Nguyen Thi Tam (left) training in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) The team will jet off for Thailand on April 16 for a rigorous three-weektraining camp ahead of the region's biggest sports event.
“The training programme in Thailand will help the Vietnamese boxers to have thebest mentality before competing," said Vu Duc Thinh, head of the boxingsection of the National Sports Administration and general secretary of theVietnamese Boxing Federation. "We want to have the best preparation forthe regional event.”
The team consist of eight male and three female boxers, including stars NguyenThi Tam and Nguyen Van Duong.
At the Games 31 held in Vietnam last year, the Vietnamese boxing team won threegold medals thanks to Tam (51kg), Vuong Thi Vy (57kg), and Tran Thi Linh(60kg).
However, after analysing their opponents this year, Vietnam has set a target ofone gold medal at the Games 32, focusing on the 'golden girl' Tam.
Tam has just won a silver medal in the World Boxing Championship and is adouble SEA Games champion. She will step up from 51kg to fight in the 54kgcategory this year.
Coach Nguyen Nhu Cuong said: "At the Games 32, boxing had 17 weightclasses (12 for men and 5 for women), but the host country restricted thecontent of registration for the competition for other countries. Cambodia alsodropped the 51 kg weight class that Am won gold medals in two consecutive SEAGames. Therefore, Tam will have to compete in the 54kg class.”
Thinh said that increasing the weight class from 51kg to 54kg is challengingfor Tam.
“Usually, boxers walk around at a weight above the class they will compete in.Tâm has to do the reverse process to gain 4kg. It greatly influences herbecause the opponents will have better physical strength and fighting powerbecause they have been a long accumulation process”.
Tam is racing against time to train and adjust her diet to achieve the bestweight and body shape, but the 29-year-old from Thai Binh province isn'tlacking motivation.
"For me, competing in a new weight class is also an opportunity andmotivation for me to try harder and perfect more in tactical techniques towardsthe goal of defending the SEA Games gold medal," Tam said.
In addition to the goal of winning another SEA Games gold medal, Tam is alsoinvested in bigger international tournaments.
"In addition to the regional Games, Tam also has a key investment for theAsian Games in September in China with the determination to win a ticket to theParis Olympics 2024,” Thinh said.
“We plan to send Tam to a long-term training session in countries withdeveloped boxing movements to realise the above important goal."
Meanwhile, boxer Duong missed the SEA Games 31 as he was infected withCOVID-19. After a year, he has trained thoroughly to return to show his trueability. He is also one of the hopes of medals of Vietnamese men's boxing inCambodia.
Both Duong and Tam attended the Tokyo Olympics in Japan in 2021./.
VNA
