VietNamNet Bridge – It is highly possible that Vietnam’s top swimmer Hoang Quy Phuoc will continue his drilling course in the US, according to the General Department of Sports and Physical Training.

The undercurrent at the national swimming team
The general department’s officials have said that problems of the Vietnamese swimming team in the US have been settled.

Earlier, Phuoc’s coach – Mr. Nguyen Tan Quang – proposed to take Phuoc back to Vietnam to practice at home and then go to China.

Mr. Quang said that Phuoc did not make remarkable progress during the time in the US. If Phuoc fails to meet the A-level Olympic standard, Quang would have to bear responsibility.

The General Department of Sports and Physical Training’s officials seemed to accept Mr. Quang’s proposal, but they have changed their mind after reading the report of Mr. Dinh Viet Hung, General Secretary of the Aquatic Sports Federation from the US.

“We planed to call Phuoc home and then send him to China, but according to Mr. Hung’s report, the situation in the US is good. Phuoc will stay in the US for practice,” said the general department’s chief Vuong Bich Thang.

Thang also said that Mr. Hung would stay in the US until early April, after Vietnamese swimmers finish the Grand Prix Indianapolis tournament, which will take place from March 29 to 31.

Thang expressed his dissatisfaction over recent information about the national swimming team.

“This is the time of high concentration of athletes. Such disputes will make adverse impacts on their drilling process. All disputes must stop here,” Thang said.

Asking him whether the swimming team is wasting state money owing to its unscientific working style, Thang said: “It is not true that we do not save state money. We have to invest in necessary things. I was reported that except for Quy Phuoc, other athletes have made progress. Moreover, we pay only $55/day for each coach and athlete and this is much lower than the new regulation of $115/day/person.”

Meanwhile, a close source to Phuoc and coach Quang said that the swimming team in the US is still in tenseness even with the presence of Secretary General Dinh Viet Hung of the Aquatic Sports Federation. Phuoc and Quang are not allowed to talk with the media about issues related to the swimming team.

Tien Phong