The 1st Round of the 6th Cambodian National Volleyball League Competition on Saturday 30th June sparked some of the fiercest competition ever as the 10 teams from across the nation squared up with new athletes, new sponsors and a freshly renovated Kien Khleang National Sports Court.

Having grown by two teams every year since 1999, the National League has been divided into a 10-team A-League and a 6-team B-League for the first time in 2007. Reigning National League Champions, Phnom Penh Sunway Hotel Dragons head an impressive list of A-Leaguers with relegation into the 2008 B-League a very real prospect for any team unable to keep up with the pace.

As the 2007 WOVD Cambodia Standing Volleyball World Cup looms, with every athlete eligible for Cambodian National Team selection, lengthy rallies, full court play and intense team spirit dominated the day.

Player transfers were at an all-time high during the 2007 pre-season indicating the respective coaches’ determination to challenge the Dragons for the prestigious title of 2007 Cambodian National League Champions.

Despite losing their top two players in the transfer window to a rival team, the experienced Phnom Penh Sunway Dragons Coach Chuoy Kim Horn proved the importance of leadership and dedicated training by wiping the court with the Pailin ICBL Hawks and the Takeo ISPP / Templestowe Falcons 2-0 in both games.

2006 was an unlucky year for the Takeo Falcons who slipped to 9th place in the final standings after a promising start. After losing their first game to the indomitable Dragons, Falcons Coach Meas Sabon rallied his team who went on to beat the Battambang SWG Tigers and 2006 Runners-Up, the Siem Reap DHL Eagles, two of the best teams in the National League. The Falcons are one to watch this season.

Both the Kompong Speu Cambodia Air Catering Scorpions and the Kompong Speu Hong Kong Centre Bears put in solid performances to guarantee safe mid-table placings.

The Phnom Penh Hagar / Confirel Koupreys got out to a confident start winning both their games against a rejuvenated Prey Veng Kingmaker Cobras and League stalwarts the Kompong Speu AusAID Kangaroos. Led by legendary 58 year-old Coach Cha Hok, the Roos had a miserable start to their 2007 campaign losing both their games to rest at the bottom of the League ladder.

Simply click to see the full League Ladder after the 1st Round of Competition here on www.standupcambodia.org the nation’s premier sports website.

With the B-League set to start on 21st July at the Kien Khleang National Sports Court, 2007 is already sure to see the hottest sport ever.

All further A-League Competitions will now be held in the Olympic Stadium for the first time ever, proving that the Athletes with a Disability of Cambodia are finally getting the recognition they deserve.

Check: www.standupcambodia.org for more details.