Top Vietnamese female swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien (Illustrative image. Source: VNA)“We will adjust Vien’scompetition categories when the Games begin. It depends on the schedule andreal situation. The tournament rules allow us to reduce the competitioncategories of athletes, not increase them,” said Hung.
At the 28th Games held inSingapore two years ago, Vien registered for 19 events. However, she onlyparticipated in 13 events to focus on her favourite races.
Vien, 20, took home eight gold,one silver and one bronze medal to become one of the best performers at the28th Games, behind only Singapore’s Joseph Isaac Schooling, who claimed gold inall nine disciplines he participated in.
To prepare for the Games, Vientook part in the recent FINA World Swimming Championships in Hungary but didn’tperform well. She failed in the qualifying round of her strong categories – thewomen’s 400m medley and 200m medley.
However, Hung said Vien and otherVietnamese swimmers will not be focusing on the poor result. “Vien’s goal isthe Games in Malaysia,” said Hung.
“It is not easy to win goldmedals in a tournament which has high competition such as the regional sportevent. Coach Hoang Anh Tuan and Vien will have to calculate carefully topartake in the chosen divisions, not affecting physical fitness but stillfulfilling the target,” Hung added.
According to Nguyen HongMinh, former head ofthe National Sport Administration’s Elite Sport Department, Vien’s poor performance at the worldevent in Hungary doesn’t mean anything.
“The event was aimed to hone Vien’sskills. This is the period of training physical strength so it is normal whenshe didn’t gain a high achievement. Vien will shine in Malaysia and we willwait for new milestones of Vietnamese swimming,” said Minh.
Coach Tuan explained that the SEAGames will take place after the world event has finished, so he has planned tonot allow Vien to become overloaded.
Meanwhile, Vien said confidently: “ASEAN’s most important sportingfestival has many strong rivals but I always know that my biggest rival ismyself.”
As scheduled, swimming will takeplace on August 21-26 with 38 sets of medals up for grabs.
Vien is one of Vietnam’s swimmingstars. At the 2013 Games in Myanmar, she won three gold medals. She won a goldmedal in the women’s 400m medley at the Asian Swimming Championships in April.
She also earned a gold medal atthe Youth Olympic Games in China, and nine golds, four silvers and threebronzes at the 2014 Southeast Asian Swimming Championship in Singapore.
Vietnam will send more than 470 athletes to compete in Malaysia onAugust 19-30. They will take part in 32 out of 38 sports.
At the previous games inSingapore two years ago, Vietnam finished third with 73 golds. Thailand (95golds) and the hosts (84 golds) secured the first and second positions,respectively.-VNA
VNA
