The athletics team receives a bonus from the Fund for Vietnamese Young Talents for their results at the 32nd SEA Games. Photo of Tiền Phong Newspaper

HÀ NỘI — The Fund for Vietnamese Young Talents delivered awards for the national athletics team in a ceremony on July 6 in Hà Nội.

At the 32nd SEA Games held in Cambodia in May, the 75-member team participated in 38 out of 47 events. They won 12 golds, 20 silvers and eight bronzes.

Although they did not achieve the set targets of winning from 14 to 18 golds, they still performed well in Phnom Penh.

Among the best athletes were runner Nguyễn Thị Oanh who won four golds in five days, including two golds within 30 minutes, and runner Nguyễn Thị Huyền who secured three golds and one silver.

"Among our 20 silver medallists, many of them could actually have won golds in the long jump, high jump and javelin throw, but for different reasons, they could not make it," said Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, general secretary of the Việt Nam Athletics Federation.

"The good news is that we have a potential generation of athletes such as runners Nguyễn Thị Ngọc and Trần Thị Nhi Yến, long jumper Bùi Thị Loan and marathoner Bùi Thị Tuyết. I hope that some of these silvers will be converted into gold in the next SEA Games.

"The federation will have to work out plans to improve the quality of the team, especially the men's level as there is unequal development between men and women. While the women won 11 golds, the men had only one. This is also a problem of the Việt Nam's sport in general."

At the ceremony, the chairman of the Fund for Vietnamese Young Talents Bùi Quang Huy, praised the whole team's effort and achievement which inspired the Vietnamese young generation to contribute to the nation's development.

"My first words are a sincere thanks to coaches and athletes who made the successful achievement at the 32nd SEA Games," said Huy.

"Your results and emotional images of Nguyễn Thị Oanh and her teammates during the competition showed your great aspirations and efforts, motivating the young generations in Việt Nam".

To recognise their contributions, Chairman Huy decided to present VNĐ450 million to the medal-winning athletes and their coaches. 

Nguyễn Thị Oanh was one of the most outstanding athletes in the 32nd SEA Games. VNA/VNS Photo

Speaking at the event, editor-in-chief of Tiền Phong Newspaper Lê Xuân Sơn, director of the Fund for Vietnamese Young Talents, said: "Tiền Phong Newspaper is honoured to accompany the Fund for Vietnamese Young Talents to support the national athletic team.

"We commit to a long-term companionship. We'll also look for more financial sources to support our athletics, and Vietnamese sports in general."

Oanh, the most successful athlete of the Việt Nam SEA Games delegation, said: "The support of the fund, the newspaper and other organisations plays a huge role in athletes' achievements. On behalf of the team, I promise to try my best, overcoming difficulties to make the country proud."

The Fund for Vietnamese Young Talents was established in 1993 by the Prime Minister as the honorary chairman, the first secretary of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union is the chairman of the executive council and the Tiền Phong Newspaper is the executive agency.

The fund aims to help young talents actively participate in the cause of national construction, as well as to discover, encourage and support the youth to nurture their talents, especially those in difficult circumstances. VNS