VietNamNet Bridge – The Victory Cup, "the Viet Nam Sports Oscar Award", has returned, with the organisers yesterday announcing its third edition in Ha Noi.

Duong Thuy Vi wins two wushu medals at the 29th SEA Games. Vi is among top contenders for the Victory Cup. — VNA/VNS Photo Quoc Khanh

The award is believed to be the biggest national prize for athletes and coaches who have competed and brought home success in 2017.

Competitors will vie for titles in 10 categories, including best male athlete, best female athlete, best coach and best athlete with disabilities, as well as best team and best sport moment.

It will not be easy for organisers to shortlist candidate for all categories following a successful Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia last month where Vietnamese athletes showed off their outstanding performance, winning 58 gold medals.

A jury, including sport officials and journalists, worked closely together and released a list of nominees, which, however, will be updated because there are plenty of sport events to be held until the end of this year.

Gymnast Le Thanh Tung is the main contender for best male athlete. Tung won three gold medals at the SEA Games, one title at the Asian tournament in May and one gold at the Doha World Challenge Cup in March.

He will be up against weightlifter Trinh Van Vinh, who won a gold medal and set a new record in the men’s 62kg class at the Games in Malaysia.

Swimmers Nguyen Huy Hoang and Nguyen Huu Kim Son could also be potential winners after their 1,500m freestyle and 400m individual medley victories and records in Kuala Lumpur.

Sprinter Duong Van Thai is yet another successful athlete with two golds in the 800m and 1,500m races.

On the women’s side, swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien with her huge achievement of eight gold medals and two records at the SEA Games would be the top contender.

The other athletes are sprinter Le Tu Chinh with two golds in the 100m and 200m, runner Nguyen Thi Huyen who won in the 400m, 400m hurdle and 4x400m, long jump winner Bui Thi Thu Thao and wushu gold medalist Duong Thuy Vi.

However, athletes cannot attain success without their coaches. Five trainers are on the list this time — Dang Anh Tuan (swimming), Vu Ngoc Loi (athletics), Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong (athletics), Truong Tuan Hien (gymnastics) and Mai Duc Chung (women’s football).

Tran Duc Phan (centre), head of the Victory Cup’s jury board speaks at the launch of the third Cup edition yesterday in Ha Noi. — VNS Photo Khieu Thanh Ha

Athletes with disabilities will compete at the Para Games in Malaysia later this week. Their results will be updated following the Games and the organisers will then shortlist the candidates for voting.

“It is the first time I am nominated for this Cup. The nomination is a surprise for me. I think the award is a strong motivating factor, encouraging us in training and competing. People know more about me and how hard I work to achieve glory for the country,” wushu artist Vi said yesterday.

“The recent SEA Games was my fifth participation and I won two golds. It is a long journey for every athlete, including me, during which we enjoy happiness, together with hard work, injuries, tears and sweat,” according to the world champion in jianshu (spear), who will defend her position in Russia next month.

Coach Chung shared Vi’s opinion.

“I am happy that I am one of nominees and my team are also listed. When people vote for us, it means that they care about us. Nothing can encourage us more than their interest in us. It makes us feel that our hard work is recognised,” Chung, who won a gold medal with the women’s football squad, said.

There will be two rounds of voting. The winners will be those who receive the most votes through messages from fans and the judges.

A total of VND270 million (US$12,000) will be presented to the winners at the awards ceremony in January 2018 in Ha Noi.

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

Source: VNS