VietNamNet Bridge – Top Vietnamese wrestler Nguyen Thi Lua will take part in the World Greco-Roman and Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, from September 12-19.

Choke hold: Hanoian Nguyen Thi Lua will represent Viet Nam at the World Greco-Roman and Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. She is expected to book a ticket to the London Olympics next year. (Photo: VNS)
Lua, 20, who won the country's first Asian Games wrestling medal in 28 years, is scheduled to compete against 41 wrestlers in the women's 48kg lightweight division, of which the six top athletes will qualify for the London Olympics next year.

Her teammates Tran Thi Dieu Ninh and Luong Thi Quyen will also be competing in the 55kg and 63kg weight categories.

Overall, athletes from 70 teams will take part in 16 men and women's weight categories, to include Freestyle and Greco-Roman events.

The 108 best athletes will officially secure berths at the London Games.

"It'll be a tough job for me, competing against world bronze medallist Bakita Kumari from India, Shasha Zhao of China and Asian Games gold winner Sim Hyang-so of North Korea, in my division," Lua said.

"I'll have to outdo myself on the mat to finish in the top six at the world tournament and be the first Vietnamese wrestler to qualify for the Olympic Games automatically."

National Sports Adminis-tration's head of wrestling section Nguyen The Long said: "Lua will play an integral part in the Vietnamese wrestling team because of her quick blows and dogged spirit. Even though she's still young, she's capable of surprising a lot of people."

Lua will have another chance to qualify for the London Olympics when competing at the Asian Wrestling Championship next year.

The Vietnamese wrestler has been trained by two coaches from Georgia at the National Sports Centre in Ha Noi since early this year, following a 40-day training course in Nanning, China.

Lua rose to prominence in 2007 after winning two bronze medals at the Asian Junior Wrestling Championships and the World Championships.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News