Units, localities and schools across Da Nang have organised many sports competitions in the new academic year, aimed at creating an exciting and attractive competitive atmosphere for pupils. Through such tournaments at the grassroots level, outstanding athletes are discovered and selected to compete in municipal-level tournaments, contributing to improving the quality of the sports events and promoting the development of the physical education and sports movement among pupils.

Pupils of the Nguyen Van Thoai Senior High School excitedly competing in the school-level cross-country race. Photo: PHI NONG

The Nguyen Van Thoai Senior High School is one of the units with a developed physical education and sports movement as achieving high results in municipal-level sports events. In order to help pupils maintain the habit of regular physical education and sports, the school has organised many tournaments every year.

Most recently, the cross-country and badminton tournaments, within the framework of the school's sports tournament for the 2024-2025 academic year, have been held successfully, attracting a large number of participants. In cross-country, female pupils have competed in the 3,000m event, while male athletes compete in the 5,000m event. In badminton category, athletes have taken part in men's singles, women's singles and men's doubles.

Having won the gold medal in the men's singles for the badminton category, Nguyen Van Hung, a pupil of grade 11/5 said "I have been practicing and competing in badminton for more than 5 years. To compete for a medal at the school's badminton tournament, I practice every day after school and try my best during the competition. I am very happy that my efforts are rewarded with a gold medal. Hopefully, I will be selected for the school's badminton team to compete in the municipal-level tournament. Such tournaments are attractive and useful playgrounds for pupils. Currently, I maintain regular practice at the school's badminton club to improve my health and improve my skills".

According to Mr. Nguyen Quang Quoc Cong, Head of Physical Education and National Defence Education of the Nguyen Van Thoai Senior High School, aside from badminton and cross-country, the school will soon organise football and volleyball competitions. The school's facilities ensure the success of the tournaments. Through the tournaments, the coaching staff of the school's sports teams evaluate the athletes' abilities and select the best pupils to compete in the municipal-level tournaments.

Along with schools, the municipal Offices of Education and Training of districts have got involved in hosting many sports tournaments to create conditions for pupils to exchange and improve their health.

Recently, the Office of Education and Training of Hai Chau District successfully organised a table tennis and chess tournaments. Many pupils from primary and junior high schools across the district were eager to compete.

Excellently winning the gold medal in table tennis for the 12-13 age group, Bui Nguyen Ban Mai, a 7^th grader of the Trung Vuong Junior High School, said “I am very happy to win the gold medal at the district-level table tennis tournament, contributing to the second place result of the school. Before participating in the district-level competition, I won the gold medal at the school-level tournament and was given favorable conditions during training. My goal is to continue to strive and compete successfully at the municipal-level tournament when representing the district's table tennis team”.

According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Tu Anh, Head of the Office of Education and Training of Hai Chau District, sports tournaments for pupils are organised annually by the unit. After table tennis and chess, the district will organise 4 more sports in the 2024-2025 academic year, including badminton, swimming, soccer and basketball. With careful preparation by the schools, the competitions were dramatic, attractive, and of high professional quality. In order to spread the movement of physical training and sports among pupils in particular and the community in general, the district organises competitions at many locations such as the district-based Sports and Physical Education Centre, the Ho Nghinh Junior High School’s multi-purpose gymnasium, and the Tien Son Sports Arena.

To prepare athletes for municipal-level sports competitions, Thanh Khe District also organises many sports competitions for pupils.

In particular, the 27^th Thanh Khe District Traditional Cross-Country - Armed Race in 2024 has been held, drawing a large number of pupils from 10 junior high schools in the district.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Dong, Deputy Director of the Thanh Khe District Culture and Sports Centre, said that the purpose of the annual tournament is to create a healthy and useful playground for pupils to exchange, learn, and practice health to study well. Through the tournament, pupils with excellent achievements are selected to join the district team to train and prepare to compete in the 28^th edition of the Da Nang Newspaper Road Races in 2025.

According to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Education and Training Mai Tan Linh, the sports tournaments organized by units, localities and schools were exciting and attractive, meeting the needs of entertainment and competition of pupils. Such tournaments contribute to promoting the campaign "All people exercise to follow the example of great Uncle Ho"; developing pupils' physical fitness, and enhancing the quality of comprehensive education in schools.

The department has announced the plan to organize municipal-level sports tournaments in the 2024-2025 school year so that units and localities can proactively organize tournaments at the grassroots level. After the successful grassroots competitions, sports teams with excellent athletes were established, Also, the department coordinated with relevant units to organize 6 municipal-level tournaments for basketball, table tennis, chess, swimming, cross-country and football.

Reporting by PHI NONG - Translating by M.DUNG, V.DUNG