LookAtVietnam – The first World Vovinam Championships concluded here yesterday night, rounding off a 40-event spectacle dominated by the hosts who collected 22 of the 40 gold medals awarded.

On target: Vietnamese martial artist Vo Nguyen Linh (left) places a kick in his final match against Rueangrum Chanarong of Thailand in the men’s under-60kg class. Linh won 4-1.

Second place in the competition featuring the Vietnamese martial art went to France with 10 golds, 10 silvers and three bronze medals, while Italy finished third with one gold, six silvers, and nine bronze medals.

The event took place in HCM City’s Military Zone 7 Gymnasium. It featured 115 athletes from 14 countries and territories.

The athletes competed for 40 sets of medals in two categories: performance and duels.

Foreign martial artists, especially those from Russia, Iran and Italy put on a good showing at the inaugural tournament.

On the first day of the championship, Vietnamese martial artists won nine gold medals, four of them in the duels category and five in performing techniques.

The pre-Asian Indoor Games Vovinam competition will be held today between five Asian countries in order to prepare for the third Asian Indoor Games that Viet Nam will host this November.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News