Athletics

HÀ NỘI — The national athletics team will compete in the 19th Asian Games with 12 of its strongest members, according to the Việt Nam Athletics Federation.

To boost Việt Nam's medal hopes at the continental quadrennial event, the team has been in intensive training since early August in China.

The federation has made a final list which include medal favourites such as Nguyễn Thị Oanh, Nguyễn Thị Huyền, Nguyễn Thị Thu Hà, Nguyễn Thị Hường, Bùi Thị Thu Thảo, Trần Thị Nhi Yến, Nguyễn Trung Cường and Lương Đức Phước.

These athletes are selected based on their latest results and improvements in training. According to Đặng Việt Hà, director of the Sports Authority of Việt Nam, their peaks have been calculated to drop on the multi-sport event from September 23 to October 8 in Hangzhou Province.

Among athletes, long jumper Thảo is the defending champion after she won the gold medal in the 2018 Games in Indonesia.

Her junior jumper Hường just secured a bronze from the Asian championship last month. The women's 4x400m team, which bagged a bronze at the previous Games, triumphed at the same event.

Runner Oanh earned a bronze medal in the women's 3,000m steeplechase. She is also a favourite in the 1,500m event after championing at the Asian Indoor Championship in February. 

Việt Nam set a humble target of a bronze medal with the 4x400m team expected to complete the task.

Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, the federation's general secretary, said the Asian Games is a tough competition where all team would bring their best athletes.

"Vietnamese athletes are asked to totally focus on their profession and do their best at the Games. It is a stage of elite athletes so we could not predict final results," said Hùng.

Meanwhile, runner Nguyễn Thị Huyền who will compete in the individual and relay 400m events said: "Currently, we are in the final preparation. All teams train with high intensity. My teammates and I will try our best to get the best results."

Athletics will be held in Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium from September 29 to October 5, where the athletes will compete for 48 gold medals. VNS