Boxing 

Nguyễn Văn Đương of Việt Nam (right) seen punching Nepalese Lama Buddha Gyamjo at the Asian Games 2023. Đương will vie for an Olympic spot later this month in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo danviet.vn

HÀ NỘI — The national boxing team will seek their next Olympic spots in the second World Qualification Tournament from May 23 in Bangkok, Thailand.

A team of 11 athletes, currently training in Korat Province, aim to bring at least one place home.

Comprising five women and six men, they are either the strongest boxers or the ones showing the greatest potential.

Lining up for the men are national champion Nguyễn Văn Đương who competed in the Tokyo Games in 2021; SEA Games winner Bùi Phước Tùng and silver medallist Nguyễn Mạnh Cường. For the women, SEA Games champion Hà Thị Linh, Asian Games bronze medal holder Lưu Diễm Quỳnh and young Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Trân who won Asian U22 silver in 2023.

Trân's presence is a surprise as she was picked at the last moment to replace experienced boxer Nguyễn Thị Tâm in the women's 51kg.

Tokyo Olympian Tâm suffered a serious ligament injury that stopped her from competing at the 32nd SEA Games last May and prevented her from earning a top spot at the Asian Games last September.

The 2023 world championship finalist did not excel at the Olympics' first qualification round in February in Italy and although she powered through her recovery to take gold at the National Strong Boxing Clubs Championship in February, it was not enough to persuade her coaches of her total fitness.

Both men and women are in a three-week intensive training course offered by the Thai boxing governing body to prepare for the qualifier which will last until June 3.

According to the organisers, more than 600 athletes have registered to compete in 13 weight categories in Bangkok. 

About 51 athletes (23 women and 28 men) will qualify through this second World Qualification Tournament with each needing to win four matches to secure their place.

Currently, Việt Nam have secured one spot for Võ Thị Kim Ánh in the women's 54kg.

A total of 248 boxers will compete in boxing at Paris 2024, evenly split between women and men. France, as host nation, have secured six automatic quotas for the games - three for men and three for women, while there will also be nine Universality Places awarded, with five for women and four for men. - VNS