Nearly 300 martial artists participate in the 2017 National Traditional Martial Arts Tournament in Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) - On the evening of August 11, at Nghe An Provincial Gymnasium, the Opening Ceremony and the first competition day of the 26th National Traditional Martial Arts Championship 2017 took place.

Attending the opening ceremony were representatives of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training; leaders of the Department of Mass Sports; and leaders of the Vietnam Traditional Martial Arts Federation.

This year's tournament brings together nearly 300 excellent athletes from 26 units across the country - Photo: Trung Kien

On the side of Nghe An province, there was comrade Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Nghe An province and other delegates.

This year's tournament had the presence of 318 union officials and coaches, including nearly 300 excellent athletes from 26 units nationwide.

According to the Organizing Committee's assessment, this year's tournament gathered strong teams in the traditional martial arts movement to compete such as: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Dinh, Can Tho, Dak Lak...

Some athletes of the host team Nghe An - Photo: Trung Kien

Also at the opening ceremony, 8 outstanding coaches and athletes with outstanding achievements, contributing to the overall achievements of the Vietnamese sports delegation were honored to receive certificates of merit from the Prime Minister. Among them was coach Bui Duy Vinh of Nghe An.

The 26th National Traditional Championship is a tournament imbued with the cultural identity of the Vietnamese people, held annually, thereby widely developing and promoting the practice movement of traditional sports of the nation in general and Vietnamese traditional martial arts in particular.

This is also an opportunity to strengthen sports training following the example of the great Uncle Ho, contributing to preserving and promoting the cultural traditions of the nation. On the other hand, it is an opportunity for traditional martial arts teams across the country to exchange and learn competition experiences with other units.

Trung Kien