First Kun Khmer Asian Championship draws 171 athletes from 11 countries
VOV.VN - The inaugural Asian Kun Khmer Championship 2026 opened in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on September 3, bringing together 171 athletes from 11 countries to compete for 70 sets of medals.
The participating countries are Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, and Vietnam.
Matches take place daily from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Can Tho Sports Training and Competition Centre, and the final match and closing ceremony are slated for September 7.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Nguyen Van Bay, director of Can Tho’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Can Tho’s hosting of the inaugural Asian Kun Khmer Championship marks an important milestone in the development of the sport in the region.
The championship not only provides athletes with a platform to compete and exchange experience, but also creates opportunities for cultural exchange among countries in the region through sport, he stressed.
Bringing a continental-level tournament to Can Tho also offers an opportunity to promote the city to domestic and international visitors, while expanding sports exchanges and cooperation, he added.
Kun Khmer is a Cambodian combat sport that uses punches, kicks, elbow and knee strikes. The sport bears many similarities to Muay Thai and is closely associated with Cambodia’s sporting and cultural traditions.
The Kun Khmer Federation of Vietnam has hosted the inaugural tournament with approval from the Kun Khmer International Federation (KIF).
Vietnam top medal table at Kun Khmer World Championship
VOV.VN - Vietnam secured overall first place at the 6th Kun Khmer World Championship, marking a breakthrough performance in their debut appearance at the global tournament.
