From tough beginnings, Vietnam has transformed itself into one of theregion’s sporting powerhouses at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
After many years of destructive war, Vietnam was reunified in 1975.However, it took another 14 years for the country to integrate itselfinto regional sports life. Vietnam for the first time competed at theSEA Games, the region’s biggest sporting competition, when it was hostedby Malaysia in 1989.
It was a humble butcommendable achievement. The country’s athletes, lacking in professionaltraining and exposure to big international events, managed to win threegold medals, 11 silvers and five bronzes to rank seventh in the overallmedal table.
Two years later, at the 16th SEAGames in the Philippines, the Vietnamese team lifted its gold medalnumber to 7 and also won 12 silvers and 10 bronzes, but its ranking didnot change.
At the 17th SEA Games in 1993 inSingapore, Vietnam won nine gold medals, six silvers and 19 bronzes tomove up to sixth place in the overall medal tally.
Vietnam maintained its sixth place at the 18th SEA Games in Thailand,but the country’s men’s football team made history by finishing insecond place.
The Games of 1997, hosted byIndonesia, marked Vietnam’s biggest success since joining the event. Thecountry finished fifth after winning a haul of 133 medals in total, ofwhich 35 were gold, 48 silver and 50 bronze.
Atthe 21th SEA Games of 2001 in Malaysia, Vietnam finished fourth for thefirst time, despite winning just 33 gold medals. Vietnam’s women’sfootball team made Games history by winning the maiden women’scompetition.
Vietnam’s biggest and mostimportant landmark came in 2003 when the country hosted the Games forthe first time. Vietnamese athletes dominated the event, amassing 346medals in total, of which 158 were gold, to top the medal tally for thefirst time.
The country was finally a real regional contender. Vietnam has finished in the top three at every Games since 2003.
At the latest SEA Games in 2013 in Myanmar, Vietnam won 74 gold medals, 85 silvers and 86 bronzes to take third place.
At the 28th SEA Games, which will kick off in Singapore on June 5,Vietnam aims to win between 60 and 70 gold medals to finish at least infourth place.-VNA
After many years of destructive war, Vietnam was reunified in 1975.However, it took another 14 years for the country to integrate itselfinto regional sports life. Vietnam for the first time competed at theSEA Games, the region’s biggest sporting competition, when it was hostedby Malaysia in 1989.
It was a humble butcommendable achievement. The country’s athletes, lacking in professionaltraining and exposure to big international events, managed to win threegold medals, 11 silvers and five bronzes to rank seventh in the overallmedal table.
Two years later, at the 16th SEAGames in the Philippines, the Vietnamese team lifted its gold medalnumber to 7 and also won 12 silvers and 10 bronzes, but its ranking didnot change.
At the 17th SEA Games in 1993 inSingapore, Vietnam won nine gold medals, six silvers and 19 bronzes tomove up to sixth place in the overall medal tally.
Vietnam maintained its sixth place at the 18th SEA Games in Thailand,but the country’s men’s football team made history by finishing insecond place.
The Games of 1997, hosted byIndonesia, marked Vietnam’s biggest success since joining the event. Thecountry finished fifth after winning a haul of 133 medals in total, ofwhich 35 were gold, 48 silver and 50 bronze.
Atthe 21th SEA Games of 2001 in Malaysia, Vietnam finished fourth for thefirst time, despite winning just 33 gold medals. Vietnam’s women’sfootball team made Games history by winning the maiden women’scompetition.
Vietnam’s biggest and mostimportant landmark came in 2003 when the country hosted the Games forthe first time. Vietnamese athletes dominated the event, amassing 346medals in total, of which 158 were gold, to top the medal tally for thefirst time.
The country was finally a real regional contender. Vietnam has finished in the top three at every Games since 2003.
At the latest SEA Games in 2013 in Myanmar, Vietnam won 74 gold medals, 85 silvers and 86 bronzes to take third place.
At the 28th SEA Games, which will kick off in Singapore on June 5,Vietnam aims to win between 60 and 70 gold medals to finish at least infourth place.-VNA
