Athletics

Bulgarian Vladimir Simeonov seen at the Mỹ ĐÌnh Stadium during the 31st SEA Games in Hà Nội. Photo sggp.org.vn

HÀ NỘI -- Bulgarian Vladimir Simeonov will come back to help improve Việt Nam's athletic team next month.

The coach left Việt Nam nearly two years ago when his contract expired.

But the national athletics federation announced that they reached agreement with Simeonov and would sign a contract with him.

“We are building a plan for youth training. Simeonov will work with the junior runners. It is a long-term strategy and the Bulgarian coach is the most suitable one,” Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, federation's general secretary said.

He added that Simeonov would begin his job on May1.

Before leaving Việt Nam in 2022, he coached Vietnamese athletes in seven years, mainly in the 400m and 400m hurdles events.

Under his hands, runners won golds in SEA Games, Asian championship and Asian Games.

In 2021, Simeonov trained Quách Thị Lan at the Tokyo Olympics where she advanced to the semi-finals. VNS