Ten Vietnamese athletes have qualified for the Youth Olympic Games, with sports administrators setting a target of securing medals, vietnam.vn reported. The delegation features competitors spanning swimming, athletics, cycling, taekwondo, badminton, beach wrestling, and wushu.
Delegation Targets Medals After Qualification Across Seven Sports
Nguyen Manh Hung, deputy head of the high-performance sports department at the Vietnam Sports Administration and head of the nation’s delegation for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games, stated that the primary objective for the 10-person roster is to win medals. All ten athletes earned their spots through performances at recent international tournaments.
The roster includes Nguyen Thuy Hien and Duong Van Hoang Quy in swimming, Dong Thi Huong in athletics, Nguyen Khang Ha My in cycling, Nguyen Truong Nhat Huy in taekwondo, and Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen in badminton. They are joined by beach wrestlers Lo Thi Hong, Pham Van Duong, and Ha Ly Quy Bao, alongside wushu competitor Nguyen Khac Le Hoang.
Investment and Preparation in Swimming and Combat Sports
Swimming features two heavily backed teenagers: 17-year-old Nguyen Thuy Hien and 15-year-old Duong Van Hoang Quy. Both athletes recently competed at the 20th Asian Games in Japan following training stints in China, though coaches note they face deep international fields.
In combat and technical disciplines, Vietnam fields reigning champions. Lo Thi Hong enters as the reigning world and Asian junior champion in beach wrestling. Badminton competitor Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, 15, has posted strong domestic and international results, though coaching staff point out that her tournament trajectory will depend heavily on the draw.
Historical Context of Vietnam at the Youth Olympic Games
Established by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2010 to serve as a high-level competitive stepping stone for athletes under 18, the Youth Olympic Games operate on a four-year cycle. Prior editions took place in Singapore in 2010, Nanjing in 2014, and Buenos Aires in 2018. The 2022 event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnam has secured gold medals at each prior summer edition. At the inaugural 2010 Games in Singapore, weightlifter Thach Kim Tuan claimed the nation’s first gold. Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien followed with a gold medal at the 2014 Games in China. In 2018 in Argentina, the delegation delivered its strongest performance yet with two gold medals, won by swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang and weightlifter Ngo Son Dinh.
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