Culture - Sports

Vietnamese marathon runner and SEA Games dream

Marathon runner Le Van Tuan, one of the oldest athletes of Vietnam at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31), is a gold medal hopeful for Vietnam at the regional sports event thanks to his rich experience and strong resilience, according to the national oganising committee for SEA Games 31.
Vietnamese marathon runner and SEA Games dream ảnh 1Marathon runner Le Van Tuan (Source: tienphong.vn/)
Hanoi (VNA) – Marathon runner Le Van Tuan, one of theoldest athletes of Vietnam at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEAGames 31), is a gold medal hopeful for Vietnam at the regional sports event thanks tohis rich experience and strong resilience, according to the national organising committee for SEA Games 31.

The 38-year-old won a place at the SEA Games 31 after he wonthe VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2020.

He proved that his age is not an obstacle for him by leavingtwo younger runners Trinh Quoc Luong and Dao Minh Chi far behind at thecompetition, finishing the 42.195km race at 2:27:41.

“I’ve never thought that I am a running old man. My victoryat the competition made me a representative for Vietnam at SEA Games 31, whichis a great honour of mine,” Tuan said.

“My goal is not to come first or second, or beat anyone, butto run faster than myself yesterday,” said Tuan. He said that for marathon, youngage is not a decisive factor for good results, but endurance, resilience and asteady mind for nearly three hours.

The result of 2:27:41 at the competition for a berth at SEAGames 31 at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi was Tuan’s highest record.However, this did not satisfy him.

“I intended to finish the race within 2 hours and 25 or 26minutes. Despite the triumph, technically, I am not satisfied about thisresult,” Tuan said.

Tuan’s time was close to that made by the runner-up of men’smarathon event at SEA Games 2019. This is an encourage for Tuan to be one ofthe three medalists, and even the first gold medalist of Vietnamese marathon atSEA Games 31.

The SEA Games 31 will be the first and may be the only regional games that Tuan will participate in. He is a gold medal hopeful of Vietnamesemen’s marathon. In 2003, Vietnamese runner Nguyen Chi Dong bagged a silvermedal and made a national record, which has yet to be broken.

"As an athlete, everyone wants to try their best to getthe best results for the country. Me too. But marathon is developing veryquickly in Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore, so I think I have to practiceharder to prepare well for the tournament," Tuan said.

"I want to have the opportunity to stand on the highestpodium and see the national flag flying high. That is my dream. I hope theadvantage of home turf will help me realise it.”

Tuan is originally from Ninh Binh province but currentlylives in Dong Nai province.
Although he came to marathon running late and mainlytrains alone, in the past few years he has made remarkable progress. Afterbeing the runner-up in the Tien Phong Marathon 2020, he was called up to thenational team and trained in HCM City.

Track-and-field competitions at the SEA Games 31 will takeplace from May 14-19 at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, comprising 47events. Marathon is scheduled for the last day (May 19). At the SEA Games 31,Vietnam will allow nearly 300 amateur runners to run alongside competitors forthe first time ever.

SEA Games 31 is being held in Hanoi and 11 neighbouringlocalities until 23, featuring 40 sports with 523 events. This is the secondedition of SEA Games hosted by Vietnam after the first one in 2003./.
VNA
#SEA Games 31#Marathon runner Le Van Tuan#My Dinh National Stadium#marathon#Vietnamese marathon#Vietnam#Vietnam news#Vietnam News Agency
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Kurash team eager for SEA Games 31

Kurash team eager for SEA Games 31

Vietnam’s kurash athletes are set to begin their competition at SEA Games 31 on May 10, vying for five out of the 10 gold medals of the tournament, according to the national organising committee for SEA Games 31.

See more

Vietnamese football players try to put pressure on their opponents but spurned chances to break the duck. (Photo: VNA)

Football: Vietnam held to goalless home draw by Kyrgyzstan

Vietnamese could not make home ground advantage count as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Kyrgyzstan at the Group I of the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025 Qualifiers held in the northern province of Phu Tho on October 23.

The excavation covers an area of over 6,000sq.m with 60 research pits, each measuring 100sq.m. (Photo courtesy of the Institute of Archaeology)

Over 100 burials from 4000 years ago discovered in Hanoi

Archaeologists from the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology, the Hanoi Museum and the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities have announced the discovery of over 70 graves from the pre-Dong Son period and 40 graves from Dong Son period at the Vuon Chuoi archaeological relic in Kim Chung commune, Hoai Duc district.

Pho bo (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) and nem ran (fried spring rolls) attract the attention of many Korean and foreign visitors at a festival in the Republic of Korea. (Photo: VNA)

Festival promotes Vietnam-RoK cultural exchange

A cultural festival has been held in Uijeongbu city of the Republic of Korea (RoK)'s Gyeonggi province to mark the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam Women’s Association (VWA) in the country.

The women dance to the tunes of the “Nguoi Ha Noi (Hanoi people)”, “Tien ve Ha Noi” (Marching to Hanoi), and “Ha Noi nhung cong trinh” (Hanoi’s construction works)” songs. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi Ao dai dance marks Vietnamese women’s day

More than 70,000 women from across the capital city of Hanoi dressed up in Ao dai (traditional long dress) and participated in a folk dance ensemble on October 20 to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Hanoi and the 94th founding anniversary of the Vietnam Women’s Union.

Runners compete in the Vietnam Jungle Marathon last year. This year, the event will welcome around 1,500 runners from almost 40 nations. (Photos courtesy of the organising board)

Vietnam Jungle Marathon welcomes runners from around the world

The Vietnam Jungle Marathon (VJM) returns for its seventh edition, welcoming around 1,500 runners from almost 40 nations to the stunning trails of Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa province on October 19, featuring picturesque 10km to 70km routes.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Ha Kim Ngoc speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam attends UNESCO Executive Board’s 220th session in France

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Ha Kim Ngoc led a Vietnamese delegation to attend the 220th session of the UNESCO Executive Board on October 14-16 in Paris, which saw the participation of representatives from 58 member countries and over 100 observer countries.

Vietnamese men's football is set to enter the top eight in Asia and qualify for World Cup. (Photo: VNA)

Sports development strategy approved

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long has signed a decision approving the sports development strategy until 2030 with a vision to 2050, with an aim to promote the sector in a sustainable and professional direction.

An exhibition held during the annual international ArtTech Fusion event last year (Photo courtesy of UEH)

HCM City to host international ArtTech event

New technological applications in the ArtTech field will be showcased at the annual international ArtTech Fusion event that will take place in Ho Chi Minh City from October 22-24.

The reenactment of a royal procession in the late 19 century at the National Museum of Asian Art. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam Week in US helps promote Vietnamese cultural heritage

The Vietnam Week 2024 has been held in Washington D.C, the US, from October 4-12, aiming to honour the country’s rich cultural heritage, enrich Vietnamese-American people's identity and commend the achievements of the Vietnamese-American community.