Truong Thi Kim Tuyen of Vietnam (right) tries to kick Fariza Aldangorova of Kazakhstan during their semi-finals of the women's U49kg category at the Asian Qualification Tournament for Tokyo Games in Amman, Jordan, on May 21. (Photo courtesy of World Teakwondo)Thetaekwondo martial artist secured the berth in the final of the AsianQualification Tournament for the Tokyo Games' women's U49kg categoryagainst Su Po-ya of Chinese Taipei.
Thetwo finalists of each weight class win automatic slots to the Games, regardlessof the result in the final.
TheVietnamese athlete earlier defeated Aneila Aysha Afsar of Pakistan 22-8and Fariza Aldangorova of Kazakhstan 26-2 in previous rounds.
Itis the first time the 24-year-old has qualified for the world's largestsporting event.
Thefighter, from Vinh Long province, has practised taekwondo since she was 14. Shepocketed a SEA Games gold medal in 2015, an Asian championship title in2018, and silver from the world championship in 2017. Tuyen is currently No 12in the world ranking.
Vietnamcould secure another Olympics slot when Tran Thi Anh Tuyet competeson May 23 in the women's U57kg. She will face Jennifer Susan Lay HsiaoSeng of East Timor in the first match.
TheJordan qualifier is the last opportunity for Asian competitors to snatchOlympic berths. More than 80 athletes from 28 countries and territories arecompeting at the event on May 21-22 while the tournament for the ParalympicGames follows on May 23.
Tuyen'ssuccess brings Vietnamese taekwondo back to the Olympics aftermissing the previous edition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016.
LeHuynh Chau and Chu Hoang Dieu Linh both qualified for London 2012 but theydid not perform well.
TranHieu Ngan was the first Vietnamese taekwondo athlete to compete at an Olympicsat the 2000 Sydney event. She won a silver in the U57kg pool, which was Vietnam's firstOlympic medal.
Todate, Vietnam have secured Olympic berths in swimming, boxing, gymnastics,archery, rowing and taekwondo./.
VNA
