CampuchiaDuring the women's 10.000m competition at the 32nd SEA Games, Indonesian athlete Odekita Elvina took the initiative to give water to Nguyen Thi Oanh, but the Vietnamese runner refused.
In the 10.000m event, athletes normally enter the watering station about twice, but there are exceptions. After the first 3.000m, all athletes entered the station except Nguyen Thi Oanh. Seeing that, athlete Odekita Elvina took the initiative to give Oanh a cup of water, but the Vietnamese runner refused.
"During the run, depending on the needs of each person, we will provide different water," Oanh said after the competition at Morodock Techo. "Each person also has a different distance and time to receive water, so I refused the Indonesian athlete."
Nguyen Thi Oanh raised her hand to signal her refusal to accept water from the Indonesian athlete. Image: Hieu Luong
Despite refueling less than once, Oanh still ran the fastest with a time of 35 minutes 11 seconds 53. This parameter is far behind her personal record, and also the Vietnamese record of 33 minutes 13 seconds 23 – set at national championship in December 12. However, that does not overshadow the fact that Oanh won four gold medals in the middle, middle and long distances in the same SEA Games.
In Cambodia this year, Oanh successfully defended the gold medals in the distances of 5.000m, 1.500m and 3.000m over obstacles that she won in the last two SEA Games. This achievement is considered rare, because Oanh has to compete with a tight schedule. She competed in the 5.000m on May 8, then a day later, the 5m and 1.500m hurdles in just 3.000 minutes.
But unlike the previous congresses, this time Oanh was assigned an extra 10.000m. So, before going in to run and win this afternoon, she was still on the lookout for the unfinished mission. "I release a lot of anxiety and pressure in the past days," Oanh added about the latest victory.
Nguyen Thi Oanh and Pham Thi Hong Le in the 10.000m competition on the afternoon of May 12.
The athlete born in 1995 said, despite receiving many congratulations and rewards after the first three competitions, she pushed it aside to focus on the final distance. In addition to full personal joy, Oanh also dedicated this victory to coach Tran Van Sy - who celebrated his birthday on May 12.
Nguyen Thi Oanh alone brought home a third of the gold medals for Vietnamese athletics this period. With 12 gold medals after five days of competition, Vietnamese athletics did not fulfill the target of winning at least 14 gold medals. The first place of the whole delegation fell to Thailand - 16 gold medals after three consecutive periods of Vietnam holding.
Hieu Luong (from Phnom Penh)
