Ha Noi to host 1st int'l martial arts championship

VGP - About 50 foreign delegations are expected to join Viet Nam's first international martial arts championship - Thang Long Cup 2015, according to the Viet Nam Traditional Martial Art Federation.

July 14, 2015 5:00 PM GMT+7

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Speaking at a press conference in Ha Noi, chairman of the Viet Nam Traditional Martial Art Federation HoangVinh Giang said the championship, the largest-ever event of Vietnamese martial arts, will take place at the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Gymnasium in Ha Noi from August 6-13.

Martial art athletes will compete in five categories in 19 weight classes, ten for males and nine for females.

On this occasion, the organising board is also launching the International Vietnamese Traditional Martial Art Federation.

The traditional Vietnamese martial arts are national heritages developed throughout the country’s history of fighting against invaders.

The traditional martial arts enjoy a high level of popularity among Vietnamese people as a way to stay physically healthy and mentally focused, and as a self-defence technique.

The championship, to be held every two years, will attract 36 domestic and 50 international delegations from 35 countries and regions such as Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Cambodia,France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Myanmar, Laos,Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Spain and the United States.

By Vien Nhu