VietNamNet Bridge – Truong Thanh Hang will have the nation's hopes on her shoulders at the upcoming Asian Athletics Championships.


Truong Thanh Hang. (Photo: VNS)
Viet Nam's top middle-distance runner is favourite to win a gold medal in the women's 800m and a silver in the 1,500m events in Kobe, Japan, from July 7-11.

"We set a target of one gold and one silver for Hang and we hope she can manage it," said German expert Uwe Freimuth, who is director of the Germany-Viet Nam Athletics Development Project.

"My teammate Vu Thi Huong is suffering from a thigh injury and will not be taking part in the tournament. I understand that all hopes of winning a gold medal are on me," said Hang, who returned home from Germany on Monday.

"My practice in Germany was fairly successful and I will have to continue with intensive preparations for the Asian events where I will meet Margarita Matsko, (of Kazakhstan) who beat me for the gold at the 16th Asian Games (ASIAD).

"Big challenges await me and I have to try my best to get high results," Hang said.

Her coach, Ho Thi Tu Tam, is confident about the chances for the HCM City-born athlete.

"In the past, Hang only competed in Southeast Asia and she was not confident about participating in bigger tournaments such as the 16th ASIAD (in China last November)," Tam said.

"The training course in Germany has been a turning point in her career. She took part in several strong competitions where she faced tough oppostion. It gave her experience, improved her speed and strengthened her competition mind," Tam said.

"Through her results we conclude that Hang runs well in the first 400m and now she can open attack from this distance to take the lead," she said.

Hang will leave for the tournament on July 4. She has three days to become familiar with the ground and climate before running the 1,500m event. The 800m route will be held on July 9.

Six athletes from Viet Nam will take part in the Kobe championship including Vu Van Huyen in the men's decathlon, Nguyen Dinh Cuong in the men's 800m and 1,500m, Nguyen Van Mua in the men's long jump, Duong Viet Anh in the women's heptathlon and Nguyen Thi Phuong in the 3,000m hurdle.

Among them, Huyen, Viet Nam's iron-man who won a bronze medal at the 16th ASIAD, is also expected to make top three, according to Nguyen Manh Hung, deputy general secretary of the Viet Nam Athletics Federation.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News