Ke Leng poses on the podium with her gold and the Cambodian flag at the 2015 Women’s Petanque World Championships. Photo supplied
Ke Leng lands gold at petanque worlds
Ke Leng, the heroine of Cambodian petanque, scooped a gold medal at the 2015 Women’s Petanque World Championships in Bangkok at the weekend.
Ke Leng, coming off the back of a gold medal at the previous world championship, quickly qualified for the quarter finals with a six point victory.
She faced Canada’s Maryse Bergeron in the last eight of a competition that is in its 15th year and features over 100 entrants, winning 41-21, before progressing to an easy win over Audrey Bandiera of France, the birthplace of petanque, with a score of 28 to Bandiera’s 9.
Ke Leng faced strong rival Mouna Beji of Tunisia in the final, which she won 33-24, securing her gold medal and her defence of the world championship in the process.
Ke Leng celebrated her second win at the world championships by waving the Cambodian flag.
Ke Leng also competed in the team event, alongside her countrywomen Um Chanthrea, Uk Sreymom and Un Sreiya, but with less success.
While the team topped the group stages, they lost in the quarter-final to defending world champions Thailand.
Alongside her gold medal, Leng can expect a 120 million riel ($30,000) award from the government.
The celebrations which greeted Ke and the rest of Cambodia’s medal-winners at Phnom Penh airport were somewhat subdued, with only representatives from the National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, and the Cambodian Boules and Petanque Federation there to welcome her.
However, NOCC General Secretary Vath Chamroeun told the Post before he departed to welcome Ke Leng at the airport that “by winning a gold medal . . . Ke Leng brings a great honour to our country,” and that her win “also salvages our country’s image after we failed to win any gold medals at the SEA Games in Singapore.’’
He also added that: “According to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s recommendations, we will organise an official reception party event for her in the coming days.”
GARRETT, Narin May 9, 1979 - September 4, 2015 Narin Garrett, 36, passed away unexpectedly on September 4, 2015 in Sonoma, CA. She was born on May 9, 1979 in San Francisco to Robert and Yupa Garrett. Growing up, Narin was an accomplished equestrian and played many sports including both soccer and volleyball. She moved with her family to Sonoma in 1991; and, later attended Johnson and Wales University where she pursued her passion in culinary arts. After University, Narin returned to help run the family restaurant, "Rin's Thai", on Sonoma square. Narin was a world-class Petanque player, well-loved by all in the town of Sonoma. It was here that she met the love of her life, Ryan Tatarian. Ten years later they started their beautiful family; and, are blessed with a precious boy, Zaven (5 1/2), and beautiful girl, Natalee May (2 1/2). Family and friends fondly remember Narin's love of dogs, photography, and her kind and generous nature. She enjoyed shopping at the Chinese markets on San Francisco's Clement Street; and, connecting with her family and culture through good food and cooking. Narin is survived by: her husband, Ryan Tatarian, son of Ed (and Tish) Tatarian and the late Valerie Sereni Cannon; and her two children, Zaven and Natalee. She is greatly missed by her parents, Robert and Yupa Garrett; her brother, sister-in-law, and niece: Casey, Ali Tatarian, and Frankie. Also survived by her brothers-in-law, Jason Anderholm and Duffy (and Heather) Conneely, and their children, Bailey, Bennett and Kellan.Many friends and family love her from all over the world. Friends are invited to attend a Celebration of her life on Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at Duggan's Mission Chapel, 525 West Napa Street in Sonoma. Private inurnment. The family requests in lieu of flowers that a donation be made in Narin's honor to Valley Of The Moon Petanque Club, P.O. Box 863, Sonoma, CA 95476.
