Shooting
Phạm Quang Huy (second, right) is Việt Nam's best hope at the 2024 ISSF World Olympic Qualification Tournament on April 11-19 in Brazil. VNS Photo Quý Lượng
HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam's top marksmen are heading to Brazil for the final Olympic qualification round, targeting at least one place at the Paris Games.
Ten athletes will compete in the both pistol and rifle events at the 2024 ISSF World Olympic Qualification Tournament on April 11-19 with 16 spots up for grabs.
"It is the last qualifier for Việt Nam. We have made plans and chosen the best shooters to take part in this event," said Vũ Anh Đào, from the Shooting Department of the Sports Authority of Việt Nam.
"We all hope that they will achieve positive results and bring home at least one Olympic spot."
Among competitors, Phạm Quang Huy shoulders heavy responsibility after his 2023 Asian Games and 2024 Asian championship gold medals. Huy will compete in the pistol events.
Other shooters include veterans Hà Minh Thành, Lại Công Minh and Phan Công Minh who have taken part and dominated in numerous international competitions.
Phí Thanh Thảo is confident to compete in Rio de Janeiro event. VNA/VNS Photo Việt Anh
Young shooters Phí Thanh Thảo who won Asian Cup bronze in 2023 will seek her slot in the rifle category while Asian silver medallist Vũ Tiến Nam has plenty of potential in the pistols section.
Trịnh Thu Vinh and Lê Thị Mộng Tuyền who qualified for the Paris event also compete at the Rio de Janeiro competition.
Head coach Park Chung-gun said even just competing in the event was a good opportunity to sharpen their skills both physically and mentality.
Đào said that after an intensive training camp in South Korea, all shooters were really confident and determined to do their best.
After Brazil, the national team will have several international competitions in Azerbaijan and Germany in May and June.
Training camps in South Korea and Europe will be held in July.
The Việt Nam Shooting Federation has announced a bonus of VNĐ50 million (US$2,000) for each Olympic place and it will be VNĐ500 million, VNĐ300 million and VNĐ200 million for each gold, silver and bronze, respectively, achieved in Paris. VNS
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