With 506 athletes playing in all 21 sports categories, Vietnam hopes to take from 15-20 gold medals at the 3rd Asian Indoor Games, which will open on October 30 in Hanoi.

To strengthen unity, friendship and peace among Asian countries, AIG was created by the Asian Sports Council in 2005 in Thailand. The 2^nd AIG was organized in Macau in 2007 and the third AIG will be held in Vietnam.

The slogan for the 3^rd AIG is “For a Developed Asia.”

At the 1^st AIG, Vietnam won one silver, one bronze medal, ranking 21^st. Its position moved up by 13 grades in the medal tally at the 2^nd AIG, with two gold, five silver and on bronze medals.

Vietnam will participate in all categories, including athletics, water sports, sports dance, pantenque, boxing, wushu, shuttle cock, sepak takraw, Kabadi, Kurash, E-sports, archery, sport aerobics, pencak silat, Chinese chess and chess, futsal, basketball, Muay, kick boxing, Vovinam, Billiards and snooker, bowling, unicorn-lion-dragon dance and Jujitsu and Beltwrestling.

At a ceremony in Hanoi on October 25 for the Vietnamese sports delegation at the 3^rd AIG, the delegation’s chief, Tran Van Quynh, stated that Vietnam’s goal is to be among the top eight teams.

To fulfill this goal, Vietnam must win 15-20 gold medals, which is within Vietnam’s read because top competitors like swimmer Huu Viet, runners Vu Thi Huong, Vu Van Huyen, Truong Thanh Hang, chess player Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and Dao Thien Hai will join the event.

Competitions will take place at 27 locations throughout Hanoi (opening and closing ceremonies, 10 sports categories), HCM City (8 sports categories), Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Bac Ninh and Quang Ninh.

PV