Nguyễn Trần Duy Nhất (left) and lê Duy Hoàng (right) after winning world muay championships titles. They take part in the National Muay Thai Championships in HCM City. — Photo kenh14.vn |
HÀ NỘI — The National Muay Thai Championships kicked off on Monday in HCM City with the participation of more than 205 athletes.
The participants are from strong cities and provinces, such as Hà Nội, HCM City and Bình Dương, together with three debutants along with the comeback after years of An Giang.
They will compete in 18 weight categories for seniors and 15 disciplines for juniors.
"The national championships is a chance to select the best young fighters, who will represent Việt Nam at upcoming international tournaments, and the first event will be in Thailand," Giáp Trung Thang, head coach of the national team, said.
The ASEAN Muay Thai Federation general secretary hoped the competition, together with two gold medals that Việt Nam grabbed from the recent world championships, would boost the development of muay in the country.
The organisers also presented awards to Nguyễn Trần Duy Nhất and Lê Hoàng Đức, who brought home world championship titles in the men’s 60kg and 48kg, respectively. They are members of the HCM City team.
Nhất said the national tournament was one of his warm-up activities ahead of the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia, where he is aiming for gold, which is the only medal he does not have in his collection.
The matches will be held from 2pm every day until May 27 at District 5’s Culture and Sport Centre. Entry is free. — VNS