VietNamNet Bridge – Two men’s and women’s tennis champions, Do Minh Quan and Huynh Phuong Dai Trang, have stated they would withdraw from the Southeast Asian Games 2011 if the Vietnam Tennis Federation does not call up Mai Huynh and Quoc Khanh.


From the left: Dai Trang and Minh Quan.

The female tennis champion Dai Trang, 17, flew to Japan on October 13 to compete at a tournament there for two weeks.

Before the trip, she told a local newspaper that she would withdraw from SEA Games 2011 if the national tennis team does not have Huynh Mai Huynh and Le Quoc Khanh.

She explained that the current SEA Games champion of Thailand will not attend SEA Games, so Vietnam has big opportunity to win the women’s pair championship. “Without Ms. Huynh to play doubles with me, it is difficult to win medal,” Dai Trang said.

Dai Trang’s mother, Nguyen Thi Phuong Anh, said that she would not allow her daughter to join SEA Games 2011 if Vietnam does not send its best tennis players to Indonesia. She said Le Quoc Khanh and Huynh Mai Huynh must be recalled to the national team.

Phuong Anh said that her family annually invests a lot of money in Dai Trang’s training courses, which helps Trang be ranked as a seed at the upcoming SEA Games to avoid strong rivals from Indonesia and Thailand. The opportunity to win the first medal at SEA Games is large but Trang needs good teammates.

“The Federation (Tennis) said they send young players to SEA Games to make acquaintance of the regional arena but I do not agree with them. My daughter is also a young player but once she joins a tournament, she must aim for triumph. If we have a chance to win medals, we must grasp it,” the mother said.

Vietnam’s top male player Do Minh Quan also announced to withdraw from the national team if Quoc Khanh and Mai Huynh are not convened to the team.

“SEA Games is a very important sports game. Not only me but other athletes desire to win medals at this event. If the Federation wants to send young players to SEA Games for making acquaintance, I will withdraw from the national team to give the chance for them,” Quan said.

The Vietnam Tennis Federation previously made public the list of national tennis players for the SEA Games 2011 in Indonesia, which does not include Quoc Khanh and Mai Huynh, current national men’s and women’s double champions.

Quoc Khanh raised his voice against the decision but the tennis federation still maintains the list.

PV