BÀ RỊA - VŨNG TÀU — Around 300 athletes are competing in the U18 and U20 categories at the 2025 national youth handball championship in Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Province from June 23 to 30.

Taking place at the Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Sports Arena, the tournament is co-organised by the province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Việt Nam Sports Administration, and the Việt Nam Handball Federation, aimed at promoting the development of handball nationwide.

This year’s championship has drawn 18 male and female teams from six provinces and cities across the country.

Matches will be played in a round-robin format followed by classification rounds to determine the overall champions in each category.

The rules follow the 2023 regulations issued by the Việt Nam Handball Federation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Đào Đức Kiên, general secretary of the Việt Nam Handball Federation, said the tournament has attracted all localities with high-performance handball training programmes.

While the championship aims to crown national youth champions, it also serves as an important opportunity for coaches and experts to scout new talent for the national youth team.

“The most outstanding players will be selected for further training to become future pillars of the national team, capable of competing in regional and international tournaments,” he said.

The championship is expected to enhance the professional capacity of event organisers and referees, contributing to the country’s readiness to host international competitions in the future.

With strong contenders such as HCM City, Hà Nội, Yên Bái, and Bình Định, this year’s competition promises intense, high-quality matches.

The passion of youth combined with increasingly refined techniques and strategies is expected to create an exciting and vibrant sporting atmosphere. — VNS