Vovinam federation founded in An Giang to boost training; National team star striker returns home from Portugal’s Leixoes; Selection for most outstanding athletes and coaches starts today

The An Giang Vovinam Federation was established on Sunday, to strengthen vovinam training province-wide.

An Giang’s vovinam began developing in 1969. At present, vovinam attracts 700 martial arts instructors, coaches, and disciples at 16 clubs. The provincial martial artists won may medals at the events at home and abroad.

Many provinces have already been set up their federations to popularise the sport.

Viet Nam held the National Vovinam Championship for the first time in 2006 and the sport has been admitted into the national youth contest.

Vovinam, invented by Vietnamese martial artist Nguyen Loc in 1938, is practised both with and without weapons for self defence, health, and personal development.

National team star striker returns home from Portugal’s Leixoes

Top striker Le Cong Vinh, who joined Portugal’s Leixoes on a four-month loan last month, returned to Viet Nam on Sunday.

He will have a few days off with his family before returning to training with his club T&T Ha Noi and the national team.

“Although I didn’t compete in many important matches for Leixoes in the Portuguese premier league, I tried my best to integrate into the squad and score goals for the team. So I haven’t got any reasons to be disappointed with myself. This trip helped me gain many skills and experience for my next competitions,” the 24 year-old Nghe An Province-born player said.

Leixoes were coached by the current Vietnamese national coach Henrique Calisto in 1990-91 and 93-94.

Last year, Vinh moved from Song Lam Nghe An to T&T Ha Noi for a record four-year transfer fee of US$400,000.

Selection for most outstanding athletes and coaches starts today

The selection for Viet Nam’s most outstanding athletes and coaches will start today, December 29, at Ha Noi, Da Nang and HCM City.

Due to Vietnamese successes at the Asian Youth Athletics Championships, Asian Martial Arts Games, third Asian Indoor Games, and 25th Southeast Asian Games, the selection process will prove a tough challenge for the judges.

This year’s most outstanding athletes and coaches will be seven coaches and 15 athletes, while the number of outstanding disabled athletes and coaches will include five athletes and three coaches.

The event’s organising board will also give special awards to foreign coaches who contributed to the successes notched up by Vietnamese sports this year. The result will be announced on Thursday.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News