Lao Judo athletes snatch 23 medals from East Asia Judo Championship 2009

(KPL) The Lao judo squad won three gold, two silver and 18 bronze medals and the team won the second place at the East Asia Judo Championship 2009, held in Lao-ITECC, Vientiane. 
Judo competitors from Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Laos competed in this two-day competition, from 6 to 7 August. Mr Khemkham Sommanivong who competed in the 45kg category won one gold medal and Ms Mayouly and Ms Phonevanhwon won one gold medal each. 
Ms Phonevanh said at one stage she was almost overcome by the physical robustness of her Vietnamese opponent but she willed herself to fight with a tooth and nail and turned near defeat to victory. She also said the Vietnamese fighters would pose a threat to the Lao team for the SEA Games competition. 
President of the Lao Judo Federation, Mr Khemsath Philaphandeth said this competition was a great success as it provided the judo athletes in the region the opportunity to get realistic competition experience before they compete in the SEA Games. The federation said it would field athletes to compete in the judo dancing event for SEA Games Results of the East Asia Judo Championship 2009: