For the first time two brothes attended Olympics: Nguyen Quoc Huan, 29, at Athens Olympic 2004 and Nguyen Quoc Cuong, 17, at the Youth Olympic Games 2010.

Quoc Huan (red) in the game against world silver medal winner Paul Green (UK).

Before attending Olympic Athens 2004, taekwondo artist Nguyen Quoc Huan won only one silver medal at Southeast Asian Games 2003. However, Huan defeated world bronze medal holder Seyfula Magomedow (Russia) in the first round and wold silver bronze winner Paul Green (UK) in the second round to enter the semi-finals in Athens.

Tenseness and liver disease prevented Huan from defeating world bronze medal winner Salazar Blanco (Mexico) in the semi-final round.

That was the biggest and the last tournament for Huan, because he said goodbye to taekwondo at the age of 23 due to health problems. One year later, he became the assistant coach of HCM City’s taekwondo team.

When Huan participated in Olympic Athens 2004, Cuong was only ten years old and he had practiced taekwondo for two years. Besides brotherhoods, Huan and Cuong are colleagues. Cuong followed his brother to many tournaments. Huan is also Cuong’s idol.

“Huan’s style is very modern and diversified. He can kick with both legs. He always played very brave and strong before any rival. It is very interesting to watch him fight,” Cuong remarked.

Huan is also the “coach” for his younger brother.

Quoc Cuong

Thanks to Huan’s instruction, Cuong won a silver medal at the national youth taekwondo championship 2006. Since 2007, Cuong is always the top taekwondo artist in the 55kg category. He also won the gold medal in his first time at the Southeast Asia Youth Taekwondo Championship 2009.

At the selection round for the World Youth Olympic Games 2010 in Mexico last March, Huan was Cuong’s coach. Though Cuong only entered the quarter-finals, he was still chosen for the games, thanks to his impressive record in the qualifiying round.

In Singapore, Cuong, 17, won a bronze medal. His achievement might be better if he had not lost the semi-final against Mamayev Nursultan from Kazakhstan.

Cuong was in the lead (5-2) and he suddenly became the loser in the last 20 seconds due to lack of experience and timely instruction. However, the bronze medal made Cuong and his family very happy.

Huan is elated because his younger brother is very young and his future is broader than his elder brother’s.

PV