Coach of the athletics team Nguyen Manh Hieu speaks at the ceremony on September 19 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Sports Administration (VSA) andthe Vietnam Athletics Federation (VAF) held a ceremony in Hanoi on September 19to commend and reward track and field athletes for their achievements recorded at therecent Asian Games 2018 (ASIAD 2018).
At the event, VAF President Hoang Ve Dung said the Vietnamese athletics teamexcellently fulfilled their assigned tasks at the ASIAD 2018, with one gold,one silver and three bronze medals, and breaking three national records.
Vietnam was the only country in Southeast Asian bagging the gold medal in athleticsat the event, he said, adding that this was also the first time Vietnam’sathletics had won a valuable gold medal in the long jump.
Dung expressed his wish that after the games, track and field coaches and athleteswill continue to promote their unyielding combat spirit and improving professional skills,towards high achievements at other sports events at home and abroad.
VSA deputy head Tran Duc Phan spoke highly of the Vietnamese athletics team’sASIAD 2018 achievements, hoping that they will fulfill all targets set for 2018and the following years as well as overcome all difficulties to gain higher attainmentsin the coming time.
With their achievements at ASIAD 2018, besides an amount of money they receivedin Indonesia right after pocketing the gold, the team will receive 370 millionVND (15,800 USD) from sponsors.
Gold medalist Bui Thi Thu Thao got 200 million VND and 1,000 USD while hercoach Nguyen Manh Hieu was granted 50 million VND.
Vietnamsent 523 people, including 352 athletes, to the ASIAD 2018, which took place inIndonesia’s Jakarta and Palembang cities from August 18 to September 2.
It finished 17th out of 45 countries and territories in the medal tally of thecontinental sporting event, with four gold, 16 silver, and 18 bronze medals.
The four golds of Vietnam were inpencak silat (men’s tanding 70-75 kg and 90-95 kg), women’s long jump andwomen’s lightweight quadruple sculls categories.
At the last ASIAD in 2014, Vietnam won one gold, 10silver and 25 bronze medals, ranking 21st in the overall medal tally.-VNA
VNA
