Athletes’ village in Phnom Penh will be ready by month end: chief de mission

SHAH ALAM – Malaysia’s chef de mission to the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, Datuk Mohd Nasir Ali, said the athletes’ village in Phnom Penh is expected to be ready by the end of this month at the latest.

He expressed his relief that preparation of the facilities for the athletes who will represent the nation at the biennial games is going smoothly, especially to ensure that there are no hitches to their focus.

“The SEA Games athletes’ village will be ready before the end of this month and so far, I have been informed that its name is Sport City by the Cambodian side. So, when you know that, it’s a relief because the athletes’ accommodation is already there.

“I also understand that Cambodia will hold the inauguration of the athletes’ village and the Morodok Techo Stadium, which is one of the venues for the football competition, on April 20. However, maybe at that time, I may not be present because it is more the work of the Cambodian side,” he said.

Nasir, who was accompanied by his deputies, Datuk Shalin Zulkifli and Sharon Wee, told this to reporters after visiting the training centre for volleyball and beach volleyball squads here today.

At the 2021 Hanoi SEA Games held last May after being postponed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysia only finished sixth overall with 39 gold, 45 silver and 90 bronze medals.

Commenting on the preparations of the volleyball and beach volleyball squads for Cambodia, Nasir said it was a good development as the associations concerned will be sending their players to participate in overseas competitions to seek experience on a prestigious stage.

Meanwhile, volleyball coach Shamsaimon Mohd Sharit said that the combination of young and experienced players really paid off after they won the gold medal at the Four Nations Cup in the Maldives last February, which he described as a morale booster before going to Phnom Penh.

“We have started training full-time from January and we are aiming for at least a bronze medal if we look at the performance of the players at the moment. Like in the group now, there are only three old players and the others are new, but I am sure they will be able to help each other,” he said.

The SEA Games in Phnom Penh is scheduled to take place from May 5 to May 17. – Bernama, March 22, 2023