A 44-year-old man tragically died from a severe neck injury sustained during a traditional wrestling match at the village festival of Thai Lai, Kim Anh Commune, Hanoi.
A video screenshot shows a 44-year-old man collapsing during a wrestling match at the Thai Lai village festival in Kim Anh Commune, Hanoi, on Feb. 26, 2026. |
On Feb, 26., the local resident was competing against a younger opponent when, in a vulnerable moment, he was lifted and dropped headfirst onto the mat. The severe impact caused him to lose consciousness immediately. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, he did not survive the injury.
“The deceased wrestler was from Thai Lai Village,” stated Do Xuan Huan, secretary of the Kim Anh Commune Party Committee. He expressed deep condolences, calling the fatal accident an extremely unfortunate and regrettable incident for the close-knit community.
Huan confirmed that the Thai Lai village festival is an annual, officially sanctioned event approved by the Kim Anh Commune People’s Committee to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Traditional wrestling is a deeply rooted cultural activity at village festivals throughout Hanoi and across northern Vietnam. These spirited matches typically take place during the Lunar New Year holiday, bringing together men from local and neighboring villages to showcase their strength, agility and community pride.
Hanoi alone hosts over 1,600 traditional festivals annually, with village wrestling arenas drawing massive crowds.
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