VietNamNet Bridge – From tough beginnings, Vietnam has transformed itself into one of the region’s sporting powerhouses at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

At the 28th SEA Games, Vietnam aims to win between 60 and 70 gold medals to finish at least in fourth place. (Photo: VNA)

After many years of destructive war, Vietnam was reunified in 1975. However, it took another 14 years for the country to integrate itself into regional sports life. Vietnam for the first time competed at the SEA Games, the region’s biggest sporting competition, when it was hosted by Malaysia in 1989.

It was a humble but commendable achievement. The country’s athletes, lacking in professional training and exposure to big international events, managed to win three gold medals, 11 silvers and five bronzes to rank seventh in the overall medal table.

Two years later, at the 16th SEA Games in the Philippines, the Vietnamese team lifted its gold medal number to 7 and also won 12 silvers and 10 bronzes, but its ranking did not change.

At the 17th SEA Games in 1993 in Singapore, Vietnam won nine gold medals, six silvers and 19 bronzes to move up to sixth place in the overall medal tally.

Vietnam maintained its sixth place at the 18th SEA Games in Thailand, but the country’s men’s football team made history by finishing in second place.

The Games of 1997, hosted by Indonesia, marked Vietnam’s biggest success since joining the event. The country finished fifth after winning a haul of 133 medals in total, of which 35 were gold, 48 silver and 50 bronze.

At the 21st SEA Games of 2001 in Malaysia, Vietnam finished fourth for the first time, despite winning just 33 gold medals. Vietnam’s women’s football team made Games history by winning the maiden women’s competition.

Vietnam’s biggest and most important landmark came in 2003 when the country hosted the Games for the first time. Vietnamese athletes dominated the event, amassing 346 medals in total, of which 158 were gold, to top the medal tally for the first time.

The country was finally a real regional contender. Vietnam has finished in the top three at every Games since 2003.

At the latest SEA Games in 2013 in Myanmar, Vietnam won 74 gold medals, 85 silvers and 86 bronzes to take third place.

At the 28th SEA Games, which will kick off in Singapore on June 5, Vietnam aims to win between 60 and 70 gold medals to finish at least in fourth place.

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