Vietnamese wushu martial artist Duong Thi Thuy Vi is a golden hope of Vietnam at the upcoming SEA Games (Photo: tapchithethao.vn)Hanoi (VNA) - Wushu will remainone of Vietnam’s strongest sports at the upcoming 29th Southeast Asian (SEA)Games in Malaysia.
Vietnam will send five female and sevenmale artists, who are seeking two golds and five silvers at the regionalbiggest sport event.
“The players are very healthy and ready tobring glory to the country,” said head coach Nguyen Van Chuong.
At the 28th Games held in Singapore twoyears ago, Vietnamese wushu artists won four golds, four silvers and threebronzes. However in the Games in Malaysia, the sanshou (combat) category willnot be played. Therefore Vietnam will target titles in the taolu (performance)event.
Among participants to compete in the Games,Duong Thi Thuy Vi is a golden hope for Vietnam at the event.
Vi won the gold medal in the Asian Games in2014 in the Republic of and two gold medals in a row in the 27th and 28thGames.
“I always set a highest goal and will makeevery effort to gain success,” said Vi.
According to Chuong, Vi practices very hardand learns by herself to create beautiful movements when performing.
“I hope that she will continue playing toher strengths and bring the country high honours,” said Chuong.
In preparation for the Games, the team hastrained in Trinh Hoai Duc Gymnasium in Hanoi since early this year. Apart frompracticing at home, the team underwent an intensive training programme in Chinaunder the guidance of Chinese experts. The team also played well at thenational event to improve their skills and techniques.
[SEA Games winners to receive bonuses]
Vietnam’s wushu athletes, who gained fivegolds, three silvers, and four bronzes in the 27th Games, will begin theircompetition on August 20-22.
To encourage coaches and athletes’ spiritof Hanoi ahead the Games, the municipal People’s Committee will co-ordinatewith Department of Culture and Sports to host a meeting on August 7.
The event aims to praise efforts of Hanoiancoaches and athletes during the process of preparation for the tournament inMalaysia.
Vietnam’s 681-member sport delegation,including over 400 athletes, will go to Malaysia to compete in all 32 sportevents, hoping to gain over 60 golds to be in the top three at the regionaltournament, according to the National Sports Administration.
At the previous Games, Vietnam ranked thethird with 73 golds, 53 silvers and 60 bronze.-VNA
VNA
