5 Branches ‘Tricked’ by Cambodia Using Foreign Players at the SEA Games

CNN Indonesia

Saturday, May 13 2023 07:29 WIB

Jakarta, CNNIndonesia —

Cambodia looks different in SEA Games 2023 by winning many gold medals. This is none other than the strategy of using foreign players.

From a search by CNNIndonesia.com, there are at least five sports (sports) that Cambodia has filled with foreign players. Foreign players here generally use the naturalization route.

These players had a huge impact on the Cambodian game, leading to medals. As the host, Cambodia not only wants to be successful as an organizer, but also to have successful achievements.

So far it’s been proven. Until Friday (12/5) evening, Cambodia was in third place in the temporary medal standings. The chances of becoming the overall champion may be tough, but it is history.

This is because the total gold medals won by Cambodia from 1961 to 2021 (2022) were only 63. In the last edition in Vietnam, for example, Cambodia only won 9 gold, 13 silver and 41 bronze.

In other words, the number of gold medals won when hosting will exceed the total number of medals won for dozens of editions. This also means that Cambodia has had a successful achievement as the host.

1. Badminton

There are allegations that Cambodia used the services of players from China to win medals in badminton. The suspected player is Chourng Meng or Zhoung Meng in the Mixed Team number.

2. Men’s Basketball

Cambodia was strengthened by eight naturalized players at the SEA Games, namely Dwayne Morgan, Sayeed Pridett, Darius Henderson, Anthony Dominic Dar, Anthony Dominic Dar, Joseph Hoeup, Brandon Peterson and Oscar Lopes.

3. Girls Basketball

Not only in the men’s number, in the women’s basketball 3×3 Cambodia also brought in naturalized players. They are Meighan Sharee Simmons, Mariah Cooks, Kim Hanlon, and Brittany Dinkins.

4. Triathlon

For the triathlon, Cambodia fielded a French-born athlete, Margon Garabedian. It was not in vain that Garabedian defeated three Philippines SEA Games gold medalists, Kim Mangrobang.

5. Billiards

Reporting from Rappler.com, Filipino billiards legend Efren Reyes was eliminated from the medal competition at the 2023 SEA Games. He was defeated by a Cambodian athlete from South Korea, Woo Dong Hoon.

(abs/has)