Every evening, the old District 1 Multi-purpose Sports Center is brightly lit, where more than 26 athletes and coaches of the Vietnamese tug-of-war team diligently practice, preparing for the first SEA Games journey of this sport.
Tug of war will have 5 events at this year's SEA Games: 8 men's, 8 women's, 4 men's, 4 women's and mixed events (4 men - 4 women). To achieve the best results, the team has maintained a 5-session/week training schedule for over a year, combining technical training, physical improvement and team coordination.
Each session lasts nearly three hours, starting with ankle warm-up exercises to warm up the body to limit injuries, because tug-of-war requires great strength from the thighs and calves.
Before going on stage, the athletes carefully polish the soles of their shoes and check their grip. Many pairs of shoes are worn out after hundreds of practice sessions, a testament to their constant effort.
After the warm-up, the athletes were divided into equal groups of men and women to continue warming up with the rope, performing "defensive" exercises to stretch the body, warm up the main muscle groups and maintain coordination.
Coach Thuan always closely monitors and meticulously adjusts every detail from foot placement, rope holding position to the rhythm of the shouts and the timing of applying force. "Tug of war seems simple, only requiring strength, but the difficulty is how the whole team maintains team spirit and the ability to work together down to the last second," Coach Thuan shared.
In the Vietnamese team, not all athletes have large bodies. Each person takes on a separate role, contributing to the overall strength of the team.
The final "anchor" position in the 8-person formation is an important support, requiring the athlete to have great endurance and hold the rope tightly so that the whole team is not swept towards the opponent.
The "anchors" have to wear ropes over their shoulders according to international competition rules. The bruises on their shoulders after each training session are proof of their efforts and endurance.
Team spirit is not only shown on the training floor but also in the moments after training, when athletes become "reluctant nurses" massaging each other.
The team gathers key athletes from the old tug-of-war camp in District 1, along with young faces from students in Ho Chi Minh City. Many have to juggle work, study and family to pursue their passion.
Tran Gia Han, a student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, is one of the typical faces. Despite her calloused and red hands, she still beams every time the "pull!" call is heard. "The more I practice, the more I love this sport. The calluses on my hands are proof of the efforts and hard work of me and my teammates," Gia Han shared.
Tug of war, which seems to be the "territory" of men, but female athletes have proven that strength and will have no gender. Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Khanh, once opposed by her family, is now proudly wearing the national team jersey, ready for the first SEA Games of tug of war.
Each pull, each step back on the arena will be a step forward for Vietnamese sports at the 33rd SEA Games, affirming the spirit and colors of the flag. The dream of the athletes is not only to win, but also to bring this familiar folk sport closer to friends in the region.
For the first time at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand, tug of war has gone from a familiar folk game to a professional performance sport in the Southeast Asian arena.
Dantri.com.vn
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/lo-luyen-keo-co-viet-nam-ngay-dem-chuan-bi-cho-sea-games-dau-tien-20251104121851311.htm
Comment (0)