The Angkor Sangkran 2025 will be showcased the First Khmer Ancestral Martial Arts Village

The Khmer Ancestral Martial Arts Village will be showcased for the first time during the Angkor Sangkran program. This was announced by H.E. Vath Chamroeun, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, after a meeting with representatives of the Union of Cambodian Youth Federations on preparations for the Angkor Sangkran event to celebrate the Khmer New Year 2025.

H.E. Secretary General stated that: The Khmer Ancestral Martial Arts Village will showcase all forms of Khmer martial arts, both those that have been discovered and those that have not been discovered. The commission will gather these Khmer martial artists to participate in the performance at the Angkor Sangkran Event. Out of the martial arts that have already been collected, such as Kun Khmer, Kun Labokator, Yutkham Khom, Chambab, Kun Khel, Kun Dombong, Kun Dav, there will also be new martial arts and new forms, such as Kropeu Ha, Kla Krap, Srongea Pen, etc. Not only that, there can also have the Khmer traditional wrestling competition for the public to enjoy, because the Khmer traditional wrestling is an ancient culture and the origin of one of the oldest martial arts, and there are the most sculptures of wrestling in the Angkor region.

What is more special, the public can join in training of the Khmer ancestral martial arts according to their own interests to gain the first experience and knowledge of Khmer ancestral martial arts shown by elder martial arts masters.

H.E. Vath Chamroeun expects that, these special programs will inspire the sense of nationalism, love for ancestors, land, country, and gratitude for Khmer ancient martial artists.

At the same time, H.E. Vath Chamroeun added that: Out of the Khmer Ancestral Martial Arts Village, there will also have the Okchatrang Sport (Khmer Chess) that will be held in a special format that is new than in previous years, namely, those are students, studying at universities across Cambodia will have the opportunity to become the King of Okchatrang for the Angkor Sangkran event 2025.

The qualifying round for students will begin in March, at the same time as the qualifying round for the general public. The two students who qualified in the qualifying round, plus eight candidates from the public qualifying round, for a total of 10, will compete on the Angkor Sangkran Day to find the King of Okhchatrang for the Angkor Sangkran Event. His Excellency emphasized that this is a movement to make playing Khmer Okhchatrang (Khmer Chess) to be more exciting and popular.

In addition, out of the competition, there will be a demonstration of the Giant Okhchatrang as well as to make understanding of Khmer Okhchatrang, as well as questions and answers related to Khmer Okhchatrang, as well as training.