INTERNATIONAL: The Tokyo Olympics are closing out their first week and Cambodia’s Olympians are gearing up for action. Hem Puch competes in the Men’s 50m freestyle and will be followed shortly after by Kheun Bunpichmorakat in the same discipline in the Women’s category. The 50m freestyle competition is being held at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. It’s divided into three rounds: Heats, semi-finals and final. The top 16 swimmers from the heats will advance to the semis. From there, the top eight finishers will advance to the final.

Both Cambodian athletes are young, with Bunpichmorakat being only 14. They are representing the Kingdom in Tokyo along with Sokong who is running in the 100-m sprint tomorrow. Chef de Mission Vath Chamroeun says that no one is expecting medals for Cambodia, but athletes should beat their personal bests and hopefully set new national records.

Swimming has helped China reclaim the top spot on the medals table again, bringing home 2 gold medals to go top with 15 golds and 32 medals in total. Host nation Japan follows in second position also with 15 golds. The US completes the medals table podium.