in the late 1950’s. Basketball and Sepak Takraw which is a lot like volleyball but is played with a rattan ball and instead of using your arms, you kick the ball.
Cambodia’s participation to international competitions is a bit touch and go. They first joined the Olympics in the 1956 Melbourne Games then skipped the 1960’s Rome Olympic Games. They joined the 1964 Games in Tokyo, Japan then skipped the 1968 Mexico Games and joined the 1972 Munich Games. They skipped the Games again and only went back at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Cambodia. Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.
Popular sports of Cambodia
- Football (Soccer), Basketball, Sepak Takraw
Traditional or Regional Sports
- Pradal Serey — a type of kickboxing from from Cambodia. Also known as Kun Khmer
- Bokator - a form of kickboxing
Cambodia Sporting Success
Great athletes from Cambodia
Cambodia Sports trivia
Cambodia at major events
Past sporting events hosted in Cambodia
Upcoming sporting events in Cambodia
Annual sporting events held in Cambodia
Sporting Facilities in Cambodia
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