Hoang Xuan Vinh (right) and his coach Nguyen Thi Nhung celebrate after Vinh wins his Olympic gold medal at the Rio Games last August. (Photo: congly.vn) Hanoi(VNA) - Marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh, theOlympic winner, must endure serious pressure when he competes at the ISSF WorldCup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in India.
“Pressure? Yes, of course, because he is thereigning Olympic champion and world’s top athlete of the men’s 10m rapidpistol,” said coach Nguyen Thi Nhung about her most famous marksman, who alsoearned a silver medal in the 50m pistol and placed No 2 in the world in this event.
“I, myself, and the Republic of Korean expertPark Chung-gun also have to share the pressure with him,” she added.
The New Delhi tournament will be the firstthat Vinh is to take part in, after waiting six months since the Rio Games.Vinh spent time joining in meeting with family and friends, along withpracticing.
“We have to build up new curriculum andmethods to help him at least maintain his peak and then jump to a new height.He is on top of the world, but it does not mean he can be there forever. Wehave asked him to try his best, focus 100 percent on training, while strictlyfollow our rules.
“Six months away from the shooting range, inhis comeback he also carry people’s hopes to triumph. It could be a positiveforce for him. As a world-class shooter I believe that he could reach histarget and get best results,” Nhung said.
In the past, Vinh won two gold medals, onesilver and three bronze medals at World Cups. His title in 2013 was the firstfor Vietnam at the world-level event.
Vinh will leave for a two-week training coursein the Republic of Korea on February 10, as it has one of the best shootingcentres in the world. He then moves to India for the Cup, which will beorganised from February 22-March 4.
Apart from the WorldCup, the 42-year-old marksman and his teammate Tran Quoc Cuong are key athletesfor the team that aims to earn gold at the August Southeast Asian Games inMalaysia.
They will bothparticipate in their strong points at the 10m rapid pistol and 50m pistol forindividual and team categories.
Nhung noted that therewere typical challenges for athletes during the SEA Games.
“At the SEA Games,heavy pressure as well as a lack of focus after his Olympic win may affect hisperformance. In shooting, just a twinkling of a lack of concentration may leadto failure, as every mistake could make athletes fall,” said Nhung, who is alsovice president of the Vietnam Shooting Federation.
In Malaysia, Vietnamwants to win up to four gold medals.
“Our biggest rivalswill be Thailand, Singapore and the hosts. Among them, Thailand is especiallystrong in the women’s pools. Elsewhere, Indonesia was not a threatening rivalin the past, but they are rising strongly with much support to prepare for theAsian tournaments, and they could vie for golds in some categories,” saidNhung.
The coach added thatVietnam was at the in men’s individual pistol events, but they needed toimprove their team’s results.
“Vietnam has notreceived as much support as other countries for the Games. In comparison,between all teams, I believe that if we could earn four gold medals in Malaysiait would be a success,” Nhung added.-VNA
VNA
