Cambodian athletes pose for photos at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Aug 23, 2023. Cambodia sent a large team of 136 athletes to train in China in preparation for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

PHNOM PENH - Cambodia on Wednesday sent 136 athletes to train in China in preparation for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, a senior sports official said.

Vath Chamroeun, secretary general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, said the athletes across 11 sports including swimming, basketball, volleyball, badminton, wrestling, judo, table tennis, athletics and gymnastics will train in China for three months.

It is the second time that Cambodia has dispatched a large number of athletes to train in China, Chamroeun said, adding that last year the Southeast Asian country sent 161 athletes to train in China for seven months

"The adult athletes will train in preparation for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou from Sept 23 to Oct 8," Chamroeun told Xinhua. "For the under-18 athletes, they will train for other games in the future, especially the 2029 Asian Youth Games, to which Cambodia will play host."

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"This high-level technical training is essential to help increase the capacity and technical levels of our Cambodian athletes," he added.

It is the second time that Cambodia has dispatched a large number of athletes to train in China, Chamroeun said, adding that last year the Southeast Asian country sent 161 athletes to train in China for seven months.

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30-year-old sprinter Pen Sokong said he was excited to be given a chance to train in China ahead of the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Cambodian athletes pose for photos at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Aug 23, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

"I'm very happy and excited that our sports leaders have trusted and provided us an opportunity to train in China," he said.

"I will be one of the participating athletes at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. I will try my best and I hope I will achieve a good result."