VietNamNet Bridge – Bui Thi Thu Thao has the chance to win Female Athlete of the Year again at the Victory Cup this year.

Asian Games long jump winner Bui Thi Thu Thao speaks at a Victory Cup press conference in Hanoi on Friday. — Photo courtesy of organizers

The long jumper is one of five nominees along with runners Quach Thi Lan and Nguyen Thi Oanh, cyclist Nguyen Thi That and karate fighter Nguyen Thi Ngoan.

At the ceremony last year, Thao said the golden statue would push her to win a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games (ASIAD) in Indonesia in August, and she did just that. 

"It’s great that I am on the shortlist for the Victory Cup again. I hope that my efforts and result in Indonesia are enough. It would be recognition for what I have done through the year," said Thao. 

Other candidateds include Lan who brought home one 400m hurdle silver and 400m relay bronze from ASIAD. Oanh won broze in the 3,000m steeplechase, while That won gold at the Asian Cycling Championship. Ngoan secured one world bronze medal, one Asian silver and three Asean bronzes over the course of the year. 

In the Male Athlete of the Year, pencak silat martial artists Tran Dinh Nam and Nguyen Van Tri, who won golds at ASIAD, will vie for the statue against swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang (one silver and one bronze from ASIAD), karate athlete Nguyen Minh Phung (one ASIAD silver) and footballer Nguyen Quang Hai (a silver and fourth place from the Asian U23 Championship and the ASIAD). Other categories include Coach of the Year, Young Athlete of the Year, Team of the Year, Teammates of the Year, Sports Image of the Year, Athlete with Disabilities, Favourite Sport Person of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award. 

An award is also expected for foreign coach of the year. 

"The awards encourage both athletes and coaches. It shows how people care about sports and what they have done for the nation," said Tran Duc Phan, deputy head of the Viet Nam Administration of Sports. 

A total of VND330 million (US$14,300) will be presented to the winners at the awards ceremony in January 2019 in Hanoi. 

The public can vote and get more information about athletes, coaches, the awards and ways to vote at cupchienthang.vn. 

The event, which is in its year, is being jointly organized by the Viet Nam Cable Television Corporation, the Sport 24h Company and the Viet Nam Administration of Sports.

Source: VNS