After a period of hard preparation, Da Nang’s weightlifting team is ready to compete in the 2024 National Club Weightlifting Championship which is taking place in Thanh Hoa Province from August 20 - 29.

The team targets to win 4 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals, contributing to the overall success of the city's high-performance sports.

Da Nang’s weightlifting team has been training hard to prepare for the 2024 National Club Weightlifting Championship. Photo: P.N

The annual tournament is jointly organised by the General Department of Physical Education and Sports, the Viet Nam Weightlifting and Bodybuilding Federation, and localities.

Its purpose is to create conditions for athletes to compete, and improve their professional skills and experience. At the same time, it is an opportunity for localities and relevant units to evaluate the training and education of athletes. Through the tournament, the organisers discover, select and add outstanding athletes in preparation for international tournaments.

This year's tournament attracts more than 200 weightlifters from nearly 30 provinces, cities, and sectors across the country such as An Giang, Bac Lieu, Da Nang, Dak Lak, Ha Noi, Thanh Hoa, Can Tho, Nghe An, Ho Chi Minh City, and People's Public Security.

They compete in 20 events of snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift. Of which, male athletes compete in 10 weightlifting events in weight categories from 55kg to over 190kg; and female athletes in 10 weightlifting events in weight categories from 45kg to over 87kg.

The Da Nang weightlifting team consists of six athletes namely Tran Thi Bich Yen (competing in the 55kg women's category), Duong Thi Phuong (76kg women's category), Ngo Thanh Binh (73kg men's category), Nguyen Thanh Hoang (81kg men's category), Dinh Huu Phuc (89kg men's category), and Phan Thanh Ha (105kg men's category). They are young, promising weightlifters of the local high-performance sports.

Before participating in the 2024 National Club Weightlifting Championship, these athletes were facilitated to participate in national youth weightlifting championships and achieved good results.

Weightlifter Tran Thi Bich Yen has joined the city’s weightlifting team for 8 years and has made a lot of progress in her expertise. She won a bronze medal at the 2022 National Youth Weightlifting Championship.

Bich Yen shared "The upcoming National Club Weightlifting Championship is a good opportunity for me to compete professionally with strong rivals from all over the country. To prepare for the tournament, I practice two sessions per day according to the coach's training plan. In addition, I have increased my physical training to have the best physical condition. I will try my best to explore my limits".

Along with Bich Yen, other members of the Da Nang weightlifting team are closely monitored by the coaching staff during their training courses.

In the men's 89kg category, Dinh Huu Phuc is the high hope of the Da Nang weightlifting team. This weightlifter won a bronze medal at the 2023 National Club Weightlifting Championship and silver medals at the National Youth Weightlifting Championships in 2020 and 2022.

Huu Phuc said his goal set for the upcoming tournament was to improve his performance and contribute to the overall success of the local weightlifting team. This is an important tournament during the year, so the team has prepared carefully. The coaching staff creates favourable conditions for team members to train and feel comfortable before entering the tournament.

According to Coach Phan Van Thien, the Da Nang weightlifting team sets a goal of winning 4 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals during the tournament.

Most recently, the team grabbed 8 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals at the Weightlifting Championship for Youth Groups held in Lang Son Province and 2 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals at the Youth Weightlifting Championship held in An Giang Province. These achievements give the team more confidence in the tournament.

"Weightlifting has become strength of the Da Nang sports sector in recent years. Thanks to the city's attention, the physical facilities and nutritional regime for weightlifters are guaranteed. This is the great motivation for them to practice hard and compete with strong determination to achieve the best results in the tournament" said Mr. Thien.

Reporting by PHI NONG - Translating by M.DUNG