Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on September 5 met with and presented gifts to outstanding trainers and athletes who have come back from the 29th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 29) in Malaysia.

PM Phuc congratulated the trainers and athletes on their achievements at SEA Games 29, where they won 58 gold, 50 silver and 60 bronze medals, helping the Vietnamese sport delegation fulfill the set target of ranking in Top 3. 

The PM noted with satisfaction that Vietnam was for the first time placed on top in the track and field with 17 gold medals, ahead of Thailand. During the event, a youngest Vietnamese athlete, 15 years old, also brought home a gold, breaking the SEA Games record while the female football team also grabbed gold for the fifth time. 

On the occasion, PM Phuc asked trainers, athletes and the sport sector as well to develop appropriate policies to improve athletes and coaches’ professional skills, actively seek young talents for training and pool public resources for sport development. 

The government leader also urged agencies, sponsors and the entire society to contribute to the development of sports in Vietnam.

Representatives of the participating coaches and athletes pledged to further strive to win more glorious victories for the nation.

VNA