Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – The Vietnamese taekwondo teams will be closely watched during
the upcoming SEA Games in Malaysia, with the artists expected to win at least
four gold medals.
Both the
poomsae (performance) team under coach Nguyen Thanh Huy, which is training in
HCM City, and the kyorugi (combat) fighters under coach Vu Anh Tuan in
Hanoi will have heavy responsibility on their shoulders.
Poomsae artists
won two gold medals in the mixed doubles and the women’s team events at the
last games in Singapore in 2015.
They will
be expected to defend their top positions this year too, although there have
been changes in personnel.
Defending
champions Nguyen Minh Van and Nguyen Minh Tu of the mixed doubles team have
retired. They will be replaced by Chau Tuyet Van and Ho Thanh Phong.
While Van
has grabbed gold medals in many tournaments in the world, her partner Phong
will make his SEA Games debut.
Freshman
Phong, who will also compete in the men’s team category, is confident ahead of
the event.
“Each
discipline has positive points, which pushes me to challenge myself. I will try
my best in both. I am confident, and I feel no pressure to perform,” Phong said.
“He is
only new to the SEA Games. He has been training with us for four years and has
taken part in international events since 2016. He has joined the men’s team
with me and (Nguyen Thien) Phung for two seasons now,” Le Hieu Nghia, who won
the men’s team silver in Singapore, said.
Phong,
Nghia and Phung won a gold in the World Beach Taekwondo Championship in May.
Earlier, Phong took part in various international tournaments in France,
Kazakhstan and Malaysia.
Van,
along with Nguyen Thi Le Kim and Lien Thi Tuyet Mai, will have to defend the
women’s team title.
She is
not worried about her technique but the quality of referees.
In Singapore, Van and her teammates were placed
second behind Thailand when a judge made mistakes with the score, leading to
lower points for Vietnam.
After
lodging complaints, the two teams performed again, and Vietnam were announced
winners.
“My only
worry is the referees. However, I will not let it affect my mind. Together with
my teammates, we will show the people our unique and best skills,” Van said.
Sharing Van’s
opinion, Le Kim said, “To avoid such problems, we must perform without any
mistake; it must be a perfect show.”
The biggest
rivals for Vietnam at the SEA Games are Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.
“My
athletes have won gold medals in Asia and the world events. However, SEA Games
are different. If they do not try their best, they will not succeed,” coach Huy
said.
“Indonesia
have been growing strongly. Malaysia are the hosts. However, I see Thailand as
our arch-rivals. They have received strong support. Under the Republic of Korea’s
experts, they got good results in both poomsae and kyorugi in the recent world
tournament,” Huy said.
“Vietanm have
the highest ranking among the Southeast Asian countries, but I will still make
several changes to ensure we get the best results in the games.”
“Thailand
will present young athletes who are tough, excited and thirsty for victory.
However, I have a strong drive too,” Van, who will compete in a world
tournament for students in Chinese Taipei before flying to Malaysia, said.
In Hanoi,
the combat team are giving the final touches to its performance before the SEA
Games.
Three
athletes who triumphed in Singapore are still in the team, and they are ready
to fight.
Truong Thi Kim Tuyen will be carrying high
expectations.
In
Singapore, Tuyen won her first SEA Games title after beating Irene Therese
Bermejo of the Philippines in the final of the women’s 46kg category.
She
grabbed a silver medal in the World Championship in the Republic of Korea in
June this year. In the semi-final match, she beat Thai Napaporn Charanawat, the
Olympic bronze medallist, for a berth in the final.
Her result is the best for Vietnam ever in a world tournament.
“Winning
depends on various factors. We must follow our coaches’ tactics, do our best
and hope for a bit of luck. The world championship silver will drive me on my
way to defending my SEA Games title,” she said.
Another medal hopeful in the team is veteran Ha Thi
Nguyen, who won a gold in the women’s 62kg in the last Games. Nguyen is a
special athlete, as in the 2011 Games in Indonesia, she championed in the U73kg
category.
Nguyen Van
Duy will lead Vietnam’s campaign in the men’s category. He is the defending
champion in the men’s 58kg category in the games.
Apart from the trio, Ho Thi Kim Ngan is a rising star. The 1.78m tall
fighter will compete in the women’s 49kg class. She has the perfect kicks that
got her a gold medal in the Asian championship for junior and cadets in 2015.
She then grabbed the world title for juniors a year later. This June, Ngan, 16,
pocketed a gold at an international tournament in the Republic of Korea.
“Based on
what we have prepared, we are confident and ready for the games. All our
athletes are determined to grab the best results for Vietnam,” coach Tuan of
the combat team said.
At least
16 sets of medals are available at the Malaysian SEA Games.
Vietnam topped
the Singapore Games with five golds and three silvers. The Philippines were
second with three gold, three silver and two bronze medals, while Thailand was
third with three gold, two silver and three bronze medals.-VNA