HO CHI MINH CITY, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The 2019 Ho Chi Minh City Open International Track and Field Tournament kicked off here on Wednesday, with the participation of 550 athletes from nine countries and regions.

The athletes from such countries as Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore are vying for 34 events at the three-day tourney, the Ho Chi Minh City Athletics Federation said on Wednesday, adding that it acts as a preparation for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games slated for later this year in the Philippines.

The Ho Chi Minh City Open International Track and Field Tournament was first held in 1993, and recognized as an official tourney in Asia by the Asian Athletics Association in 2010.