STO - Besides being hardworking and productive, the Khmer people in Long Phu district (Soc Trang province) also love sports activities to improve their health, have fun, and participate in district and provincial tournaments and sports events. Some sports such as boat racing, petanque, volleyball, and traditional chess are regularly practiced by many people, creating a widespread movement.
According to Diep Dang Khoa, Deputy Director of the Long Phu District Cultural, Sports and Broadcasting Center: “Every year, the district and its communes and towns plan to organize many tournaments and sports events to celebrate important national events and traditional festivals of the Khmer people, such as the Chol Chnam Thmay New Year and the Sene Dolta festival… These activities attract a large number of athletes to participate in lively competitions. In particular, the district's traditional boat racing teams and teams for pétanque, volleyball, and chess, with a core group of Khmer people, participate in ethnic sports competitions and the Ooc om boc Festival - Boat Racing at the provincial and regional levels in the Mekong Delta. Thanks to this, the mass sports movement in the district is maintained and developed extensively.”
These days, visiting Kom Pong Mean Chey Tứk Prăy Pagoda in Long Phú town, Long Phú district, we see a lively training atmosphere. This year, the management board and the steering committee of the pagoda's traditional boat racing club have made thorough preparations, organizing early training sessions and mobilizing athletes from hamlets in the area and some neighboring localities to train in preparation for the upcoming race.
The athletes of the Kom Pong Mean Chey Tứk Prăy pagoda's traditional boat racing team diligently practice. Photo: THACH PICH
As one of the veteran and experienced athletes on the green racetrack, Mr. Thach Thai Son, the captain of the Kom Pong Mean Chey Tuk Pray pagoda's traditional boat racing team, shared: “For over 20 years, I have participated in the traditional boat racing team, training and competing at the Ooc Om Boc Festival - the provincial boat racing competition, the Mekong Delta region, and the district's race. I really enjoy this sport. I feel very sad when I can't participate in training during the competition season. When I'm summoned, I arrange my household affairs to come here to train with my teammates. The most memorable and joyful moment was in 2012, when the pagoda's traditional boat racing team won the provincial championship for the first time.”
According to the coaching staff, in the early days, more athletes came to practice than in previous seasons. At this point, the temple's traditional boat racing team has mobilized up to 90 swimmers to participate in training sessions on some days. Mr. Lam Van Rinh, head coach of the Kom Pong Mean Chey Tưk Prăy temple's traditional boat racing team, said: “To participate in the Oóc om bóc Festival - Soc Trang Province Traditional Boat Racing in 2023, the coaching staff and athletes of the temple are very excited that the authorities are showing interest and encouragement. Every day, the athletes come to practice in large numbers and with high determination. In particular, the temple has also invested in a new, more satisfactory pair of fishing rods to test when the team officially trains on the boat.”
In addition, the petanque movement is also developing strongly throughout the communes and towns in the district. Thach Thanh Ly, a member of the Phu Duc Hamlet Petanque Club in Long Phu Commune, Long Phu District, who won first place in the men's singles at the 2022 Soc Trang Provincial Petanque Club Championship, said: “I really enjoy petanque. Every day I make time to go to the field to play and socialize with my friends to improve my health and skills. When the district holds a selection, I am ready to participate.”
Comrade Diep Dang Khoa added: “In recent times, thanks to the close attention of the District Party Committee and the District People's Committee, the mass sports movement in the district has continuously developed. Participating in the 2022 Soc Trang Provincial Petanque Club Championship, the district's petanque team won 2 first prizes, 1 second prize, and 3 third prizes; participating in the 2023 Provincial Senior Citizens' Sports Festival, the results were 4 first prizes, 2 second prizes, and 2 third prizes. Looking ahead to the upcoming Ooc om boc festival - the provincial boat race, Long Phu district has 3 men's boat teams participating, including the boat teams from the temples of Kom Pong Mean Chey Tuk Pray, Serey Muni Sang Ke, and Bang Kro Chap Chas. Currently, the boat teams are actively training to bring honor to their temples and localities.”
JADE
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