Van Ban develops the sport of pushing the stick

Watching the 2024 Lao Cai Province Pole Pushing, Tug of War, and Crossbow Shooting Championship held at the end of April, many people were surprised to see the pole pushers of Van Ban district competing like they were "possessed" with good techniques, tactics, and great determination.

Mr. Do Hong Manh, Head of the Van Ban District Sports Delegation, said: In recent years, physical education and sports activities in general, and stick pushing in particular, in Van Ban have received attention from all levels, sectors, localities and people. Stick pushing athletes are always eager and diligent in training when preparing to participate in tournaments organized by the province and Van Ban district. About 1 month before the 2024 Lao Cai Province Stick Pushing, Tug of War and Crossbow Championship, we gathered stick pushing athletes with excellent competition results at schools and localities to guide them in continuous and high-intensity training.

Pole pusher La Bich Phuong (Khanh Yen Trung commune) is known to many people for having won 3 championships in the women's category over 75 kg at national tournaments. Most recently, in mid-March, the girl born in 2005 overcame a series of very strong opponents to win the Gold Medal in the women's category over 75 kg at the 18th National Pole Pushing Championship - 2024. At tournaments organized by the province, this Tay ethnic girl seems to have no opponents and winning the Gold Medal in the women's category over 75 kg at the 2024 Lao Cai Province Pole Pushing, Tug of War, and Crossbow Championship was predictable and completely deserved.

Athlete La Bich Phuong confided: I am very fond of traditional sports, including pole pushing. This is an easy sport to play, brings good health, mental comfort and strengthens solidarity... but does not cost much. In my free time, I often practice pole pushing with my brothers, sisters, and friends in the village. Before each tournament, I increase the intensity and time of practice, meeting the requirements of the coaches and achieving the goal of winning.

Ever since he was in primary school, athlete Duong Van Bao Long (Khanh Yen Thuong commune) became familiar with the sport of pole pushing. After watching his aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters in the village compete in pole pushing, Long "sneaked out" to borrow a pole and try pushing with his friends of the same age. After many times like that, Long accumulated experience and became one of the excellent pole pushers of Van Ban district without realizing it.

Athlete Duong Van Bao Long said: Previously, I always finished second due to unfortunate losses in the finals of the men's pole push event over 85 kg. At the 2024 Lao Cai Provincial Pole Push, Tug of War, and Crossbow Championship, I was very determined to win the championship and succeeded. I am still actively practicing and competing to achieve high results in upcoming tournaments.

At the 2024 Lao Cai Province Pole Pushing, Tug of War, and Crossbow Shooting Championship, the Van Ban District delegation won 7 Gold Medals in the pole pushing event. This impressive result contributed significantly to Van Ban winning the overall first prize.

Mr. Do Hong Manh added: In the coming time, we will coordinate with localities to increase propaganda and guide people to practice physical exercise and sports, including pole pushing. The successes in recent times show that pole pushing is developing strongly, contributing to improving people's health and quality of life.

The preservation and development of traditional sports in general, and stick pushing in particular, as in Van Ban district, need to be expanded to other localities, contributing to bringing benefits in terms of physical health, while honoring and promoting the traditional cultural values of ethnic groups in Lao Cai.

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