To increase competitiveness and attractiveness, the annual Da Nang Newspaper Road Races has the participation of delegations of professional athletes. To prepare for this year's tournament, they have been practicing hard and determined to achieve the highest results.

Athletes of the Da Nang Gymnastics and Sports Athletes Training and Training Center make efforts to practice in preparation for the 27th Da Nang Newspaper Road Races. Photo: P.N

Every year, the Da Nang Sports and Gymnastics Athletes Training Center sends members of its track and field team to participate in the Da Nang Newspaper Road Races. 

 

This year, a total of 9 runners, including 6 women and 3 men, have registered to compete in the tournament, an increase of 3 compared to last year. They are young and talented athletes with great potential for development of high-performance sports in the city. 

 

Two among them, namely Nguyen Thi Hong Anh and Thai Ba Thanh Hoang, have experience participating in the tournament. Meanwhile, the remaining athletes have just been selected and trained by the Da Nang Sports and Gymnastics Athletes Training Center since 2023.

 

According to coach Nguyen Duc Thao, most of the athletes participate in the tournament for the first time so they are very excited.

 

He added that the  tournament provided the good opportunity for athletes to interact and develop professionally. Through the tournament, the coaching board tests and evaluates their abilities. 

 

“The Da Nang Newspaper Road Races is a carefully and methodically organised-quality tournament. Therefore, to achieve the best results, athletes maintain maximum concentration and practice according to the pre-planned lesson plan" he remarked.

 

Mr. Thao said the coaching board facilitated the trainees to practice two sessions/day at the Hoa Xuan athletics field in order to improve physical strength and endurance. The goal is that from now until April 21, when the tournament starts, the athletes will have the best mental and physical state.

 

At this year's tournament, professional athletes continue to compete in two individual events for men and women. In particular, female athletes will compete in the 5km event, and male athletes in the 7km event.

 

Athlete Nguyen Thi Hong Anh said “I am very happy to be chosen by the coaching board for this year's tournament. In the past, many brothers and sisters who were symbols of Da Nang athletics participated in the tournament and have made steady progress in the future. Therefore, I want to follow in their footsteps and try my best in training in order to achieve the highest results, contributing to bringing glory to the Da Nang Sports and Gymnastics Athletes Training Center".

 

Sharing the same excitement, athlete Thai Ba Thanh Hoang expressed "This year, I try the 7km event for men. The tournament has many professional athletes competing, so I hope I can learn useful lessons while participating in. In recent days, the coaching board has created good conditions for me to practice. I feel comfortable and ready to compete in the tournament."

 

In addition to the Da Nang Sports and Gymnastics Athletes Training Center, the athletes of the Da Nang National Sports Training Center strive to practice to maintain their achievements. 

 

At the 26^th edition of the Da Nang Newspaper Road Races, the center won many awards thanks to the excellence of runners Nguyen Thu Quyen, Mai Quy Phong, Nguyen Thanh Sang and Huynh Ngoc Trai. This year, the center's athletes promise to continue to bring exciting and dramatic competition on the running tracks.

 

According to Director of the Da Nang National Sports Training Center Pham Hoang Tung, the Da Nang Newspaper Road Races is a large-scale movement tournament in the city. Every year, the center sends athletes to compete in the tournament. 

 

This is an opportunity for young athletes of the national athletics team to improve their skills and competition experience. Through the tournament, the center hopes to contribute to spreading and promoting the development of the athletics movement in the city, he said.