Recently, a woman from Viet Nam was the first woman from the country to win an Asian title for boxing.

Nguyễn Thị Tâm started boxing at the age of sixteen.

Often, she received injuries and black eyes but what really made Nguyễn Thị Tâm cry was winning her title.

This was after beating Pang Choi Mi of North Korea at the Asian  Boxing Championship, held in Ho Chi Minh City.

Nguyễn Thị Tâm, 23, is a slim young woman with a pretty face. At first glance, no one would guess she is a strong boxer on the Hà Nội and national teams. She recently made Vietnamese history as the first Vietnamese female boxer to win an Asian title. Thanh Nga spoke with her.

Inner Sanctum: What led you to take up boxing?

At the age of 14, I would watch track-and-field events and dream of becoming a famous runner for my hometown in Quỳnh Phụ District, Thái Bình Province. However, after two years, I realised that athletics didn’t suit me, so I asked my coach to let me quit. After that, a local coach recognised my capacity for boxing and took me to Hà Nội to follow his training programme.

At first, I was very afraid and always asked to return home, but my coaches always encouraged me. So I would train some more. I gradually completed difficult moves and felt more passionate about the sport; I didn’t want to give it up.

Inner Sanctum: Boxing is a sport that requires high-intensity training, and trainers have to be able to manage injuries at any time. Did you have any difficulties as a woman training in this sport?

Yes, of course. I sometimes suffered injuries such as black eyes, sore arms and sore shoulders. That is normal. At that time, I don’t dare go home because I am afraid that my parents will scold me and forbid me from continuing to train as a boxer. In fact, I don’t fear being injured. I just think that I will have to try harder to avoid such situations.

Inner Sanctum: Have you ever wanted to stop boxing?

Yes. There was a time in 2016, when I competed in the Let’s Viet Championship, held in Hà Nội. I was very confident about facing Trịnh Thị Diễm Kiều of the military team in the final. I played better than my rival, but the result was in favour of Kiều. I was very sad and so was my coach, Nguyễn Như Cường. Cường and I walked a long road from Hà Nội’s Trịnh Hoài Đức Gymnasium to my hotel to talk with each other. I asked Cường to allow me to retire from competition, but he encouraged me greatly and told me I had to be stronger. Cường allowed me to take a short rest at home to regain my spirit.

After that, a journalist wrote about my game with Diễm, which divided public opinion. The Việt Nam Boxing Federation invited a Thai referee to mark that final match again, and in a wonderful turn of events, I found I had won 4-0. Although I didn’t take the title back, I was very happy because I had recovered my honour.

Inner Sanctum: Foreign experts say that many factors have made you the leading boxer of Asia, such as flexible movements in the arena, upward strikes and being able to bear pain well. What do you think about that?

I think I have only just begun; I need to make even greater efforts.

Inner Sanctum: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently announced the top ten cultural, sports and tourism events in 2017, naming you for bagging the first gold medal for Vietnamese boxing in an Asian event. How did you feel about that?

I was moved to tears over winning the Asian title on defeating Pang Choi Mi of North Korea 3-2 in the final of the women’s 51kg category at the Asian Boxing Championship, held in HCM City late last year.

I was really very happy and surprised as that achievement was chosen to be listed among the typical events of the capital city. It was a gift that let me show my deep gratitude towards my coaches, the Thai expert and my teammates.

Inner Sanctum: Please describe a typical day for you.

In the morning, I often swim, run or train at the gym. After that, I practise boxing for around 4-5 hours per day. When I have free time, I watch elite boxing matches.

Inner Sanctum: What’s next on your agenda?

I don’t intend to sleep on the victory I gained. I will try to make an entrance in the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia in August.

Inner Sanctum: Are you under any pressure right now?

No, I’m not. I am very comfortable. My coaches, especially Cường, created a plan for me to train and rest reasonably to ensure I’m in the best physical condition.

Inner Sanctum: Do you have any advice for young girls who want to become a famous boxer like you?

They must try their best and overcome difficulties and challenges. Their efforts will be fruitful.

Inner Sanctum: What does boxing bring you?

Thanks to boxing, from a timid girl, I became stronger and I am not afraid of facing obstacles in life.

Inner Sanctum: What are your greatest achievements?

I won gold medals in the National Junior Boxing Championships from 2009 to 2013. From 2014 to 2017, I triumphed at the national Senior Boxing Championships and won a gold medal in the Asian event last year. VNS

GLOSSARY

After that, a local coach recognised my capacity for boxing and took me to Hà Nội to follow his training programme.

To recognise something means to say that you accept that it exists

Someone’s capacity for boxing is the degree to which they are capable of doing it.

I gradually completed difficult moves and felt more passionate about the sport; I didn’t want to give it up.

If you are passionate about something you love it so much you do not worry how much time or effort you put into it.

At that time, I don’t dare go home because I am afraid that my parents will scold me and forbid me from continuing to train as a boxer.

If parents scold a child, they tell them in a disciplinary way that they have done something naughty.

 I was very confident about facing Trịnh Thị Diễm Kiều of the military team in the final.

To be confident means to believe in yourself.

I played better than my rival, but the result was in favour of Kiều.

A rival is someone you most want to beat in a competition and who you may often be up against.

I asked Cường to allow me to retire from competition, but he encouraged me greatly and told me I had to be stronger.

To retire from boxing means to stop doing it. This usually happens because of reaching a certain age or feeling that one has done it enough.

After that, a journalist wrote about my game with Diễm, which divided public opinion.

Public opinion means the views of the general public.

The Việt Nam Boxing Federation invited a Thai referee to mark that final match again, and in a wonderful turn of events, I found I had won 4-0.

A referee is someone who decides whether people in a sports match are doing things that may cause them to earn penalties or scores.

When there is a turn of events, things change from one trend to a different trend.

I was moved to tears over winning the Asian title on defeating Pang Choi Mi of North Korea 3-2 in the final of the women’s 51kg category at the Asian Boxing Championship, held in HCM City late last year.

To be moved means to be affected emotionally.

To defeat someone means to win against them.

It was a gift that let me show my deep gratitude towards my coaches, the Thai expert and my teammates.

Gratitude means thankfulness.

When I have free time, I watch elite boxing matches.

Elite boxing matches are the matches in which the best and most powerful boxers take part.

Thanks to boxing, from a timid girl, I became stronger and I am not afraid of facing obstacles in life.

Timid means scared.

Obstacles are things that get in your way.

From 2014 to 2017, I triumphed at the national Senior Boxing Championships and won a gold medal in the Asian event last year.

To triumph means to achieve a great victory.

WORKSHEET

State whether the following sentences are true, or false:

1. Nguyễn Thị Tâm comes from Thai Binh Province.
2. It was two years after Nguyễn Thị Tâm watched track and field events that she started boxing.
3. Nguyễn Thị Tâm competed in the Let’s Viet Championship two years ago.
4. The Asian Games will be held in Indonesia in four months’ time.
5. Nguyễn Thị Tâm likes to swim in the mornings.

ANSWERS:

© Duncan Guy/Learn the News/ Viet Nam News 2018

1. True; 2. True; 3. True; 4. True; 5. True.