Hoang Xuan Vinh receives Cup of Victory as best athlete

Marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh won the Cup of Victory as the best male athlete of 2016 in a Gala awarding ceremony held in Hanoi on January 17.
Hoang Xuan Vinh receives Cup of Victory as best athlete ảnh 1Marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh speaks to audiences after receiving his Cup of Victory in Hanoi. (Photo webthethao.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) - Marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh won the Cup of Victory as the bestmale athlete of 2016 in a Gala awarding ceremony held in Hanoi on January 17.

Therace for the so-called ‘Vietnam Sport Oscar’ is believed to be the biggestnational prize for athletes who have competed and brought home success.

Vinhmade history at the Rio Olympic Games as the first Vietnamese athlete to everwin a gold medal. The 42-year-old armyman triumphed in the men’s 10m air pistolevent last August before taking a silver in the 50m pistol a few days later.

“Itis a meaningful night for Vietnam sport and I myself earning this prestigiousaward. The trophy is a recognition of the people who are a part of ourachievement in sport. Thank you for that,” Vinh said.

“Thejourney in the future is still tough. But I think that athletes with theirdetermination and passion and people’s support will grab higher results,” Vinhadded.

SwimmerNguyen Thi Anh Vien, who is practicing in the United States took the trophy forthe best female athlete of the year. Vien won a gold and set a record of 4min37.71sec at the Asian Swimming Championships’ women’s 400m individual medleyevent in Japan last November.

Vinh’soutstanding achievement was the key element to help his coach Ngyen Thi Nhungwinning the trophy for Coach of the Year.

“Iwant to share my happiness with other shooting coaches as well as allVietnamese trainers,” Nhung said.

“Inmy 10-year stint as the national head coach of shooting team I have dreamt ofthe day Vietnamese athletes, especially marksmen, could step onto the Olympicpodium. In my team, we made plans, we trained and overcame many difficulties toearn our victory. I cried, and I believed so did many other Vietnamese like me,when seeing our national flag raised in Rio,” she said.

PowerlifterLe Van Cong added another title to his collection with a Cup for the Athletewith Disabilities.

Itis a new category that the organisers decided to add to this year contest afterthe outstanding performance of Vietnamese athletes in 2016’s internationalcompetitions.

Côngmade history when he won a gold medal and set a record of 183kg in the men’sU49kg at the Rio Paralympic Games last year.

“Itis an honour to receive this Cup tonight. I am proud of winning my gold in Rio,and bringing victory to our country. It resulted from not only my effort butalso strong support of sports leaders, teammates, family and fans. Thanks allof you,” Cong said on the stage.

Themost favoured athlete trophy went to gymnast Pham Phuoc Hung.

Itis the only among nine categories decided by the number of messages of fanssent to the organisers.

Hungreceived nearly 4,700 votes and came from behind to beat two other contestants,shooter Vinh and footballer Nghiem Xuan Tu, in the last few minutes before theend of voting time.

“Itis great to know that many people, friends, family members and those unknown tome, voted for me. The career time of an athlete is short. A title like this isa goal that we target and it will be such strong encouragement that will pushus for better results,” Hung said.

Teamof the Year title went to the U19 squad which made a big bang in Asiantournament with their semi-final result which brought them a slot in the FIFAU20 World Cup in the Republic of Korea later this year.

“Winninga berth to the World Cup was just the beginning. We are heading towards to theRoK in May where we will do the best to meet people’s expectation as what theydid give to us in this vote,” said head coach Hoang Anh Tuan of the U19 team.

Otherawards of the Gala yesterday were Best Sport Image of the Year – which went tothe moment captured when shooter Vinh took part in the victory ceremony in Riode Janeiro; Young Athlete of the Year – which went to 19-year-old runner Le Tu Chinhwho won seven domestic and international tournaments in 2016, and the SportsLifetime Achievement Trophy – which went to marathon coach Bui Luong who is 78years old.

Among categories, the Best Male, Best Female andLifetime Achievement winners received 50 million VND (2,200 USD) as a bonus incash. The Best Sport Image winner was awarded 10 million VND, while the restgot 30 million VND each.-VNA
VNA

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