HÀ NỘI  — The Arab Vovinam (Vietnamese martial art) Federation was officially launched during a conference held by Arab countries’ Vovinam federations in Algeria over the weekend.

Mohamed Djouadj, Chairman of the Algerian Vovinam  Federation, Chairman of the African Vovinam Federation and Vice Chairman of the World Vovinam Federation, was elected as head of the newly-established federation.

Chairman of the World Vovinam Federation Mai Hữu Tín praised the role of the Algerian Vovinam Federation and its president in promoting the development of the martial art and in uniting Vovinam federations in the Arab region.

He said the establishment of the Arab Vovinam Federation would create favourable conditions for members to participate in word-level competitions and pledged to support Vovinam practice in Africa and in the Arab league.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Africa Phạm Quốc Trụ said the Vietnamese Government and embassy were willing to aid Vovinam training and competitions in Algeria and other Arab countries.

Within the framework of the conference, an international competition took place, gathering nearly 150 Vovinam athletes from 12 nations, including Italy, Romania, Belgium and Egypt. The host nation topped the medals table.  After more than eight decades of development, Vovinam has to date attracted over four million leaners in more than 70 countries and territories. The martial art, based on the principle of combining between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’, is practised with and without weapons. It is not only about the training of the body but also of the mind. Introduced to Algeria in the 1970s, Vovinam has become popular and is now being practised by over 20,000 people across the African country. — VNS