Lao Chantrea is a Cambodian martial artist that competes in the Cambodian sport of Kun Khmer (pradal serey). He is considered one of the most skilled boxers in Cambodia and a member of Cambodia's national Kun Khmer team. He has won the national championship and is the reigning gold medalist in Kun Khmer at the Southeast Asian Games in the 75 kg weight division.[1]
Boxing career
In 2014, a young Lao Chantrea won the 60 kg Leo Beer belt.[1] In 2015, the Cambodian Boxing Federation bestowed upon Lao Chantrea the nickname, the "flying knee". Previously, the nickname was held by Eh Phouthong. Eh Phouthong said he was happy that a new strong athlete could use that nickname because he had retired from boxing.[2]
On March 19, 2016, Lao Chantrea from the 911 Parachute Brigade Club became champion of the second season of the PNN Leo Beer Championship. He won $5,000 by knocking out Soth Bunthy by elbow to the neck in the second round.[3] Lao Chantrea believed he had a 90% chance of winning the finals of the Leo Beer Belt.[4] In December 2016, Lao Chantrea defeated Phal Sophorn at the Kubota Championship at Bayon Boeung Snor Arena.[5] On December 30, 2017, Lao Chantrea beat his opponent Thananchai with a unanimous decision in a match at Bayon Arena.[6]
In 2018, Sabay News named Lao Chantrea as one of the top 5 Cambodian boxers most technically skilled in ability.[7] He is known for his punches kicks and clinching while using knee techniques. In 2018 at the ISI PALM championship at CNC television studio, Lao Chantrea beat Chhan Chhai of Thailand with an elbow attack. The referee stopped the match and Chantrea won in round three of the five scheduled rounds.[8]
In 2018, Lao Chantrea was named to the 2018 national team.[9]
At the 2019 national championship, Lao Chantrea earned a gold medal in the 67 kg weight division.[10] On Saturday morning of June 26, 2021, at Bayon TV arena, Lao Chantrea got hit by the heavy hand of Thai Rithy and lost the match in the middle of the 3rd round.[11]
Although he was selected for the national team, Lao Chantrea did not compete at the 31st SEA Games because his weight division was not an event.[12] At the 32nd SEA Games, Lao Chantrea received a gold medal by defeating Vietnamese boxer Nguyen Hong Quan in the finals of the men's 75 kg weight division.[13] The match took place on the afternoon of May 11, 2023 at Morodok Techo National Stadium.[14]
Lao Chantrea with championship belt
In 2023, Lao Chantrea won in the second round against Denpanum, the reigning Lumpinee middlewight champion from Thailand.[15][16] On February 4, 2024, at The Battle of Kings event at the National Television of Cambodia(TVK), Lao Chantrea beat Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee by points.[17]
Personal life
Lao Chantrea trains under Master Hong Seun who has also train other famous athletes such as Ung Virak, Lao Chetra, Lao Sinath and Prom Samnang.[18] He is the older brother of Kun Khmer star, Lao Chetra.[19] His nephew is Cambodian boxer Lao Sainet, who is a boxer at the 911 Parachute Brigade Club.[20]
Lao Chantrea was in attendance at Manny Pacquiao's state visit to Cambodia and was among the Cambodian boxers to take a selfie with the Filipino great.[21]
Lao Chantrea has said he wanted to see a lot of fans and sponsors support Cambodian boxers in the same way they do soccer. He has said the Cambodian boxing industry does not receive enough support.[22]
^Sovanndara, S. (2015, January 15). អេ ភូថងទម្លាយរឿងរហស្សនាម«កែងឆេះជង្គង់ហោះ»កាល១៥ឆ្នាំមុន [Eh Phouthong received the nickname "Flying Knee" 15 years ago]. Sabay News. https://news.sabay.com.kh/article/229775
^កីឡាករ ឡៅ ចន្ទ្រា បានក្លាយជាម្ចាស់ជើងឯកជាមួយទឹកប្រាក់៥ពាន់ដុល្លារ[Lao Chantrea becomes champion with $ 5,000]. (2016, March 20). Cambodianess. Retrieved February 8, 2024, from https://thmeythmey.com/?page=detail&id=37789
^Sina, N. (2019, October 13). ជើងឯកថ្នាក់ជាតិគុនខ្មែរ ២០១៩ កីឡាករឆត្រយោងដល់ទៅ៤នាក់ឈ្នះមេដាយមាស [2019 Cambodian National Contest Championships awards four gold medals]. Sabay News. https://news.sabay.com.kh/article/1169400#utm_campaign=onpage
^Sina, N. (2022, April 20). ឡៅ ចន្ទ្រា ឡៅ ចិត្រាមិនមានឈ្មោះចេញទៅប្រកួតស៊ីហ្គេម២០២២ នេះទេ [Lao Chantrea, Lao Chetra will not be named for the 2022 SEA Games]. Sabay News. Retrieved February 24, 2024, from https://news.sabay.com.kh/article/1326331
^កីឡាករគុនខ្មែរ ឡៅ ចន្ទ្រា ទទួលបានមេដាយមាស ក្នុងប្រភេទទម្ងន់ ៧៥គីឡូក្រាម [Khmer Boxer Lao Chantrea Won A Gold Medal In The 75 Kg Weight Category]. (2023, May 11). Ministry of Information. Retrieved February 24, 2024, from https://www.information.gov.kh/articles/104546
