University of San Francisco Athletics

Junior Andrea Ka will be competing in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, from September 19 to October 4. Ka will be the only female representing her country, Cambodia. The Asian Games is a Pancontinental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. It is the largest sporting event in Asia, hosting 439 events in 36 sports with 45 nations participating. Tennis at the Games will be held in the Yeorumul Tennis Courts and will include men's and women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Ka will be competing in both women's singles and mixed doubles. Mixed doubles is a game of doubles that is played with each team composed of one man and one woman. She will be playing mixed doubles with Phalkun Mam, who played tennis for Whitman College. Ka's coach, Braen Aneiros, is the head coach of the Cambodian Federation.  
 
Let's hear what her thoughts are:

How does it feel to represent your country, Cambodia, at the Asian Games?
 
Andrea Ka: It feels great. I'm proud to represent my country in this tournament, but also USF. The coaches taught me a lot here and they have an important role in my participation in this tournament.

How have you been preparing and training for this competition?
 
Ka: It has been a year now that I knew I would play in this tournament. I have been keeping this goal in my head for a long time and that's how I kept pushing myself to my limits at tennis practices and conditioning. I have been working a lot on my mental aspect during our spring season and I'm going to put all of chance on my side to be as ready as I can for this tournament. Also, the fact that my teammates and coaches are supporting me have such a positive impact on me.
 
What is a major goal for you during this competition?
 
Ka: I don't have any specific goal in term of result, but I do want to go as far as I can. I want to enjoy the opportunity that they gave me, and do my best. I know I will be confronted by the best players in the world, but I just want to enjoy this moment, show them what I can do and win!

How are your teammates? Have you played with any of them before?
 
Ka: My teammates are only the men's team because I am the only girl on the women's team. But it is also nice because I will get to play with guys, which will help me prepare for my matches. Also, they will show me a different mental aspect of tennis that we may not usually see for girls. Indeed, guys put so much intensity during match, and it's going be good for me to see that. It will inspire me for my own matches at the Games.

What is something you want do while your there?
 
Ka: I would like to explore the city and discover a different culture. I am excited to try new kinds of foods and find some souvenirs for my teammates because even though I'm far away from them, I'm still thinking of them.
 
Ka will step foot on the Yeorumul Tennis Courts in singles competition on September 20 at 10:00 a.m. local time and mixed doubles competition on September 24.  If Ka advances to the finals, the competition will end on September 30.