In Pictures: Kun Bokator Vietnam team ready for SEA Games 32

At the upcoming 32nd SEA Games, the host country Cambodia decided to include the traditional martial art, with a national cultural identity, Kun Bokator, into the competition programme. Up to this point, five countries, including Vietnam, have registered to send athletes to compete with the host country.
The Vietnam Kun Bokator national team was established in early March 2023, with Le Cong But as the head coach and 15 carefully selected athletes, representing Vietnam's traditional martial arts.
The Vietnam Kun Bokator national team was established in early March 2023, with Le Cong But as the head coach and 15 carefully selected athletes, representing Vietnam's traditional martial arts.
After nearly a month of concentration, the Vietnamese Bokator team attended the Southeast Asian Kun Bokator Championship, in early April and won 3 Gold, 3 Silver and 3 Bronze medals at the tournament. This is a very impressive achievement of the Vietnamese Bokator team, in the context that the boxers have to get used to a new martial art, with a different competition format.

After nearly a month of concentration, the Vietnamese Bokator team attended the Southeast Asian Kun Bokator Championship, in early April and won 3 Gold, 3 Silver and 3 Bronze medals at the tournament. This is a very impressive achievement of the Vietnamese Bokator team, in the context that the boxers have to get used to a new martial art, with a different competition format.
Among the summoned athletes, there are many notable faces such as Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai (An Giang), Tran Vo Song Thuong (Binh Dinh), Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyen (Binh Dinh), Ngo Duc Manh (Binh Dinh (People's Police team), Huynh Van Cuong (Da Nang), and Dang Van Thang (Ho Chi Minh City).

Among the summoned athletes, there are many notable faces such as Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai (An Giang), Tran Vo Song Thuong (Binh Dinh), Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyen (Binh Dinh), Ngo Duc Manh (Binh Dinh (People's Police team), Huynh Van Cuong (Da Nang), and Dang Van Thang (Ho Chi Minh City).
According to coach Le Cong But, Kun Bokator has many similarities with Vietnamese traditional martial arts.

According to coach Le Cong But, Kun Bokator has many similarities with Vietnamese traditional martial arts.
With the available background from traditional martial arts, along with the guidance from Cambodian experts, Vietnamese athletes do not have too many difficulties in training and getting used to the new martial art.

With the available background from traditional martial arts, along with the guidance from Cambodian experts, Vietnamese athletes do not have too many difficulties in training and getting used to the new martial art.
Athletes will compete in the resistance event with 9 different weight classes, including 50kg, 55kg, 60kg, 65kg and 70kg for men and 45kg, 50kg, 55kg and 60kg for women.

Athletes will compete in the resistance event with 9 different weight classes, including 50kg, 55kg, 60kg, 65kg and 70kg for men and 45kg, 50kg, 55kg and 60kg for women.
The team's greatest hope is veteran athlete Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai. A familiar face at the National Traditional Martial Arts and Kickboxing Championships, with 2 Gold Medals at the 2009 Asian Martial Arts Congress and 3 Gold Medals at Asian Indoor Games 3. Notably, in 2009 at the SEA Games 25 in Laos, Tuyet Mai became the first Vietnamese boxer to win Muay in the 51kg weight class.

The team's greatest hope is veteran athlete Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai. A familiar face at the National Traditional Martial Arts and Kickboxing Championships, with 2 Gold Medals at the 2009 Asian Martial Arts Congress and 3 Gold Medals at Asian Indoor Games 3. Notably, in 2009 at the SEA Games 25 in Laos, Tuyet Mai became the first Vietnamese boxer to win Muay in the 51kg weight class.
The athletes of the team are all good individuals, having won gold medals at the national congresses, so the coaching team aims to reach the finals in all weight classes.

The athletes of the team are all good individuals, having won gold medals at the national congresses, so the coaching team aims to reach the finals in all weight classes.
The Kun Bokator Vietnam team is a combination of veteran athletes and young athletes.

The Kun Bokator Vietnam team is a combination of veteran athletes and young athletes.
Under the technical guidance of Cambodian experts. The team has a better grasp of the rules, and intensive training on movements, to achieve high efficiency in competition.

Under the technical guidance of Cambodian experts. The team has a better grasp of the rules, and intensive training on movements, to achieve high efficiency in competition.
At the sprint stage when the SEA Games is approaching, the athletes are all training as seriously as they are in the competition, so injuries are inevitable.

At the sprint stage when the SEA Games is approaching, the athletes are all training as seriously as they are in the competition, so injuries are inevitable.
Cambodian expert Chhun Sok directly supports team members.

Cambodian expert Chhun Sok directly supports team members.
After-workout minutes are always precious to athletes, so they can share and learn from each other.

After-workout minutes are always precious to athletes, so they can share and learn from each other.

THUY NGUYEN - TUAN DUNG

Translated by NDO

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