Swimmers set for Malaysia heat

Leading light: Top swimmer Nguyen Huu Viet leads Viet Nam in the Malaysia Open this week. He hopes to qualify for the World Swimming Championships in Shanghai, China in July. — VNA/VNS Photo Quoc Khanh

HA NOI — Vietnamese swimmers will take part in the Malaysia Open in preparation for the Shanghai World Swimming Championships and the London Olympics held in 2012.

Five national swimmers including Nguyen Huu Viet, Pham Thanh Nguyen, Vo Thai Nguyen, Nguyen Thi Anh Vien and Le Thi My Thao, will be Viet Nam's official representatives.

Despite national champion Viet's success in the men's 100m and 200m breaststroke, it will not be Viet Nam's focus this time round.

"Because Viet didn't have enough time to practice because of asthma related treatment following the National Sport Games held last November, we decided to refrain from putting any pressure on him," said head coach Dang Anh Tuan.

Nguyen, who competes in the men's 400m and 800m medley and Nguyen who competes in the men's 800m freestyle, are expected to perform well at the tournament, considered a World Championship and Olympic qualifying event.

Apart from the men, Tuan said women swimmers Vien and Thao will have a chance to gain experience from their Malaysian international debut.

The team left for Kuala Lumpur on Monday, two days before the opening ceremony, which will conclude on May 18.

After the Malaysia Open, selected members of the national team will leave for intensive training in Kunming, China, and will only return to Viet Nam when the 26th Southeast Asian Games kicks off in Indonesia in November. — VNS