In the final of the 11-12 age group at the 2024 Ho Chi Minh City Young Talented Karate Tournament taking place on August 18, athlete TM (born in 2013, Tan Binh district) lost 3-11 to an opponent in Binh Thanh district. However, on the evening of August 19, TM's parents posted an angry post on their personal page, claiming that his daughter had been defeated.
This parent said that the referee was biased towards the athletes of Binh Thanh district. In addition, the head of the karate team in Tan Binh district also explained to this parent and TM's coach: "Binh Thanh district has few medals, they asked me (Tan Binh district) to give them one."
Talking to Lao Dong on the evening of August 21, Ms. Huynh Thi Ngoc Phuong - Head of Ho Chi Minh City's karate department - said: "Now, I do not respond to the press. We are collecting leadership reports to report to higher levels as well as media agencies."
Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Dang Khanh - Head of Sports Management Department of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports - said that this case is "hot", but did not share any further information. He said: "Everyone should contact the Department directly to have a joint meeting, according to regulations."
On the evening of August 21, Lao Dong reporter contacted Mr. Nguyen Nam Nhan - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports but could not reach him. Mr. Vu Viet Bao - Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Karate Federation - also could not be contacted.
As for Mr. Manh Duong - TM's parent - said he had filed a complaint about his child's case and sent it to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, Ho Chi Minh City Karatedo Federation... and other units. Mr. Duong said: "There are some opinions that it is right that my grandson lost because he used many blows but was ineffective. But that is their personal opinion. If it is necessary to determine whether it is right or wrong, the Department can invite experts."
According to Mr. Duong, in the match on the evening of August 18, TM's opponents had 4 situations where they did not attack but got points. To date, Mr. Duong has not received any official response from the Organizing Committee, nor the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City.
Mr. Duong said: "I want my child to be the last child athlete to encounter this situation, because what happened cannot be undone, but the sad experiences will follow him for the rest of his life.
What we can change is after the incident, how will family members protect the child, how will they fight for what is right? In general, karate or any other subject, through this incident, I want my child to be the last case, from now on, child athletes will no longer suffer that situation.
According to Mr. Duong, giving up the medal if you don't speak up or are afraid, or for any other reason that doesn't make it clear will continue to happen again. Therefore, through TM's incident, he wants this to end.
