VietNamNet Bridge – A 15-member canoeing team resumed training last week for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Canoeing Championships, to take place in Mac Ritchie Lake, Singapore later this year.

Ha Noi was the first place in Viet Nam to actively promote canoeing and most of the national squad are Hanoian.

Canoeist Hoang Hong Anh will lead the team in December’s championships as he has been in top form since the SEA Games 2003 in Viet Nam.

Anh took the men’s singles canoe title to help Viet Nam edge past Thailand in the medal tally at last years’ SEA Championships.

At the Flatwater Racing World Championships in Duisburg, Germany, two years ago, the Hanoian athlete was the only Vietnamese to make it to the finals. He failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics after recording an off-form time of 4:36.985 in the men’s singles 1,000m.

The team have placed their hopes on the doubles events this year, Tran Van Long and Luu Van Hoan, and Nguyen Van Chi and Dang Van Thang have been paddling well and are team favourites to bring home gold.

According to national coach Nguyen Van Thang, youngster Pham Khac Chan from HCM City was called up to complete the doubles line-up, making this team the strongest yet. The SEA Canoeing Championships will see athletes competing for 24 in canoeing and kayaking events.

Thang said Viet Nam were confident in defending the championship as the team were an experienced squad.

“We tested them at the national championships last month and selected the top athletes for the national team. The annual national championships are always a good test for our athletes, but they need to train hard for the SEA Championships this December,” he said.

Ha Noi was the first place in Viet Nam to actively promote canoeing and most of the national squad are Hanoian.

According to general secretary and vice chairman of the Viet Nam Olympic Committee, Hoang Vinh Giang, Vietnamese canoeists are amongst the best in the region and are looking forward to the world championships.

Viet Nam’s best canoeing result so far was when Doan Thi Cach advanced to the semi-finals of the Athens Olympic Games in the women’s 500m kayak singles sprint four years ago.

(Source: Viet Nam News)