Vietnam is targeting between 49 and 62 gold medals at the upcoming 29th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 29), which will take place in Malaysia from August 19 to 31.

Tran Duc Phan, deputy head of the Vietnam Sports Administration, reported the goal to Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism at a working session in preparation for the regional sport competition in Hanoi on April 19.

Phan said the Vietnamese delegation will have 750 members, including 105 coaches and 568 athletes, adding that Vietnamese athletes will compete in 31 out of 38 sports at the games.

He noted that the limited events or male-only restrictions set for several sports of Vietnamese strength, such as fencing, boxing and weightlifting, are challenges facing the team.

In response to Phan’s report, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien asked relevant units to plan advanced training sessions for outstanding athletes, who boast high chance of seizing medals. 

He said while the target to be ranked third at the upcoming SEA Games is important, the long-term goal should be defining potential athletes and priority sports for intensive investment, in order to achieve breakthrough performances at not only SEA Games 29 but also the 2018 Asian Games and Olympic.

VNA