Powerlifter Lê Văn Công celebrates after a successful lift at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. He has been honoured with a Labour Order for his Paralympic silver medal during the Việt Nam's Glory event yesterday in Hà Nội. AFP/VNA Photo

HÀ NỘI — Lê Văn Công was honoured with a Labour Order, second-class in Hà Nội yesterday, for his contribution to national sports in 2021 as part of the 'Việt Nam's Glory' celebration.

The powerlifter was the only Vietnamese athlete to win a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics last August in Japan.

Công secured silver in the men's 49kg class, adding to his gold at the 2016 Games to become the most successful Vietnamese competitor at the Paralympics.

His coach, Lê Quang Thái, was also awarded a Labour Order, third-class, for his effort in training Công to success.

"It is my honour to take the Order which was the nation's recognition for my hard work and achievement," Công told Việt Nam News.

"It will be a strong push for me ahead of many tournaments this year and the Paris Paralympics in 2024," said Công, who is still recovering from a shoulder injury that prevented him from successfully defending his 2016 gold Paralympic medal.

Vietnamese best athletes and coaches of 2021 also received awards for their outstanding contributions throughout the year.

The ceremony is one of the activities that the Việt Nam Sports Administration (VSA) organised during the Việt Nam’s Glory event to honour and push the national sport movement.

Runner Nguyễn Thị Oanh, one of the top 10 athletes of the year, said yesterday: "The pandemic is just one of the challenges that we have faced in recent years. But it can not stop us from practising hard with a view to reaching our best results in tournaments."

"I promise to try harder and harder so that I can win in all categories that I have registered to compete at the SEA Games, and further the Asian Games in China in September," said Oanh who secured a hat-trick of titles at the 2019 Games in the Philippines.

Công said although he has not yet fully recovered from his injury, he still believes in his gold medal chance at the SEA Games.

"My doctors and I have discussed the best way for me to not only participate in the Games but also defend my top place," said Công, who hopes to win the Asian championship in June too, as part of his preparations to take back his title at the Paris Paralympics.

To celebrate the traditional day of Sports and Physical Training on March 27 and to look towards the coming 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hà Nội.

Speaking to the audience, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoàng Đạo Cương confirmed that Việt Nam’s Glory is an important event in which sportspeople were honoured and encouraged to continue training and competing harder for national victories.

In addition, it is a chance for all people to review the development of Việt Nam's sport; push the sport practising movement and strive to complete tasks in 2022 and the years to come, he said.

The VSA yesterday also officially introduced the 31st song entitled Hãy Tỏa Sáng (Let's Shine) by musician Huy Tuấn.

"I am proud, really proud. My song has been selected among hundreds of works sent to organisers," said Tuấn.

"I met no difficulty but my comfort in writing the song. It is because I love sports and I am a big fan of many elite athletes here. Words and lyrics come to me naturally as I put myself in the place of an athlete and image what I would do. It took me only two days to complete Let's Shine. Hope both local and international athletes and also all people will love it," he said.

By the end of the ceremony, VSA also launched the annual Olympic Run Day at the National Sports Training Centre 1.

Many athletes, coaches and sports officials took part in the run which aims to encourage people nationwide to take part in regular physical exercise. — VNS