Cambodia delivered a landmark edition of the World Kun Khmer Championships in February 2026, hosting 125 athletes from 20 countries in the coastal city of Sihanoukville and showcasing the martial art at the heart of the Kingdom's sporting identity.
The sixth edition of the global championship — rescheduled from December 2025 to February 2026 — ran from 8 to 14 February across senior, junior, and talent divisions in amateur, semi-professional, and professional categories. Senior Minister and National Olympic Committee of Cambodia president H.E. Dr. Thong Khon presided over the opening ceremony on 10 February, welcoming delegations from across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas under the theme "Cambodia is a safe and welcoming tourist destination."
A world-class stage on the coast
Preah Sihanouk province — known as the "Star of the Southwest" and a member of the World's Most Beautiful Bays Club — provided a striking backdrop for a tournament originally expected to draw 35 nations before participation settled at 20 due to regional security concerns along the Cambodia–Thailand border. Thailand did not send a delegation amid ongoing disputes over the naming of Kun Khmer versus Muay Thai.
Organisers staged 50 weight-class events, with eight professional world championship belts on the line. Live coverage reached fans through BTV News, Bayon TV, and BTV Kun Khmer Sport Times, underlining the event's growing broadcast profile.
Cambodia leads the medal count
The host nation finished with the strongest overall medal haul of the tournament — 17 gold, 15 silver, and 5 bronze (37 medals in total) — reaffirming Cambodia's depth across every age and skill division. Vietnam topped the gold-medal standings with 18 golds in its debut appearance at the world championships, finishing one ahead of Cambodia in the race for first place on the final day, 14 February.
Indonesia placed third with 2 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze medals. Nine nations in all won at least one gold, reflecting the widening international footprint of Kun Khmer competition.
Final medal table
- 1. Vietnam — 18 gold, 8 silver, 10 bronze (36)
- 2. Cambodia — 17 gold, 15 silver, 5 bronze (37)
- 3. Indonesia — 2 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze (7)
- 4. Nepal — 2 gold, 0 silver, 2 bronze (4)
- 5. Cameroon — 2 gold, 0 silver, 1 bronze (3)
- 6. Malaysia — 1 gold, 5 silver, 1 bronze (7)
- 7. Iran — 1 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze (5)
- 8. Philippines — 1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze (5)
- 9. China — 1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze (5)
- 10. Laos — 1 gold, 0 silver, 1 bronze (2)
Cambodian world title winners
On the opening night of professional bouts, three Cambodian fighters captured world championship belts in front of a packed arena:
- Han Pi stopped Indonesia's Yeson Mustanmu with a first-round knee strike to claim his world title.
- Bird Songkherm (Beurt Sangkhim) delivered a first-round knockout against the Philippines' El Conqueror, also with a knee strike.
- Chhoeung Lvay outpointed Germany's Jan after a hard-fought contest to win his first Kun Khmer world championship belt — adding to a career that already includes nine titles in other disciplines.
Lao Chetra contested a close title bout against France's Missy Kubila but fell on points, while international matchups throughout the week featured challengers from Germany, France, Monaco, the Philippines, and beyond.
Global growth and the Olympic pathway
The championship coincided with the International Kun Khmer Federation (IKKF) General Assembly in Preah Sihanouk province, where member nations reaffirmed their commitment to raising Kun Khmer's global profile. The federation currently counts 63 member countries and is working toward the 75-nation benchmark required for Olympic recognition, with the seventh World Kun Khmer Championship scheduled for Can Tho, Vietnam, in late 2026 or early 2027.
"With strong support and the direct leadership of former Prime Minister Hun Sen, which has continued under Prime Minister Hun Manet, Kun Khmer has been carefully preserved, protected and developed — gaining significant recognition at both the national and international levels." — H.E. Dr. Thong Khon, NOCC President
For the Kun Khmer International Federation, the 2026 championships underscored why Cambodia remains the spiritual and competitive home of the sport: a nation that not only preserves a martial heritage carved into the walls of Angkor, but stages world-class events that draw the best fighters on the planet to its ring.
Participating nations
Athletes represented Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nepal, France, Germany, England, Spain, Canada, the United States, New Zealand, Cameroon, and Mauritius — a field that reflects Kun Khmer's accelerating journey from national treasure to global combat sport.
