(Photo facebook phiromswsb)
Cambodian ace Riem Sokphirom stormed into the quarter-finals of the Beach Teqball International Cup in Wanning, China.
The 35-year-old defied age and rankings to upstage Chinese youngster Yang Ning in his last 16 match.
Sokhpirum, ranked only a 112 in the world upstaged Yang Ning with a comprehensive 12-8, 12-8 victory and book his place in the quarter-finals against Thailand’s Uthen Kukheaw.
Sokphirum, who won the gold medal at the SEA Games in 2023, when teqball was included as a demonstration sport, will be looking to upstage his Thai rival ahead of the SEA Games in December.
Teqball is now a medal sport at the Thailand SEA Games and Sokphirum will be looking to retain the gold against fast improving rivals, especially from Thailand.
The 39-year-old Kukheaw is currently ranked 30th in the world and a win over him will be a great morale booster for Sokphirum.
However, Cambodian hopes came to an end in the knockout stages for Ravi Soun in the singles and the Ravi-Sokphirum in the men’s dobles.
In the men’s singles last 16 match-up, Ravi Soun was the first to fall. He was convincingly beaten 8-12, 3-12 by Denmark’s Noah Dahlmann.
Dahlmann had also beaten Soun’s teammate Sokphirom in the group states on Friday.
It was also the end of the road for the Cambodian duo in the men’s doubles competition.
Ravi-Sokphirum qualified for the quarter-finals from the group stages. They were beaten 5-12, 9-12 by the scratch pair of Szabolcs Ilyes-Boldizsar in their opening group match but bounced back to stun Indonesians Raihan Pamungkas-Pebi Saputra 12-8, 12-6 to book their place in the knockout stages.
In the quarter-finals the Cambodian pair were drawn against Thailand’s Uthen Kukheaw-Phakpong Dejaroen. The Thai duo were in fiery form as they romped home 12-3, 12-4 winners and earn themselves a semi-final spot.
