Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam will participate in the Singapore Open Track and Field Championships which begin today at the National Stadium.

As an International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) recognised event, qualification spots for the upcoming Olympic Games in Brazil in August are up for grabs.

Việt Nam has five athletes competing in this year’s event, the 78th edition of the annual tournament.

Nguyễn Thị Huyền, who finished in Olympic B standards in the women’s 400m and 400m hurdles, will compete aiming to improve her time to secure an Olympic spot.

In last year’s Southeast Asian Games also in Singapore, Huyền pocketed two golds in the above events, timing 56.15sec and 52sec, respectively.

Walker Nguyễn Thị Thanh Phúc also competes today in the women’s 20km race.

Phúc will be the first track-and-field athlete from Việt Nam to compete in the two consecutive Olympics if she qualifies.

Phúc needs to walk within 1hr 36min to grab her slot. Her personal best is 1:33.36 at the London Games four years ago while her seasonal best is 1:42.36.

Sprinter Nguyễn Thị Oanh will race in the qualification of the women’s 100m category.

She is No 1 seed in heat 2 out of four heats. Thirty two athletes will vie for eight places in the final in the afternoon.

Her teammate Lê Trọng Hinh will test his skills in the men’s 100m where he faces 48 other opponents in qualification.

Bùi Thị Thu Thảo of Việt Nam is No 1 seed in the women’s long jump event.

The SEA Games gold medalist will have to gain a result of 6.70m to qualify for the Games. Her personal best is 6.65m.

After the Singapore Open ends tomorrow, athletes will be able to compete for Olympic spots at tournaments in Chinese Taipei and Thailand in Asia. The Vietnamese will focus on walking bigger races in Lithuania and Ireland in June. -- VNS