Thach Kim Tuan will be the sole Vietnamese representative at the World Youth Weightlifting Championships, scheduled to kick off in Penang, Malaysia, on June 30.

Tuan, who won gold at the Youth Olympics held in Singapore last August, will participate in the men’s 56kg category with the hope of lifting 261kg in total.

Tuan’s rivals will mainly come from China, South Korea and Indonesia.

Bulgarian expert Deykov Diyan Yordanove, closely attached to Viet Nam’s weightlifters, praised Tuan’s natural ability and diligence in training, saying that Tuan would have a bright future if he focused on his strong points.

At present, Tuan is considered a suitable replacement for famous weightlifter Hoang Anh Tuan, who won a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and was banned from competing for two years following a positive drug test, in the men’s 56kg category.

Around 30 countries will participate in the eight-day event which lasts until July 7.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News