Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnam has set a target of defending its eight titles at the 15th World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships, which will be held in the Maldives from November 5 to 11.
A 34-strong delegation including 20 athletes left for the competition on November 3 and spent two days preparing for their performance at Canareef Resort in Addu city.
According to the coaching board, multiple reigning champion Pham Van Mach is not competing in the men's 55kg category due to personal reasons. But this will not be a big problem for Vietnam, the board said. The other seven champions and new potential winners will take charge of completing the team's mission.
In addition to reigning champions like Dinh Kim Loan (women's 55kg bodybuilding), Nguyen Thi Kim Dung (women's fitness, 1.65m), Tran Bao Quoc Vuong (men's 65kg bodybuilding), and Ho Huy Binh (men's 70kg bodybuilding), Asian champion Le Thi Huong Giang is a surprise contender.
Giang retired for many years after two decades of success. She decided to return to the stage last year at age 48 and won the Asian championship.
Despite her age, Giang's structure, frame and musculature are perfectly maintained, according to the national coaches. With her iron determination, Giang is expected to win big for Vietnam in this year's championship.
Other senior athletes such as Tran Thi Cam Tu, Nguyen Thi Kim Cuong, Le Thi Cam Huong, Nguyen Van Quang and Bui Dac Phi Vu can also jump into the top spot after one year of hard training, along with strong motivation from their recent gold medal wins at the Southeast Asian and Asian championships.
The Vietnamese are among over 500 athletes and officials representing 55 countries and territories at the tournament, which is expected to attract global attention, showcasing not only the athletic prowess of the competitors but also the natural beauty of the Maldives as a premier destination for world-class events./.
