Vietnamese Sports Prepare for the 2024 Olympics: Difficult but Not Discouraging

Nguyen Huy Hoang, one of three Vietnamese athletes who have won tickets to the 2024 Paris Olympics so far

Vietnamese sports are also entering the final stages of preparation for the 2024 Olympics.

Generational transition phase

At this Games, Vietnamese sports set a target of 12-15 places to participate. If we only look at the numbers, it seems that we are "going backwards" because at the most recent Olympics in Tokyo we had 18 places. Before that, we had 20 places to participate in the 2016 Olympics. However, in the current context of athlete transfer, Vietnamese sports will find it difficult to achieve a higher target.

For example, in Fencing, if in the 2016 Olympics this sport had 4 Olympic spots, then by the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Vietnamese fencing had stopped and by this Games, the situation is even more difficult. Fencing player Vu Thanh An shared: “In 2021, I am in the top 2 in Asia, but competing for a ticket to the Olympics is even more difficult, let alone at the present time, I have fallen out of the top 2. If before I was only afraid of opponents from Korea and Iran, now there are more opponents. All countries have invested and have gone far, so besides opponents from Korea and Iran, we also have to compete with opponents from China, Hong Kong (China), Japan, and Kazakhstan. These countries all have many athletes in the top of Asia or the world . Currently, we also cannot participate in many tournaments to accumulate points, so the opportunity is even more difficult,” shared the number 1 fencer of Vietnam.

Vu Thanh An’s situation is also the common situation of the fencing team when the generation of excellent athletes such as Thanh An, Le Dung, Nhu Hoa, Do Thi Anh are passing the peak of their performance, many have switched to coaching or retired, while the younger generation has not been able to replace them. Therefore, the goal of winning a ticket to the Olympics for this once very successful team is very difficult, even impossible to achieve.

Regarding wrestling, according to the analysis of Mr. Ta Dinh Duc, in charge of wrestling, Department of Sports and Physical Training, the strengths of Vietnamese wrestling in particular and Asian wrestling in general are in the small weight classes. Therefore, the competition for tickets to the Olympics in the small weight classes will be very fierce. Besides, the current generation of talented Vietnamese wrestling athletes has passed their peak, while the younger generation is not strong enough to replace them. Therefore, despite their efforts, Vietnamese wrestling will find it difficult to get tickets to the Olympics at this Games.

Difficult but not discouraged

In the professional meeting to prepare for the Olympics held yesterday, January 4, at the Department of Sports and Physical Training, most of the opinions of the sport managers and coaches said that this is a difficult Games and clearly because the distance between Vietnamese sports and the world is still far, it requires more effort and hard work.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Director of the Hanoi National Sports Training Center, emphasized that Vietnamese sports must face the reality that the level of most of our athletes is currently only at the level of the Southeast Asian region. A few outstanding athletes who have surpassed themselves to win Asian or world medals are also few. Therefore, when entering the Olympic arena, it will certainly be very difficult. Mr. Hung proposed solutions, emphasizing the need to ignite the spirit of competition of the athletes, to strive to surpass themselves in the most rigorous arena in the world.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thu Trang, in charge of Taekwondo, Department of Sports and Physical Training, at the Paris Olympics, Taekwondo will have 8 weight classes (4 men, 4 women) included in the official competition program. According to regulations, each continent will be nominated 4 weight classes (2 men, 2 women) to compete in the qualifying round to compete for official tickets. The Vietnamese Taekwondo team is also actively preparing for the ticket to the Olympics. The expected face this time is Truong Thi Kim Tuyen and some teammates. Today, January 5, the Vietnamese Taekwondo team will leave for Korea for training before participating in 2 tournaments to accumulate points to gain an advantage in winning tickets to the Olympics.

Currently, Tuyen is ranked 31st in the world and 6th in Asia, but to win a ticket, Tuyen will have to compete with opponents from China, Korea, Kazakhstan and Japan. Meanwhile, Anh Tuyet, ranked 72nd in the world and 10th in Asia, will have to compete with opponents from Taiwan (China), Korea, Uzbekistan and Lebanon. Bac Thi Khiem, ranked 75th in the world and 9th in Asia, will have to compete with opponents from Taiwan (China), Korea, Uzbekistan, Lebanon and Thailand. Facing strong opponents will be a big challenge for Vietnamese Taekwondo athletes, but the team is determined and working hard to achieve the goal of winning a ticket to the Olympics.

In the rowing sport, the team has won tickets to the Olympics for three consecutive times, but this is also a difficult Olympics for winning tickets. Ms. Duong Thi Hong Hanh, in charge of rowing, Department of Sports and Physical Training, said that although it is difficult because the opponents are all strong from continents around the world and our training conditions are not as good as other countries, with the attention of all levels, the highest will and determination, the team still sets the goal of winning tickets to the Games for the fourth consecutive time. “Competing for tickets to the Olympics for rowing athletes is more difficult than competing for medals at the Asian Games. Because competing in the Olympic qualifying round means facing many strong opponents from continents, not just from Asia. The team hopes that the State will have regulations to reward athletes who win tickets to the Olympics. From there, it will motivate and encourage the competitive spirit of the athletes,” Ms. Duong Thi Hong Hanh shared.

To "overcome the mountain", the Department of Sports and Physical Training has proposed many solutions in which the key group of athletes focusing on the goal of winning tickets to the Olympics will have their diet, nutrition, and recovery increased and will have more doctors and recovery specialists to accompany them during training and competition. Training and accommodation conditions at the Centers will also be improved so that athletes can rest best after stressful training hours, ensuring their health and training to exceed their performance threshold. The sports industry will also mobilize social resources to accompany them during training and competition, and reward athletes with excellent results.

THU SAM

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