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skateboarding
There are two types of
skateboarding, Street
and Park. The street
course features stairs
and handrails, while
the park course has
pools and rampsAthletes compete solo
and are judged based
on the difficulty of
their tricks, speed, and
execution of movesPHOTO © HANNAH BAILEY“Girls are not often able to do sports because
society thinks it is not necessary for them,”
says Kov Chan Sangva when asked about
skateboarding in Phnom Penh. “But my mum
didn’t have any objections to me skating – my
parents are a bit different from other parents.”
In the skateboarding world, which is
associated with heavy male participation
worldwide, Cambodia’s top female
skateboarder cuts a particularly maternal
figure. As a staff member at non-profit
Skateistan, an organisation providing
free sport and education programmes to
disadvantaged youth, she helps girls pick
up skateboarding and realise their potential
through the sport.
“I have become a role model to show
people that girls can skate,” she says. “I wanted
to change the opinion of the community that
girls couldn’t do things. I’ve always tried to
show Cambodia, and even the world, that
women can do anything!”
With skateboarding making its debut
at the upcoming Asian Games, Kov might
be able to do just that. As one of Cambodia’s
strongest skaters, she hopes to be nominated
to represent her country come August, which
would make her one of a handful of female
Cambodian athletes to compete internationally.
Kov has yet to hear if she will compete at
the Games, but she has been confirmed as a
representative for a skateboarding presentation
at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires
in October.Roller sports will make their debut at
the 2018 Asian Games. Cambodia’s top
female skater aims to use this platform to
break gender boundaries and inspire girls
to get on boards
Skating to Victory
ON A ROLLText Hannah Bailey