(Photo FITEQ)
SEA Games gold medallist Riem Sokphirom has been drawn in F with Denmark’s Noah Dahlmann and China’s Chen Bingyu at the Beach Teqball International Cup starting tomorrow in Wanning, China.
Teammate Ravi Soun meanwhile has been drawn in Group C together with Thailand’s Kukheaw Uthen and Malaysia’s Muhammad Eizlan Rakhil Abd Rahman.
The duo are also playing in the men’s doubles and are in Group A with the scratch pair of Ilyes Szabolcs-Levik Boldizar and the Indonesian pairing of Raihan Pamungkas-Pebi Saputra.
Sokphirom won the gold when teqball was competed as a demonstration sport in Phnom Penh two years ago. He is only ranked 112 but will fancy his chances against Dahlman, who is ranked much lower at 161. His Chinese rival is also a relative newcomer and Sokphirom should capitalize on his superior ranking to advance to the knockout stages from the group.
Unranked Ravi would have a much more difficult time as he has world number 30 Kukheaw, who is also Thailand’s SEA Games gold medal potential. Like Ravi, Malaysian Muhammad Eizlan is also an unranked player.
The Beach Teqball International Cup is an invitational tournament and as such does not offer ant world ranking points or prize money. However it will serve as an excellent exposure for the Cambodian players preparing for the SEA Games.
