Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, Pham Xuan Tai, attended and delivered the opening speech at the event. Also in attendance was Nguyen Hong Minh, Deputy Director of the General Department of Physical Education and Sports under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
The organizers presented commemorative flags and flowers to participating teams.
Scheduled from November 6 to 15, 2024, the National Team Petanque Tournament 2024 has attracted nearly 200 athletes from 16 provincial, municipal, and sectoral units, competing in seven categories.
Deputy Director Pham Xuan Tai delivered the opening speech.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Director Pham Xuan Tai noted that petanque is a growing sport in Vietnam, with over 3,000 athletes and numerous enthusiasts training across 20 provinces, cities, and sectors. This year’s tournament has gathered the finest athletes from 16 participating units. The competition offers athletes not only a chance to showcase their skills but also an opportunity to be selected for the national team to compete at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand in 2025.
Athletes competing in the tournament.
The National Team Petanque Tournament is part of the annual national high-performance sports system. Its objectives are to promote petanque training nationwide, provide athletes with opportunities to compete and hone their skills, and identify outstanding talents for the national team to participate in international tournaments.
Following the opening ceremony, athletes began competing in the event’s various categories.
Athletes competing in the tournament.
At the end of 2023, during the World Petanque Championship in Thailand, the Vietnamese women’s team made history by clinching the world championship title in the women’s triple event, defeating Thailand in the finals.
In Vietnam, petanque players are predominantly concentrated in the southern provinces, including Ho Chi Minh City, Soc Trang, and Vung Tau. The Vietnamese national team first participated in this sport at the 21st SEA Games.
Ha Phuong