(VOVworld) - The 24th ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet (AARM-24) opened at the Mieu Mon National Training Centre in Hanoi on Tuesday. This year’s event drew the participation of 543 athletes from the armies of ten ASEAN countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam. They will compete in 22 shooting events divided into five categories. The Vietnam People’s Army sent 37 shooters to the competition, which will run until November 28. The tournament started in 1990 under the initiative of the ASEAN Army Chiefs, aiming to strengthen solidarity, mutual understanding and friendship among ASEAN military forces. It is held annually on a rotational basis.