Lookatvietnam – Viet Nam’s judo team is facing a difficult period as its senior athletes retire and are replaced by a youthful and inexperienced squad, according to coach Nguyen Van An.

Departing veterans like Tran Van Doat, Nguyen Thi Dinh and Nguyen Thi Kieu are saying good-bye to the sport for different reasons.

Kieu suffered a serious injury which is forcing her into retirement, while Doat and Dinh are leaving to focus on their academic studies.

An said that some of the young martial artists have a lot of potential, but it will take time and hard work for them to fill the shoes left by the older generation.

The coach said that the 2009-10 roster of international tournaments is very challenging and that the team must focus on defending their titles in regional events.

At Thailand’s 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2007, Kieu, Van Ngoc Tu and Tran Thi Bich Tram pocketed three gold medals for Viet Nam. Emulating their success will be the young team’s goal at the Laos games later this year.

However, it will not be easy to repeat the results because other teams like the Philippines and Singapore have improved recently, said the coach.

Viet Nam plans to rent foreign coaches to boost their strength.

Chinese expert Shi Kien Sheng will act as a coach along with local trainers.

Overseas training courses are also being considered to improve athletes’ fighting skills and technique.

Viet Nam will take part in the Asian Junior Judo Championship held in Chinese Taipei, the Hong Kong Open, the Thailand Open, the first Asian Martial Arts Festival and the most important event – the 25th SEA Games in Laos.

All eyes are on the SEA Games defending champion Van Ngoc Tu, who will compete in the women’s 47kg category, to grab a gold for Viet Nam.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News