Boxing

Hà Thị Linh secures an Olympic spot from the second World Qualification Tournament on Sunday in Bangkok, Thailand. VNS Photos

HÀ NỘI — Boxer Hà Thị Linh has been chosen as the upcoming Vietnamese representative at the Paris Olympics Games this summer.

Linh stood out among the dozens of Vietnamese athletes participating in the ongoing second World Qualification Tournament held in Bangkok, Thailand.

She was the most successful athlete, as she helped the national boxing federation achieve its target of winning one Olympic slot, bringing the total to two.

On June 2, Linh secured her first participation in the world's largest sporting event this July by defeating Vilma Viitannen of Finland 4-1 in the play-off match of the women's 60kg category.

Hà Thị Linh and her coach poses for photo after making their Olympic dream come true.

Earlier, she won over Ana Starovoitova of Lithuania 4-1 in the first match, Camila Paola Pineiro Muno of Uruguay 4-1 in the second round and Sara Beram of Croatia 4-1 in the quarter-finals.

She lost 0-5 to Agnes Alexiusson of Sweden in the semi-finals.

The SEA Games champion recognized that winning the play-off match was crucial for her to achieve her Olympic dream.

Both competitors displayed their strength and determination right from the start, creating a highly competitive match. However, Linh's superior technique and strength convinced the judges to award her four round wins, while Viitannen managed to secure only one.

She joined Alexiusson and Oh Yeonji of South Korea, the two finalists of this category, to participate in Paris Games.

Linh received bonus of US$2,700 from President of the Việt Nam Boxing Federation Lưu Tú Bảo.

Linh is the 11th Vietnamese athletes at the Olympics following cyclist Nguyễn Thị Thật, shooters Trịnh Thu Vinh and Lê Thị Mộng Tuyền, boxer Võ Thị Kim Ánh, swimmer Nguyễn Huy Hoàng, weightlifter Trịnh Văn Vinh, badminton players Nguyễn Thùy Linh and Lê Đức Phát, canoeist Nguyễn Thị Hương and rower Phạm Thị Huệ. VNS