Last year's men's professional winner Đỗ Quốc Luật will defend his title at the National Bà Rá Mountain Climbing Tournament on Sunday. — Photo nld.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — The annual National Bà Rá Mountain Climbing Tournament will be held on Sunday in Phước Long Town, Bình Phước Province.

The first athletic tournament of the year will challenge runners with downhill terrain that includes 1,800 steps before they can reach the peak which is 723m high.

The 26th edition of the event will see more than 700 athletes from teams such as HCM City, Khánh Hòa, Military, Lâm Đồng and Bắc Giang, as well as the hosts.

Title favourites are 30th SEA Games three-time winner Nguyễn Thị Oanh (Bắc Giang) in the women's category and Đỗ Quốc Luật (Military) who won the SEA Games' 3,000m steeplechase on the men's side.

Other candidates are four-time champion Hoàng Nguyên Thanh from Bình Phước, senior runner Bùi Thế Anh of the Military and the Hoàng Thị Ngọc Hoa of the hosts. 

Participants will take part in two different disciplines for professionals and amateurs on distances ranging from 4.8km to 21km. It is the first time the half marathon 21km event has been organised at the Bà Rá tournament, which will deliver a total of VNĐ300 million (US$13,000) to the winning runners. — VNS