by Thanh Ha
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Lithe: Viet Nam's ASIAD gold medal holders hope to defend their two titles, which they won at the Qatar Games four years ago, atthe coming event in China. — VNA/VNS Photo Quoc Khanh |
HA NOI — Viet Nam's sepak takraw (rattan ball kicking) team will be taking part in the Asian Games in November's Guangzhou, China, where they will be defending the title they won in Qatar four years ago.
Three events are planned for the 16th tournament, also known as ASIAD, the biggest regional sports competition.
Each delegation will be allowed to participate in just two events.
Thailand, who have dominated the sport for the last two years, will have their work cut out against a good Viet Nam team, who remain unchanged from four years ago.
Because organisers are only allowing teams to compete in two events, Viet Nam should be able to avoid arch rivals Thailand.
"It will be difficult for us to defend our title, even though we are one of the top teams in Asia and the world," said head coach Ha Tung Lap.
"In fact, I would say that Viet Nam and Thailand are about as strong as each other. Both have a chance of winning the gold. We will need to prepare well."
Huge support
Thailand's Chucheep Kongmeechon has been coaching the team since April. The former Thai national team coach is confident Viet Nam will win the gold.
"Chucheep knows the Viet Nam team very well because when he coached Thailand he met with them many times. The two sides are very familiar with each other's game," Lap said.
"Chucheep is an experienced coach. He knows the Thai team inside out. I believe he will make all the difference," Lap said.
After nearly five months, the team has improved considerably.
"That progress will be demonstrated at ASIAD," said Lap, who was one of the best players in Viet Nam in the 1990s.
"We are facing major challenges. Thailand are better than us in the team event (nine members divided into three smaller teams). We hope to win in the pairs and regu (two three-member teams). In these competitions we were successful in Myanmar, China and South Korea," said captain Luu Thi Thanh.
Viet Nam will try to put behind them their loss to a young team from Myanmar at the 25th Southeast Asian Games last December in Laos.
The players are fully behind Chucheep, whom they say is inspirational in his coaching style.
"He is a really good trainer. He has a great technique. He knows all about physical fitness and gives us elaborate exercises to perform. He is a breath of fresh air. We never seem to get bored or tired," said attacker Nguyen Bich Thuy.
Chucheep and his players took part in a two-month training course in Thailand ahead of the Games, which kick off on November 12 and close 15 days later.
The National Sports Administration organised the training programme in Thailand to boost the team's performance.
The ASIAD will be the last tournament for four key players, who plan to retire after many years playing at national level.
Thanh and Thuy said they planned to look after their families, while Nguyen Thi Hai Thao and Le Thi Thu Ba are getting married. — VNS
