“As of the evening of 28 October, the Vietnamese Sports Delegation for People with Disabilities has won 13 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals, provisionally ranking fifth among 30 delegations at the 2013 Asian Youth Games in Malaysia. That is a very commendable initial result, especially given the current funding difficulties”. – Vu The Phiet, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Paralympic Association, told a reporter from the Hanoimoi newspaper yesterday morning, 29 October.
Vietnamese athletes with disabilities achieved high results at the 2013 Asian Youth Games in Malaysia.
– Can you tell us about the Vietnamese delegation's results at the continent's biggest event for young athletes with disabilities?
– The 3rd Asian Youth Para Games 2013 opened on 26 October in Malaysia, with 1,224 athletes, coaches and officials taking part, including 930 athletes from 30 Asian countries. The Vietnamese delegation was made up of athletes from three strong teams – Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Quang Tri – with 34 members, including 22 athletes competing in seven sports: athletics, swimming, chess, table tennis, judo, weightlifting and badminton. Over the first three days of competition, from 26 to 28 October, our young athletes won a total of 13 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals, provisionally ranking fifth out of 30. That is indeed a promising result, very much to be commended.
– The Games close on 31 October. From now until the end of the competition, how do you see Vietnam's position in the medal table?
– Whatever happens to the rankings, such initial results are very encouraging. First, although this is the third edition of the Games, it is only the second time Vietnam has sent a team. The first time, in 2003, the Games were held in Hong Kong with three sports, and we sent only a few athletes. The second time – in 2009, in Tokyo, with five sports – Vietnam did not take part because it was busy preparing for the Para Games in Thailand. This third time, our team is much larger than the first time, but still cannot be called large. With only 22 athletes competing in seven of the 14 sports, winning that many medals in the first three days is highly commendable. Second, the young athletes' results inspire confidence in the future. Athletes who grew up through the 2003 Asian Youth Games, such as Vo Huynh Anh Khoa and Cao Ngoc Hung, are now key members of the national team for people with disabilities at international competitions. With this group of young athletes, it can be said that the prospects for Vietnamese disability sport in aiming for further goals, such as the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil, are very bright.
– That is the distant goal. What about the nearer goal, such as the coming Para Games?
– The athletes at the 2013 Asian Youth Para Games are aged 14 – 20. The coming Para Games will take place from 14 to 20 January 2014, with the team mainly made up of older national team athletes. However, some outstanding athletes from these Asian Youth Para Games will certainly be added to the national team, giving them the chance to train and compete and gain experience for bigger competitions in the years to come.
The Vietnamese delegation for the Para Games will gather in early December, with 120 athletes training in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. At the Para Games, we will compete in only 5 of the 12 sports, with the target of finishing among the top three countries in Southeast Asia.
– Thank you!
Vietnamese athletes winning gold at the 2013 Asian Youth Para Games
13 gold medals (as of the evening of 28 October): Nguyen Ngoc Hiep (long jump gold), Pham Thi Binh (two golds in the 100m and 200m T12, aged 16-17), Nguyen Thi Trang (two golds in the 100m and long jump T/F11, aged 14-15), Nguyen Thi Quynh Tram (100m T12 gold, aged 18-19), Nguyen Thi Minh Thu (two golds in chess, classes B1 and B2+B3), Le Dinh Thu (100m backstroke S11 gold, aged 16-17), Nguyen Ngoc Hiep (200m T11 gold, aged 19-20), Nguyen Thi Trang (two golds in the 200m and 400m T11, aged 14-15), Nguyen Thi Quynh Tram (200m T12 gold, aged 18-20).
Mai Hoa – http://hanoimoi.com.vn