The national wall climbing team is finalising its preparations ahead of the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Indonesia.
The team includes six members from HCM City of which Bui Van Ngoi, Phan Thanh Nhien and Nguyen Mau Linh were the first Vietnamese climbers to reach the summit of Everest in 2008.

Sufficiently familiar with wall climbing, one of six new events at the Games, the team believes it stands a good chance of winning a medal or two.

"Although we didn't take part in pre-SEA Games events, we think that conquering mountains is more difficult than conquering walls," said captain Linh.

"Having subdued the peak of Everest we believe that success is more than achievable," Nhien added.

During the Games, the team will face rivals Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia in speed track, record, relay and bouldering events.

"Despite strong competition, we are determined to do our best at the Games. We want to gain as much experience as we can in order to help our fellow climbers back home," Linh and Nhien agreed.

At present, the team is training twice a day at HCM City's Phan Dinh Phung Sports Centre under the guidance of Canadian Kenneth Bruce Fudgeis, director of the X-rock Climbing Club.

In readiness for the competition, the team has received sponsorship of US$15,000 from Let's Viet, a local entertainment channel.

The concept of the climbing wall, with artificial grips for hands and feet, began in the UK, the first wall created in 1964 by Don Robinson, a lecturer in Physical Education, by inserting pieces of rock into a corridor wall.

VNS