PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has agreed with Oknha Srey Chanthorn that athletes on the national teams participating in the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games should stop competing in the run up to the major sporting event, in order to prevent injuries and absences.

He said that if national team players continue to participate in various competitions before the SEA Games and accidentally get injured, they will lose the valuable opportunity to partake in this historic event in Cambodia.

The Prime Minister gave the example of boxer Chhoeung Lvei, who recently suffered a leg injury that caused him to lose against his Thai opponent, Samy Banchamek, in a match held on 15 April in Siem Reap. He expressed worry that Chhoeung Lvei may not be able to recover in time for the SEA Games, which begin in only 19 days.

"I ask the Boxing Federation to please take care not to organize matches for fighters that will compete at the upcoming SEA Games, prohibit them from competing in [different boxing arenas owned by TV stations], otherwise we will face problems [within our national teams] that will reflect [at the SEA Games] in the [near] future," said the Prime Minister.