PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia gained a new hero in August, as Jessa Khan, a 16-year-old Cambodian American, won gold in women's jiujitsu, unleashing a torrent of admiring posts, shares and heart emojis across social media.
Khan was only one of two gold medalists from Cambodia in this year's Asian Games that ended early September, but to the country, the medalists offer hope that they can before long tackle competitors in the region and even globally. Cambodia certainly hopes to shine in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games that it will host in Phnom Penh, but experts say the country will need to put in a lot more training -- and funding -- to succeed.
