Karate star Le Bich Phuong has received a cash prize of VND100 million (US$5,000) from Viet Nam Football Media JSC for her gold medal at the Asian Games last month.
She won Viet Nam's only gold medal at Asia's biggest sporting event, at which the 260-member squad bagged a modest haul of one gold, 17 silver and 15 bronze medals.
The 19-year-old athlete was also awarded VND100 million ($5,000) by cable TV provider Audio Vision Global (AVG), and VND30 million ($1,500) by the National Sports Administration for her performance at the Guangzhou Asian Games last December.
She is expected to receive a further VND45 million ($2,200) from the National Sports Administration at a ceremony this week.
The National Sports Administration also awarded prizes to the other 32 athletes who won medals at the Games, before Tet (Lunar New Year) begins next Wednesday.
Viet Nam seeks top-three ranking at regional games
The Viet Nam sports delegation aims to finish in the top three at the 26th Southeast Asia Games in Indonesia this year.
According to reports at the Viet Nam National Administration of Exercises and Sports' end-year meeting, Viet Nam plans to compete in 28 of 41 sports in the Games at Palembang and the capital of Jakarta in November.
The events include track and field, swimming, diving, archery, shooting, badminton, billiards, canoeing/kayak, cycling, boxing, pentaque, fencing, football, volleyball, table tennis, chess, rowing, Vovinam, sepak takraw, pencak silat, taekwondo, judo, karatedo, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu and gymnastics.
Besides the SEA Games, the administration is also focusing on the Olympic qualifications in some major sports such as track and field.
HCM City sports facility employs new boss
The privately owned Thanh Long Sports Centre, HCM City's best known sporting facility, has a new boss.
Le Trong Tri, who takes over as chairman from Quach Thanh Lai, said he sees huge potential in the centre which has been become a regular training and stopover place for football teams from all over the country.
The Binh Chanh District-based centre will remain focused on sports and its facilities will be expanded so that it can hold international events in future, he said.
Lai will, however, remain involved with running the place, which has two football pitches, tennis and badminton courts, and a pool.
Built in 2001, it is 60 per cent owned by young seafood entrepreneur Tri. — VNS
