A ceremony to honour the country’s best athletes and trainers was held at the National Sports Training Centre in Hanoi to mark 66 years of Vietnam Sports Day (March 27).  
With 1,425 points female gymnast Phan Thi Ha Thanh topped the vote for the best athlete, which was decided by 250 sports journalists.

Thanh had a very successful year in 2011 when she earned three gold medals at the 26th Sea Games, a bronze at the 2011 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships and another gold at the Toyota Cup and became the first Vietnamese gymnast to secure a berth at the 2012 London Olympics.

Second best went to swimmer Hoang Quy Phuoc and third to international chess Grandmaster Le Quang Liem.

Do Thuy Giang (gymnastics), Dang Anh Tuan (swimming), Ho Thi Tu Tam (track and field), Nguyen Thi Nhung (shooting) and Ho Anh Tuan (taekwondo) were chosen as the best trainers.

The five best disabled athletes, Vo Thanh Tung and Vo Huynh Anh Khoa, weightlifter Chau Hoang Tuyet Loan, and runners Nguyen Thi Hai and Le Duc Hung were also honoured along with three of their trainers, Dong Quoc Cuong (swimming), Dang Anh Phuc and Ngo Anh Tuan (track and field).

VOV