AKP Phnom Penh, September 18, 2026 -- H.E. Abhisantibindit Sar Sokha, Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and President of the Cambodia Canoe and Rowing Federation (CCRF), has unveiled strategic initiatives to prepare national athletes for the 2031 Asian Youth Games hosted by Cambodia.

Speaking during a CCRF meeting to review first-half performance and set second-half objectives at the Ministry of Interior on Sept. 16, Sar Sokha instructed federation leadership to prioritise the identification, recruitment, and structured training of prospective youth athletes.

To build a high-caliber competitive squad, the CCRF chief emphasised expanding promotional campaigns across educational institutions and provincial regions to cultivate interest in rowing and secure quality grassroots talent.

Furthermore, he directed officials to collaborate directly with the Navy and Maritime Police to recruit youth prospects aged 13 to 14, ensuring fully developed, age-eligible athletes are ready for competition by 2030 and 2031.

Alongside talent acquisition, H.E. Sar Sokha outlined four operational pillars to drive long-term sustainability and operational readiness:

Aligning domestic competition schedules with international rowing standards to prepare for hosting the 2031 Games.

Mandating digital workflow automation among officials to facilitate national and international administrative coordination.

Expanding grassroots performance monitoring, conducting daily training evaluations, and carrying out phased internal quality reviews.

Formulating an annual development roadmap leading up to 2031 while establishing a digital library to archive federation history, competition records, and leadership milestones.

H.E. Sar Sokha reaffirmed his commitment to resolving existing federation challenges and accelerating athlete development. The meeting, which included a first-half activity report from CCRF Second Vice President Sar Sith and a financial summary by Treasurer Meas Teur, focused on gathering actionable input to enhance human resources, international-standard training, and overseas competition readiness.

By K. Rithy Reak