Weightlifting

HÀ NỘI – Weightlifting is the sport where Việt Nam hopes to win a medal at the coming Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

To realise the target, a three-strong squad has left for an intensive training course in the United States, on their journey to claim the silverware.

Settling in Florida on May 1 where the time zone is similar to Rio de Janeiro, the team will have 80 days to make their dream come true.

Among them, Thạch Kim Tuấn is the top candidate as his result is close to the Olympics’ top three.

Tuấn won a gold and two silver medals at the world championship; a gold and two records at the world youth championships; and a silver at the Asian Games in 2014 in the men’s 56kg category.

Despite not totally recovering from his injury, the 22-year-old athlete is targeting a medal.

“My injury has shown 95 per cent recovery. I think with what I am being offered in the US, with regard to the nutrition and the practice plan, I will be ready for the Olympics,” Tuấn said.

“However, the 56kg class is an event that draws many strong rivals from North Korea, China, Thailand and the Philippines,” he said.

“They all have the same result as mine of around 300kg during training. I do 163kg in jerk and clean and 140kg in snatch.”

“The training is expected to help me lift more than 310kg in total and if I can keep my spirits up during the competition it would be even much better,” he added.

Two other athletes of the team, are Trần Lê Quốc Toàn who also compete in the 56kg pool, and Hoàng Tuấn Tài in the men’s 85kg class.

“It is difficult to say anything now because we need to know how my athletes train. It is an important period for the whole team and we want to keep all information secret from our rivals. We will reveal everything in the competition,” coach Huỳnh Hữu Chí said.

According to Đỗ Đình Kháng, deputy head of the National Sports Administration’s Elite Sport 2 Department, athletes must achieve the result that their coach sets for them during this training. And their coach takes charge of adjusting the plan so that athletes reach their peak at the targeted competition.

The team will wrap up practice in late July and fly to Rio de Janeiro on July 27.

Weightlifting will be organised at the Riocentro - Pavilion 2 from August 12 to 17. – VNS