Hanoi, Vietnam – Belarusian wrestler Zakhar Dzmitrychenka claimed first prize at the Ngo Sai village wrestling tournament in Hanoi on February 25th, defeating two Vietnamese national champions in a display of strength and technique that captivated thousands of spectators.
The four-day tournament, held from February 4th to February 9th on the lunar calendar, featured dozens of wrestlers from across Vietnam, including renowned athletes like “Little Devil” Dao Hong Son, a decorated Vietnamese Ju-Jitsu fighter with gold medals from the 31st and 32nd Southeast Asian Games, as well as Asian and World Championship titles.
Dzmitrychenka, 28, who stands 1.81 meters tall and weighs 94 kg, has been competing in Vietnamese village wrestling tournaments since 2025, consistently achieving victories or draws against local competitors. His success extends beyond village competitions; he previously held the Belarusian wrestling championship title and earned a bronze medal in the 97 kg category at the 2018 World University Wrestling Championships. He too placed in the top ten at the U23 World Championships in Greco-Roman wrestling.
The path to first prize wasn’t without challenge. Dzmitrychenka first faced Nguyen The Cu of Phu Tho Province, a nine-time national champion weighing over 100 kg. The match extended over five rounds – three main rounds of five minutes each, followed by two additional rounds of three minutes each – ultimately ending in a draw. The tie was broken by weight, with Dzmitrychenka’s 94 kg giving him the edge over Cu’s 102 kg.
Immediately following his victory over Cu, Dzmitrychenka faced Nguyen Dinh Long, another national champion and a well-known figure in northern Vietnam’s village wrestling circuit, hailing from Yen Noi Village in Hung Dao Township – a region celebrated for producing Olympic wrestlers like Phi Huu Tinh and Nguyen Thi Lua. Despite being smaller than his opponent, Long proved a formidable competitor, engaging Dzmitrychenka in a hard-fought contest lasting five rounds. The referee judged Long to be at a disadvantage, awarding the victory to Dzmitrychenka.
Under tournament rules, a wrestler secures first prize by winning three matches against different opponents. As no other wrestler stepped forward to challenge Dzmitrychenka, he was declared the overall winner and awarded an electric motorcycle valued at VND27 million (approximately $1,080 USD).
Dzmitrychenka’s participation in Vietnamese wrestling follows a period of competition in other disciplines. In February 2025, he fought to a draw against Nguyễn Thế Cử at a wrestling festival in Quậy Châu Phong village, Hanoi, with both wrestlers receiving VND19 million in prize money. He also competed against Ha Van Hieu, known as “Hieu the Giant,” at a wrestling festival in Man Xa village, Bac Ninh Province, in April 2025. That match, against the 130 kg Hieu, also ended in a draw, with the prize money of $10,000 split between the two competitors.
The Ngo Sai tournament concluded with a display of sportsmanship, as Dzmitrychenka and Nguyen Dinh Long exchanged respectful gestures following their intense match, acknowledging the skill and determination of their opponent.
