Wrestling: Contenders grapple for national glory

About 200 wrestlers from 19 teams will show off their skills at the National Greco-Romans and Freestyle Championships on Sept. 15.
About 200 wrestlers from 19 teams will show off their skills at the National Greco-Romans and Freestyle Championships on Sept. 15.

The national squad's coaching board will choose the top wrestlers from the tournament who will represent the country at the Asian Games (ASIAD) in Guangzhou , China from November 12-27.

"We recruit the best wrestlers at the championship for the national team for ASIAD and the 2012 Olympics qualifiers," said the National Sports Administration's wrestling division head, Vu The Long. Athletes will compete for 26 medal sets in the men's and women's weight divisions at Ha Dong Gymnasium.

Teams from Hanoi , Ninh Binh, Bac Ninh and the Army have sent their squads to a one-year training session in China .

"Most of the teams prepared well for the championship because the athletes will compete for official berths on the national squad that will compete in the biggest Asian sporting event," said Long.

Long said he hoped favourites Nguyen Thi Lua, Pham Thi Hue and Luong Thi Quyen would pick up gold medals at the championship and at the Asian Games.

Last year Lua bagged a bronze medal in the women's 48kg weight class at the World Greco-Roman and Freestyle Wrestling Championship in Herning City , Denmark ./.

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