The sport, which is played on a half court with three players per team, will make its debut as an official event at the Viet Nam games, said a federation official.

“It’s a very new sport. Most locals will need time to train for it,” said Nguyen Van Manh of federation.

“We have to advertise the sport and establish courts throughout the country. Athletes will need to learn different tactics and skills for smaller court play,” Manh added.

Basketball has not yet developed as a professional sport in Viet Nam in the way that football and volleyball have. Viet Nam’s national amateurs are sixth in the Southeast Asia region and have not had success attracting sponsors to fund the development of the sport. Only HCM City, Soc Trang, Air Defence and Air Force have training centres for national squad players.

The Viet Nam women’s team took their first ever medal - a bronze - at the Southeast Asian Basketball Championship in Singapore in 2005.

Viet Nam will host the third AIG from October 30 to November 8.

The opening ceremony will be held at Ha Noi’s 40,000-seat My Dinh National Stadium on November 30, while Quan Ngua Sports Palace will host the closing ceremony.

Ha Noi will be the main venue for 11 sports, with some activities also taking place in HCM City, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong and Quang Ninh.

The Games are expected to attract over 4,000 athletes, coaches and officials from 45 countries and territories for competition in 20 official sports.

According to Viet Nam Olympic Committee’s vice chairman and general secretary, Hoang Vinh Giang, the leadership of participating countries will meet in Ha Noi in September for final Games’ preparation.

VietNamNet/VNS