Vietnamese lion dancing expected to win medals at Asian Indoor Games

Updated on 9/5/2007 at 21:20

Vietnamese athletes will compete in 11 events at the 2nd Asian Indoor Games in Macau from October 25 to November 3.

The events include track and field, swimming, diving, football, sports dancing, rattan ball, billiards, bowling, chess, aerobics and lion dancing.

Vietnam is expected to send 290 athletes to compete against others from 43 countries and territories in the region.

In particular, Nhon Nghia Duong, a Vietnamese lion dancing troupe from Ho Chi Minh City, will compete with rivals from China, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.

To make lion dancing become an event at the 2nd Asian Indoor Games, the Asian Unicorn, Lion and Dragon Federation was founded in July 2007 with 8 members. Then, the federation issued rules and provided training courses for referees in terms of lion dancing.

Four Vietnamese referees finished their courses in late July and will take part in the forthcoming event.

Vietnam has a chance to win medals, said Luu Hoan Phi, coach of the Vietnamese lion dancing delegation. Mr. Phi, also director of the Nhon Nghia Duong, and his troupe have performed in many foreign countries.

He predicted that the Chinese team with their tradition would win gold medals in unicorn dancing, meanwhile, Vietnam, Thailand, Macau and Malaysia would contend for the gold in the lion dancing event.

Over the past month, 22 members of the Vietnamese team have rehearsed for at least 3 hours a day in Binh Tan district, Ho Chi Minh City. Despite being busy with shows during the season, all these athletes will try their best to win medals at the contest.

Vuong Vi Nguyen, 22 years old and one of the best athletes, said that the team would overcome all difficulties to lift the trophy.

The Olympic Council of Asia selected Vietnam to hold the 3rd Indoor Games in Vietnam in 2009. To prepare for the event, the Vietnam Sports Committee, Hanoi People’s Committee and Hanoi’s Sports Department plan to build a sports complex in My Dinh commune, Tu Liem district at a cost of 200 billion VND.

Earlier, Vietnam's track and field athletes won five gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze at the pre-Asian Indoor Games in Macau.

At the 1st Indoor Asian Games, Vietnam ranked 21st with one silver and one bronze medal.