Vu Thi Huong has bad memories of the last Southeast Asian Games, where the sprint queen failed to defend her titles.
This year, Huong will try to make amends for her disappointment, but is still struggling to overcome injuries.
Two years ago in Indonesia, Huong unexpectedly finished third in boththe 100m and 200m events after dominating her regional competitors formost of the season.
Huong admitted that it wasimpossible to win every time, but she could not believe that she hadfailed at the tournament she had won on the previous three occasions.
The Thai Nguyen province-born athlete has beenstruggling with injuries for the last three years which have stronglyaffected her performance. During that period, Huong was only able toshine at the national championships in 2012, where her times were betterthan the SEA Games gold medallists.
Huong ran11.62sec in the 100m and 23.32sec in the 200m, compared to 11.69 byIndonesia's Serafi Unani and 23.65 by Laphassaporn Tawoncharoen ofThailand.
Her 200m result was even better than thetime of 23.49 that helped Chisato Fukushima of Japan win the Asian Gamesgold in China, where Huong came second.
In thisyear's championships in September, Huong avoided the individualcategories, and only competed in the team events due to her injuries.
At that time, Huong and her coach Nguyen Dinh Minhboth believed that the rest time to the SEA Games would be enough forher to return to her peak.
Three months have passed,and Huong appears to be peaking in time for the Games, with timesof11.50 and 23.50 during training.
Nguyen Manh Hung,deputy general secretary of the Vietnam Athletics Federation, said thatthe best result in the region for 100m was around 11.76, so the doorwas open for her to take gold.
However, he said the 27 year old had not been set any targets, and would be free to compete without pressure.
"I have faced different kinds of injuries and tasted success anddefeat in my career. In Asia, I do not fear anyone but myself," saidHuong, referring to her long-term injuries and recent surgery.
Vietnam's golden hopes
In Myanmar the organisers will award 46 sets of medals, and the Vietnamese team is expected to win nine golds.
Young athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh will take part in her second SEA Games in the women's 200m and 400m events.
The 17-year-old recently made a bang by coming fourth in the world junior 400m.
Her personal best of 52.97 which she set at this year's nationaltournament is faster than the SEA Games winning result of 54.13, andclose to the Asian Championships gold medal time.
Oanh will be a competitive rival for her senior teammate Huong in the 200m event.
Thanh Hoa province's Quach Thi Lan will return for Vietnam aftermonths of training in Bulgaria and Malaysia. The 18-year-old runner whohas received strong support for the upcoming ASIAD is expected to shinein the women's 400m and 400m hurdles.
She is the SEAGames record holder in the 400m event with a time of 53.76, while inthe 400m hurdles, she has already run faster than the SEA Games winner.
Other Vietnamese athletes who have been tipped tohave a good Games include Do Thi Thao (women's 800m and 1,500m); PhamThi Diem (women's high jump); Tran Hue Hoa (women's triple-jump) andNguyen Thi Thanh Phuc (women's walk).
Athletics will be held from December 14-19 at the Wunna Theikdi Sports Complex in Nay Pyi Taw.-VNA
This year, Huong will try to make amends for her disappointment, but is still struggling to overcome injuries.
Two years ago in Indonesia, Huong unexpectedly finished third in boththe 100m and 200m events after dominating her regional competitors formost of the season.
Huong admitted that it wasimpossible to win every time, but she could not believe that she hadfailed at the tournament she had won on the previous three occasions.
The Thai Nguyen province-born athlete has beenstruggling with injuries for the last three years which have stronglyaffected her performance. During that period, Huong was only able toshine at the national championships in 2012, where her times were betterthan the SEA Games gold medallists.
Huong ran11.62sec in the 100m and 23.32sec in the 200m, compared to 11.69 byIndonesia's Serafi Unani and 23.65 by Laphassaporn Tawoncharoen ofThailand.
Her 200m result was even better than thetime of 23.49 that helped Chisato Fukushima of Japan win the Asian Gamesgold in China, where Huong came second.
In thisyear's championships in September, Huong avoided the individualcategories, and only competed in the team events due to her injuries.
At that time, Huong and her coach Nguyen Dinh Minhboth believed that the rest time to the SEA Games would be enough forher to return to her peak.
Three months have passed,and Huong appears to be peaking in time for the Games, with timesof11.50 and 23.50 during training.
Nguyen Manh Hung,deputy general secretary of the Vietnam Athletics Federation, said thatthe best result in the region for 100m was around 11.76, so the doorwas open for her to take gold.
However, he said the 27 year old had not been set any targets, and would be free to compete without pressure.
"I have faced different kinds of injuries and tasted success anddefeat in my career. In Asia, I do not fear anyone but myself," saidHuong, referring to her long-term injuries and recent surgery.
Vietnam's golden hopes
In Myanmar the organisers will award 46 sets of medals, and the Vietnamese team is expected to win nine golds.
Young athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh will take part in her second SEA Games in the women's 200m and 400m events.
The 17-year-old recently made a bang by coming fourth in the world junior 400m.
Her personal best of 52.97 which she set at this year's nationaltournament is faster than the SEA Games winning result of 54.13, andclose to the Asian Championships gold medal time.
Oanh will be a competitive rival for her senior teammate Huong in the 200m event.
Thanh Hoa province's Quach Thi Lan will return for Vietnam aftermonths of training in Bulgaria and Malaysia. The 18-year-old runner whohas received strong support for the upcoming ASIAD is expected to shinein the women's 400m and 400m hurdles.
She is the SEAGames record holder in the 400m event with a time of 53.76, while inthe 400m hurdles, she has already run faster than the SEA Games winner.
Other Vietnamese athletes who have been tipped tohave a good Games include Do Thi Thao (women's 800m and 1,500m); PhamThi Diem (women's high jump); Tran Hue Hoa (women's triple-jump) andNguyen Thi Thanh Phuc (women's walk).
Athletics will be held from December 14-19 at the Wunna Theikdi Sports Complex in Nay Pyi Taw.-VNA
