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(KPL) Lao national boxers training for the 25th SEA Games 2009 would be going for a training stint in Thailand and then go to Vietnam for the Indoor Games 2009. With all the preparations the coach of the boxing team said he expected them to bag four gold medals from the SEA Games.
As the 25th SEA Games will be held in just about three months many local sports bodies here, including the Lao National Boxing Federation are doing all they can to get their athletes in top condition.
The General Secretary of the Lao National Boxing Federation, Mr Phonekeo Chomsy told reporters on Sunday that the Lao Olympic Committee received grant aids from the Olympic Committee of Thailand to fund the expenses of the 14 national boxers of Laos when they train for nearly three weeks in September.
According to the national coach, Mr Kampanath Kounlavong, Laos has a good track record in boxing and this is clearly seen in the country bagging one gold, three silver and four bronze medals from the 24th SEA Games in Korat, Thailand in 2007.

(KPL) The National Emerging Infectious Disease Coordination Office yesterday confirmed that 51 people infected with new type influenza A (H1N1) and the virus claimed one life in Borikhamsay province.
The infected rate of A (H1N1) influenza pandemic nationwide had 51 cases in which 47 cases have recovered and three patients are being received medical treatment at the hospitals.
There were 27 cases were found In Vientiane Capital, four case in Vientiane province, one case in Luang Prabang province, a case in Khammouane province, nine cases in Savannakhet province, seven cases in Champassak province, a case in Saravane province and one man death in Borikhamsay province on 17 July.The 31-year-old died, Mr Chanh (nom de plume), a flu victim, Borikhamsay resident, who had a fever for days this month, he went to treat with a few clinics in Paksane district and on 14 July he was critical at provincial hospital and on 17 July he was token to a hospital in Vientiane Capital and he died at that day because he is fat with 111 weight and many personal diseases.
At the present, a team of the National Emerging Infectious Disease Coordination Office went to his victim's house to prevent the spread of virus and disinfect the virus.

The spread of A (H1N1) virus among Lao workers in Thailand has created concerns for the Lao government as it seeks to prevent new infections in the country.

According to the National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology, over the weekend, eleven Lao citizens who had recently returned from Thailand were confirmed with the virus.

The new cases bring the total number in the country to 24. Health officials said apart from the 11 new cases, all those confirmed with the virus in Laos had since recovered.

The 24 cases included the two junior Lao football players who tested positive for the A(H1N1) in Bangkok , Thailand during Asia Youth Football Cup in June.

The 11 workers returned to Laos via Vangtao-Chongmek international border checkpoint in Champassak province last week. They were joined by 200 other workers spread over 19 buses.

Among those traveling, so far only the 11 cases have been confirmed. The others are being contacted for health checks.

Director of the National Centre Dr Phengta Vongphrachanh said personal information about the patients was unclear as health officials were waiting for information from provincial authorities.

It is believed the 11 people were undocumented labourers working in Thailand , Dr Phengta said.

They were treated in Champassak provincial hospital.

Dr Phengta said new cases could be identified in Laos as the H1N1 virus continued its spread in neighbouring countries.

“If the country's cases reach 100, we may have to change our strategy to counter the virus,” he said.

He added that workers returning from Thailand to Laos in a big group were at high risk of the virus.

Provincial hospitals were ready to treat the virus, but testing for the A (H1N1) virus could only conducted in Vientiane , according to Dr Phengta.

The government has been working with relevant organisations and neighbouring countries to prepare for the virus since the first outbreak was reported in Mexico .

Currently, it focused on health education campaigns for people to maintain their hygiene measures, especially those in public areas including schools, bus stations and garment factories.

Doctors said those who fell ill should cover their mouths with surgical masks and ask their organisations to allow them to be absent from the workplace until their health recovered.

The first case of the virus in Laos was reported on June 16.

December is a period when Laos will host SEA Games.

A large number of cases of seasonal flu are usually found in December, the period in which Laos will host the SEA Games.

It is possible that avian influenza may resurface.

Authorities were concerned that a convergence of the three strains would enable the virus to mutate into another form. Any such outbreak could affect the SEA Games.

The number of confirmed cases of the A(H1N1) virus worldwide reached 94,512 with 429 deaths, according to WHO reports on July 6.

Total confirmed cases in China as at July 12 were 1,302.

The confirmed infection rate in China has increased by approximately 40-50 per day since the beginning of July.

Thailand 's death toll from the A(H1N1) virus reached 21 on Monday. On July 11, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand stood at 3,228

 

 

By Somsack Pongkhao

You are flying at 600km/h just four metres from another aircraft and the slightest error could send you crashing to the ground in flames.

The Indian Air Force's Suryakiran Aerobatics Team poses for a photo at Wattay Airport before taking to the skies yesterday in Vientiane .

This is the reality faced by members of the Suryakiran Aerobatics Team every time they take to the skies, just like they did yesterday afternoon above Lao ITECC in Vientiane .

Team leader, Wing Commander Joy Thomas Kurien, said pilots needed hands as steady as a surgeon's to perform the manoeuvres included in yesterday's aerobatic performance.

“There is nothing else you think of other than flying, because you don't have time, you can't afford to make the smallest error - there is no chance for that,” he said.

“There is no time for thought, there is only action. The only thinking is for flying. When to turn, how to turn… you are only thinking about how you are flying – that is how the display comes off.”

The squad comprises nine Kiran Mark-II aircraft and is part of the Indian Air Force. Yesterday's show was scheduled to mark the end of the first India Trade and Technology Exhibition at Lao ITECC which ran from November 14 to 17.

The event was also held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Lao People's Army Day, which occurs in January.

The display also served to mark the anniversary of the Indian Air Force on November 17.

Wg Cmdr Kurien said pilots practised every day in preparation for a show like the one held in Laos yesterday.

“They plan it out: when to turn, how to turn, the distance, the speed - everything has to be planned out,” he said.

“They always have their escape route planned in case something goes wrong, so they know what needs to be done and what action to take. That is the kind of training we do - for everything that can go wrong these people think of those things on the ground and in the air and take action.”

During yesterday's performance the aircrafts' speeds ranged from 200km/h to 600km/h and the pilots flew some manoeuvres just 30 metres above the ground.

Squad member Wng Cmdr Sumeet Malhotra said his was a job that required intense levels of concentration to minimise the risk of something going wrong.

“There are nine aircraft flying together at a distance of just four metres from each other, so the trust and precision required to keep everybody safe and together and to look good in the sky is very difficult,” he said.

“The concentration level – for every second of that 30 minutes of display – is very high.”

Besides the obvious risks posed from flying so fast and so close to other aircraft, Wng Cmdr Malhotra said birds and bad weather were also dangerous.

“We train in the safety factors quite a lot, we brief and brief again,” he said.

“Risk is there in every aviation-related thing, but we prepare and train very hard to eliminate that possibility.”

Yesterday's performance was opened by Lao People's Army General Staff Department Deputy Chief, Brigadier General Souvone Leuangbounmy, and attended by thousands of people. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Mr Duangchay Phichit, also attended.

The Suryakiran Aerobatics Team was formed in 1996 and has become one of the most renowned aircraft formation aerobatics teams in the world.

The Kiran Mark-II aircraft was designed by Dr Gadge and is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bengaluru. This is a twin seater jet aircraft of the Indian Air Force used for advanced stage training of pilots.

The Kiran Mk-II is a low wing aircraft designed for armament training. The cabin is air conditioned and pressurised. It has a maximum speed of 780km/h and can sustain a maximum positive acceleration of +6.25g. It has a weight limit of 5,000kg for take-off and can carry up to a maximum of 1,775kg (2,248 litres) of fuel.

The team has also performed displays in India , Sri Lanka , Malaysia , Thailand , Myanmar and Singapore .

The show was completely funded by the Indian government and was organised during a visit to India by Lao President, Mr Choummaly Sayasone, in August this year.

 

 

By Phonesavanh Sangsomboun
(Latest Update November 18, 2008)

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