PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Manet met with 99 sports delegates at the Peace Palace yesterday before they headed off to China to represent Cambodia in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, which start this Saturday and run for two weeks.

Cambodia is sending a total of 189 sports delegates, including 114 athletes, to participate in 17 sports including volleyball, basketball, athletics, swimming, cricket, martial arts, badminton, sailing, Triathlon, and Fencing.

During the meeting on September 20, the PM encouraged athletes to represent Cambodia well with open hearts and good sportsmanship so that the world can see the noble character of the Cambodian nation. He encouraged them to train hard, be disciplined and to avoid prohibited substances so that they can maintain unity amongst themselves and increase solidarity with their foreign counterparts. He warned that inappropriate behavior affects the nation’s image so athletes should be sure to operate under good ethics and positive attitudes.

With the 19th Asian Games running from September 23 to October 8, some of the Cambodian athletes have already arrived in China ahead of schedule. The competition will host 45 countries to compete in 40 sports, including 481 sub-categories in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.