The fifth Asian Beach Games host by Vietnam will take place in two main places: Nha Trang and Da Nang. The 2016 games include 17 events in which there are some new sports added to the games.
The fifth Asian Beach Games host by Vietnam will take place mainly in Nha Trang and Da Nang. The 2016 games include 17 events in which there are some new sports added to the games.
Nha Trang City is expected to hold the opening and closing ceremony as well as some sports, including kabaddi, kurash, wrestling, beach volleyball, foot volleyball, woodball, athletics, sepak takraw, handball, jetski, three-on-three basketball, petanque, dragon boat, and shuttle cock. It is noticeable that beside familiar sports, two new games kabaddi and kurash are added to this year’s Asian Beach Games, promising to bring spectators interesting and attractive competitions.
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| Kabaddi is included in fifth Asian Beach Games 2016 to be held in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa. (Photo: Internet) |
Kabaddi is a contact sport which is played in 40 minutes with seven athletes in each side. In kabaddi, the teams gain points by sending an attacker called raider who must take a breath, run into the opposing half to touch one or more members of the opposite team, and then return to his home half before inhaling again. The raider will be declared out if he inhales before returning to his side, or returns without touching an opponent. The defenders called antis will be out if they cannot catch the raider who touched them before that rider inhaling or returning to his side.
Reportedly, modern kabaddi became popular throughout South Asia since 1930s. The first Asian Kabaddi Championship was held in 1980 and was included for the first time in the Asian Games in Beijing in 1990. Nowadays, kabaddi is a popular sport in many countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Iran.
Kurash is the traditional wrestling of Uzbekistan, played for the first time since 3,500 years ago. Kurash rules prohibit any actions on the floor; action is allowed only in standing position. In the third ASIAN Indoor Game (2009), Vietnamese athletes excellently won two golden medals and two silver ones. Therefore, with the inclusion of kurash in the fifth Asian Beach Games, Vietnam’s sports delegation is capable of achieving gold medals at kurash event.
The fifth Asian Beach Games 2016 is expected to join by over 4,000 people of more than 45 countries and territories over the world. This significant international sports event is a rare opportunity for Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa to promote the images of sea tourism, friendliness and civilization of the land and its people to the world.
H.N
