Together with the whole country, Da Nang’s sports sector is determined to gain certain success at the forthcoming 31^st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) which is scheduled for May, 2022.

'Golden' hopes for Da Nang’s sports sector at 31st SEA Games: race walker Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc and her younger brother Nguyen Thanh Ngung. Photo: MOC MIEN

At the SEA Games 30 in the Philippines, team Da Nang set a target of winning 3-4 gold medals, but only brought home two gold, 3 silver and 8 bronze medals. This could not be said to be a success at the largest sporting event in Southeast Asia because Da Nang is the third largest and most traditional sports centre in Viet Nam after Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The host Viet Nam has registered 965 athletes, including 534 males and 431 females, for the upcoming SEA Games 31. They are set to compete at all 40 sports of the Games, striving to win 140 gold, 77 silver and 71 bronze medals and secure the top place in the tally.

The Vietnamese sports delegation has the largest number of participants in the history of SEA GAME editions.

In that context, Da Nang expects to send 20 athletes, determined to win 4-5 gold medals. It's a pity if the target is not achieved, because it will take 19 years for the SEA Games to return to Viet Nam.

Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Trong Thao said Da Nang’s sports sector was in a period of strong force transfer. Many high-class athletes have been on the other side of the performance peak such as swimmer Hoang Quy Phuoc, race walker Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc, and rower Pham Thi Hue.

He, however, noted over the past time, the city’s sports sector has paid special attention to recruiting and training sports talents for the city's high-achievement sports teams. Also, local athletes have been facilitated to compete in more tournaments in both home and abroad in a bid to improve their skills and performances.

In an effort to prepare for the forthcoming regional sports event, Da Nang has sent a number of athletes abroad for intensive training and taking part in elite tournaments to sharpen skills, like Hoang Quy Phuoc and Huynh Kim Son.

Particularly, members of the national teams enjoy a meal allowance of VND400,000 VND/day/ person. Those who win gold medals at SEA Games 31 will be awarded an additional 50% of bonuses prescribed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

“Da Nang is aiming to invest heavily in prestigious sports, specifically Olympic sports. This is also the general policy of Vietnamese sports in the new era. The quality of the medals is the goal to aim for, not to invest in spreading just to achieve temporary achievements" emphasised Deputy Director Thao.

Indeed, Da Nang’s athletes who will participate in SEA Games 2022 are mostly in prestigious sports such as sailing, taekwondo, athletics, swimming, etc...

Jujitsu fighter Duong Thi Thanh Minh has just won a gold medal at the Asian Jujitsu Championship in the women’s 52kg category.

With the overall achievement of the Vietnamese taekwondo team who just won the first place in the Southeast Asian championship, Taekwondo fighter Tran Thi Anh Tuyet from Da Nang contributed a gold medal.

Tuyet is at the most vigorous stage of her career, so her possibility of winning a gold medal in taekwondo at the 31^st SEA Games is within reach.

Currently, Da Nang boat racing team are undergoing training in Hai Phong City in preparation for the SEA Games 31.

Race walker Thanh Phuc and her younger brother Thanh Ngung are very determined to collect "gold medal" debt that lose in the Philippines more than 3 years ago.

Similarly, local fans also hope that Quy Phuoc and Kim Son will bring glory to their homeland.

This is a very important SEA Games for Da Nang’s sports, so both athletes and coaches need to be highly focused, and have good tactics to succeed at the forthcoming sports event.

Reporting by MOC MIEN – Translating by M.DUNG