A big haul of medals for Vietnam at World Vovinam Championship
VOV.VN - Vietnamese martial artists topped the medal tally at the World Vovinam Championship 2023 which was wrapped up at Phu Tho Gymnasium in Ho Chi Minh City on November 30.
Competing on home ground and receiving strong support from local fans proved to be big advantages for the Vietnamese athletes who have bagged a total of 18 gold and 8 silver medals.
They were followed by the Algerian team with 9 gold, 7 silver, and 6 bronze medals, and the Cambodian team with 6 gold, 5 silver, and 9 bronze medals.
The six-day tournament, the seventh of its kind launched by the World Vovinam Federation (WVVF), saw the participation of more than 650 officials, referees, coaches, and athletes from 35 countries and territories from around the world.
Competitors vied for 44 sets of medals, of which 26 sets were on offer in the performance category for both men and women.
As many as 18 sets of medals were designed for combat competitions. Men competed in 11 weight categories, ranging from 51kg to over 92kg, while women participated in seven weight categories, ranging from 48kg to over 66kg.
Vovinam has been recognised Vietnam’s national intangible heritage by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The traditional martial arts form was founded by late master Nguyen Loc in 1938 in Hanoi. It has been preserved, promoted, and developed strongly by generations of martial art masters.
The WVVF was established in 2008, marking a milestone in the development of the martial art form around the world. The federation has its members in Asia, Europe, and Africa.
