HA NOI — Vietnamese track and field athletes could seriously consider winning gold medals at the next Asian Games, according to coach Nguyen Dinh Minh.
"After ASIAD silver and bronze medals, I think that Viet Nam's track and field athletes can now target golds. Before (the ASIAD) it was a crazy thought but now we are close," said Minh, who coached Southeast Asian sprint queen Vu Thi Huong to 100m bronze and 200m silver medals last month.
Viet Nam also pocketed silvers in the women's 800m and 1,500m and a bronze in the men's decathlon.
These achievements were not thought possible when the team departed for the Guangzhou games. All the athletes wanted was to try their best to win Viet Nam's first ever track and field medal at the games.
"My athletes went to ASIAD having not had the best preparations so both coaches and athletes were under pressure, hoping to win an elusive medal. The runners had to really push themselves to improve in each round," Minh said.
"Viet Nam is starting to become competitive at the regional level where we have had some success, but we are still a long way from being able to make an impact at international competitions. If we receive good support and make plans, some of our athletes will have a chance to not only win an ASIAD gold but also to compete on the world stage," he confirmed.
Le Quy Phuong, head of Viet Nam's sport delegation at the Asian Games said: "The 16th ASIAD was a turning point for Vietnamese track and field. It proves being small does not mean we can't be successful. It's about selecting talented athletes and providing them with good training and support."
However, officials also said athletes should not be satisfied with their achievements, even though they had made the country proud.
"They (Vu Thi Huong, Truong Thanh Hang and Vu Van Huyen) are the golden generation of Viet Nam and they have shined at Asian and Southeast Asian competitions in recent years. The next generation of athletes are not currently strong enough to continue that success in the future," said Duong Duc Thuy, head of the Track and Field Department of the National Sports Administration.
He said the department planned to support elite athletes who would receive intensive training with a view to raising their competitiveness ahead of the London Olympics in 2012. — VNS
