Until February 10, some Vietnamese athletes bagging medals at the ASIAD 16 in China in November last year have yet received any cash awards promised previously by the government.

Wrestlers and Wushu martial artists were handed rewards before Tet but track-and-field athletes like Vu Van Huyen, Truong Thanh Hang, Vu Thi Huong, and some others have received nothing by now.

“It’s the first time I have won the Asiad silver medal with a cash prize of VND25 million ($1,280). I was eager to receive it before Tet to support my family and enjoy a joyful Tet holidays but…,” an athlete, who wants to be anonymous, spoke to Tuoi Tre.

“Except my monthly salary of VND1 million, I get nothing.”

“We have set up an emergency budget worth around VND21 billion to award high-profile athletes,” said Nguyen Thi Kim Mai – deputy director of the Vietnam National Sports Committtee.

But this Asiad saw more medal winners than in the previous games, so the budget still falls short of around VND 4 million, she added.

“The rest of the athletes are expected to receive reward money from now to the end of this month,” she promised.

Source: Tuoi Tre