LookAtVietnam – Members of the national track and field team are training at four different locations in preparation for the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos this December where they aim to grab seven golds.

Bui Thi Nhung.

National champion Nhung made a Southeast Asian record-breaking jump of 1.94m in the Thailand Open in 2005. She also went to the 2004 Athens Olympics after clearing the 1.88m bar at the Asian Track and Field Championship in 2003.

The 23-year-old from Hai Phong City set a new record at the 23rd SEA Games, clearing the 1.89m bar on her first attempt, beating the Southeast Asian region record by 1cm.

To take gold at the SEA Games, Nhung will have to try hard, because her current condition isn’t at its best, according to Misa.

Meanwhile, other athletes are training at the Tu Son Sports College in northern Bac Ninh Province. Among them, Vu Van Huyen and Thu Cuc are candidates to take the men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon gold medals.

Short-distance athletes are training in both Ha Noi and HCM City. Their task in these Games is to grab three golds in the 100m, 200m and in the 4×100m or 4×200m relay.

Unfortunately, Vu Thi Huong, a key player to win gold, injured her leg and missed the Thailand Open Track & Field Championships last month.

The northern Thai Nguyen born-and-bred athlete took the silver medal in the 100m and bronze in the 200m at the Jordan Asian Athletics event two years ago, and also took a gold in the 24th SEA Games.

Huong said that she has begun training again but hasn’t completely recovered.

Huong’s rival at the Laos Games will be Thailand’s Nongnuch Saenrat, who currently has the best result for the women’s 100m, at 11.62 seconds. Huong’s best running time is 11.43.

Huong said “I am not worried much about my rival. I only worry about my insult.”

As planned, Vietnamese athletes will train in China in July and August.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News