In recent years, the movement of petanque has extensively developed across Da Nang. Many petanque clubs and teams have been established, thereby meeting the needs of training, competition and entertainment for people from all walks of life.

The movement of petanque develops widely in the city. Photo: P.N

Petanque is one of the 21 sports included the competitions at the ongoing 9^th Da Nang Sports Games. This shows great efforts made by the city's sports sector in promoting the development of this kind of sports.

Petanque is made of metal and in round shape with a minimum diameter of 7.05cm and a maximum diameter of 8cm, and a minimum weight of 650 grams and a maximum weight of 800 grams, according to international standards.

Petanque training and competition pitches are 4m wide and 15m long each. This kind of sports requires strength and ingenuity, so it is suitable for the physical condition and stature of Vietnamese people.

In recent years, petanque has been attractive to a large number of local residents.

Mr. Huynh Ba Duong, Deputy Director of the Ngu Hanh Son District-based Centre for Culture - Information and Sports said that petanque can be considered a strength sport of the district. Recently, a petanque club with 15 members has been established in Khue My Ward.

In an effort to promote the movement of petanque, the district’s authorities have regularly organised tournaments for local athletes to exchange and learn from experience, thereby selecting talents for competing in the municipal-level tournaments.

Ms. Hong Thi Hoa, a member of the district’s petanque team, who set a record of winning the petanque championships for 3 consecutive municipal-level Sports Games in 2014, 2018 and 2022, said that she has played petanque for near 10 years. She added this was an easy sport to practice and compete, so it is suitable for people of all ages.

She hoped that more petanque tournaments would be organised in the coming time in a bid to promote the development of this kind of boules sports in Ngu Hanh Son District in particular and the city in general.

Besides Ngu Hanh Son District, the movement of playing petanque also spread strongly in Hai Chau District. The district has a total of three petanque clubs, namely Thuan Phuoc, Ho Nghinh and Hoa Cuong Bac.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Thao, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, acknowledged that the petanque movement has gradually been developed across the city. The districts of Ngu Hanh Son, Hai Chau, and Son Tra have recorded the strongest development of the petanque movement.

He revealed that eight national standard petanque pitches are being built at the Taekwondo Gymnasium based in Hai Chau District, and they are expected to be put into operation in October, 2022, thereby gradually promoting the development of the city's petanque movement in the near future.

Reporting by PHI NONG - Translating by M.DUNG