SINGAPORE: Sam Tharoth, known to her many supporters as a multi-skilled martial artist and actress who has featured in several films, has been selected as the winner of the Women of the Future (WOF) Sports Award. The ceremony took place in Singapore on November 27.
Her achievement comes as Cambodia celebrates the third anniversary of Cambodian martial art Kun Lbokator’s inscription on Unesco’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, on November 29, 2022.
To mark the occasion, an illustration featuring Tharoth, Grandmaster San Kim Sean and three other athletes was released. Tharoth was included because of her significant contributions to promoting and raising the profile of Kun Lbokator, both domestically and internationally.
At the WOF ceremony on Thursday night, Tharoth appeared visibly surprised when the committee announced her name. Eleven other outstanding women were also recognised in various categories based on their skills.
The multi-disciplinary athlete expressed deep pride in receiving the Asean-level award, noting that she never expected to win.
“The list of nominees in this sports category includes many famous and incredibly strong names. I never imagined I would actually win,” she posted.
“Tonight, I stand on the Women of the Future stage as a fighter, a dreamer and a proud Asian woman from Cambodia — and I have won,” she said, as she accepted the award.
“This award is not just mine. It belongs to everyone who believed in me, and to all the women selected and present tonight. The Women of the Future stage shows all of us that anything is possible. To all women—if I can do it, you can too!” she added.
Sam Tharoth is known for her mastery in Kun Lbokator, mixed martial arts, and Khmer traditional boxing. She has also acted in films such as First They Killed My Father, Jailbreak, and Hollywood’s Shot Gun Wedding.
Despite her success on stage and screen, Tharoth continues to compete in domestic and international events, repeatedly winning medals and awards for Cambodia. In some competitions she has even been knocked unconscious, yet she remains determined to return to the ring again and again.
The Women of the Future Awards programme issued an announcement affirming the committee’s decision to present Tharoth with the 2025 Sport Award, describing her as a martial artist, MMA fighter and actress who has represented Cambodia on the global stage and appeared in major Hollywood films.
WOF noted that she uses her platform to promote sport as a force for inclusion.
“Our judges were inspired by Tharoth’s resilience. From overcoming gender-based bullying to embracing martial arts despite family and community expectations, she has shown remarkable courage at every step of her journey,” said the committee.
WOF also highlighted Tharoth’s personal ambitions and character.
“Her dream of creating an acting school for women and her dedication to preserving Cambodia’s martial arts heritage have drawn strong admiration. The judges see great potential in her future and will continue following her journey with pride,” they noted.
Dominic Williams, British ambassador to Cambodia, who accompanied the Cambodian delegation to the awards ceremony in Singapore, shared his pride in the achievements of Cambodian women. Besides Tharoth’s sports award, three other Cambodian women also won in their respective categories.
"I’m so proud of Team Cambodia! We came to Singapore for the Women of the Future Awards. There were 12 awards across 11 Asean countries, and Cambodia won four! I am incredibly proud of all 12 Cambodian women who made it to the finals — they truly are outstanding,” he said, via social media. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
