Vietnam's track and field athletes compete at a pre-SEA Games 31 tournament in Hanoi in late April (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’sathletic team ranked high at the two consecutive previous SEA Games, and members are determined to defend their top position in this sport at the ongoing 31st Southeast Asian Games in the country.
At SEA Games 29 held inMalaysia in 2017, the team obtained up to 17 gold medals for the first time inthe regional sporting event’s history, almost doubling Thailand’s result,though the initial target was set at about 10 - 12 golds.
Two years later, track andfield athletes of Vietnam won 16 golds, 13 silvers, and nine bronzes,sustaining their top place on the medal table at the SEA Games 30 in thePhilippines.
Vietnam eyes 15 - 17 goldsamong the 47 sets of athletic medals at SEA Games 31, which experts described as not easy but still achievable.
Nguyen Thi Oanh, Dinh ThiBich, Khuat Phuong Anh, and Tran Nhat Hoang are the “golden” hopes of thecountry this time. Meanwhile, men’s and women’s 400m, 800m, and 1,500m races, men’sand women’s relay, and marathon are the categories Vietnam is strong at andcapable of winning gold medals.
The biggest regret is that LeTu Chinh is ruled out of the SEA Games 31 by injuries, aconsiderable loss to the host country in women’s 100m and 200m races and 4x100mrelay. She used to pocket four gold medals at the two previous Games.
Athletic events will takeplace at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi from May 14 to 19./.
