Olympics 2024: Southeast Asian Sports' thirst for medals

The 2024 Paris Olympics have passed more than a third of the way but no Southeast Asian sports delegation has won a medal, as of August 2.

Athlete Tran Thi Nhi Yen (left) competes in the qualifying round of the women's 100m race at the 2024 Olympics on August 2, 2024. Photo: THX/TTXVN

In contrast to the excitement and enthusiasm before the 2024 Olympics kicked off a week ago, the thirst for medals is getting hotter with athletes from Southeast Asia after each passing day of competition. Statistics show that there are a total of 182 athletes from 11 Southeast Asian countries competing in the 2024 Olympics. Thailand leads with 51 athletes, followed by Malaysia (29), Indonesia (26), Singapore (23), Philippines (22), Vietnam (16), Timor Leste (4), Brunei, Cambodia, Laos each have 3 athletes and Myanmar has the least with 2 athletes. Professional goals at the Olympics are also set by each delegation at different levels, but the 6 sports delegations that are often in the Top at the SEA Games, including Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, all aim to win medals. Thailand has set an ambitious target of 6 gold medals and 3 silver medals thanks to its strengths in boxing, Taekwondo, badminton, and sailing - the sports in which the "Land of the Golden Temples" have competed very successfully and created a breakthrough in medals at the 19th ASIAD. Malaysia, with its strengths in diving and badminton, also has hopes of competing. Indonesia, with its weightlifting (small weight category), badminton, and sport climbing, also aims to win 1-2 gold medals. The Philippines hopes to win medals in gymnastics and athletics (pole vault); Singapore, which came away empty-handed from the most recent Games, also hopes to win medals. However, the gap between setting goals and forecasting and the possibility of achieving them is huge. For example, Carlos Yulo, the world champion of the Philippines and the only representative of Southeast Asia, finished the competition in 12th place in the men's all-around gymnastics. Or in badminton, reigning Asian champion Jonatan Christie and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia both stopped at the group stage at the Olympics.

In addition, two Thai boxing stars, Thitisan Panmod (men's 51kg) and Jutamas Jitpong (women's 54kg), have both said goodbye to the Olympics after losing in the Quarterfinals. The journey to the 2024 Olympics is still on, but through the competition results, it is clear that the goal of winning medals is a potential challenge for Southeast Asian Sports, even for athletes who have reached world class or are continental champions. Also from the world's largest playground with very high participation standards, it will help sports in the region to more accurately assess their strength after each congress cycle and be somewhat affected by the SEA Games with smaller competitions and frequent changes in the program with many sports outside the Olympic system.

Vu Le (Vietnam News Agency)

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/the-thao/olympic-2024-con-khat-huy-chuong-cua-the-thao-dong-nam-a-20240802225041491.htm