PANO – The Can Tho city’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, in association with the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, kicked off the 26th National Karatedo Championship on September 12.

The organizing board hands over flowers and flags to participating teams at the opening ceremony. (Photo: baocantho.com.vn)

As many as 250 martial arts athletes from 27 teams nationwide and from the People’s Public Security force and the Vietnam People’s Army are competing for 29 sets of medals in several events including Kata discipline (performance) and the Kumite discipline (sparring).

The championship is a good chance for the Vietnamese teams to prepare for the next international contests, especially the upcoming 2017 SEA Games to be held in Malaysia. The panel will also selected outstanding athletes for the International Karatedo Championship scheduled in October.

Translated by Thuy Duong