The sixth National Sport Games will
officially kick off tomorrow, Dec 25, in the central city of Da Nang with a record 3,300
participants.

Pot luck: Nguyen Hoai Nam of Ha Noi takes a shot in the men’s singles at the National Sports Games’ billiards and snooker event at Da Nang’s Nguyen Tri Phuong Gymnasium. (Photo: VNS)

The
festival, which is organised every four years, will see athletes competing in 11
sports.

Among
the sports, tracks and field events have attracted the highest number of
entries, featuring 452 contestants from 54 delegations. The chess events will
feature 200 contestants from 40 teams.

The
Games, which are the most important domestic sporting event of the year, will
feature the cream of Vietnamese athletic talent, with a host of Asian and
Southeast Asian champions and record holders. Top athletes include Truong Thanh
Hang, Vu Thi Huong, Vu Van Huyen in track and field; Nguyen Tien Minh in
badminton; and Le Quang Liem and Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son in chess.

Ha Noi
currently lead the medal tally with 147 golds, 103 silvers and 105 bronzes. HCM
City and the Military team stand second and third, respectively. Sixty four of
the 66 delegations taking part have taken medals.

The
opening ceremony will be held at the city’s Chi Lang Stadium with the
participation of four foreign visitors from China, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

The
closing ceremony will be on December 31.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News