Exciting school sports festival in Uncle Ho's hometown

(Baonghean) These days, all over the streets of Vinh City are brightly decorated with banners, flags, and slogans welcoming nearly 3,000 athletes from 12 provinces and cities to participate in the 8th National Phu Dong Sports Festival, Region III. The stands at 11 competition venues are always packed with spectators. In each match, athletes of all ages demonstrate their abilities as well as their efforts and determination.

The first days of competition witnessed dramatic and exciting matches in football, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, and shuttlecock. On the second day of competition, the Aerobics event was completed with 9 sets of medals awarded to the teams with high achievements. Thanh Hoa led with 4 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals, Phu Yen 3 gold medals, 1 silver medal, 1 bronze medal; Khanh Hoa 2 gold medals, 5 silver medals, 1 bronze medal; Quang Ngai 6 bronze medals; Da Nang 1 silver medal, 6 bronze medals. In the table tennis event for men's and women's teams at primary and secondary levels, the final rankings were determined by the end of yesterday.

The "king" sport of football always receives enthusiastic cheers from Vinh City fans. At Vinh Stadium, or at the provincial gymnasium, there are always many spectators. Beautiful plays, unexpected goals of football teams from Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Tri... bring a bustling atmosphere to the stands. Mr. Nguyen Tien Tai (70 years old), hamlet 12, Nghi Kim, who watches most of the primary school football matches, said: "When newspapers and radio stations report that the national HKPĐ takes place in Vinh City, I ride my bike to the competition center, record the schedule of the matches and have not missed any match. Although the children's playing skills are not high, not methodical, it is the innocent playing style, the carefree and honest spirit that creates the "attraction" for fans. It is much better and more attractive than adult football".

Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Education and Training Nguyen Thi Kim Chi awarded medals in Aerobic Gymnastics

At the badminton court of Phan Boi Chau and Huynh Thuc Khang High Schools, the athletes received the cheers of many students and teachers from the schools. Banners were hung up, applause and cheers encouraged the players' competitive spirit. "Cheer with all your heart, enthusiastically and comfortably. Cheer for all competing teams" is the motto of students from Phan and Huynh schools. Not only cheering enthusiastically, during the break between matches, the students also volunteered to be "caretakers" for the players, asking about their studies, sharing their homesickness, and encouraging the players to compete well.

Friendly, hospitable, enthusiastic, thoughtful are the common comments of most delegations during their stay in Vinh City. Mr. Huynh Quang Dau - Head of the Binh Dinh Athletes Delegation said: "Our delegation participated in the Sports Festival with a large force (nearly 300 athletes). Before going to Nghe An, we were contacted by the Organizing Committee members of the Department of Education and Training, arranging convenient accommodation and meals. The delegation also received enthusiastic and thoughtful help from 2 volunteers. Not only did they guide the way, the way, the competition venue, but the volunteers also followed the delegation closely during the matches; took care of the young athletes; guided the delegation when visiting famous places and landscapes..." As for the Quang Nam women's football team, what touched the players and coaches the most was the thunderous applause on the sidelines of the field, which inspired them to play better. "Bringing the bell to play in a foreign land, and facing the home team as an opponent, at first I felt very "inferior", but the home fans cheered wholeheartedly for the away team, creating a psychological balance that helped the players play well. And the result was a 0-0 draw", said the coach of the Quang Nam team.

For player Nguyen Trong Nam, Khanh Hoa's athlete team, "The most touching thing was on the morning of the competition, when I went out to eat sticky rice, the shop owner asked me, knowing that I was from Khanh Hoa competing here, so she "prioritized" me with sticky rice, eggs, and ham with the wish "try to win the gold medal, son".

Athletes, whether experienced or new to the game, were all very determined, tried their best and could not hide their emotions whether they won or lost. In the table tennis semi-final match on the afternoon of April 8, when they lost, athlete Van Khanh Linh (Binh Dinh team) burst into tears on the field. Although the ladies and gentlemen in the team encouraged her and the referee intervened, she still could not stop crying. When asked why, she found out that she was partly sad because she lost, but partly because she was afraid of "losing the Gold Medal" and thus losing the prize of "visiting Uncle Ho's hometown" as the coach had said before the match.

The National Sports Festival of Region III held in Nghe An this time is an opportunity to encourage people of all walks of life, especially the young generation, to practice sports following the example of Uncle Ho, which the Sports Festival aims for: "Healthy to conquer the peak and knowledge". The days in Nghe An were tense in each match, fiercely competing for rankings and medals, but it was the enthusiasm of the volunteers, the thoughtful care of the members of the Organizing Committee, especially the hospitality and friendliness of Uncle Ho's people that warmed the hearts of the athletes "bringing the bell to strike in foreign lands".

Results of the third day of competition:

Shuttlecock:

- In the women's singles, shuttlecock for middle school age, athlete Dinh Thi Linh Thao of Khanh Hoa team ranked first; Ngo Thi My Duyen of Da Nang team ranked second and Le Thanh Lam of Thanh Hoa team, Ngo Thi Hang Nga of Quang Tri team ranked third.

- In the men's singles category, junior high school age group, athlete Tran Quang Tuan from Da Nang team ranked first, Nguyen Viet Ha from Thua Thien Hue team ranked second, Le Anh Tai from Khanh Hoa team, Nguyen Van Thanh from Quang Tri team ranked third.

- In the primary school girls' singles category, first place went to Tran Dang Thanh Thao from Khanh Hoa, second place went to Vo Thi Lanh from Thua Thien Hue, Nguyen Hong Nhung from Phu Yen and Ngo Thi Thanh Hang from Thua Thien Hue ranked third.

- In the primary school age boys' singles, first place went to Nguyen Duc Minh from Da Nang, second place went to Nguyen Cong Danh from Khanh Hoa, Hoang Huong Duong from Thanh Hoa and Nguyen Khanh Duy from Quang Tri finished third.

Badminton:

In the junior high school boys' team event, Quang Ngai team won first prize, Quang Tri team won second prize, and Da Nong and Binh Dinh teams shared third prize. In the junior high school girls' team event, Da Nong team won first prize, Thanh Hoa team won second prize, and Khanh Hoa and Thua Thien Hue team shared third prize.

Table tennis:



Junior High School Girls Table Tennis Final

- Primary school male team content: Gold medal: Da Nang, silver medal Thanh Hoa, bronze medal belongs to two teams Nghe An, Khanh Hoa; primary school female team content: First place Khanh Hoa, Second place Da Nang, Third place Nghe An, Binh Dinh; Secondary school male team: Gold medal belongs to Da Nang team, silver medal belongs to Thanh Hoa team, bronze medal belongs to Nghe An and Khanh Hoa, Secondary school female team: Gold medal belongs to Binh Dinh team, silver medal belongs to Da Nang team, bronze medal belongs to Thanh Hoa - Nghe An.