The 47^th edition of the National Athletics Championship opened on Tuesday at the National Military Training Center 4, located in Ha Noi's rural My Duc District.

Walker Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc (top) is expected to successfully defend the gold medal in the women's 20km walking event. Photo: P.N

Lasting until October 28, the event sees the participation of 464 athletes from 53 units and localities. They are competing in 50 events, including 24 men's events, 24 women's events and 2 mixed relay events (4x100m and 4x400m).

Among the contestants are gold medal winners at the 32^nd SEA Games, namely Nguyen Trung Cuong (men's 3,000m hurdles), Huynh Thi My Tien (women's 100m hurdles), Nguyen Thi Oanh (women’s 1,500m, 3,000m, 5,000m and 10,000m hurdles), Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc (women's 20km walk), Nguyen Thi Huyen (women's 400m hurdles), Nguyen Thi Thu Ha (women's 800m hurdles), and Nguyen Linh Na (7 combined track and field events), and a 4x400m female relay team.

A total of 24 athletes, 7 coaches and 1 assistant coach from Da Nang are competing in the sports event.

Among the 53 participating units, Da Nang ranks fourth in the number of athletes after Ha Noi (45), and Military Command (38) and Ho Chi Minh City (36).

The Da Nang sports delegation targets for three gold medals. Among them, high expectations are placed on such athletes as Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc (women's 20km race walk), Nguyen Thanh Ngung (men's 20km race walk), Tran Thi Loan (women's long jump and triple jump), and Nguyen Pham Hoai Yen (women's pole vault).

Additionally, Huynh Thi Van, Huynh Ngoc Trai, Nguyen Khanh Ly, Nguyen Thanh Ha, Tran Thi Loan and Tran Ba Linh are expected to create a surprise at the event.

The 2023 National Athletics Championship is the last major tournament in the year for Vietnamese athletics, gathering all top athletes in all events.

According to coach Tran Anh Hiep, the Da Nang Athlete Training and Coaching Centre creates the best conditions for local athletes to practice and compete.

One week before the tournament's start date, local athletes were present in Ha Noi to familiarise themselves with the competition conditions. At present, each member of the coaching staff and athletes are dmaking every effort to achieve the best results.

Reporting by PHI NONG - Translating by M.DUNG