Ready for the tournament
All preparations for the first-ever ASEAN Armies Men’s Volleyball Tournament have been completed by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense.
    |
 |
|
The center is ready for the opening ceremony. In the photo: Teams in a rehearse for the opening ceremony |
Colonel Pham Van Danh, Political Commissar of the center, said that since early this year, especially over the past more than one month, the center’s staff have exerted utmost efforts, promptly overcome difficulties to upgrade the sporting hall to meet international standards. They have also undergone training programs to ensure the tourney a success, contributing to popularizing Vietnam, its people, and Uncle Ho’s soldiers among international friends.
On October 1, the Department of Military Training under the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and relevant units from the Ministry of National Defense and Military Region 7 held a ceremony to hoist the national flags of participating countries.
|
|
 |
|
The flag-raising ceremony is solemnly held. |
Senior Colonel Chu Ba Hong, Head of the Sports Division under the Department of Military Training, informed that in this tourney, the division will cooperate with the Vietnam Volleyball Federation in referee work and a video assistant referee (VAR) system will be used to ensure objectivity and accuracy.
To prepare for this tournament, the Vietnam People’s Army volleyball team has trained for more than two months in Da Nang city and Khanh Hoa province. With experienced members, the team shows high determination to compete in the tourney with the sporting spirit of purity, friendship, and unity.
Sports connecting friendship
The National Defense Sports Center 2 and neighboring areas are decorated brilliantly to welcome tournament. The flags of ASEAN and participating countries are flying in front of the center.
|
|
 |
|
The sporting hall is upgraded to meet international standards. |
All posters hung in and outside the sporting hall highlight friendship, honesty, nobility, sportsmanship, strength, solidarity in the spirit of “Sports connects friendship.”
The ASEAN Armies Men’s Volleyball Tournament 2023 is among important international integration activities in defense, bringing about benefits in terms of international integration, defense, security, politics, sports, and culture. The hosting of such a tournament affirms Vietnam’s activeness and pro-activeness in extensively integrating into the world. This is also an opportunity for ASEAN countries to show their determination to cooperate in a strong and intensive manner.
At the flag-raising ceremony held on October 1, Major General Bui Hong Quang, Deputy Director of the Department of Military Training, emphasized that the tourney contributes to promoting harmonious development and prosperity in the region, and to building and maintaining regional peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
Coach of the Vietnam People’s Army volleyball team Colonel Tran Dinh Tien said that the event is to strengthen ASEAN solidarity.
Colonel Min See Zan, head of the Myanmar Armed Forces contingent, stressed that his team is determined to get the highest place at the tourney. Meanwhile, speaking highly of the sporting spirit of the event, Lieutenant Colonel Sengamphone Phoumingeun, Deputy Director of the Department of Military Training of the Lao People’s Army, emphasized that the tournament once again affirms the fruitful friendship among armies of regional countries.
In this tourney, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are in Table A and Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar and Malaysia are in Table B. In the qualifying round, the teams will compete in the round robin format. Two best teams of each table will advance to the semi-finals. The opening, closing ceremony and matches are scheduled to be broadcast live on the Vietnam National Defense Television channel of the Military Broadcasting Center and the sports channel of Ho Chi Minh Television.
The match between Vietnam and Cambodia took place at 19:00 on October 3.
Translated by Mai Huong