Vietnamese businessman Mai Huu Tin has been voted the president of the World Vovinam Federation from 2017 to 2022.

Mai Huu Tin is new president of the World Vovinam Federation. 

Tín, who is also the Viet Nam Vovinam Federation (VVF) president, received support from about 60 delegates from 30 countries and territories who are taking part in the Vovinam World Federation’s Congress which kicked off in New Delhi, India, yesterday.

He will be assisted by eight vice presidents, including Nguyen Van Chieu, VVF vice president, Macovei Florin, European Vovinam Federation president, and Djouadi Mohammed, African Vovinam Federation president, during his five-year term.

Tín, 48, is the general director and chairman of the board of directors of U&I Investment Corporation. He practices vovinam and won a national title in 1986.

On the first day yesterday, the Vovinam Congress also reviewed the development of the martial art with more than two million people around the world practicing it.

Delegates discussed plans to make vovinam an official sport at the Asian Games and the Olympics in the future. 

Tây Ninh start with draw in U-15 opener

Defending champions Hoàng Anh Gia Lai were tied in a 1-1 opener by host Tây Ninh at the National U15 Championship yesterday at the provincial stadium.

As the most famous national football training centre in recent years Hoàng Anh Gia Lai were considered strong rivals, and they showed off their power from the beginning.

They needed just three minutes to break even with a goal by Thế Nam from a straight shot.

Watched by thousands of local fans, Tây Ninh fought back strongly and tore Hoàng Anh Gia Lai’s plan to shreds.

They levelled the score 10 minutes later as Hữu Luân made a stunning header to the far corner.

Both two sides had chances to raise the score but none of them were converted into goals.

In the earlier match, Sông Lam Nghệ An defeated FLC Thanh Hóa 4-0.

Quang Thuận netted the first goal from a penalty in the first half.

Heavy rain in the second half failed to stop them from scoring more goals. Thuận completed his hat-trick after Hoàng Văn Thông scored the second winner just minutes after the break.

In today’s fixtures, The Promotion Fund for Vietnamese Football Talents (PVF) will meet Viettel and Đồng Nai will play Sanna Khánh Hòa.

Head coach of the national U15 team, Vũ Hồng Việt will watch the matches to select his players who will compete at the 2018 Asian U-16 Championship qualification in China in September.

Hà Nội open traditional martial art festival to kick off

The 33rd Hà Nội Open Traditional Martial Art Festival, Thăng Long Cup 2017, will start today at Trịnh Hoài Đức Gymnasium.

According to Lê Ngọc Quang, general secretary and deputy chairman of Hà Nội Martial Art Association, the event will feature more than 90 domestic and international teams including Russia, Germany, Laos and India.

The event is an important Hà Nội Martial Art Association activity to introduce and promote Vietnamese martial arts to Vietnamese people and international friends.

“It is a great event of the northern martial arts scene which is held annually to develop traditional martial arts and strengthen health,” said Quang.

“It also aims to create a chance for martial art sects to exchange and hone their skills. It maintains and preserves intangible traditional culture,” Quang added.

At the free-entry event, fans will see unique performances from martial artists from schools such as Văn Trang Võ Đạo, Bình Định Gia, Lâm Sơn Động, Vĩnh Xuân Quyền, Thăng Long Võ Đạo and Bắc Việt Võ.

The event, organised by the municipal Deparment of Culture and Sports and Hà Nội Martial Art Association, will end on August 6.

VNS