Mr. Hien awarded more than 1 billion VND for the SEA Games table tennis gold medal

Hanoi Tran Mai Ngoc and Dinh Anh Hoang, who brought home the first mixed doubles table tennis gold medal in 26 years for Vietnam at the SEA Games, received a big bonus from the club's owner.

Tran Mai Ngoc - Dinh Anh Hoang caused an earthquake in table tennis at the 32nd SEA Games when they defeated the powerhouse Singapore 3-1 in the mixed doubles final on May 14. This repeated the feat of the duo Vu Manh Cuong and Ngo Thu Thuy in Indonesia in 1997.

Both belong to the Hanoi T&T table tennis club of Mr. Hien. In the ceremony today, May 19, Mai Ngoc and Anh Hoang received 500 million VND, while the coach and coaching staff of the Vietnam table tennis team and Hanoi T&T table tennis club received 500 million VND. Athlete Le Dinh Duc also received 50 million VND for winning the bronze medal in the men's team.

Mr. Hien said that in addition to his bonus, he also called on other businesses to donate money and gifts to Mai Ngoc and Anh Hoang. Photo: Phung Chien — Mr. Hien (in black suit) presented awards to Mai Ngoc (left) and Anh Hoang at the honoring ceremony in Hanoi on the afternoon of May 19. Photo: *Phung Chien*

Mr. Hien said: "You are young, but have made history in Vietnamese table tennis. On behalf of table tennis lovers across the country, I would like to congratulate and thank you." He also advised the athletes not to be satisfied, not to have star disease and to strive to reach the continent. The owner of Hanoi Club said he is ready to invest in sending athletes abroad to train and improve their performance.

Mai Ngoc, born in 2004, in Binh Duong , has three sisters, an orphaned father, and a worker mother. She was discovered by coach Vu Manh Cuong, and brought to Hanoi at the age of 9. "This is the largest amount of money I have ever earned in my life. I will open a savings account to support my family, then save up to open a center later," Mai Ngoc shared with VnExpress . "When I went to practice, I was still young, and I cried all the time because I missed home. But I overcame it because I thought I had to earn money to support my family."

Mai Ngoc and Anh Hoang in the mixed doubles final of the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia. Photo: Lam Thoa — Mai Ngoc and Anh Hoang in the mixed doubles final of the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia. Photo: *Lam Thoa*

Mai Ngoc said that before the 32nd SEA Games, she fell into a state of boredom with training. After taking a day off from training to stay home and think, she realized that she could not give up and had to work hard for her family. "When I went to the SEA Games, I didn't think I would win a gold medal, but only knew to try my best in each match. The stronger the opponent, the more I liked it," Ngoc said.

Mai Ngoc said her mother is still working as a factory worker in Binh Duong, her sister and twin are also there. Due to competition, Mai Ngoc only has time to visit home occasionally.

Mai Ngoc said that her success was largely due to the contribution of coach Vu Manh Cuong - a Vietnamese table tennis legend.

Lam Thoa

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