HANGZHOU – The busy Bo’ao Road in the Hangzhou sports cluster is what divides two groups of vastly different sports and athletes. On one side, fans form snaking queues to enter the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre to catch high-octane sports like athletics, football, basketball and swimming.
On the other side is the Hangzhou Qiyuan hall, the venue for xiangqi, chess, bridge and go, where access is given to only athletes, officials and accredited media – no other spectators are allowed.
At the Asian Games’ quietest venue is where the oldest and perhaps most tranquil athlete – Cambodia’s xiangqi (Chinese chess) player Sok Theng – can be found pondering his next move.
After six rounds, the octogenarian is unlikely to progress to Saturday’s men’s individual final as he remains last out of 18 exponents with just two points.
But for someone who did not expect to be competing at the grand old age of 84, Sok is grateful for the experience.
He said: “I’m one of the founding members when Cambodia set up the xiangqi association in 2007. There are dozens of players in the association, and I’m their coach. Due to personal reasons, they couldn’t participate, and after they opted out, I decided to attend these Games.
“Regardless of my age, I am here because I love the game. It feels amazing to be back in China again, and I have seen the enormous changes in the nation. I am also well cared for here in terms of the dining and accommodation. The volunteers here are welcoming and our opponents are young and strong.”
Born in 1939 in Jieyang, a city in Guangdong province, Sok moved to Cambodia with his family when he was nine. He has been playing xiangqi since he was young and turned professional later on.
Despite his age, Sok has been an active player on the domestic and international scene for decades, and he wants to help promote the game in Cambodia and develop young players.
Noting that mind sports share some similarities with physical sports in terms of sharpness of mind and hand-eye coordination, he added: “Playing xiangqi can cultivate our character and personality, and lead us on a life path with fewer mistakes.”
Meanwhile, Singapore’s representatives are in contention for a historic Asiad xiangqi medal.
After six rounds in the men’s individual event, Low Yi Hao is fourth with eight points, the same tally as Vietnam’s Lai Ly Huynh and Wong Hok Him of Hong Kong, while Alvin Woo is ninth with six points. Chinese duo Zhao Xinxin and Zheng Weitong occupy the top spots with 10 points each.
In the women’s individual event, SEA Games champion Ngo Lan Huong is third with eight points, behind only China’s Zuo Wenjing (11) and Wang Linna (nine), while Fiona Tan is 11th out of 13 players with six points.
