Taekwondo fighter Truong Thi Kim Tuyen (left) and her coach pose for photo after winning a silver at the US Open taekwondo tournament on February 19 in Nevada. (Photo courtesy of Truong Thi Kim Tuyen) The Vietnamese athlete finished second in the women's U49kg afterlosing to No 1 seed Daniela Paola Souza of Mexico in the final.
On the way to the gold-medal match, Tuyen, who was seeded third,received a bye to advance to the second round where she beat AshleyChoi of the host country 2-0.
In the quarter finals, the former Asian champion beat GiuliaClara Sendra from Argentina 2-0 before winning 2-1 over Josipa Kafadarof Canada in the semi-finals.
The silver will push Tuyen up on her road to the Paris Olympicswhich will be her second time at the world largest global sporting festival.
The 27-year-old was confident ahead of the Olympic qualifier Asianzone which will be held on March 15-17 in China, last qualification tournamentfor Vietnamese athletes.
"My goal is an official spot at the Paris Games 2024. To me,every rival are in the same level and I have 50-50 chance to win," shesaid.
"When I am on the competition map, I ask myself to fight mybest, showing all skills and technique that I have been practising and owningfor years. So that I will never regret when the game is over."
Other Vietnamese competitors were ousted early in their categories.
Tran Thi Anh Tuyet was defeated 0-2 by Kimia Alizadeh Zenozi ofIran in the women's 57kg class in the second round.
Bac Thi Khiem lost 0-2 to Claudia Gallardo of Chile in thequarter-finals of the women's 67kg.
At the upcoming China event, to take their Olympic places, Tuyenand teammates will have to be in top two of their categories./.
VNA
