Best foot forward: Nguyễn Thành Ngưng (No 321)has qualifed for the Brazil Olympics this year’s summer. Photo vnexpress.net

Athletics

HÀ NỘI – Nguyễn Thành Ngưng qualified for the Brazil Olympics via the 2016 Asian 20km race walking championships in Nomi-shi, Japan yesterday.

Ngưng finished the men’s 20km race with a time of 1:23.29, surpassing the Olympic standard of one hour and 24 minutes.

Đà Nẵng’s Ngưng also broke his own national record of 1:26.53.

At the 28th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore last year, Ngưng ranked fourth with 1:52.12

Ngưng’s sister, “Walking Queen” Nguyễn Thị Thanh Phúc who won three titles at the SEA Games, couldn’t complete her race due to injury.

Phúc qualified for the 2012 London Olympics after snatching a bronze medal at the same event held in Japan in 2012. The 22-year-old clocked one hour and 35 minutes to successfully qualify as Olympic Standard B.

Phúc has another chance to earn her ticket to Brazil when she competes in Singapore in late April. She needs to clock a time of 1 hour and 36 minutes to qualify for the Olympics.

Lụa also secures ticket to Brazil

Nguyễn Thị Lụa has made history by becoming the first Vietnamese female wrestler to qualify for the Olympics twice after she reached the final of the Asian qualifying event in Astana, Kazakhstan on Saturday.

In the 53kg category, Lụa won two bouts to enter the final round and book a berth in the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympics.

Both the gold and silver medallists from the Asian qualifying event will compete at the Rio Games.

Lụa took part in the London Olympics in 2012.

Việt Nam aims to secure 16 to 20 Olympic berths in shooting, athletics, swimming and gymnastics, as well as fencing and weightlifting.

Eight athletes have secured a berth so far for the 2016 Summer Olympics that will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to 21. — VNS