More than 100 athletes and coaches from 14 teams nationwide attended the tournament.

To prepare for one of the most important events of the year of the Vietnamese table tennis, such teams as Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Duong and the Military had sent their athletes to attend some training sessions in China. Hai Duong and the Military teams also came to Buon Me Thuot City one week earlier to get used to the competition venue.

The Organising Board held a draw on May 18 for seven sets of medals including men’s team, women’s team, men’s individual, women’s individual, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

There will be a lot of exciting games in the men’s and women’s team events, according to Nguyen Trong Truc, General Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Table Tennis Federation. Hanoi, the Military team, the People’s Police team and Hai Duong are strong competitors in the men’s events while Ho Chi Minh City are appreciated in the women’s events, Truc added.

“This is the first time the National Table Tennis Championship competing for Nhan Dan Newspaper Cup has been held in Dak Lak province. Dak Lak will try its best for the success of the tournament as well as to make a contribution to the development of table tennis in the country”, said Director of the Dak Lak Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Y Wai Bya.

Before the opening ceremony, the Dak Lak Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism organised a special gong performance of the ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands to welcome athletes nationwide.

VietNamNet/ND