The Hanoitimes – A ceremony to kick off the first international Vietnamese traditional martial arts championship – Thang Long Cup, was held at the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Gymnasium in Hanoi on August 9.
The championship was jointly organised by the Vietnam Olympic Committee; the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and the Vietnam Traditional Martial Art Federation through August 11.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam beat the drum to open the championship.
The event, the largest-ever of its kind, was participated by Vietnamese team and 29 international teams.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia Hoang Vinh Giang, affirmed that the event aims to preserve a part of the nation’s traditional culture and spirit of martial arts, hoping that the Vietnamese traditional martial arts would be introduced globally.
Giang said the Vietnamese traditional martial arts are national heritages, born and developed throughout the country’s history of fighting against invaders.
It is not only a practice which Vietnamese people use to stay physically healthy and for self-defence but also a way to educate them in patriotism and national pride, Giang noted.
During the championship, martial art athletes will compete in five events of performance and combat.
Thu Minh