The SEA Games Organizing Committee (CAMSOC) said that Kun Khmer has been added as a kickboxing competition at the upcoming regional games, saying it is the right of the host country to add a sport of national identity.

Vath Chamroeun, Chief Executive Officer of CAMSOC, said at a press conference on Thursday that with representatives of sports from ASEAN countries, Cambodia has already received strong support to organize Kun Khmer events and that the rules of fighting will be Khmer, including how a boxer dresses.

“We’ve already announced to all countries that we won’t organize Muay competitions, we will organize a new sport [category] called Kun Khmer,” Chamroeun said.

His remarks come after the news sparked outrage in neighbouring Thailand. International media reports this week reported that Thailand will boycott Kun Khmer at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, which Cambodia will host for the first time in 60 years.

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AFP said Thailand has displayed angry over Cambodia naming the sport Kun Khmer, not Muay Thai, which is a national Thai sport.

Chamroeun added that Cambodia has not affected Muay Thai and defended the position to hold Kun Khmer, as it is a national treasure that forms part of the nation’s identity.

“We announce today that what we do is in the name of the host, who has the privilege to add types of sports in our national identity, [so] we’ve added our Kun Khmer to the competition.”

He urged for calm and help to promote the values of Kun Khmer without disrespecting Muay Thai.

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He said that he has also met with a representative from Thailand, and Bangkok will participate in the competition. However, there is another group that does not want to send athletes.

“We will convince Olympic committees of other countries to send Kun Khmer, not anything else, to compete,” Chamroeun said.

The Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh did not reply to Kiripost’s request for comment by the time of press.