VIENTIANE, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Lao Bodybuilding Federation is turning its attention to up and coming athletes as it develops the national squad for domestic and international events this year.
The Lao federation will select its best male and female contenders to compete at the World Bodybuilding Championship 2019 which will be held in South Korea this August, the local daily Vientiane Times reported on Tuesday.
"We would like to give young bodybuilders a good chance to compete at international level so we are looking to recruit more into the team," Vice President of the Lao Bodybuilding Federation, Bounhom Thammavong, said to the daily.
The Lao federation also plans to cooperate with the National University of Laos (NUOL) to hold a national bodybuilding competition to be known as the Lao Minister of Education and Sports' Cup in October this year, which is expected to attract more experienced and youthful talent.
"We would like to promote the sport and get NUOL students interested in bodybuilding training," Bounhom said.
The Lao federation hopes to follow up the Lao team's fifth place success at the 16th Southeast Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sport Championship 2019 in Yangon, Myanmar in this May.
Laos' top female bodybuilder, Kongpheng Khounvinay, fifth place, competed in the model physique event in the under 160cm category on May 19. She has been training intensively in Lao capital Vientiane. Lao male bodybuilder, Nanthalak Sounakhe, competed in the men's sport physique under 170cm event but was unable to pass the qualifying selection rounds.
Another female bodybuilder, Phoyphailin Phanthavong, made history by taking out third place at the 10th World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation World Championships held on December 2018 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
