President praises 'golden faces' of Vietnamese Sports at SEA Games 32

On the morning of May 23, at the Presidential Palace, President Vo Van Thuong had a friendly meeting and commended over 100 outstanding athletes and coaches of the Vietnam Sports Delegation at the recent 32nd SEA Games. Also attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha; Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung.

At the meeting, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, President Vo Van Thuong and other leaders awarded the Second Class Labor Medal to athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh of the Vietnam Athletics Team; and awarded 37 Third Class Labor Medals to other athletes of the Delegation who achieved outstanding achievements in competition.

Despite participating in the 32nd SEA Games with many difficulties, the Vietnamese Sports Delegation still achieved unexpected success. For the first time in history, the Vietnamese Delegation topped the overall achievements of the Games not as the host with 136 gold medals, 105 silver medals and 118 bronze medals, breaking 12 records and setting 4 SEA Games records. The achievements and glory of the Delegation are also the common joy, honor and pride of the people, of the country, of the country's sports.

Sharing the joy and pride of being honored to wear the Vietnam National Team jersey, the coaches and athletes in the Delegation expressed their determination and promised to practice hard, strive to overcome difficulties, maintain and improve their achievements in the next competitions to continue bringing glory to the Fatherland.

Head coach of the national women's football team Mai Duc Chung, who led the Vietnam women's football team to qualify for the 2023 Women's World Cup, setting a record of winning the SEA Games for the fourth consecutive time, expressed his gratitude for the attention and facilitation of the Party and State, and the support and companionship of the domestic fans for the national women's football team and the Vietnam Sports Delegation. Coach Mai Duc Chung affirmed the determination of the entire team, to continue to unite, bond, strive to train, overcome difficulties and hardships to achieve even higher achievements in the upcoming tournaments of the Vietnam women's national football team.

Modest and full of determination, the "golden girl" of Vietnamese Athletics Nguyen Thi Oanh - Champion of 4 events at the 32nd SEA Games, was just recognized as an official Party member right after completing her competition mission, returning to her hometown to speak, promising to practice, overcome all challenges, constantly strive to improve, and continue to bring glory to the Fatherland in the international arena.

President Vo Van Thuong presented the Second Class Labor Medal to track and field athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh, who won 4 gold medals at the 32nd SEA Games - Photo: TXVN

Expressing his joy, emotion and pride when meeting the outstanding coaches and athletes of the Vietnam Sports Delegation at the 32nd SEA Games, President Vo Van Thuong congratulated and shared joy with the athletes with outstanding achievements and the entire Vietnam Sports Delegation. The President said that through this SEA Games, the Delegation has demonstrated the spirit of Vietnam's noble, united and pure competition and achieved miracles; leaving many good impressions in the hearts of international friends.

Listening to and sharing opinions of coaches and athletes at the meeting, the President emphasized that behind the medals, victories and glories achieved in sports competitions are stories full of humanity and emotions about the process of striving, training and overcoming difficult circumstances; the willpower, resilience, not giving up, and determination of athletes to overcome themselves to achieve the highest results in competition.

The President emphasized that the achievements, glory and difficulties that the coaches and athletes of the Vietnam Sports Delegation have overcome bring fresh inspiration for everyone to strive to excellently complete their tasks and aim for higher and further goals.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha presents the Third Class Labor Medal to athletes participating in the 32nd SEA Games - Photo: VNA

The President especially appreciated the achievements, determination and especially the difficulties and hardships in training and competition that the female athletes of the Vietnam Sports Delegation have persistently strived to overcome; true to the eight golden words that Uncle Ho bestowed on Vietnamese Women: "Heroic - Indomitable - Loyal - Responsible".

The President affirmed that the Party, State and people always pay attention to and take care of the country's sports career, including high-performance sports; creating the best possible conditions for athletes to practice and compete to continuously improve their achievements.

It is necessary to aim for higher and further goals in the future, the President said and asked all levels and sectors, especially the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to effectively implement the long-term strategy for developing Vietnamese sports with a longer-term vision. Pay attention to, care for, and train sports that are Vietnam's strengths and especially focus on training, fostering, and discovering the next generation of coaches and athletes to maintain and develop top achievements.

Believing that achievements are difficult, maintaining and surpassing oneself and opponents to set new records and new achievements is even more difficult, the President hopes that coaches, athletes and members of the delegation will maintain the inspiration and motivation of this success, continue to strive, train their will, moral qualities and expertise to conquer new heights in their careers, bringing glory to themselves, their families and the Fatherland.

According to VNA

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/chu-tich-nuoc-bieu-duong-cac-guong-mat-vang-cua-the-thao-viet-nam-tai-sea-games-32-102230523122533569.htm