India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently received representatives of the Vovinam Association in India, affirming that through martial arts and sports, Vovinam has become an important bridge promoting cultural exchange and friendship between Vietnam and India.
Following the successful organization of the 2026 National Technical Training Camp for Vovinam Masters in Lucknow from 1–7 June, hosted by the Vovinam Association of India (VAI) under the patronage of the World Vovinam Federation and with the direct support of Vietnamese masters, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh welcomed the association at his residence.
During the meeting, the Minister highly praised the growth of Vovinam in India, noting that the Vietnamese martial art is helping to instill discipline, improve physical fitness, and build confidence among Indian youth.
Recalling his recent visit to Vietnam, Minister Rajnath Singh stated that he was particularly impressed by the discipline, technical excellence, and rich cultural values embodied in Vietnamese martial arts. According to him, sports are not merely a platform for competition but also an effective means of strengthening mutual understanding, friendship, and cultural exchange among nations.
Minister Rajnath Singh also pledged continued support for the promotion and development of Vovinam in India. He extended his best wishes to the Indian team preparing to compete in the Asian Vovinam Championship in Cambodia this November, expressing confidence that the athletes would achieve excellent results and bring honor to their country.
On behalf of the Vovinam Association in India, Mr. Praveen Garg, Secretary General of the Asian Vovinam Federation and President of the Vovinam Association of India, briefed the Defence Minister on the seven-day National Technical Training Camp, which brought together athletes, coaches, and masters from 21 states across India.
The intensive training program was led directly by two leading Vietnamese technical experts: Master Huynh Khac Nguyen, Technical Director of the World Vovinam Federation, and Pham Chi Thinh, coach and member of the Technical Committee of the Vietnam Vovinam Federation.
On this occasion, Master Huynh Khac Nguyen presented Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with a commemorative photograph capturing the Minister’s recent meeting with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the time of the meeting. The gift symbolized the growing friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and India.