Vietnamese martial artists are competing at the world qualification tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan (June 25 to July 4), in hopes of securing at least two berths at the 2012 London Olympics.

Vietnam has pinned its hopes on Le Huynh Chau, who competes in the men’s 58 kg category. Chau won the bronze medal at the World Taekwondo Championships in the Republic of Korea in May.

Among other martial artists vying for a spot at the Olympics next year is Chu Hoang Dieu Linh, in the women’s under-67 kg event, Duong Thanh Tam, in the men’s 68 kg category, and Nguyen Thi Duong, in the women’s 57 kg event.

All three taekwondo artists who competed at the 2008 Olympics in China – Nguyen Van Hung, Nguyen Hoai Thu and Nguyen Ngoc Truc – returned empty-handed. Tran Hieu Ngan is the only Taekwondo artist who has won a medal at the prestigious world championships, with a silver at the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney, Australia.