Late September 16, National Kickboxing Championship 2013 was kicked off at Rach Mieu Center of Sports in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City for 180 male and female fighters nationwide with some changes in competition of 21 weight categories. For male competition, the fighters were to compete in weight categories of 45kg to 91kg while for female from 46kg to 75kg. Mr. Le Cong Huu, Deputy Head of High Sports Achievement of Binh Duong Provincial Center of Sports informed that Binh Duong team dispatched 16 athletes in individual competition.Binh Duong team targeted for 2 gold medals of their top fighters Le Hoang Duc and Huynh Van Dung.In 2012 tournament, An Giang Team won the first place of female competition by defeating strong teams of Nghe An and Binh Duong.In that tournament, Ho Chi Minh City was ranked third in male competition after Dak Lak and Nghe An.For this year’s tournament, Ho Chi Minh City dispatched 17 fighters in a bid to improve their ranking. The team was hopeful with Tran Thanh Y, Truong Quoc Hung, and Nguyen Tran Tu Do.Emerging from Indoor Games 2009, kickboxing has been developed stronger and stronger nationwide. Up to date, Vietnamese fighters have won major titles in international arena.Two female fighters namely Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung and Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai has won gold medals in India in 2012, Korea in 2013, and Thailand in 2009.VU Duc Thinh, Head of Boxing and Kickboxing of General Center of Sports said: “This is the third tournament with more professional fighters who mainly switch from other martial arts thanks to similarity. The achievements of Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung and Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai have been very encourageable.”This year’s competition rules eyed minor changes in kick counting which should be in charge by match monitors not the referees.The tournament was to end this September 20.Reported by Chi Thanh – Translated by Vi Bao