A challenge for Vietnamese swimming.

VHO - For Nguyen Huy Hoang and his teammates, the 33rd SEA Games is not only a journey to compete in the regional arena but also a test of their mettle in the context of a rapidly changing balance of power in swimming.

Huy Hoang and his teammates are training with great determination for the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games. Photo: Quy Luong.

Huy Hoang's recent achievements at the continental level might lead many to believe that the SEA Games will be "easier," but the reality is quite the opposite. The regional swimming competition has never been easy, especially as Singapore and Thailand are entering their strongest investment cycle.

In Southeast Asia, Singapore is still considered the "beacon" of swimming. At the 2023 SEA Games, they won 22 gold medals out of 39 swimming events, a number that reflects the depth of their team and the persistence of their training.

Previously, at the 2022 SEA Games, the Singapore swimming team also won 21 gold medals. Singapore's strength doesn't just come from a few outstanding individuals, but lies in a comprehensive development structure, from its youth training system to the application of science and technology in coaching.

Following the era of Joseph Schooling, they quickly transitioned to a new generation with leading regional athletes such as Quah Zheng Wen, Quah Jing Wen, and Quah Ting Wen. Alongside them is a new generation of young athletes like Jonathan Tan, Teong Tzen Wei, and Gan Ching Hwee.

Besides Singapore, Thailand is also showing clear ambition. Their large, well-rounded young swimming team, with systematic training, allows them to compete directly in many events, especially in the women's events – where Vietnam is currently lacking personnel after the era of Anh Vien. In short-distance events, Malaysia and Indonesia continue to possess high-speed athletes.

Against this backdrop, the Vietnamese swimming team has prepared for the 33rd SEA Games with a well-structured plan. From November 6th, the 20-member team departed for Nanning (China) for intensive training for one month.

The Vietnamese swimming team's strengths lie in middle and long-distance events, with swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang playing a pivotal role. He shared that each SEA Games is not only about achieving results but also a challenge in terms of psychology, composure, and consistency.

Another bright spot lies in the young athletes such as Vo Thi My Tien, Nguyen Kha Nhi, Nguyen Thuy Hien, Duong Van Hoang Quy, and Tran Van Nguyen Quoc… The combination of experience and youth creates new hope for the team.

Experts predict that if Vietnam maintains its current form, it could win 5-7 gold medals at the 33rd SEA Games. This is a high-quality competition with Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines all fielding their strongest teams.

On December 5th, the team will return to Vietnam to prepare before departing for Thailand on December 7th and beginning their competition on December 10th.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/thu-thach-cho-boi-viet-nam-184278.html