The continuing journey of former ASIAD runner-up Pham Hong Tham

From the position of a former athlete who once reached the pinnacle of continental success, now returning to the role of an inspirational figure, this journey carries with it more than just memories of the past.

Sweet memories

For Pham Hong Tham, the 1998 Asian Games Karate silver medalist, this return to Bangkok brings many special emotions. It's a return to the place that witnessed the tense moments of competition, leading to her triumph and brilliance in the Land of Smiles. "Thinking back on those moments, I'm still deeply moved. Back then, I competed in four individual matches and brought home a precious silver medal for the Vietnamese sports delegation," she shared.

During her competitive career, Pham Hong Tham also won a bronze medal at the world championships, contributing to affirming the position of Vietnamese Karate on the international sports map. Having been a top fighter in the region, then rising to the Asian and world levels, and having experienced many memorable moments in her career, returning to Thailand brought back a flood of memories. From the moment of the flag-raising ceremony at the 33rd SEA Games, the emotions overwhelmed the former Asian Games runner-up, who couldn't hide her feelings.

“At the moment the national flag was raised to its highest position, I was reminded of my time as an athlete, also standing at the flag ceremony with the same pride for the country as now. What I hope is that today's athletes will continue the tradition of previous generations, including the coaches and athletes of the People's Police sports, to continue writing the proud history of Vietnam on the map of top-level sports,” Hong Tham expressed.

Having risen from an athlete to a coach and currently serving as the Deputy Director of the People's Police Sports Training and Competition Center, Pham Hong Tham has contributed to discovering and training many generations of athletes. Among them are two SEA Games 33 champions, Nguyen Ngoc Tram and Khuat Hai Nam.

Having personally selected athletes from a young age, witnessed their dedicated growth, and watched them compete and shine at the 33rd SEA Games, former martial artist Pham Hong Tham couldn't hide her emotion and pride. "Watching the athletes compete at the SEA Games, my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest because I was so nervous. The good news is that they performed exactly as we expected," she said.

Having undergone four surgeries due to injuries and enduring arduous training during a difficult period for the country, the former Asian Games runner-up believes those challenges formed the foundation of his character. “Without those difficult times, I wouldn’t be who I am today. Therefore, I hope my students will also strive to train hard, overcome their own limitations, and bring glory to the nation and to the People’s Police sports,” Lieutenant Colonel Pham Hong Tham shared.

The continuing journey of former ASIAD runner-up Pham Hong Tham - photo 2 — Former ASIAD runner-up Pham Hong Tham and her students

And the journey continues for the new generation.

Participating in the SEA Games for the first time, Khuất Hải Nam inevitably experienced some initial anxiety. However, the encouragement from his teachers and teammates, along with the support of his coach Thắm in the stands, helped Hải Nam compete confidently, overcoming his opponents to convincingly win the gold medal in the -67kg weight category.

At the age of 13, Hai Nam was selected by coach Pham Hong Tham after a recruitment drive at the Thach That Club ( Hanoi ). At that time, Nam was small and had a tanned complexion, but coach Pham Hong Tham recognized in him exceptional talent and a determination clearly visible in his eyes. Nam was brought into the People's Police Karate team, where he was directly mentored by coaches Pham Hong Tham and Pham Hong Ha.

After 11 years of training at the Ministry of Public Security's Sports Center, Hai Nam won a gold medal at the region's biggest sporting event. "Nam has good technique and competes effectively, but at some crucial moments he still needs more mental fortitude. Success came late, but winning a SEA Games gold medal in his first participation is a very commendable result and will create a foundation for him to go further," commented the Deputy Director of the People's Public Security Sports Center.

Nguyen Ngoc Tram, the women's team kata champion, recalled her early days with Ms. Tham. "When I was 10 years old, Ms. Tham selected me. At that time, I greatly admired her because I had heard that she was a former Asian Games runner-up and a famous Vietnamese karate athlete," Tram shared.

Ngoc Tram also didn't forget to mention the serious injuries Tham had suffered during her career, the consecutive surgeries, and the time she spent training for the 2001 SEA Games while her child was only a few months old. "Tham is an example of willpower, determination, and perseverance for us to follow. Without Tham and the training environment of the People's Police sports, we wouldn't be where we are today," Ngoc Tram said.

Thanks to the guidance of coach Pham Hong Tham, and the support of coaches at the People's Police training academy such as veteran female martial artist Pham Hong Ha and the national team, Nguyen Ngoc Tram has grown from a little girl who cried sleeplessly because of a sprained ankle during her first training session, to becoming a three-time consecutive SEA Games champion and the 2023 Asian Games champion. “Coach Tham taught us not to be arrogant in victory and not to be discouraged in defeat. Therefore, we will continue to strive to compete and contribute more to Vietnamese sports and the People's Police sports,” Ngoc Tram expressed.

In her coaching career, former ASIAD runner-up Pham Hong Tham also had another outstanding student: 2017 SEA Games champion Nguyen Van Hai. Currently, the 2017 SEA Games champion has achieved success and is a lieutenant working at the People's Police Sports Training and Competition Center.

More than just a story of medals, the journey of Pham Hong Tham and her students also demonstrates the enduring continuity between generations of athletes. From the memories of the past to the successes of the present, it is a quiet but persistent transition, contributing to the depth of Vietnamese sports today and in the future.

Comment (0)