Vietnam to compete in world Vovinam championships

The Vietnam Vovinam Federation will send 22 martial artists to compete in the 2015 World Championships, the fourth of its kind, to be held in Algiers, Algeria from July 29 to August 2.

A Vovinam performance

The five-day event features nearly 250 officials, referees and fighters from 21 countries around the world contending for medals in 74 disciplines with both the combat and demonstration categories.

Vietnam is expected to continue defending its title at this year’s tournament. At the previous competition in France two years ago, Vietnam came out on top with 18 gold and two bronze medals, followed by France (9, 7, 7) and Algeria (6, 5, 6).

Vovinam is a Vietnamese martial art, including hand, elbow, kicks, and escape and levering techniques. It is practiced with and without weapons and is based on ‘the principle of between hard and soft’.

Vovinam’s presence in Algeria in particular, and in Africa as a whole, has marked a turning point in the development of this kind of martial art. From a small club in Algiers, Vovinam has spread to 30 of 48 provinces in Algeria, with 22,000 people practicing the art.

Vietnam and Algeria have signed many important agreements including those in the field of culture, sports and information. This is a positive sign for Vovinam to further develop in Algeria and Africa, especially as this African country will be host to the fourth World Vovinam Championships.

Vovinam has currently taken hold in 12 countries in Africa since the African Vovinam Federation was established three years ago.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)