VietNamNet Bridge – The Viet Nam Table Tennis Federation (VTTF) has received VND500 million (US$21,700) from sponsor Tran Canh Tuan, deputy chairman of VTTF.

Tran Canh Tuan (middle) seen at the sponsorship signing ceremony. — Photo baomoi.com

Tuan said that in recent years, Vietnam’s table tennis has not seen proper investment and the VTTF’s budget was tight. He decided to use his personal money to support the VTTF with the hope of developing table tennis in the country.

“I sponsor and I don’t require any interest,” said Tuan. “I only want to support the VTTF to help it work more effectively. I did this because the work of mobilising sponsorship has been facing many difficulties.”

“It is only an expenditure in the short term,” Tuan said. “In the long term, the VTTF will continue to find sponsors.”

Tuan is the son of one-time famous table tennis player Tran Canh Den. Before 1975, Vietnam’s team, including Den, ranked third in the world.

According a representative of VTTF, the money will be used to support the national teams. It will serve as prize money for national events and support coaches and athletes competing in domestic and foreign competitions.

Since 1991, Vietnam has earned seven sets of gold medals in women’s and men’s events in the Southeast Asian Games. In 2017, Vietnam beat rivals Singapore to win gold in the men’s team event after eight years of waiting.

Source: VNS