Octogenarian has a mind to compete

Asian Games participation is not the exclusive preserve of the young, a point saliently proved by 84-year-old Theng Sok.

Born in 1939 in Jieyang, southern China's Guangdong province, and probably the eldest competitor at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, Sok is a xiangqi (Chinese chess) player representing Cambodia.

Relocating to Cambodia with his family in 1948, Sok has been playing xiangqi since childhood.

"When I was young, there were often people who wanted to play xiangqi in Cambodia. I also played chess when I was studying at school, and have started practicing xiangqi since then," Sok recalled.

But it was not until the establishment of the Cambodia Chess Federation in 2007 that Sok took up xiangqi as a professional sport.

"I joined the federation once it was launched as I loved the discipline. We have over a dozen members, and I was supposed to be their coach and to help them improve their skills in the sport," said Sok.

Turning from amateur to a professional competitor, Sok's passion and love for xiangqi have never faded.

"I think playing xiangqi can cultivate our character and personality, and can lead us on a life path with fewer mistakes," said Sok, adding that, as a mind sport which also requires sharp hand-eye coordination, playing xiangqi has tangible health benefits, both physically and mentally.

Despite his advancing years, Sok has been actively participating in xiangqi competitions, both at home and abroad, for decades.

"Our federation hosts a domestic xiangqi competition annually, and I have attended several competitions in China as well, including the Yang Guanlin Cup in 2010," said Sok.

Established in 2004, the Yang Guanlin Cup, or Yang Guanlin Chinese National Xiangqi Open Tournament, is a biennial event hosted by Guangdong province. Held to commemorate xiangqi Grandmaster Yang Guanlin (1925-2008), it is often dubbed the "World Cup" of xiangqi.

Though losing 2-0 to his 27-year-old opponent from Hong Kong, China, after a two-hour battle of wits in the first round of the men's individual event on Tuesday, Sok is gratefully continuing his journey and enjoying his experience in Hangzhou.

"Regardless of my age, I am here because I love the game. Moreover, I am well cared for here — in dining and in accommodation. The volunteers here are welcoming and our opponents are young and strong. It feels amazing to come back to China again. I have seen the enormous changes in the nation, and this Asian Games is the most successful event I have ever seen in my life," said Sok.

Looking ahead, Sok is committed to contributing more than just being a competitor, aiming to expand xiangqi's reach and foster younger players in Cambodia.

"I will be the xiangqi coach at our federation. I will make more effort to promote the sport in Cambodia and train the younger generation to develop quickly, so that we can participate in more competitions in China," said Sok.

Ly Hout, chairman of the Cambodia Chess Federation and a member of the Chinese diaspora, is eyeing a higher goal, saying: "The initial purpose of the establishment of our federation was to promote xiangqi and the profound traditional Chinese culture to the whole world. We hope to continue uniting the Chinese diaspora in Asia, and even around the whole world through the game."