Vovinam athletes are competing (Photo: VNA) Algiers (VNA) – TheArab Vovinam (Vietnamese martial art) Federation was officially set up during aconference held by Arab countries’ Vovinam federations in Algeria on December 7and 8.
Mohamed Djouadj, Chairman of theAlgerian Vovinam Federation, Chairman of the African Vovinam Federation andVice Chairman of the World Vovinam Federation, was elected as head of the newly-establishedfederation.
Chairman of the World VovinamFederation Mai Huu Tin praised the role of the Algerian Vovinam Federation andits president in promoting the development of the martial art and in unitingVovinam federations in the Arab region.
He said the establishment of theArab Vovinam Federation will create favourable conditions for its members toparticipate in word-level competitions and pledged to support Vovinam practicein Africa and in the Arab league.
Vietnamese Ambassador to AfricaPham Quoc Tru stated the Vietnamese Government and embassy are willing to aidVovinam practice and competition activities in Algeria and other Arabcountries.
Within the framework of theconference, an international competition took place in Algeria on December 7and 8, gathering nearly 150 Vovinam athletes from 12 nations, including Italy,Romania, Belgium, and Egypt. The host nation topped the medal tally.
After more than eight decades ofdevelopment, Vovinam has to date attracted over 4 million leaners in more than70 countries and territories. The martial art, based on the principle ofcombining between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’, is practiced with and without weapons. Itis not only about the training of the body but also of the mind.
Introduced to Algeria in the1970s, Vovinam has become popular and is now being practised by over 20,000people across the African country.-VNA
VNA
