The Vietnamese sports sector has declared its 2015 goals of maintaining
a seat in the top three at the Southeast Asian Games and securing at
least 18 spots in the Olympic Games 2016.
The
goals are realistic, since they were all achieved in 2011 with a
third-place finish at the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia and 18
athletes competing in 11 sports in the London Olympics one year later.
Vietnamese sports have secured a top three
ranking in the region every year since 2003 when, as the host nation,
Vietnam topped the medal table with 158 gold medals.
There are grounds for optimism, given Vietnamese Olympic sports have made significant progress in recent years.
At the Asian Games 2010, 15 of Vietnam’s medals were won in Olympic
sports, and four years later in Incheon, the Republic of Korea, athletes
in Olympic sports brought home a total of 26 medals.
Director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training
Vuong Bich Thang said the sector has continued its development strategy
with a focus on key sports Vietnam has been strong in, such as
weightlifting, swimming, shooting and gymnastics.
Tran Duc Phan, Deputy Director of the Department, said the goal is to
lead the region in Olympic sports while making investment for long-term
plans beyond the Asian Games 2018 and Olympic 2020.-VNA