Vietnam Athletics: Efforts to prepare for SEA Games 33

Vietnam athletics team practices at Nhon center - Photo: HT

Strategy is in place

At the 29th, 30th and 31st SEA Games, Vietnamese athletics always maintained its leading position in the region. However, at the 32nd SEA Games, Vietnamese athletics only won 12 gold medals, losing the top position to Thailand (16 gold medals). The reason given was that the burden of achievement was always focused on the pillars, thereby lacking proper attention and investment for the younger generation of athletes.

As a result, when names like Nguyen Thi Huyen, Bui Thi Thu Thao retired, or Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc... have passed their peak, Vietnamese athletics still has not seen any truly outstanding new faces.

Therefore, the leaders of the sports industry and the athletics department have implemented a strategy to build a new force for the team since the beginning of 2024 until now with about 10 international tours to hone the athletes' competitive spirit.

The initial steps of the strategy have yielded positive results when several young faces are predicted to break through such as Tran Thi Nhi Yen (100m, 200m), Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Ta Ngoc Tuong (400m hurdles), Le Ngoc Phuc (400m), Bui Thi Kim Anh, Duong Thi Thao (high jump), Bui Thi Ngan (800m, 1,500m).

In addition, the team also creates internal competition to promote the achievements of the pillars. For example, in the 100m hurdles, two hopes, Huynh Thi My Tien and Bui Thi Nguyen, are competing in terms of parameters. In the 5,000m and 3,000m hurdles, the return of Le Tien Long (31st SEA Games gold medalist) motivates his teammate Nguyen Trung Cuong.

Athletics queen Nguyen Thi Oanh is still a great hope at SEA Games 33 - Photo: NAM TRAN

Difficulties and challenges

At the 33rd SEA Games, Vietnamese athletics was assigned a target of at least 12 gold medals, competing for the top spot with host Thailand, and introducing new faces. After national tournaments and three international tours in the past two months, the team's coaching staff continued to review the main squad for the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships (taking place from May 27 in Korea).

Mr. Nguyen Duc Nguyen - in charge of athletics at the Vietnam Sports Administration - said: "We are creating maximum conditions for young athletes to accumulate experience in international competitions.

But there is a problem that many young athletes when joining the national team have somewhat stagnated due to our limited coaching staff. Hiring foreign experts is also facing difficulties because our facilities cannot immediately meet their requirements.

Another big challenge is that the Philippines, Indonesia or Malaysia may use naturalized athletes at the 33rd SEA Games. However, Vietnamese athletics is determined to make a mark at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand."

It is expected that the team will soon have foreign experts with the goal not only at the 33rd SEA Games but also to produce a generation of quality athletes who can compete for Asian medals.

HOANG TUNG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dien-kinh-viet-nam-no-luc-chuan-bi-cho-sea-games-33-20250525081221975.htm