Ho Chi Minh - Vietnam is competing against Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Brunei in the first Southeast Asian Pencak Silat Championship which opened in Ho Chi Minh City on April 24.
Close to 200 athletes will compete in 22 categories of the five-day tournament.
Vietnam is currently the world’s top pencak silat nation and boasts a number of athletes who have fared well at Southeast Asian, Asian and world competitions.
Addressing the opening ceremony, International Pencak Silat Federation President Eddy Nalapraya praised Vietnam’s role and contribution to the development of the sport in the world, particularly hosting the Southeast Asian tournament.
Apart from the Southeast Asian Championship, there are three Pencak Silat competitions held by the International Pencak Silat Federation - the Pencak Silat World Championship, the Pencak Silat Asia-Pacific Championship and the World Junior Pencak Silat Championship.
Source: www.nhandan.com (26 April 2008)
