体坛英语新闻：Lao athletes to test skills at Malaysia Open

VIENTIANE, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Less experienced Lao athletes will have a chance to test their skills at the Malaysia Open next month ahead of intensive training for the 29th SEA Games to be held also in Malaysia in August, according to Lao Amateur Athletics Federation on Tuesday.

With limited spots available, the federation will send its younger competitors to gain experience at the Malaysian Open Athletics Championship from July 17-18.

They will then rejoin their colleagues for preparations at the Lao National Sports Training Center in Lao capital Vientiane.

"We will be able to summarize our medal prospects for the 29th SEA Games following the Malaysia Open and preparations at sports training center in Vientiane," Lao Amateur Athletics Federation Secretary General Sithixay Sackpraseuth was quoted by Lao state-run media Vientiane Times as saying.

Five of the nation's best male athletes and one of the leading women also competed at the Thailand Open last week. These are the same six who have been chosen to represent Laos at the coming SEA Games.

The five men compete in the 100, 200, 110 meter and 400 meter hurdles, and long jump events while Manivanh Chanthavong contests the women's 100 meter hurdles along with shot-put, discus, javelin throw, long jump, 200 meters and high jump events.

"We felt satisfied with the Lao athletes' competition results at the Thailand Open because some athletes were able to set new national records and personal bests," Sithixay said.

Lao runner Anouson Xaysa was able to record 13.96 seconds in the men's 110 meter hurdles while another recorded 11.1 seconds in the men's 100 meters.

Anouson won a bronze medal in the men's 110 meter hurdles at the 79th Singapore Open back in April while his teammate Kingkeo Inthavong also won bronze in the men's 400 meter hurdles at the same meet.

At the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar in 2013, the Lao athletics team won two bronze medals while at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane back in 2009, the team won only a bronze medal on home soil.

The nation's most talented young athletes will compete at the 9th ASEAN School Games in Singapore next month. Enditem