Hanoi shooting range meets Asian standards ready for SEA Games 31

A corner of the shooting range at the Hanoi National Sports Training Centre, with banners of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) in various colours on display. The centre will host shooting and archery, with its infrastructure having been renovated since September last year. SEA Games 31, themed “For a Stronger South East Asia”, will be held in the capital city of Hanoi and 11 neighbouring provinces and cities from May 12 to 23. Featuring 40 sports with 526 events, it is expected to attract around 10,000 participants. The biennial event was initially slated for late 2021 but was delayed due to the pandemic. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Shooting targets at the site. Among facilities that have gone through renovation at the Hanoi National Sports Training Centre, the shooting range received the highest amount of attention as it has deteriorated over the years and has a shortage of equipment for both training and competitions. The host Vietnam has registered 965 athletes, including 534 males and 431 females, for the upcoming SEA Games 31 to be held in Hanoi and other northern communities in May. They are set to compete in all 40 sports of the Games, striving to win 140 gold, 77 silver and 71 bronze medals and secure top spot in the tally. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A corner of the shooting range with a number of LCD screens to display shooter information and their lanes, among other information. At the moment, the shooting range has been completely upgraded, in terms of its facilities and equipment. This is the second time that Vietnam has hosted the biennial regional sporting event, with the capital city of Hanoi hosting the largest number of competitions. It was initially scheduled for November 21 to December 2, 2021, but had to be delayed due to the COVID-19 resurgence in Vietnam. To ensure safety, first aid and COVID-19 testing services will be provided at both competition and non-competition venues. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The shooting range after renovation. Electronic targets and automated scoring systems have replaced paper targets and manual scoring methods that were in use from previous years. Vietnam’s shooting team has set a target of winning between five and seven gold medals at the upcoming SEA Games 31. Vu Anh Dao, who is in charge of the shooting department at the National Sports Administration (NSA), said the squad consists of best shooters now. The team also focuses on international tournaments under the system of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and the Asian Games (ASIAD) this year toward preparations for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Entrance to the 10m shooting range which is next to a giant sign board for SEA Games 31. The area is now equipped with a new lighting system, floor and spectator seats. Earlier, the regional sport events’ official logo and mascot were unveiled. The logo symbolises a flying bird and a V-shaped hand and the mascot based on the saola – a rare animal listed in Vietnam’s Red Book of Endangered Species. The saola, scientifically known as Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, is dubbed the Asian Unicorn because it is so rarely seen, looks like an antelope in appearance, and is recognised by its two parallel horns with sharp ends. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

An indoor shooting range. All of the electronic systems have been set up and gone through test runs. Coach Nguyen Thi Nhung of the national shooting team said all athletes expressed their delight at the upgraded venue for training and competitions. This year, Vietnam’s Olympic medallist Hoang Xuan Vinh will not compete as he has moved to work as a coach. The medal hopefuls are Ha Minh Thanh, Pham Quang Huy, Phan Cong Minh, Nguyen Xuan Chuyen and Nguyen Dinh Thanh (men’s pistol), Nguyen Thu Vinh (women’s pistol), and Phi Thu Thao and Nguyen Thu Trang (women’s rifle). They just completed a two-month training in the Republic of Korea. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A close look at the new equipment at the newly-upgraded shooting range at the Hanoi National Sports Training Centre. It is now listed as among the best competition venues in Southeast Asia. The projects to upgrade the competition facilities in Hanoi will serve not only the Games but sport activities in the future. As scheduled, the capital city will host 18 sport events of the region's largest sport tournament. SEA Games 31, themed “For a Stronger South East Asia”, will be held from May 12 to 23. It will feature over 40 sports, and 526 events with the attendance of around 10,000 athletes and officials from 11 Southeast Asian countries. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Paper targets have been replaced with electronic ones. All devices at the shooting range are products of SIUS AG, the world's leading manufacturer of electronic scoring systems for sport based in Switzerland. This is the second time that Vietnam has hosted the biennial regional sporting event, with the capital city of Hanoi hosting the largest number of competitions. The 31st edition of SEA Games was initially scheduled for November 21 to December 2, 2021, but had to be delayed due to the COVID-19 resurgence in Vietnam. To ensure safety, first aid and COVID-19 testing services will be provided at both competition and non-competition venues. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

SIUS systems, the only ones worldwide approved by the International Sport Shooting Federation (ISSF) for all international competitions and championships, are capable of accurately detecting the entire range of sport shooting calibre sizes. Vietnam’s shooting team has set a target of winning between five and seven gold medals at the upcoming SEA Games 31. Vietnam’s Olympic medalist Hoang Xuan Vinh will not compete as he has moved to work as a coach. Vinh made history when securing a gold in the men's 10m air pistol event at the Rio Olympics in August 2016, becoming the first Vietnamese to win an Olympic gold medal. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A giant LCD display at the shooting range that shows the name of the event and details of competitors. Representatives of the Asian Shooting Confederation affirmed that after a significant renovation, the shooting range at the Ha Noi National Sports Training Centre is among the best in the region and now capable of hosting tournaments at continental and international levels. SEA Games 31, themed “For a Stronger South East Asia”, will be held from May 12 to 23. It will feature over 40 sports, and 526 events with the attendance of around 10,000 athletes and officials from 11 Southeast Asian countries. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The shooting range for competition events with running targets is equipped with modern technology. Shooting at the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) is scheduled to take place from May 16 to 22. Vietnam’s shooting team has set a target of winning between five and seven gold medals. Although Olympic medallist Hoang Xuan Vinh will not compete as he has moved to work as a coach, the Vietnamese squad consists of best shooters now. The medal hopefuls are Ha Minh Thanh, Pham Quang Huy, Phan Cong Minh, Nguyen Xuan Chuyen and Nguyen Dinh Thanh (men’s pistol), Nguyen Thu Vinh (women’s pistol), and Phi Thu Thao and Nguyen Thu Trang (women’s rifle). (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The archery grounds at the Hanoi National Sports Training Centre, which is the No. 1 centre to train athletes in Vietnam. This is where pistol, rifle, archery, and skeet shooting events will be held at the SEA Games 31. It houses modern shooting and archery ranges meeting regional and continental standards. In addition to the shooting range, competition venues and training grounds for archery are ready to host the upcoming biennial regional sporting event. SEA Games 31’s archery, with matches to take place from May 15 to 19, will bring together athletes from eight countries in the region, who will show off their skills in 10 categories. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Members of the national archery team of Vietnam join a training session at the National Sports Training Centre in the hope of producing the best results at the upcoming SEA Games 31. The host Vietnam will send 16 archers to the Games, including eight men and eight women, with outstanding athletes like Do Thi Anh Nguyet who participated in the Olympics in Tokyo 2020, and Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhi who grabbed top position in the five categories of 30m, 50m, 60m, 70m, and all-round recurve, and two silver in other classes at the National Top Archery Champions last March. Vietnam aims to win from two to four gold medals. (Photo: VietnamPlus)