Oct 24th, 2011 10/24/11 | Community Stories

It’s not only Medals at major karate meet

There were medals; gold, silver and bronze and they were not alone. Supporting prizes were there in heaps. Bicycles shared pride of place with electric fans; boxes of noodles nestled comfortably beside crates of coca-cola; stacks of toothbrushes and toothpaste shared space with ranks of books and files of pens while kilos of detergent silently surveyed the massed karate whites and knew their fate. Every year, multiple teams andindividual contestantsrepresenting organisations from across the city and the country gather in Phnom Penh for 2 days of solid competition. As ever CCF, was there, both in strength and in enthusiasm. The CCF strength was in more than numbers alone - it was embedded into their training, conducted always in 'spare' time, and grounded in agrowing tradition of competing well and winning well. But there was no complacency and no-one took anything for granted, victory least of all. Everyone knew that success had to be paid for with sweat and skill, effort and concentration. And every team and individual supplied both throughout the long and arduous days, regardless of whether they were competing in the fighting bouts or in single or synchronised mastery of ever-demanding routines. As a result, this year's contests, as striking in their sportsmanship as ever, saw no change to the pattern.When the results were announced, the outcome matched the input as team after team took their places on the winners podiums - at one time 3 boys' teams took first, second and third places - and solo performers and fighters bowed to receive their medals; 18 Gold, 16 silver and 19 bronze to make an impressive 53 in all. Nor did the supplementary awards which came with each medal go uncollected or unappreciated. A medal is a joy to behold and an even greater joy to display, but a bicycle is transport, while coke is a rare and appreciated luxury - and soap powder is, well, useful. At the close of the event, well content with the fruits of their labours, CCF's winners and non-winners alike, brought their heaped bountyback to their friends. There were fans to be tested, bikes to be tried, coke to share (and teeth to be cleaned afterwards) - and at the end of it all, to peak the excitement, the soap powder beckoned! 24.10.2011.Photo1 24.10.2011.Photo2 24.10.2011.Photo3
Tags
Written by

CCF Media Team

More Stories & News

See all