About 170 judokas from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Hong Kong and Viet Nam will battle at the Phan Dinh Phung Gymnasium.

The countries are sending their strongest teams as a test before the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos this December but Thailand, a traditionally strong rival, will not participate.

Members of the Viet Nam team will contest men’s and women’s events as they look to enhance their prospects of national team selection. The senior team, which leads its hopes, is led by the SEA Games winners Van Thi Ngoc Tu (U48kg) and Nguyen Thi Nhu Y and Bui Thi Hoa (U63kg), and Nguyen Thi Kieu, winner of the women’s U57kg at the Thailand International Championships.

Among the men, Nguyen Quoc Hung (U66kg), Huynh Nhat Thong (U50kg) and Ho Ngan Giang (U60kg) are other top hopes.

At last year’s meet, South Korea, Japan and Viet Nam topped the standings.

Following the event, Vietnamese martial artists will prepare for the first Asian Martial Arts Games in Bangkok and then a pre-SEA Games tournament in Laos.

VNN/VNS