Taekwondo

Trương Thị Kim Tuyền (left) is Việt Nam's best taekwondo athlete who is expected to qualify for the Paris Olympics. VNS Photo Quý Lượng

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese taekwondo team will take part in the Canada Open on February 8-10 in Vancouver.

At the three-day event, poomsae (performance) athletes will compete in two categories of poomsae-recognised and poomsae-freestyle for cadet, junior and senior competitors, who will vie for individual, pair and team titles on February 8.

In the next two days, kyorugi (combat) fighters will take part in different weight categories for cadet, junior and senior.

Seven Vietnamese kyorugi competitors have just ended their intensive training course in South Korea and moved to Vancouver for competitions.

After Canada, athletes will continue fighting at the US Open on February 16-18 in Nevada.

According to the coaching board, the Opens were good opportunities for players to sharpen their skills ahead of their Paris Olympics' qualifications.

Among athletes, former Asian champion Trương Thị Kim Tuyền is considered to have the most potential. Competing in the women's 49kg class, Tuyền was the only Vietnamese taekwondo representative at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

She is now the best hope of the country for the Paris games, especially after her earthquake win over world reigning champion Daniela Paola Souza of Mexico at the world championship last May.

"The Asian zone qualifier will be held in March in China. It will feature the strongest martial artists. Our athletes are asked to practise hard and prepare well to make sure of their best performance," said Nguyễn Thu Trang, official of the Sports Authority of Việt Nam's Taekwondo Department.

"Our athletes showed high determination during their South Korean campaign. They are excited and can't wait for their competitions, although they will be far from home during Tết (Lunar New Year) Festival."

Two best fighters of each category at the Asian qualifier will walk away with Olympic places. VNS