VietNamNet Bridge – Becoming Southeast Asia champion in triple jump in 2013, Nguyen Van Hung is now aiming farther, at the continental competition field, the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, the Republic of Korea.

Nguyen Van Hung. – File photo

Born in the Hanoi suburban district of Thach That in 1989, Nguyen Van Hung started out as an amateur junior athlete competing at the district level. However, he was “discovered” by a former athletic coach, Nguyen Trong Ho, and at 14 years old, Hung began training at the provincial sports centre of the former Ha Tay Province, now Hanoi.

Three years later, in May 2006, Hung won his first gold medal at a national event in triple jump. Crossing 15.68m, Hung broke the old national record of 15.21m at the Hanoi International Athletic Championships.

In 2008, Hung jumped over 15.92m, setting a new national record and went on to break his own record in 2009 and 2010 with jumps of 16.37m and 16.41m, respectively.

Hung attended his first South East Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2011, winning a silver after jumping over 16.39m. He rose above himself at the following SEA Games in Myanmar late last year to bring home a gold medal, the first of Vietnam in triple jump. Hung leaped 16.67m, breaking the old regional record of 16.51m.

“My success is first of all thanks to coach Ho. He is like a family member to me,” Hung confided.

The 25-year-old athlete is training hard for the upcoming Ho Chi Minh City Open International Athletic Tournament in July this year and hopefully the 2014 ASIAD. toward the goal of jumping over 16.70m.

Source: Vietnam Plus