LookAtVietnam – Viet Nam are aiming to win at least six gold medals in athletics at the SEA Games this December in Laos.

Vu Thi Huong.

“Two years ago in Korat (Thailand), we won eight golds but things have now changed a lot,” he said.

“After the third Asian Indoor Games (AIG) and the Asian championship, we can now look for golds in the women’s 100m, 200m, 800m, 1,500m and men’s decathlon events.”

Viet Nam’s sprinter Vu Thi Huong is believed to take the lead as she set a new women’s record of 7.24sec in the women’s 60m at the AIG.

The Thai Nguyen-born runner is also the SEA Games defending champion in both 100m and 200m events.

Malaysian sports reporter Haresh Deol, had repeatedly sung the 23-year-old’s praises in the press.

“[Vu Thi] Huong will be the person to beat not just for Malaysian sprinters but also powerhouses from Thailand and Indonesia.”

Viet Nam are also expecting Asian Grand Prix champion Truong Thanh Hang to win golds. At this year’s SEA Games she will protect her titles in the 800m and 1,500m.

Hang’s strongest event is the 1,500m, but she also holds the SEA Games record of 2:2.39 in the 800m.

Another gold medal hopeful is men’s decathlete Vu Van Huyen.

The SEA Games champion set a record of 7,457 points at the previous event.

“At present, my athletes, especially Huong, Hang and Huyen are in good form. My biggest worry is Nguyen Dinh Cuong, who will defend his titles in the men’s 800m and 1,500m,” Thuy said.

“I hope Cuong, has been suffering from a muscle injury, will be fully fit when he returns from training in China,” he said.

At the last SEA Games, Cuong won two golds and set two records.

Thuy, who is also head of the National Sports Administration’s athletics department, said he was also concerned about former Asian champion and SEA Games defending champion Bui Thi Nhung.

The Hai Phong-based high jumper has failed to perform to the best of her ability this year, just managing to clear the bar at 1.80m at the AIG. Her personal best is 1.94m, which she set in Thailand in 2005. Meanwhile, Nhung’s main rivals in Laos – Thai Chaipech Noeing Ruthai and Wadina Boonwan – cleared 1.91m and 1.93m at AIG.

Apart from golden hopes, lesser talents of Viet Nam include Bui Thi Hien, who came second in the AIG’s 3,000m; Le Thi Phuong, who won silver in the women’s pole vault and Nguyen Thi Thu Cuc, who was in top three in the women’s pentathlon event.

Vietnamese athletic team ended second behind host Thailand in the previous SEA Games two years ago.

This December, 38 Vietnamese athletes, the highest number in history, will be competing and hope to maintain their position.

Viet Nam’s two main rivals are the Philippines and Malaysia who also announced a target of six gold medals.

Thuy said Malaysia were likely to win golds in the 110m and 400m hurdles, high jump, hammer throw, pole vault and 20km walk.

Meanwhile Philippine athletes will dominate the long jump and triple jump events, he said.

Thailand who are always the strongest team have no worthy rival in this sport. They are aiming to top with at least 15 golds from a total of 45.

The athletic events run from December 13-17.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News