(QBĐT) - During the period of resistance against the US to save the country, Quang Binh was both the front line of the socialist North and the direct rear of the great front line of the South. Amidst the fierce war, the army and people of Quang Binh not only produced well and fought well but also organized effective physical training and sports activities. To encourage the spirit of the army and people to defeat the American invaders, the provincial volleyball tournament "On the heroic fire line" was held in Quang Binh in 1969.
Fighting the enemy and practicing sports at the same time
On August 4, 1964, the US imperialists staged the "Gulf of Tonkin incident", sending bombers to bomb several places in the North. In Quang Binh, they attacked many locations, such as: Gianh Port, Roon Gate, Ngang Pass, Cu Nam... To protect the Fatherland and homeland, the army and people of Quang Binh entered the resistance war against the US with an urgent, proactive, confident and determined spirit. Joining hands to fight the enemy, the team of cadres, coaches, and athletes of Quang Binh both worked, produced, fought and served in combat, and practiced sports.
Typically, Ms. Tran Thi Ly, a female volleyball player from Phu Hai (Dong Hoi City) made an outstanding achievement in the battle when American planes bombed Dai Bridge and was honored by the State as a Hero of the People's Armed Forces; Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Le, Loc Ninh Commune (Dong Hoi City), a volleyball player, heroically sacrificed his life while fighting back American planes with his teammates.
Along with sports such as: Football, shooting, cross-country running, swimming, the volleyball training movement in Quang Binh has a new development with many teams being formed and achieving high results in tournaments. Women's volleyball began to develop in rural areas, such as: Quang Kim Commune (Quang Trach), Ham Ninh Commune ( Quang Ninh )... and 5/7 districts and towns at that time had women's volleyball teams.
During this time, the Phu Hai women's volleyball team (Dong Hoi City) represented Quang Binh province, under the coaching of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Dam (from Quang Thanh commune, Quang Trach), Head of the Sports Department (Sports Department of Quang Binh province) to participate in the first Northern rural volleyball tournament. Competing with volleyball teams in the North, the girls from Quang Binh with their talent and solidarity continuously surpassed the other teams to finally win the championship cup. Then, in 1963, the Phu Hai women's volleyball team won the Northern volleyball championship and was promoted to the Northern A division.
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"Special" volleyball tournament in wartime
After the Tet Offensive in 1968, the army and people of the whole country achieved great victories on all fronts, forcing the US imperialists to stop bombing North Vietnam from the 20th parallel. On the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2, in late August and early September 1969, the Central Sports Committee coordinated with Quang Binh province to organize a volleyball tournament for provinces "on the heroic fire line".
In the article "Volleyball tournament of provinces on the heroic fire line" (book 50 years of Quang Binh Sports and Physical Training ), author Thanh Hung recalled: "On the afternoon of August 29, 1969, the men's and women's volleyball teams of the provinces: Ha Tinh, Nghe An and Vinh Linh area overcame bombs and bullets, overcame the difficulties of wartime to gather in full numbers. The athletes met each other, shaking hands and greeting each other as if brothers and sisters who had been far away were now reunited. The head of the Nghe An volleyball team was comrade Vinh, Deputy Head of the Provincial Sports and Physical Training Committee. The Ha Tinh volleyball team was led by comrade Hoat, Standing Member of the Sports and Physical Training Committee. The head of the Vinh Linh area volleyball team was comrade Vui. The Quang Binh volleyball team was led by comrade Tran Thien Hung, Deputy Head of the Provincial Sports and Physical Training Committee, Head of the Tournament Organizing Committee. The Central Sports and Physical Training Committee also sent comrade Luong and comrade Tuat, from the volleyball department, to directly direct and chair the referees' committee. The tournament had 8 men's and women's volleyball teams from Vinh Linh, Quang Nam ... Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An. The competition venue is at the "field" volleyball court in Ly Ninh commune (now Bac Ly and Nam Ly wards, Dong Hoi city), where the volleyball movement is developing".
As a volleyball enthusiast, Mr. Ha Ngoc Luy (90 years old, in Nam Ly ward, former cadre of Dong Hoi town team) recounted that for the volleyball tournament to be successful, the people of Ly Ninh commune joined hands to help, providing accommodation, living space, and shelters for the teams. The Ly Ninh Commune Team Command arranged a system of personal bunkers and traffic trenches around the competition area to ensure safety. An ambulance team consisting of two commune health officers was on duty along with a militia squad to guard and sound the alarm when enemy aircraft were detected.
The logistics department was undertaken by the Women's Union of Ly Ninh commune and many women who were good at cooking were assigned to help. The most difficult part was that the kitchen for nearly 100 people had to be hidden. When cooking, the chimney was hidden by a camouflaged leaf trellis. According to Mr. Luy, although there were still many difficulties due to life during the war, with the support of the Provincial People's Committee and relevant departments and units, the food, foodstuffs, and necessities serving the delegations participating in the volleyball tournament were quite adequate. In addition to rice, there were beans, sticky rice, sugar, milk, candy, pork, soup powder, etc.
On the morning of August 31, 1969, the provincial volleyball tournament “on the heroic fire line” was opened. Mr. Ngo Dinh Van, member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee attended and cheered on the men's and women's volleyball teams. Although taking place under conditions where American planes could attack, the tournament was still held for 3 days with absolute safety conditions.
The tournament consisted of 6 men's and 6 women's matches in a round-robin format. The Quang Binh men's volleyball team was selected from teams of the Provincial Military Command, Border Guard and Police. The women's volleyball team was selected from two teams, Ly Ninh and Phu Hai. Mr. Nguyen Thiet Thuc was appointed as the head coach of the Quang Binh men's and women's volleyball teams.
With a flexible style of play that is difficult for opponents to predict, combined with a spirit of solidarity, the matches of the provincial volleyball tournament "on the heroic fire line" were exciting. At the end of the tournament, both the men's and women's volleyball teams of Quang Binh won first place. The tournament summary took place in a bustling atmosphere, with players from the volleyball teams sitting together like brothers in a family.
Organizing this “special” volleyball tournament not only encouraged the army and people to overcome difficulties during the war years but also encouraged the movement of good production and good fighting in the localities of the “pot handle” in the North and the direct rear of the South. The tournament was also an opportunity for the provincial Sports and Physical Training Committees to exchange experiences in building and developing the movement of training in sports during wartime.
Tan Binh
Reference: Book 50 years of Quang Binh Sports, Quang Binh Department of Sports, published in 1996.
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