Boxer Hà Thị Linh (left) competes in the women's 63kg category final at the SEA Games 32. Photo thanhnien.vn

HÀ NỘI — After the capital city's success at the 32nd SEA Games, Hà Nội's athletes are aiming to perform well at the upcoming ASIAD and Olympics.

At the Games in Cambodia, the Vietnamese sports delegation attended with 702 athletes, of which Hà Nội had 160 athletes.

Thanks to their efforts, Hà Nội's athletes brought home 40 gold medals, 27 silver medals and 32 bronze medals out of a total of 359 medals (136 golds, 105 silvers and 118 bronzes) of the Việt Nam team.

“This achievement is the tireless efforts of athletes that contributed to the overall results of the Vietnamese team," said Đào Quốc Thắng, director of Hà Nội Sports Training and Competition Centre. "Besides, this is also the result of the lasting investment process and the right policy of sports socialisation of Hà Nội for many years. The right decisions have helped the capital's sports industry to have talented athletes, contributing to the country's sports."

The achievements of Hà Nội athletes at the Games 32 are mainly in ASIAD and Olympics competition systems, such as table tennis, boat racing, fencing, gymnastics, weightlifting, wushu and taekwondo.

Fans have not forgotten the emotional celebration image of the duo Trần Mai Ngọc and Đinh Anh Hoàng with their impressive achievements to bring home the gold medal in the mixed doubles table tennis after 26 years of waiting after defeating Singapore’s duo Clarance Zhe Yu Chew and Jian Zeng.

The Vietnamese duo Trần Mai Ngọc (right) and Đinh Anh Hoàng celebrate beating Singapore’s duo Clarance Zhe Yu Chew and Jian Zeng in the mixed doubles category of the SEA Games 32. — Photo thanhnien.vn

In boxing, after the world silver medallist Nguyễn Thị Tâm suffered an injury in the first round, the medal hope was placed on Hà Thị Linh, and she successfully took gold. This is also the only gold medal in boxing at the Games 32.

“For athletes, it is very disadvantageous to practise away from family," Linh said. "I have two young children, so I have more challenges, but I have to temporarily put aside my work towards common goals, and I gained achievements. I am proud to contribute to the Việt Nam sports delegation and Hà Nội sports.”

In addition to results of athletes in table tennis, boxing, Hà Nội sports also had the contributions of other athletes such as Phạm Quốc Việt (taekwondo), Dương Thuý Vi, Nguyễn Thị Lan, Trương Văn Chưởng (wushu), Đinh Phương Thành (gymnastics), Vũ Thành An, Bùi Thị Thu Hà, Phạm Thị Thu Hoài (fencing) and Nguyễn Thị Hằng, and Hoàng Thị Minh Hạnh (track and field).

These achievements once again affirm the No 1 position of Hà Nội sports and the policy of focusing on developing key sports to compete at the ASIAD and Olympics.

According to Thắng, director of Hà Nội Sports Training and Competition Centre, for Hà Nội sports to develop sustainably as well as reach higher goals, the centre is ready to support athletes who are training in the national teams in terms of nutrition and training equipment to help the capital sport in particular and Vietnamese sports in general, towards big events like the ASIAD and Olympics.

“After Games 32, Hà Nội sports continued to invest and train according to the assigned plan," Thắng said. "Additionally, sending athletes to train in developed sports countries with the Hà Nội sports industry funding.

"In addition, we continue to select the young talents, outline a methodical investment direction, and help athletes be motivated in training and competition to win more achievements in the continental and world events." VNS