Truong Thanh Hang, the SEA Games 2007 champion in the women’s 1,500m and 800m races, has decided to leave HCM City as it cut her salary.

In October 2008, under the new rules of the Finance Ministry, the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism stopped paying the monthly salary of VND1.3 million to Thanh Hang.

Since then, Hang has only been given around VND2 million per month by the national team. The HCM City Track-and-Field Division promised to give VND1.5 million per month to Hang but the famous runner has not received a cent so far.

“I contacted Mr. Nguyen Trung Hinh, chief of the HCM City Track-and-Field Division, and the Director of the HCM City Sports and Physical Training School Truong Ngoc De several times to ask for an allowance to support my family but they always told me to wait,” Hang said.

The track-and-field queen said the allowance was not much but it helped her support her elderly mother and her school-age brother.

The contract between Hang and the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism ended a long time ago but she has continued to stay in HCM City.

“I’m very sad to leave HCM City. But I can’t see my family living in difficulties. I’ve been waiting for five months. My patience is exhausted,” she said.

Because of the concerns for her family, Hang’s recent practices at the National Centre for Sports and Physical Training in Da Nang have not been very good.

Hang was honoured as the nation’s outstanding athlete in 2007 after winning many medals at regional and continental contests. She won an Asian gold medal in the women’s 800m race in 2007.

Hang said that after saying goodbye to HCM City, she would focus on training with the national squad to prepare for important events in 2009.

Truong Thanh Hang’s records:

National: gold medal in women’s 1,500m from 2005-2008; gold medal in 800m from 2006-2008; holds two national records in women’s 800m run (2’02’’39) and women’s 1,500m run (4’11’’50); three gold medals at the 5^th National Sports and Physical Training Games (800m, 1,500m and 5km).

International: Asian gold medal in women’s 800m run, gold medal at Asian Grand Prix Series 2008 (800m), 23^rd SEA Games gold medal (1,500m), 24^th SEA Games gold medals (800m and 1,500m).

VietNamNet/VNE