HA NOI -- Van Ngoc Tu will be the first Vietnamese athlete to compete at the London Olympics as the judo women's under-48kg category is set to kick off one day after the opening ceremony tomorrow.

Tu, who is the only judo athlete from the South-east Asia region competing in this event, will face 18 rivals, including the defending champion Alina Alexandra Dumitru of Romania and bronze medallist Paula Pareto from Argentina.

Tu's personal best is a bronze medal at the Asian championships last year a.

The chances of her progressing to the finals may depend on the result of a draw for the competition which will be organised this afternoon. -- VNS