Vietnam’s top track-and-field official and a consultant sent by the German Athletics Federation are not seeing eye to eye about athletes’ training and competition regimes ahead of next year’s London Olympics.

Dr Duong Duc Thuy

Dr Duong Duc Thuy, head of the track and field unit of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, and Dr Uwe Freimuth are agreed on sending woman sprinter Vu Thi Huong and 800m runner Truong Thanh Hang for long-term training abroad.

However, Freimuth wants to send Hang to train in the Himalayan nation of Bhutan at an altitude of 2,300 – 3,200m above sea level, while Thuy is not keen on it.

“In my book, the most suitable training place for such a runner is at a height of 1,800m to 2,500m,” Thuy said.

It is widely accepted that high-altitude training is good for most athletes because of the thinner air.

Doctor Uwe Freimuth

Freimuth is adamant: “A place lower than 2,300m will not suit her.”

Participation in events during the training session is also a divisive issue.

Thuy wants Hang and Huong to take part in the Asian Athletics Grand Prix in May in China while Freimuth prefers European events in which many top-class athletes compete.

“They [the athletes] should compete at the Asian championships to earn prize money and accumulate points granted by the International Association of Athletics Federation,” Thuy said.

Freimuth came to Vietnam in 2009 under an agreement between the German Olympic Association and Vietnamese sports authorities to prepare athletes for the 2012 Olympics and also for long-term development.

He reports to the German Athletics Federation every four months about his work and the status of Vietnam’s track-and-field athletes.

Source: Tuoi Tre