Cambodian Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team grateful for warm welcome in Japan

Published by siv mesa
March 6, 2023

The Cambodian Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team made a ground-breaking visit to Japan as part of the JENESYS (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) Programme.

With the aim of fostering friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries, the 15-member team took part in joint training sessions with the Kyushu Dolphins, the Japanese Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, learning new strategies, techniques, and teamwork.

Before the event, the Cambodian Wheelchair Basketball athletes was received by Ueno Atsuhi, Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia in a send-off ceremony at the Japan Embassy.

The team expressed its deepest gratitude to the Japan Embassy for their support of physical rehabilitation and social inclusion of Cambodia.

Team captain, Sieng Sokchan, expressed her gratitude for the JENESYS programme experience, saying, “We are grateful for the warm welcome we received from the Japanese hosts and the cultural exchange experience. We hope to bring back what we learned to our team in Cambodia and improve our performance.”

The team also had the opportunity to experience Japanese culture, visiting places such as the Japan Olympic Museum, temples, and traditional Japanese restaurants, as well as participating in tea ceremonies.

The Cambodian Wheelchair Basketball Federation, led by H.R.H. Princess Sisowath Kanthireth (Honorary President) and Senior Minister Ly Thuch (President), is an organisation dedicated to promoting wheelchair basketball and providing opportunities for athletes with disabilities.

“We believe that sport has the power to unite people and promote inclusion and national pride. Through wheelchair basketball, we can showcase the ‘Khmer can-do’ spirit of Cambodia.

“Under the wise leadership and full support from Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, I am confident that Cambodian team will perform well in the upcoming 12th ASEAN Para Games,” said Thuch.

Together with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Prince Foundation, the team is now preparing for the 2023 ASEAN Para Games, which will take place in Cambodia this year.

The JENESYS is a programme launched in 2007 by the Japanese government to promote cultural and people-to-people exchange among the youth of Japan and participating countries.