Held from June 14 to 19, the tournament brought together 161 athletes representing 45 martial arts schools and clubs from across the province. Competitors contested low-kick sparring events in two age categories: 13-14 and 15-16 years old.
Athletes competed in a single-elimination format across 25 weight divisions. The 13-14 age group featured 10 weight classes, including five for boys ranging from 45 kg to 57 kg and five for girls ranging from 42 kg to 54 kg. The 15-16 category included 15 weight classes, with eight divisions for boys from 45 kg to 67 kg and seven divisions for girls from 42 kg to 60 kg.
Although participation numbers were lower than in previous editions, the overall quality of competition remained high. Many athletes demonstrated notable progress in tactical execution, ring awareness and decision-making. Several bouts featured competitors effectively controlling distance, timing attacks and capitalizing on counterattacks to secure points.
According to Master Hồng Kha from Tuy Phước Tây commune, the technical gap between athletes was minimal, resulting in closely contested and highly competitive matches.
“This year, the skill gap between athletes was very small, creating balanced bouts. In many cases, the strongest teams could only be identified in the final rounds. This is a positive sign for the youth kickboxing movement,” he said.
The increasing competitive balance was also reflected in the medal standings, with traditionally strong clubs continuing to perform well while emerging teams narrowed the gap.
Đỗ Thanh Tấn Martial Arts School from Bình Định ward successfully defended its status as a leading force in provincial kickboxing. Of its eight athletes entered, six reached the finals. The school topped the overall standings with four gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal.
Năm Phương Martial Arts School from An Nhơn Nam ward also maintained its position among the province’s leading teams, winning two gold medals and three silver medals through a promising group of young competitors.
Coach Trần Lê Thanh Tấn of Đỗ Thanh Tấn Martial Arts School said the tournament’s technical level has improved steadily in recent years, with teams now competing for every scoring opportunity due to increasingly narrow performance gaps.
Following the competition, the school plans to continue reviewing athlete performance, maintain regular training programmes and build a core squad for future tournaments. Additional training camps and competition opportunities will be used to help athletes refine their techniques and gain valuable match experience.
One of the standout features of this year’s championship was the emergence of new contenders. Hoài Ân Martial Arts Club from Hoài Ân commune finished second overall with three gold medals and four bronze medals, while Nguyễn Kim Tâm Club from Phù Cát commune placed fourth with two gold medals, one silver medal and two bronze medals.
Bùi Trung Hiếu, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said many competitors demonstrated strong technical ability, physical conditioning and composure despite their young age.
“The performances show that local kickboxing programmes are being maintained consistently and supported through systematic investment. This is an encouraging sign for the province’s efforts to develop the next generation of athletes,” he said.
Looking ahead, the department plans to organize advanced training courses for coaches, focusing on professional development and modern training methods. The initiative is intended to strengthen athlete development across localities, further improve the quality of the sport and enhance Gia Lai’s future competitive achievements.
