Kun Khmer formally included in SEA Games with support from 8 countries

The Cambodian martial art Kun Khmer has been officially included in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games with the support of eight countries.

The inclusion of Kun Khmer, which is also known as Pradal Serey, was announced during a recent gathering of the Kun Khmer International Federation (KKIF) at the Garden City Hotel in Phnom Penh. 

To read about Kun Khmer or Pradal Serey click here.

The event was held to discuss various issues related to Kun Khmer, especially finding ways to promote it to the outside world. The KKIF currently boasts of 29 member countries, according to NOCC.

“We want to have more members. We also want to further promote the sport to the outside world,” the KKIF said in a statement released to the media. 

In addition to Cambodia, the inclusion of Kun Khmer also had the support of Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, according to a report from the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC).

The support of at least four members is enough to include a sport on the list, which the hosts chose with concurrence from the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) Council.

“Kun Khmer is officially part of the next SEA Games,” Vath Chamroeun, Chief Executive of the Cambodian SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC) announced two days ago. “We have already set the rules and regulations of Kun Khmer. It will have no impact on Muay Thai and other forms of martial art.”

“The seven other countries that supported its inclusion will send their athletes and compete for medals in the SEA Games,” he added.

Thailand, which initially threatened to boycott the event over a name dispute, will also compete, local media reported.

Thailand protestations

Thailand initially announced that they will boycott the Kun Khmer event over a name dispute.

Thai sports authorities said the event should be referred to as Muay Thai, a martial art similar to Kun Khmer that originated from Thailand.

“They are violating international regulations for sports competitions,” Charoen Wattanasin, vice chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT), was quoted as saying by the Thai media.

Charoen claimed that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has not endorsed the term Kun Khmer.

Kun Khmer, like Muay Thai, is an ancient combat sport where fighters use four types of strikes: punches, kicks, elbows and knee strikes. The aim is to knock an opponent out, force a technical knockout, or win a match by points, according to published rules and regulations. 

Cambodia refused to back down, setting off a public spat.

The issue was apparently resolved last week, with both sides settling on a compromise. 

Some 38 regular sports and one demo sport have been listed for the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games.