Dương Thúy Vi is one of the outstanding wushu athletes to compete at this year's SEA Games. She will do her best to win a gold medal. — Photo courtesy of VOV.VN

HÀ NỘI — Wushu athletes are hoping to bring home more golds than ever before for Việt Nam, affirming the country's position in the martial arts world arena. 

The Vietnamese wushu team has not had the opportunity to go abroad to train to improve their skills in recent years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Internal testing sessions helped wushu taolu athletes get used to the competition conditions as well as perfect their movements to be the most proficient.

Wushu taolu mainly focuses on movements such as kicks, balance, push, movement, jumps and somersaults. The flexibility of the athletes combined with the movements will give viewers the feeling that this martial art is soft but strong.

The presence of veteran fighters will help wushu taolu's members to be more confident when competing at home turf this time. They are Dương Thúy Vi, Phạm Quốc Khánh, Trần Thị Minh Huyền, Nguyễn Thị Trang, and Bùi Trường Giang.

Vi is one of the best Vietnamese wushu athletes to compete in the event, and she said she will do her utmost to bring home a gold medal. Vi said the team are in the final stages of intensive training for the regional sports event, which requires high concentration.

Coaches have regularly conducted tests to assess their preparations and Vi has expressed her determination to compete in the Games.

“I have waited for this opportunity to perform in the Games at home for a long time. For me, apart from good luck, it is my honour to compete in the Games,” she said, noting that despite significant pressure when competing as a host athlete. She said she believed that the cheers from the crowd will be a great source of encouragement to her and others.

Another wushu athlete competing at SEA Games 31 is Trần Thị Minh Huyền. At the SEA Games 30 in 2019, Minh Huyền won a silver medal in the content of taiji jian and a bronze medal in taiji. This year, the coaching staff hope that with her experience, she will change the colour of both medals.

Phạm Quốc Khánh is the oldest wushu athlete to compete at the SEA Games 31. Khánh got a gold medal in the SEA Games 30 in 2019 in the Philippines in wushu taolu. He has competed in seven consecutive SEA Games, with some success.

At the SEA Games 31, the wushu team's coaching staff will introduce some new faces, including athlete Đặng Tiểu Bình, Nông Văn Hữu, Nguyễn Văn Phương, and Trần Thị Kiều Trang.

Interspersed with technical training sessions, and internal tests, the coaching staff also focused on physical training for athletes, so that they have the best chance of success in the competition.

In the content of taiji and taiji jian for men and women this year, the team also introduced two faces that promise to create surprises, Trần Thị Kiều Trang and Nguyễn Văn Phương. 

Wushu sanshou, is a martial art that can cause damage, accompanied by strikes and kicks at fast speed with strong force. Therefore, athletes must wear protective gear when training to avoid injuries.

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the team's international training and competition plans. The whole team has to practice running and competing internally every weekend to maintain their fitness.

Although there are no conditions to evaluate and know the level of competitors in the region, the whole team is still determined to protect Trường Giang's achievement of one gold medal in the 60kg content and promises to create surprises in the remaining weight classes. — VNS