Vietnam claims overall title at world traditional martial arts championships
VOV.VN - The Vietnamese delegation secured the leading position at the 2026 World and Junior Championships for Vietnamese traditional martial arts in Italy, taking a total of 33 medals, comprising 32 golds and 1 silver to finish first overall.
The tournament took place from September 30 to October 5 in Cervia, a city in Italy's Ravenna province within the Emilia-Romagna region.
The event, organized by the World Federation of Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts (WFVV) in coordination with the Italian Wushu, Kung Fu, and Associated Arts Federation (FIWuK), gathered more than 500 coaches and athletes from 29 countries, competing across 378 performance and sparring events for various age groups.
Vietnam participated with an 83-member delegation, including administrative officials, referees, coaches, and athletes, featuring 40 fighters selected from standout performers in domestic and international competitions.
With careful preparation, Vietnamese martial artists delivered strong performances in both forms and combat events. Ultimately, the team captured 33 medals, including 32 golds and 1 silver, outperforming all rival delegations to top the standings. This achievement highlights the strong development of Vietnamese traditional martial arts on the international stage.
Among the outstanding athletes, Nguyen Giang Son from the central city of Danang won the gold medal in the men's 68kg combat event after defeating opponents from Italy, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia. Two athletes from Thanh Hoa province, Tran Thi Hau and Truong Thi Quynh Vy, also contributed two gold medals in the women's under-64kg and under-60kg categories.
In addition to its sporting significance, the tournament in Italy served as an opportunity to introduce the unique values of Vietnamese traditional martial arts to international friends, helping spread the image of the country, its people, and culture through sports.
Vietnam’s traditional martial arts showcased at Italy 2026 event
Cervia city in Ravenna province, Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, will host the World Championships & Junior Championships of Vocotruyen (traditional martial arts) from September 30 to October 5, with a series of competitions, training sessions, professional exchanges, cultural activities and networking events.
