Athletes to compete at Hanoi Open table tennis

Hanoi (VNA) - The fifth Table Tennis Club Tournament Hanoi  Open, the Ha Noi Moi Newspaper Cup, will return after a gap of one year.

The tournament has attracted more than 300 athletes from 56 teams and will be organised at the Hoang Mai Gymnasium on November 23-26 in Hanoi.

There are 11 categories for amateur players and one for professionals.

Athletes will compete in singles and doubles categories under different age groups.

In the pool for professionals, supporters will get the opportunity to watch Southeast Asian Games winner Dinh Quang Linh, national champions Phan Huy Hoang and Nguyen Chung Kien, and national championship silver medalist Le Tien Dat.

At the press conference on November 21, organisers said a professional discipline for women was being considered and it may be one of the events next year.

Winners will walk away with a total bonus of 130 million VND (5,800 USD).

The tournament was first held in 2012 and became an annual event from the next year. It was, however, not held last year due to the busy schedules of the organisers and the participants.-VNA