LUCKNOW — Highlighting the rapid growth of martial arts in the region, the Vovinam Association of India successfully hosted the national-level Masters Championship at the Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University campus. The marquee championship was executed right after an intensive National Technical Seminar training module, drawing elite martial artists from various states across the country who showcased exceptional skill, athletic prowess, and deep tactical discipline.
🏆 Dignitaries Honor National Champions
The closing ceremony featured high-profile political figures as chief guests, including senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Dinesh Sharma alongside Lucknow East MLA OP Srivastava. Both dignitaries presented medals and certificates to the winning athletes, lauding the dedication required to master the traditional martial art.
The event was attended by a distinguished panel of sports administrators and international experts, including:
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Praveen Garg, National President of the Vovinam Association of India.
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Vikas Kumar, Registrar of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University.
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Master Nguyen Hak & Pham Chi, International Grandmasters and guest trainers from Vietnam.
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Sachidanand Patel, Vovinam State Treasurer.
🥇 Masters Category: Podium Finishers and Event Standouts
National President Praveen Garg released the official scorecard of the Masters division, highlighting fierce competition across specialized technical forms:
Thap Tha Quyen Discipline
In this highly demanding technical form category, the standout performances that dominated the judging arena came from Chongtham Mahadev of Manipur, Mahesh Mohan More of Maharashtra, and Shifu Pancha representing Tamil Nadu.
Song Lin Ma Tao (Weapon/Form Duos)
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Gold: Brijesh Kumar Bhau (Jammu & Kashmir)
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Silver: Rishi Kumar (Uttarakhand)
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Bronze: Milan Jyoti (Assam) & Ashish Kumar (Uttar Pradesh)
Song Lin Kim (Synchronized Form Duos)
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Gold: Hina Devi & Pushpa Rani (Manipur)
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Silver: Hima Bhatt & Sonu Sharma (Uttarakhand)
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Bronze: Mansi Jaiswal & Jyoti (Uttar Pradesh)
💰 Cash Rewards and the Road to the Nationals
Recognizing the stellar efforts of the home-state contingent, MLA OP Srivastava extended special praise to the local fighters. He presented a cash prize of ₹51,000 to Uttar Pradesh’s standout athletes, Sunny Kumar and Lucky Singh, for delivering the best overall performance of the tournament.
Looking ahead, the Vovinam Association of India announced a clear roadmap for the upcoming competitive calendar. To scout the official state squad for the 15th National Vovinam Championship—scheduled to take place in Jammu starting August 20—Uttar Pradesh will host its official State-Level Selection Trials on July 17 and July 18. Athletes chosen during these mid-July trials will earn the right to represent the state on the national stage.
