Right at the 32nd SEA Games, Vovinam is the 4th sport with the most events, just behind the 3 Olympic events: athletics (47), swimming (40), wrestling (30).
If we count from the 2011 SEA Games when Vovinam first appeared in Indonesia with 14 events, then in 2013 in Myanmar with 18 events, and the third time in Hanoi last year with 15 events, the fact that the host Cambodia organized double the number of competitions with the participation of 7 countries: Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines and Laos is an affirmation that Vovinam is a martial art that has gained a significant position.
Philippine Vovinam fighters at SEA Games 32
Thailand's historic boxing gold medal
If in the past, countries like Thailand and the Philippines came to Vovinam mainly to seek achievements in the combat competition, then currently, the gold medal in the Cross-Fist event of Thai martial artist Sutida Nakcharroensri is considered a big turning point for Vietnamese martial arts.
With the strength of combat fighters that can be borrowed from disciplines such as Muay, Taekwondo, Karate, Kick Boxing, winning a gold medal after a few months of training and updating knowledge and rules of Vovinam is not difficult, because the similarities in the fighting techniques are almost the same.
However, investing in a medal in the performance category is extremely complicated, due to the unique nature of the sport, along with the system of moves, stances, etc. that must be trained fundamentally, systematically, and invested in long term.
Boxer Sutida Nakcharroensri won gold medal in the Cross-Boxing event.
Therefore, it can be said that Thailand's gold medal in this performance has helped the leaders of Vovinam hope for the third consecutive time to be present at the SEA Games, when the host will be Thailand. This will lead to Vovinam becoming a regular competition at this playground. This is also the premise for Vietnamese martial arts to enter Olympic arenas such as Asiad, Indoor Sports University...
Not only Thailand, but also Myanmar and Laos have systematic and methodical investments in Vietnamese martial arts.
Widespread development
At the 32nd SEA Games, it is not surprising that the Cambodian team is leading in Vovinam, as the national team of the land of pagodas has been "living and sleeping" at the National Sports Training Center in Ho Chi Minh City for nearly a year, not to mention the two experts Duong Thanh Tien and Nguyen Van Cuong have almost become locals, when they are invited to train frequently.
This proves the right investment of Cambodian sports in coming to Vovinam to take advantage of it, when their Khun Khmer martial art is being overwhelmed by Muay Thai, even though both have the same origin.
In addition, right in Indonesia, the Vovinam Federation of the archipelago country was recognized by the Olympic Committee as an official member, according to Deputy Secretary General of the Southeast Asian Vovinam Federation Nguyen Binh Dinh: "This is good news for the whole of Southeast Asia, when from now on, Indonesian Vovinam is officially put into practice and competition with the State budget and developed in the national competition system".
Raising the level of referees is being invested in by the World Vovinam Federation.
Chairman of the Vietnam Vovinam Federation and Chairman of the World Vovinam Federation, businessman Mai Huu Tin, said that Vovinam is currently being practiced in 70 countries around the world with millions of students. Among them, many countries have very strong Vovinam movements and can completely compete with Vietnam such as Algeria and Cambodia.
Vovinam World Championship, European Championship, Asian Championship, Southeast Asian Championship are also held annually.
In addition, Vovinam has also become a traditional sport in the SEA Games arena when it was organized in two consecutive editions: SEA Games 31 in Vietnam (2022), SEA Games 32 in Cambodia and is being campaigned to be organized in SEA Games 33 in Thailand in 2025.
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