The fifth Asian Beach Games 2016 (ABG5), which has been first organized in Vietnam, is going to kick off in Da Nang. At this sports event, many beach athletes of Khanh Hoa will play for the national teams in beach soccer and beach volleyball.
The fifth Asian Beach Games 2016 (ABG5), which has been first organized in Vietnam, is going to kick off in Da Nang. At this sports event, many beach athletes of Khanh Hoa will play for the national teams in beach soccer and beach volleyball.
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Apart from the regular sports (aquatics, beach kabaddi, beach soccer, beach volleyball, beach handball, 3x3 basketball, beach sepak takraw, beach martial arts, beach badminton, beach pétanque, beach bodybuilding, woodball, rowing, athletics), the host incorporates Vovinam and Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts in ABG5. This is expected to improve the position of Vietnam’s sports delegation on the scoreboard as well as promote the traditional martial arts of Vietnam to the world.
The team sports, especially beach soccer and beach volleyball, are said to be the most attractive events in the Asian beach games. Beach soccer and beach volleyball are also the two sports which have been the strong point of Khanh Hoa’s beach sports. “There are nine athletes of Khanh Hoa in the national soccer team at ABG5. This is a great honor for the province’s sports industry,” said Tran Quang Thuong, Director of Khanh Hoa Provincial Sports Technique Training Center.
According to Thuong, this is not the first time the beach soccer athletes of Khanh Hoa have been selected to play for the national team. However, as the host, the athletes may face more pressures to gain medal. The best achievement of Vietnam’s beach soccer team has been the fourth place at ABG4 held in Phuket, Thailand. This time, with the home field advantage and a careful preparation, Vietnamese beach soccer team is hoped to achieve a medal at ABG5. Vietnam will play with Thailand and Laos in group A. The clash between Vietnam and Thailand, taking place on September 27, is said to be a potentially decisive match to decide the lead of group A.
The beach volleyball has also seen the effective contributions of Khanh Hoa’s athletes. Nguyen Thanh Vinh, Vinh Phuc and Thanh Tram are the three representatives of the coastal province at ABG5. Reportedly, at present, Khanh Hoa has been among the three localities beside Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City which have competent athletes to play for the national beach volleyball team.
As said by the professionals, Vietnam’s beach volleyball has still not reached the continental level. However, with the endless efforts, hopefully the beach volleyball athletes of Vietnam national team in general and the representatives of Khanh Hoa in particular will gain high achievements at the 2016 Asian Beach Games.
The fifth Asian Beach Games, taking place from September 24 to October 5, draws the attendance of 2,515 athletes from 42 countries and territories. The athletes will compete in 14 sports for 172 sets of medal. Vietnam’s sports teams take part in all events and aim to be in the top 3 of ABG5.
An Nhien
Translated by H.N
