Vietnam are taking part in the biennial ASEAN University Games (AUG) with 71 athletes and coaches competing in four sports in Singapore.

The Games, which kicked off on July 10, have lured nearly 3,000 participants from all 11 member nations.

Sixteen sports are organised altogether in the island city-state, with Vietnamese joining in table tennis, athletics, pencak silat and rowing.

“The team has not set any target at the competition, however, athletics and pencak silat are two sports where our athletes can grab medals in Singapore,” said Ngũ Duy Anh, head of Vietnam’s delegation.

“School athletes are asked to learn from other participants and improve their quality as well as narrow the gap between Vietnam and other countries in the region,” Anh said. “It is a chance for them to benchmark their sporting talents, and interact and engage in cultural exchanges within ASEAN.”

In the table tennis event yesterday, Vietnam’s women’s team beat Thailand 3-0 in the third round of the group stage.

Earlier, they won over the Philippines with the same time.

The athletics squad arrived in Singapore on Tuesday and had two days to get familiar with their tracks and fields.

Their competitions will begin today at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.

Two years ago, runners brought home 15 golds, contributing two-thirds of Vietnam’s total medals.

The 18th AUG will wrap up on Sunday.

VNS